Well... I warned you last week! It was another incredible week with so many experiences to share. :D It was such a fun week, I felt like I was in a full out sprint the whole time!
Tuesday night was YSA! All of the boys in the ward were at scout camp so we did a girl's night! We watched Johnny Lingo and ate junk food. Best kind of girl's night! R, our investigator, came with one of the members, and she had so much fun! It was so fun to watch her interact with the other girls from the ward, and we know she'll be in great hands when we move on.
Wednesday was an interesting day, and it kind of ties in to yesterday as well. I woke up so ready for the day, I just knew it was going to be a great day. We started our shift at the food bank, and I started to feel pretty tired, which soon turned to exhaustion. I kept trying to drink water, eat food, walk around, anything really to wake myself up, but nothing was working! I even started to pop jelly beans to try to get at least a sugar rush, but nothing worked! It finally started to wear off as we left to go help a less active sort her bottles. It was so strange, but I just brushed it off and continued on throughout the day. I was fine the rest of the week, but I started to have similar feelings yesterday. I was getting so frustrated, there's just too many things we have to get done! But I couldn't really think straight, and I knew I need to get some rest before I would be useful, so I laid down for an hour nap. It took me awhile to convince myself that it was ok, I hate wasting time, and I know that my time on the mission is so short. But this scripture in Mosiah kept popping into my head.
"And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore all things must be done in order." -Mosiah 4:27
I am so dang stubborn, and I hate admitting when I'm weak, but I know that there is going to be times when my body can't keep up with me. Heavenly Father doesn't expect me to be perfect, He expects me to do my best. I know that as I continue to lean on Him and do my part by eating as healthy as I can and exercising, He will give me the strength I need.
Thursday was Zone Meeting in Edmonton! I just love meeting up with our zone, we have some fantastic missionaries! President Pattison was able to join us for the first half, and he introduced our new mission focus, "Pray, Look, Speak, and Invite." This is our new initiative for working with the members.Everyone knows that working with members is the best way to go about the work, and the whole point of this initiative is for members to just start talking! We are so quick to shy away from talking about church when we talk about our weekend or we try not to use church lingo when telling people stories, but that's how people ask questions! So I hope each of you will try to talk to at least one person about how church was or what you did for a Relief Society activity. I promise it will open windows of opportunity to share the gospel in such an effortless way. :) Let me know if you have any cool experiences!
We had exchanges right after Zone meeting, and our sister training leader, Sister M, made us Papusas! So dang good! Then she came with me to Cherry Grove! We taught G and R the Law of Chastity and it went so well! It's always interesting teaching it to younger people because it could go either way, but they had both already made the decision after high school to live a chaste life. So we got to have a very open and deep conversation about the meaning behind the law and the sacredness of it. They are progressing along so well, and I'm so blessed to be a part of it!
Friday we exchanged back in Smoky Lake, and then we drove another couple of hours back to our area, we got an oil check, and we stopped by a less active member, who moved.Fortunately, we met the lady who just moved in, and we had a great conversation with her. She believes in the Matee faith, but was open to talking with us and watching a video. Something we learned at Zone Meeting is that it usually takes 7 positive interactions with the church before someone will take the discussions. So although this woman didn't want to learn now, we are just the beginning of her journey towards the fulness of the gospel. Also, fun little side note, I found Sushi that I actually like! It even had fish eggs on top, and it was so good! #ivechanged
Saturday was INCREDIBLE!! We got to volunteer at a food booth at the Cold Lake Air Show on the military base. Oh my heaven! It was perfect! We were right out on the tarmac, there were planes everywhere, both on the ground and in the air, and military personnel all over. It was so cool! We were crazy busy almost the whole time, but we were able to sneak off at the end to watch the Snowbirds! It's amazing to watch such big machines fly with such grace! It blew me away. Although we weren't allowed to talk to people about the church, we had some great conversations, and a blast while doing it!
Funny Story! So at church, Sister V and I greet everyone who comes in, and these two boys walk in and they look YSA age, so we talk to them for a few minutes and find out they're only here for a few weeks selling Vivint, and we welcome them, and then we are like... You have to come to YSA... because EVERYONE here is related and they need some new section of boys.. they're like well we will see...and then after church a big whole group of boys start leaving, and were like HOLD UP, where did they all come from... so we literally start chasing them.. (yes I am determined to help these YSA ladies in our ward to find someone that is not FAMILY!) so we hunt them down and told them THEY all HAVE to come to the YSA Activity, and we got their number to text them the address, and they said they will come if it rains, because otherwise they have to work! Hahah I think half the ward was watching us have this conversation with them. So all the girls are praying for rain! It's a 60% chance of rain as of right now so fingers crossed! ;)
Well I've learned again this week how important it is to rely on the Lord. We have more work in this area than we can handle! And I have no idea how to see everyone, but I know that as we continue to be obedient and follow the Spirit, we will be led to those who are ready. Things will be crazy yet again this week! So please pray that my energy levels will keep up with my work load. :D
I love you all! Go make someone's day this week!
Sister Bethany Christensen
#blessed
Tuesday night was YSA! All of the boys in the ward were at scout camp so we did a girl's night! We watched Johnny Lingo and ate junk food. Best kind of girl's night! R, our investigator, came with one of the members, and she had so much fun! It was so fun to watch her interact with the other girls from the ward, and we know she'll be in great hands when we move on.
Wednesday was an interesting day, and it kind of ties in to yesterday as well. I woke up so ready for the day, I just knew it was going to be a great day. We started our shift at the food bank, and I started to feel pretty tired, which soon turned to exhaustion. I kept trying to drink water, eat food, walk around, anything really to wake myself up, but nothing was working! I even started to pop jelly beans to try to get at least a sugar rush, but nothing worked! It finally started to wear off as we left to go help a less active sort her bottles. It was so strange, but I just brushed it off and continued on throughout the day. I was fine the rest of the week, but I started to have similar feelings yesterday. I was getting so frustrated, there's just too many things we have to get done! But I couldn't really think straight, and I knew I need to get some rest before I would be useful, so I laid down for an hour nap. It took me awhile to convince myself that it was ok, I hate wasting time, and I know that my time on the mission is so short. But this scripture in Mosiah kept popping into my head.
"And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore all things must be done in order." -Mosiah 4:27
I am so dang stubborn, and I hate admitting when I'm weak, but I know that there is going to be times when my body can't keep up with me. Heavenly Father doesn't expect me to be perfect, He expects me to do my best. I know that as I continue to lean on Him and do my part by eating as healthy as I can and exercising, He will give me the strength I need.
Thursday was Zone Meeting in Edmonton! I just love meeting up with our zone, we have some fantastic missionaries! President Pattison was able to join us for the first half, and he introduced our new mission focus, "Pray, Look, Speak, and Invite." This is our new initiative for working with the members.Everyone knows that working with members is the best way to go about the work, and the whole point of this initiative is for members to just start talking! We are so quick to shy away from talking about church when we talk about our weekend or we try not to use church lingo when telling people stories, but that's how people ask questions! So I hope each of you will try to talk to at least one person about how church was or what you did for a Relief Society activity. I promise it will open windows of opportunity to share the gospel in such an effortless way. :) Let me know if you have any cool experiences!
We had exchanges right after Zone meeting, and our sister training leader, Sister M, made us Papusas! So dang good! Then she came with me to Cherry Grove! We taught G and R the Law of Chastity and it went so well! It's always interesting teaching it to younger people because it could go either way, but they had both already made the decision after high school to live a chaste life. So we got to have a very open and deep conversation about the meaning behind the law and the sacredness of it. They are progressing along so well, and I'm so blessed to be a part of it!
Friday we exchanged back in Smoky Lake, and then we drove another couple of hours back to our area, we got an oil check, and we stopped by a less active member, who moved.Fortunately, we met the lady who just moved in, and we had a great conversation with her. She believes in the Matee faith, but was open to talking with us and watching a video. Something we learned at Zone Meeting is that it usually takes 7 positive interactions with the church before someone will take the discussions. So although this woman didn't want to learn now, we are just the beginning of her journey towards the fulness of the gospel. Also, fun little side note, I found Sushi that I actually like! It even had fish eggs on top, and it was so good! #ivechanged
Saturday was INCREDIBLE!! We got to volunteer at a food booth at the Cold Lake Air Show on the military base. Oh my heaven! It was perfect! We were right out on the tarmac, there were planes everywhere, both on the ground and in the air, and military personnel all over. It was so cool! We were crazy busy almost the whole time, but we were able to sneak off at the end to watch the Snowbirds! It's amazing to watch such big machines fly with such grace! It blew me away. Although we weren't allowed to talk to people about the church, we had some great conversations, and a blast while doing it!
Funny Story! So at church, Sister V and I greet everyone who comes in, and these two boys walk in and they look YSA age, so we talk to them for a few minutes and find out they're only here for a few weeks selling Vivint, and we welcome them, and then we are like... You have to come to YSA... because EVERYONE here is related and they need some new section of boys.. they're like well we will see...and then after church a big whole group of boys start leaving, and were like HOLD UP, where did they all come from... so we literally start chasing them.. (yes I am determined to help these YSA ladies in our ward to find someone that is not FAMILY!) so we hunt them down and told them THEY all HAVE to come to the YSA Activity, and we got their number to text them the address, and they said they will come if it rains, because otherwise they have to work! Hahah I think half the ward was watching us have this conversation with them. So all the girls are praying for rain! It's a 60% chance of rain as of right now so fingers crossed! ;)
Well I've learned again this week how important it is to rely on the Lord. We have more work in this area than we can handle! And I have no idea how to see everyone, but I know that as we continue to be obedient and follow the Spirit, we will be led to those who are ready. Things will be crazy yet again this week! So please pray that my energy levels will keep up with my work load. :D
I love you all! Go make someone's day this week!
Sister Bethany Christensen
#blessed