Hey!!!
We started off this week by going to a bamboo forest park. It was SUCH a good idea. They let you use bikes free for one hour to ride around the park, so we did that. It was SO relaxing. Just riding around through the bamboo forest, next to a pretty river, and passing fields of flowers. So good.
It was good we started off the week in a relaxing way, because it was a stressful one. We had two exchanges this week. They went well and I had some incredible experiences, but exchanges are always stressful. President Barrow also asked us to do two more extra exchanges with two of the sister teams, so we know the next few weeks will be pretty busy too. We've seen a lot of blessings though!
Here is an example of one of the days. On Tuesday, we met with a recent convert who came over from another nearby branch, and started teaching her the new member lessons. It was really fun! She is awesome. After that we had planned for an appointment with a less-active, but she wasn't able to meet so we went and visited a member who had some potential referrals for us. We walked with the member to find these people, and while we weren't able to find them then, we talked a lot with the member and met some other people with her that may be good potential investigators. Then a random number texted us, and we realized that it was a woman we had met last week and given our card to while waiting for our train at the train station. She invited us to come over to her English academy. So we did! She is very nice, and we were able to understand a little more about her beliefs. We will definitely keep visiting.
Another little miracle happened after I had returned from exchanges and we visited a member (Her house is like a temple on the inside. So white. So beautifully decorated.) and were on our way back home and started talking to a lady on the street. We talked for a little bit and told her who we were, and then she said, "Have you eaten dinner? Do you like Guksu? Let's get Guksu." So she took us out to dinner and we talked with her a lot. She even told us, "Okay! Whenever you want to eat food or meet, call me." Thank goodness for random miracle strangers. They are the best.
Best miracle of the week, though, was on Sunday! We had found three or so people that told us that they wanted to come to church, and so we tried to contact them again and remind them to come. We weren't actually able to get in contact with any of them on Saturday, but sent out a quick text to our English class members as a little invite to church. On Sunday, when Sacrament meeting started none of them had come, and so I went and sat next to a less-active who came with her husband. About half-way through the meeting, I felt a tap on my arm and turned to see one of our English class members! Her English name is Sally. She is so cute. She had been attending English class for years, but it seems like missionaries thought that she didn't have any interest. But she came to church! She stayed through second hour and then had to go home and make lunch for her husband. It was very good! She seemed to really like it. I admit, we were all shocked that she came. It was incredible. God is blessing us so much.
I feel like I am finally starting to become the missionary that I have wanted to be. This past week I have felt more courage, strength, and determination than ever before. As I work my hardest and do everything to give my all, the Lord is there. Working with me. Missionary work seems so complicated, but it is also the simplest thing. We just give our all and are happy. I am so thankful for this. I LOVE this work. I never want to stop.
I love you so much!
Sister Stapley
We started off this week by going to a bamboo forest park. It was SUCH a good idea. They let you use bikes free for one hour to ride around the park, so we did that. It was SO relaxing. Just riding around through the bamboo forest, next to a pretty river, and passing fields of flowers. So good.
It was good we started off the week in a relaxing way, because it was a stressful one. We had two exchanges this week. They went well and I had some incredible experiences, but exchanges are always stressful. President Barrow also asked us to do two more extra exchanges with two of the sister teams, so we know the next few weeks will be pretty busy too. We've seen a lot of blessings though!
Here is an example of one of the days. On Tuesday, we met with a recent convert who came over from another nearby branch, and started teaching her the new member lessons. It was really fun! She is awesome. After that we had planned for an appointment with a less-active, but she wasn't able to meet so we went and visited a member who had some potential referrals for us. We walked with the member to find these people, and while we weren't able to find them then, we talked a lot with the member and met some other people with her that may be good potential investigators. Then a random number texted us, and we realized that it was a woman we had met last week and given our card to while waiting for our train at the train station. She invited us to come over to her English academy. So we did! She is very nice, and we were able to understand a little more about her beliefs. We will definitely keep visiting.
Another little miracle happened after I had returned from exchanges and we visited a member (Her house is like a temple on the inside. So white. So beautifully decorated.) and were on our way back home and started talking to a lady on the street. We talked for a little bit and told her who we were, and then she said, "Have you eaten dinner? Do you like Guksu? Let's get Guksu." So she took us out to dinner and we talked with her a lot. She even told us, "Okay! Whenever you want to eat food or meet, call me." Thank goodness for random miracle strangers. They are the best.
Best miracle of the week, though, was on Sunday! We had found three or so people that told us that they wanted to come to church, and so we tried to contact them again and remind them to come. We weren't actually able to get in contact with any of them on Saturday, but sent out a quick text to our English class members as a little invite to church. On Sunday, when Sacrament meeting started none of them had come, and so I went and sat next to a less-active who came with her husband. About half-way through the meeting, I felt a tap on my arm and turned to see one of our English class members! Her English name is Sally. She is so cute. She had been attending English class for years, but it seems like missionaries thought that she didn't have any interest. But she came to church! She stayed through second hour and then had to go home and make lunch for her husband. It was very good! She seemed to really like it. I admit, we were all shocked that she came. It was incredible. God is blessing us so much.
I feel like I am finally starting to become the missionary that I have wanted to be. This past week I have felt more courage, strength, and determination than ever before. As I work my hardest and do everything to give my all, the Lord is there. Working with me. Missionary work seems so complicated, but it is also the simplest thing. We just give our all and are happy. I am so thankful for this. I LOVE this work. I never want to stop.
I love you so much!
Sister Stapley