HEY!
We met more people this week! Even a few for the second time! THANK GOODNESS. Although, sorry for the long lesson descriptions coming up- probably pretty boring, but they were AWESOME.
One of the people we met with was the high school student that came to church last week- LSC. We met her to start the 30/30 program, and it was really good! She told us that she had been praying since the last time that we met, and while she said she hadn't gotten an answer yet, she said she felt peace. Sounds like an answer to me. We pointed it out to her and she agreed, but she also told us that she was looking for a specific answer to a question about a decision she has to make with her schooling. We promised her that God would help her, whether it is in a way that she expects or not. We also asked her if she would prepare to be baptized when she knows that these things are true, and she said yes! Of course, we've had a couple people lately in Shinjeong that committed to be baptized and then disappeared, so we are a little wary, but we are praying hard for her!
We also did another 30/30 lesson with a girl that we met doing Book of Mormon sticker board proselyting last Sunday. She contacted us back first, and wanted to meet to study English. Interesting thing is, when we met her on Sunday I was the one that talked with her- and I only talked about our message and gave her a Book of Mormon. So she must have done some research on us and found that we teach free English. Anyway, it was SUPER good. We talked about God and the Book of Mormon (since we gave that to her last time) and asked her to read the introduction and testimonies in the front. She committed to do it! She wanted to meet again the next day, so when we met again we did some English and then started teaching about how the gospel blesses families. She was discussing really well with us, and we could tell she was thinking. We then went into how the Book of Mormon can help us, and looked back at the introduction. She told us she read it, but couldn't remember much, so we read a couple paragraphs of it and talked. We then committed her to read five chapters and pray about them, and she told us she would! In fact, when we invited her to do it, she flipped back to the introduction and pointed at the second to last paragraph where it talks about how we can know it is true. She said, "While we were reading and talking about this, I was impressed. It doesn't say to just believe, but that we can pray and know. I like that." She was trying to talk in English, so it was a little more choppy than that, but the Spirit was really strong. I feel like she is one of the strongest investigators we have had in a long time. Keep praying for her!
We had a fun activity on Saturday! It was a English class/ branch activity, and we ate tacos and watched Meet the Mormons. While not as many investigators came as we were hoping for, it was still a good turnout. A TON of the members came. We had some games at the beginning, showed them how to made tacos (most of them have never eaten a taco before in their life) and then watched the movie. The members loved it. While only a couple investigators came, it really strengthened our relationship with the members. They have been asking us to help them with more things and involve us more- even after one day!
Another cool little miracle came when we were invited to a member's house for lunch. In companionship study we prepared a lesson based a little on the "I Was a Stranger" talk from the Women's Session of General Conference. We wanted to encourage the sister to "walk across the street and serve [her] neighbor". However, when we got to the member's house, we came in to see a young mother with her baby that we had never met before. The member introduced her as her neighbor across the hall! I felt like I could hear angels from heaven singing in the distance. Anyway, we talked with her a lot while we ate and although she had to leave a little early she did tell us we could come and visit her sometime. After she left our member told us how she felt like she needed to invite her, but was so scared that she spent an hour praying and stressing about it that morning. But she pulled up her courage and rang the doorbell, and her neighbor came! It was so cool. I am grateful for members that are in tune with the Spirit and seeking for opportunities to serve and share the gospel. THAT makes the difference in the work.
I am so grateful for God leading and guiding us, but also those around us. That is one of the things that fills me with the most joy. Not only becoming an instrument, but watching others do the same and bring miracles. I love this work that I am doing with the Lord and my brothers and sisters, for my brothers and sisters.
I love you!
Sister Stapley
We met more people this week! Even a few for the second time! THANK GOODNESS. Although, sorry for the long lesson descriptions coming up- probably pretty boring, but they were AWESOME.
One of the people we met with was the high school student that came to church last week- LSC. We met her to start the 30/30 program, and it was really good! She told us that she had been praying since the last time that we met, and while she said she hadn't gotten an answer yet, she said she felt peace. Sounds like an answer to me. We pointed it out to her and she agreed, but she also told us that she was looking for a specific answer to a question about a decision she has to make with her schooling. We promised her that God would help her, whether it is in a way that she expects or not. We also asked her if she would prepare to be baptized when she knows that these things are true, and she said yes! Of course, we've had a couple people lately in Shinjeong that committed to be baptized and then disappeared, so we are a little wary, but we are praying hard for her!
We also did another 30/30 lesson with a girl that we met doing Book of Mormon sticker board proselyting last Sunday. She contacted us back first, and wanted to meet to study English. Interesting thing is, when we met her on Sunday I was the one that talked with her- and I only talked about our message and gave her a Book of Mormon. So she must have done some research on us and found that we teach free English. Anyway, it was SUPER good. We talked about God and the Book of Mormon (since we gave that to her last time) and asked her to read the introduction and testimonies in the front. She committed to do it! She wanted to meet again the next day, so when we met again we did some English and then started teaching about how the gospel blesses families. She was discussing really well with us, and we could tell she was thinking. We then went into how the Book of Mormon can help us, and looked back at the introduction. She told us she read it, but couldn't remember much, so we read a couple paragraphs of it and talked. We then committed her to read five chapters and pray about them, and she told us she would! In fact, when we invited her to do it, she flipped back to the introduction and pointed at the second to last paragraph where it talks about how we can know it is true. She said, "While we were reading and talking about this, I was impressed. It doesn't say to just believe, but that we can pray and know. I like that." She was trying to talk in English, so it was a little more choppy than that, but the Spirit was really strong. I feel like she is one of the strongest investigators we have had in a long time. Keep praying for her!
We had a fun activity on Saturday! It was a English class/ branch activity, and we ate tacos and watched Meet the Mormons. While not as many investigators came as we were hoping for, it was still a good turnout. A TON of the members came. We had some games at the beginning, showed them how to made tacos (most of them have never eaten a taco before in their life) and then watched the movie. The members loved it. While only a couple investigators came, it really strengthened our relationship with the members. They have been asking us to help them with more things and involve us more- even after one day!
Another cool little miracle came when we were invited to a member's house for lunch. In companionship study we prepared a lesson based a little on the "I Was a Stranger" talk from the Women's Session of General Conference. We wanted to encourage the sister to "walk across the street and serve [her] neighbor". However, when we got to the member's house, we came in to see a young mother with her baby that we had never met before. The member introduced her as her neighbor across the hall! I felt like I could hear angels from heaven singing in the distance. Anyway, we talked with her a lot while we ate and although she had to leave a little early she did tell us we could come and visit her sometime. After she left our member told us how she felt like she needed to invite her, but was so scared that she spent an hour praying and stressing about it that morning. But she pulled up her courage and rang the doorbell, and her neighbor came! It was so cool. I am grateful for members that are in tune with the Spirit and seeking for opportunities to serve and share the gospel. THAT makes the difference in the work.
I am so grateful for God leading and guiding us, but also those around us. That is one of the things that fills me with the most joy. Not only becoming an instrument, but watching others do the same and bring miracles. I love this work that I am doing with the Lord and my brothers and sisters, for my brothers and sisters.
I love you!
Sister Stapley