Goodness, I feel like these letters are getting less and less interesting. We're just working!
We have met a lot of foreigners this week! Well, we haven't actually had a sit-down lesson with any of them, we just met them on the street or when sticker-boarding and most of them have desire to meet and learn more about the gospel. There are a couple we need to refer to their countries. It was a lot of fun to teach in English, and it seems a lot easier to explain in a way to help them understand. One of the women we met saw us and stood by waiting while we talked to some other people. When they left she asked what we were doing. She is from Iraq! Her husband is actually American, but they are living in Korea and she teaches English. Even before we asked if she would like to meet after we told her what we do, she asked, "Where is your church? I am interested in listening more." Glorious.
Speaking of glorious, GYM, the recent convert we've been meeting with, IS THE BOMB. She had been studying 1 Nephi 14-16 this week, and when we met and talked with her this week we talked a lot about the gathering of Israel and the Parable of the Olive Tree. Once again, she understood it really well and was sharing experiences with us. She's awesome. I remember when I was serving with Sister Cunningham, my follow-up trainer, that she had pictures of GYM up on her wall. She was baptized when Sister Cunningham served in Shinjeong. I remember looking at those pictures, but I never thought I would meet her or love her so much.
I guess I don't have too much to share this week, but I wanted to tell about something that I have seen a lot this week. It is something I am sure that countless missionaries, if not all missionaries have seen. It is the principle that God will often push us, and have us work and exercise faith until there is almost nothing left to give, He will wait until we feel that we will fall, and until we talk to the very last person on the street before He will show the biggest miracles. He expects us to give our best, and then will lift us up. In "Our Heritage" there is a story about a man from the Martin Handcart Company of pioneers going to Utah. He shared: "I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it....I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there." Now we aren't pushing handcarts thousands of miles across wilderness and plains, but the principle is the same. God is there, and He will help us and show miracles when we push as much as we can. He will lead people to us to teach, but it will often be the last person and at the last step we can take. If we don't work until that last person, how will we find those that He has prepared? I am grateful for the Savior and I know that He is in the lead of this work. He is there working with us and for us. Nothing good that we ever do will go to waste. I am so grateful for that!
I love you all so much!
Sister Stapley
We have met a lot of foreigners this week! Well, we haven't actually had a sit-down lesson with any of them, we just met them on the street or when sticker-boarding and most of them have desire to meet and learn more about the gospel. There are a couple we need to refer to their countries. It was a lot of fun to teach in English, and it seems a lot easier to explain in a way to help them understand. One of the women we met saw us and stood by waiting while we talked to some other people. When they left she asked what we were doing. She is from Iraq! Her husband is actually American, but they are living in Korea and she teaches English. Even before we asked if she would like to meet after we told her what we do, she asked, "Where is your church? I am interested in listening more." Glorious.
Speaking of glorious, GYM, the recent convert we've been meeting with, IS THE BOMB. She had been studying 1 Nephi 14-16 this week, and when we met and talked with her this week we talked a lot about the gathering of Israel and the Parable of the Olive Tree. Once again, she understood it really well and was sharing experiences with us. She's awesome. I remember when I was serving with Sister Cunningham, my follow-up trainer, that she had pictures of GYM up on her wall. She was baptized when Sister Cunningham served in Shinjeong. I remember looking at those pictures, but I never thought I would meet her or love her so much.
I guess I don't have too much to share this week, but I wanted to tell about something that I have seen a lot this week. It is something I am sure that countless missionaries, if not all missionaries have seen. It is the principle that God will often push us, and have us work and exercise faith until there is almost nothing left to give, He will wait until we feel that we will fall, and until we talk to the very last person on the street before He will show the biggest miracles. He expects us to give our best, and then will lift us up. In "Our Heritage" there is a story about a man from the Martin Handcart Company of pioneers going to Utah. He shared: "I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it....I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there." Now we aren't pushing handcarts thousands of miles across wilderness and plains, but the principle is the same. God is there, and He will help us and show miracles when we push as much as we can. He will lead people to us to teach, but it will often be the last person and at the last step we can take. If we don't work until that last person, how will we find those that He has prepared? I am grateful for the Savior and I know that He is in the lead of this work. He is there working with us and for us. Nothing good that we ever do will go to waste. I am so grateful for that!
I love you all so much!
Sister Stapley