Dear Fam,
I've decided to write to the family first, then write to President, just to make sure I don't jip you of any great weekly happenings. Sorry this email is so late in the day. Our schedule for today was changed because of our evening plans to work up north. So ...
RAIN: Let's say, it's definitely been an adventure to be caught in a rain storm every day this week. And, the seasoned missionaries aren't joking when they say it typically rains for an hour between 2:30 and 3:30 each afternoon. It's true! Unfortunately, we forget that when we plan bike trips, tracting, and P-day activities. It's almost like our luck in knowing I-4 has rush hour traffic, but we forget until we drive right into that rush hour traffic. Well our best adventure is having planned a bike/park contacting excursion for Sunday evening. We planned on biking about seven miles to nearby lake parks and when we left, it was already thundering (maybe lightning) in the distance. But we couldn't think of anything else to do that night, so off we went. We avoided the rain for two hours; but heading back home that evening, the storm was right over our apt. Therefore, we biked at least three miles in the pouring rain! We got great pictures to go with the after effect! We're trying to learn our lesson, but today, we decided to go to the Leu Botanical Gardens; and during our hour long leisure walk, viewing the flowers and such, we got hit with a "light" shower. We didn't mind it too much!
B-day: I had a good birthday. Thanks for the package! Today, I'm wearing the blouse and jacket. It looks cute! The morning started in St. Cloud at a member's jewelry shop so we could practice our language study with her. There, both of us got earrings (which I'm also wearing today). Also, the office senior couples called me to wish me a happy birthday! They are amazing! We are so close to the office couples! They're always looking out for us! The day before, the College Park Sisters took me to an amazing yogurt shop; and although I typically don't like yogurt, this place is amazing! Also, Sis. Homer kept telling everyone it was my birthday, so I had a lot of missionaries call to sing "Happy Birthday" to me. At our ASL class that night everyone learned how to sign the "Happy Birthday" song so they could sign it to me. It was fun.
This past Sunday, we were asked to make a meal calendar for both of our wards. We figured out two-three days we'd be in each area and passed them around. So, now we will be fed by members five times each week. Don't worry about us being fed! We're now taken care of!
The 17th of June was an amazing day for the ASL area! We were blessed with an outpouring of tender mercies! It was amazing! I think the Lord is trying to teach us a lesson about prayer! It started with our District Meeting being about planning, commitments, and follow-ups. It was a great lesson. Afterwards, we went to contact a recent headquarter's referral that the Elders in Poinciana ran into and she called the number less than an hour later! We were able to contact her - after a left sticky-note, a random, static, phone call, and a second return to the house. She was amazing! She could feel something was different about the Book of Mormon and wanted to share it with everyone. We were glad to give her a copy in English and ASL (her sister is Deaf). After that, we didn't know what to do for the day. We had made three different schedules because we didn't know which city we wanted to work in. So, we decided that before we did anything, we'd stop at a nearby park and pray to know what to do. Interesting enough, each time we do that, one of our amazing Deaf members always contacts us halfway through our prayers. It made us laugh! Then we called a recent convert, recent move-in to set up a time to meet her because we tried earlier in the week, and she wasn't home; so we sticky-noted her door. She told us that those sticky notes were exactly what she needed at that time. She has never felt so loved and wanted since she joined the church! We look forward to meeting with her this Wednesday! Then, we tried to contact a teenage investigator that is always come and go in contacting. We found him at home, and he invited us in (first time he's done that); and we had an amazing lesson! The spirit was so strong, and we could see him better understand the gospel! Also we committed him to come to church, and he came! What an amazing day!
We're debating to tell our families about this, but ... we got rear-ended on the freeway last Friday. It was stop-and-go traffic, and we had to come to a quick stop because a person cut us off. Unfortunately, the car behind us didn't notice that we had stopped and therefore decided to stop by slamming into the back of our car. And that lead to the car behind her to slam into her. It was a great adventure for neither of us had ever been in an accident, especially in the middle of the freeway! Grrr... But, we exchanged info - the mission has a nifty "what to do if you're in an accident" packet we filled out, and the only problem with our car was that the bumper popped loose. The next day, we figured out how to just pop it back on. Our car looks fine! So, no worries. We're good. The office knows. Sis. Darrington is making sure we have no injuries... yay for adventures! Unfortunately, we were heading to an appointment in Sanford with an awesome investigator. We didn't make it, and he had brought three of his friends to listen :-( It was so sad! We blame the Adversary for always keeping us from meeting him. This was the third failed attempt. Now, we're going to try to meet him at members' homes - not at the mall!
We also had a great experience of service from our members! A member in Oviedo was willing to drive with his family to a member in Altemonte Springs to pick up an old sleeper couch to deliver to our investigator (who owns no furniture) in Ocoee! It was amazing! We think it was a great experience for all the people involved. Also, our investigator wants to come to church again. Unfortunately, because it was Father's Day, she didn't come last week. But we're working with her!
And that's my week in a nutshell! All is well! 'Til next week! Take care! Loves! Bye!
‘Make no small plans: They have no magic to stir man’s souls.’ This is the vision I have for the South. I believe that one day the South will baptize more people into the church than all other English speaking missions in the world together. There are great hosts of marvelous Baptists, and members of the church of Christ, Methodists and Catholics who are honorable people, and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and love him. As they see their church veering off to the right or to the left of these basic teachings, they will begin to search for the truth. And as pivotal teachers come into the church and have influence, we will see the time when we baptize hundreds and thousands, tens of thousands. In your day you will see a million members of the church in the South. There will be Temples plural in the Southern States. What a great call you have to serve with these marvelous people. ~Spencer W Kimball (1974)
