This week was super busy but great! Tuesday we had an amazing district
meeting. Sister Pace gave a training on the sacrament and the
significance of the Sabbath day. The way she explained things helped
me look at the sacrament in a slightly different way and I think it
will help me explain the importance of partaking of the sacrament
weekly to others! It was the spiritual pick-me-up that I really needed
that day!
Wednesday we had interviews with President Taggart and Sister Taggart
took the opportunity to meet with the sisters in our zone for a little
bit. She shared a story about a little girl in the Martin-Willey
handcart company who was on the verge of starvation and exhaustion
when they were rescued by people from the Salt Lake Valley. They had a
buggy that they were able to let some of the children ride in, but
this little girl was the last to get to ride in the buggy. With each
step she was certain it would be her last because she was just too
hungry, too weak, too tired, but finally it was her turn. A man on a
horse rode up to her and asked her if she was ready for a ride. She
nodded eagerly and the man reached down and took her by the arm. But
instead of picking her up he kicked the horse into a trot and made her
run along side the horse. She was incredulous and sure that she would
die. But just when she felt that it was the end he pulled her up,
wrapped her in a blanket, and tucked her into the buggy. It took a
little while, but eventually this girl realized that what she had
thought was a cruel attempt to end her life had actually saved her. If
she had been put straight into the buggy before the extra exertion
then her body heat would have stayed dangerously low and she would
have died. Sister Taggart used this story to demonstrate that when
things are harder than we think we can overcome, when life feels like
God is playing a cruel joke, when it seems our last straw is long
gone, we can trust that a loving Heavenly Father knows exactly what we
need. Those incredibly difficult times are the experiences that we
need to have in order to become what we truly desire to become.
My interview with President went well. He challenged me to pray for
specific miracles. Especially to pray not only that we will find the
prepared, but that the prepared will find us. So I'm exercising my
faith and doing it! I asked for advice on how to get the most out of
the rest of my mission, and he said "you know what you are doing! You
know what works and what doesn't! Identify your strengths and keep
pushing those buttons!" President Taggart has a unique way of putting
things, but I am trying to figure out what exactly my strengths are so
I can use them to be more effective!
We went to Manhattan to go to the temple on Thursday. It will be such
a blessing for the people in this area to have the Philly temple open!
It is a similar distance away but they will be able to drive there and
park! Haha getting into Manhattan is such a hassle! To get to the
temple we drive an hour and a half to Newark, take the train to Penn
station in NY, and then take the subway to Lincoln Center. It doesn't
stress me out as much to make that trip any more, but it reminds me
why I never really had a desire to go to NYC! But the temple was
wonderful, as always. It was nice to have some time to sit and ponder
in the Celestial room and get some clarity on decisions I've been
trying to make. Afterward we went to a place in Newark called the Elm
Street BBQ. We got massive amounts of food and it was really good!
They are famous for their prime ribs, so that's what I got! It was
very good, but reminded me that I don't actually like ribs...eating
meat off the bone is not my thing. Yes, I know I'm picky!
We also had two exchanges this week with both of the companionships we
cover! I went with Hermana Pace and Sister Burk, which was funny
because I went on exchange with both of those sisters last transfer as
well! I'm sure they are totally sick of me, but I had fun!
Our investigators Dorothy and Elyiah were able to come to church, so
we were happy about that! Plus we were finally able to meet with
Kiernan and Katrina, so good things are happening!
meeting. Sister Pace gave a training on the sacrament and the
significance of the Sabbath day. The way she explained things helped
me look at the sacrament in a slightly different way and I think it
will help me explain the importance of partaking of the sacrament
weekly to others! It was the spiritual pick-me-up that I really needed
that day!
Wednesday we had interviews with President Taggart and Sister Taggart
took the opportunity to meet with the sisters in our zone for a little
bit. She shared a story about a little girl in the Martin-Willey
handcart company who was on the verge of starvation and exhaustion
when they were rescued by people from the Salt Lake Valley. They had a
buggy that they were able to let some of the children ride in, but
this little girl was the last to get to ride in the buggy. With each
step she was certain it would be her last because she was just too
hungry, too weak, too tired, but finally it was her turn. A man on a
horse rode up to her and asked her if she was ready for a ride. She
nodded eagerly and the man reached down and took her by the arm. But
instead of picking her up he kicked the horse into a trot and made her
run along side the horse. She was incredulous and sure that she would
die. But just when she felt that it was the end he pulled her up,
wrapped her in a blanket, and tucked her into the buggy. It took a
little while, but eventually this girl realized that what she had
thought was a cruel attempt to end her life had actually saved her. If
she had been put straight into the buggy before the extra exertion
then her body heat would have stayed dangerously low and she would
have died. Sister Taggart used this story to demonstrate that when
things are harder than we think we can overcome, when life feels like
God is playing a cruel joke, when it seems our last straw is long
gone, we can trust that a loving Heavenly Father knows exactly what we
need. Those incredibly difficult times are the experiences that we
need to have in order to become what we truly desire to become.
My interview with President went well. He challenged me to pray for
specific miracles. Especially to pray not only that we will find the
prepared, but that the prepared will find us. So I'm exercising my
faith and doing it! I asked for advice on how to get the most out of
the rest of my mission, and he said "you know what you are doing! You
know what works and what doesn't! Identify your strengths and keep
pushing those buttons!" President Taggart has a unique way of putting
things, but I am trying to figure out what exactly my strengths are so
I can use them to be more effective!
We went to Manhattan to go to the temple on Thursday. It will be such
a blessing for the people in this area to have the Philly temple open!
It is a similar distance away but they will be able to drive there and
park! Haha getting into Manhattan is such a hassle! To get to the
temple we drive an hour and a half to Newark, take the train to Penn
station in NY, and then take the subway to Lincoln Center. It doesn't
stress me out as much to make that trip any more, but it reminds me
why I never really had a desire to go to NYC! But the temple was
wonderful, as always. It was nice to have some time to sit and ponder
in the Celestial room and get some clarity on decisions I've been
trying to make. Afterward we went to a place in Newark called the Elm
Street BBQ. We got massive amounts of food and it was really good!
They are famous for their prime ribs, so that's what I got! It was
very good, but reminded me that I don't actually like ribs...eating
meat off the bone is not my thing. Yes, I know I'm picky!
We also had two exchanges this week with both of the companionships we
cover! I went with Hermana Pace and Sister Burk, which was funny
because I went on exchange with both of those sisters last transfer as
well! I'm sure they are totally sick of me, but I had fun!
Our investigators Dorothy and Elyiah were able to come to church, so
we were happy about that! Plus we were finally able to meet with
Kiernan and Katrina, so good things are happening!