Anyone want some prayer?

Totes busy over here! Another "abnormal" week for us missionaries...

We had multi-zone conference, a stake breakfast and 3 flat tires!! Oh and some miracles here and there. Ya know, missionary stuff :)

Our zone at the multi-zone conference

My favorite thing that happened this week was probably with the County family. At the very beginning of this transfer we were tracting when we found them. (Side note: they're African American.)  

Angie (the daughter who is 26) answered the door and goes "Oh you're Mormons!" 

Then turns around and yells into the house "The Mormons are here! Anyone want some prayer?!" 

Her mom, Linda, came down with one of her sons and they decided that they could all use more prayer and let us in. 

They were so kind to us and really funny. We had a whole list of things and people to include in the blessing and so we were at their home for an hour, which is very unusual. 

The spirit was so strong and it was such a great blessing, but when we left they told us that we are welcome to stop by anytime, but that they didn't want to learn more about the Gospel. 

So, we stopped in on them the following week to see how they were doing and to see if there were any miracles that happened after we left. 

Linda let us in and chatted with us and filled up our water bottles with ice. She told us about her faith and how she goes to church every week and is very involved with that. But, we still asked if they would be interested in just simply learning more about Jesus Christ...

She said "no" and then yelled out "does anyone want church from the Mormons?" 

Her sons made a joke about it, but no one seemed interested. Angie is always so sweet and told us that we were still welcome back anytime.

Then, a couple of weeks ago when we were working at Picnic in the Park, we had a break and decided to walk around the nearby neighborhoods. It was 110 degrees that day and I forgot my water bottle so I was feeling really sick. We decided to stop in on the County's to see if I could get a glass of water. 

They immediately let us in and gave us multiple glasses full of ice and let us stay for a bit while in the air conditioning. 

We started talking about Picnic in the Park, which lead to church attendance, which lead to keeping the sabbath day holy, which lead to commandments, which lead to word of wisdom, the law of chastity and tithing, which lead to Bishops, which lead to the priesthood, which lead to the restoration! 

We pretty much talked about every aspect of the gospel in a simplified manner, but it was really great. 

They told us about their church and we told them about the similarities between their church and ours. They had so many questions for us so we ended up being there for a little over an hour. But again, when we asked if they wanted to learn more they said "no." 

So we asked if there was anything that we could do help them and told them that we LOVED to serve.

They were shocked (which shocked us a little bit) and said that they really appreciate the offer and that they think what we are doing is great...blah, blah blah.

Linda said that maybe sometime when we stop by we can help her pick peaches so she can make us peach jam (we had mentioned earlier how none of us have ever made jam before.) So, we gave her our number and then left.

Now to this week....

On Thursday we were at a ward members house while our bike tires were being fixed and Linda called and asked us if we could come over on Friday to help clean her floor. 

We. Were. So. EXCITED! 

The next day we went over and helped her clean for 2 hours. We were literally on our hands and knees scrubbing the floor, but we were laughing and having a good ole' time. 

Linda said that she was so grateful for us, not only because we helped her clean, but because we had a good attitude too. We asked her if we could come by the next day and she said "yes!"

So, the next day we went over and helped her paint her house. She was almost emotional while we were there. Apparently she had just yelled at her family about how ridiculous it is that she has to call girl missionaries to come over and help her when she has healthy bodies in her own home that could do the work. 

We told her we were so happy that we could be there and that we don't mind because we love her family and we love feeling the spirit in her home. 

Each time we go over there we get closer and closer to them and now we have dinner scheduled with them next week! 

No, we haven't had an official discussion or committed them to baptism or church, but we have become their friends and they know who we are and what we stand for and that's the foundation of our relationship.

I am so grateful for them! I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve and develop pure charity for them. 

I don't know if they are going to be baptized next month or in 20 years, but I know that if we are obedient and serve and teach through love that their lives will be blessed and their hearts will be softened to the gospel.

I love you all so much! I love this gospel so much! I love being a missionary so much!

Sister Nelson 

(email received July 15, 2013)

"the best friends anyone could ask for"

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