This week has been really great. It's very different watching conference at church buildings.
I really liked it when Dad and I watched conference in Nebraska a
couple years ago. But now, it's quite the luxury of watching it in your
pj's on a comfy couch with a blanket wrapped around you. We were able
to watch all 4 sessions here at the church. Hna Hammer and I didn't
want to sit on the hard benches for 2 hours, so we pulled in the big arm
chairs from the foyer and sat on those in the very front. So glad we
did! Ha ha.. I was able to focus a lot better and enjoy listening. I
enjoyed all the talks though. My favorite was probably Dieter F.
Uchtdorf's. Mostly because as a missionary, I felt that was really what
I needed to hear as I try to work with a lot of less actives and
helping others see why they should join our church. I loved his "doubt
your doubts before you doubt your faith." Just as we were driving here
to come email, there is a church in town by our house that always puts
up profound quotes on their marquee. We've noticed they change it every
week but noticed they were late in changing it this week. Well, they
just changed it this morning, and guess what their quote is for this
week? "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith". Hmmmmm I wonder
where they got that quote from?! Least we know the pastor was watching
Conference! :)
But it was a great conference. Can you feel the time
drawing to an end? It sure is scary out there, but as we learned, as
long as we stay firm in our testimony and do those things we know we
should, we will be safe. The battle is getting brutal and we need to
make sure we have on ALL our armor. We've been in a battle where just a
sword and shield were good enough to protect us. Now we need our
helmets, eye protection, body suits, etc. Bigger weapons call for
stronger armor.
So we might have a baptism next weekend. Not sure
how I feel. Normally you should feel ecstatic and anxious. Well. I'm
sure I've mentioned her; Susan. She was taught last year but failed the
baptismal interview due to some differences of beliefs. Hna Hammer and
I finally got her approval to reteach her the lessons and to see if
she's ready now. It's a crazy story and mess, but she said she is going
to petition that she be baptized. How can a church reject her when she
hasn't rejected them. It's been a long battle and the ward has been
helping her out. Her mom is a member here and wants her to get baptized
just as badly. Susan still has not accepted all our beliefs which make
it hard for us as missionaries to feel that she is ready for baptism.
(She's a feminist and doesn't see why she can't have the priesthood.
Also she doesn't believe in Heavenly Father. She believes in God, but
that "he" is non-gender, neither male or female, and has no body.) Hna
Hammer and I love her and want her to be baptized to receive the
blessings that come from it, but we feel it's not good for us to get her
baptized when her answers don't align to the actual baptismal
questions/interview. Okay so why do I say we might have a baptism next
week? Well, our WML thinks it's not good for us to keep these blessings
from her. The reason we get baptized is to learn and grow our
knowledge. So he called up Pres McAndrews (one of Pres Gelwix
councilors) and talked to him about coming down to do the interview.
They all set the date for next weekend. We will be cramming in all the
lessons these next 2 weeks to get her as prepared as we can. I pray
that she will be ready and accepting, but as the ones with the
stewardship in this ward and calling to be judges in Israel to baptize,
I'm just worried.
Funny story. Tuesday we became dog owners! A dog
followed us home after our run and so we gave it some food and took care
of it for awhile. Hna Hammer gave it a bath and everything. We tried
finding it a home all day, but no one wanted it. We thought we'd get to
keep it after getting approval from Sis Vogel, but when we got home
that night it had ran away. But it was still fun for awhile. Monkey
was mad at us though. :)
The area is getting better. We helped the Elders
this week in going down to Dos Palos for them since they don't have a
car and teaching the investigators down there. When they told us, I
immediately called up the Langs!!!! We went over and visited with them.
Georgetta still wants to get baptized and Slim is still a spiritual
giant of a prankster. They are just incredible people and I just get so
excited to be with them. Hna Hammer was excited to finally meet the
ones I talk about all the time. I also did exchanges this week to
Chowchilla again. I love exchanges, but it also makes me down.
Chowchilla members are really loving. It's hard not to want that in
your own area. But we are getting that more now then we have so I
shouldn't complain. This week the ward has been on edge though after
hearing that Bishop Lee has taken a turn for the worst and is now
hospitalized. Not sure how he is doing or how much longer they say he
has. But we are praying for him and that what ever happens, his family
will be comforted.
This Friday we had a Zone meeting. Our Zone Leaders
talked a lot about the Atonement. It was really powerful and it's made
me realize how appreciative I am of it. We are literally nothing
without the Atonement. Everything we preach and live is because of the
Atonement. Everything relates back to it. Christ's whole purpose was
to Atone for us. We are all here to accept it and believe in Christ.
Hna Hammer and I have made it our goal to teach more of the Atonement
with our investigators and members. If they can see the importance of
that, then they will be more accepting of our message. We also talked
about how we are all Generals here. There are no soldiers, captains, or
other ranks. We are in the highest rankings and need to remember that
always. We watched a video clip called "My Shoes". You will all have
to watch that on YouTube. It made me grateful for my trials and to
accept them and not wish them away.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
- hermana Sorensen
