Happy Saturday to my favorite people!! I hope this beautiful September day is treating ya'll well!
Once again, this week was a fantastic one. And once again, it has changed my life.
On
Monday we got together as a Zone and played our usual dodge ball game
against the other Tally Zone, so that was super fun! (I am an absolutely
horrible dodge ball player, and mostly just stand behind the elders...
so it's great!) In one of the games I ended up being the last person in
on my team, go figure, and actually caught the ball which meant that all
my team was back in! GO ME! haha I not only surprised myself, but my
whole team was shocked! it was awesome!
On
Tuesday, one of our "regulars" (someone we see ALL the time on campus
but isn't interested in the gospel) said to me, "Baby, you go out there
and kick Satan's rear!" After a little giggle, she began telling us
about an experience she had had and how much she loves Jesus, then
turned to me again and said, "Baby, Jesus is smokin hot. SMOKIN HOT."
What is that even supposed to mean?! TALLAHASSEE MAN. It's another
world!
Wednesday we got to be a part of
transfers! Luckily, I'm staying here on TCC with Sister Wood, but it was
super fun getting to see all the changes being made throughout the
mission and meeting all of the new sisters! Transfers are held in
Crestview, so it was a long day of driving, but we had a really fun
time. We even passed through Holmes County!
On
our way there, the bike that was hooked onto the back of our car
started coming off the bike rack on the freeway, so we pulled over and I
was putting it back on, and this SUPER nice guy pulled over and helped
us! Faith in humanity was restored! So that was pretty exciting! He gave
us three bungee cords... I don't know what we are going to do with them
now, but we were super grateful!
We taught
lots and lots of lessons this week, and it was super awesome. We also
got a few new investigators that we are excited about! It was a really
great week!
We also got to teach Dena and
Hannah again this week. I'M SO OVERWHELMED WITH GRATITUDE. Those lessons
are the most powerful lessons I have ever experienced. On Monday we
reviewed Alma 32 with them and answered some concerns that Dena had had,
but then last night we were able to teach about the Plan of Salvation.
(side note: this is my favorite lesson to teach.) Dena was so sweet and
offered to feed us dinner as well! She bought us Chik-fil-a (SCORE!) and
we talked and laughed and had a really good time! Then, we began the
lesson. As soon as we started, the spirit filled the room. She always
has incredible questions and has truly been striving to understand. As
we walked through the Plan with her, her countenance continued to
change, and her heart was being softened. We really focused on baptism
as we got to the Earth Life. This is something she has had concerns
about and not fully understood, so we wanted to help her know why it was
so important. It was amazing. As we progressed through and finally
finished, there were lots of tears, lots of love, and lots of prayers
answered. We truly experienced a miracle as Dena expressed to us her
feelings and concerns, but SHE KNOWS. She knows it is true! And she
WANTS IT. I can't express how amazing it was. I have NEVER felt the
spirit like I did last night. I keep saying that, but it was a very
humbling, eye opening experience for me. To see a mother and a daughter
talk about being an eternal family one day was one of the most beautiful
moments I have ever been a part of.
I am so
grateful for this gospel, for the Plan of Salvation, and for eternal
families. I have been so overcome with the spirit the last week.
Miracles DO happen. When you exercise your faith and go to work,
miracles follow.
To end, I want to leave you with a poem my sweet mission president, President Smith shared with us.
"Down
shadowy lanes, across strange streams Bridged over by our broken
dreams; Behind the misty caps of years, Beyond the great salt fount of
tears, The garden lies. Strive as you may, You cannot miss it in your
way. All paths that have been, or shall be, Pass somewhere through
Gethsemane. All those who journey, soon or late, Must pass within the
gardens gate; Must kneel alone in darkness there, And battle with some
fierce despair. God pity those who cannot say, Not mine but thine, who
only pray, Let this cup pass, and cannot see The purpose in Gethsemane."
Peace 'n Blessins!
:) Sister Holmes
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