spiritual slapping

If I could sum this week up into a few words, I'd say that it was a week to be taught.  So many great things happened this week!   We taught more lessons than we have any other week since I've been in this area and got to meet so many new people!  We also had so much member involvement which was fantastic!  To top it all of, the chapel was PACKED.   We had multiple less actives come again and had four investigators at church! We were surely blessed this week.

I witnessed once again the importance of members.  We've been stuck with our investigators Tammy and Andrew for the last few weeks and we felt impressed to take one of our members to teach with us to see Tammy's husband, Kim (who is a member) while she was at work.  Our intentions were to have the member give him a "spiritual slapping" and that's exactly what he did!  I'd actually call it more of a spiritual punching, but whichever works. (A little background; Kim can't provide for his family because of health problems which causes depression and is basically dying from heart failure) The member basically told him that he obviously can't be the financial provider anymore, but it's his job to be the spiritual provider in the home and he is failing drastically.    Exact words, "You can either sit in the corner and rock your life away or you can die trying to help yourself and your family."  It was so intense!! I was clinging on the edge of my seat the entire lesson but the spirit was so strong, that his boldness only shook him up enough to make him do something .  Kim is already being more of a positive influence for his family. 

There were so many other instances this week where the members made all the difference in our teaching. Sometimes I even think they're here to just teach me! 

 I've gained such a strong testimony of personal revelation and how the spirit truly works. As I was able to attend zone conference this week, I really prepared myself by coming with questions so that I could better be prepared to receive personal revelation and I surely did.  It's not about what is said, but what is heard and felt.  Enthusiasm and the fire of missionary work and working with members seemed to be a pretty big theme. Missionary work is seriously so exciting and it's my job to help the members realize that.  Hey, so you should be stoked about it, okay? Oh, and I guess I should mention that I'll be getting transferred this week.  It was completely unexpected and a pretty big shock, but I'm grateful for all the time I've spent here in Watauga, and excited for the many changes to come! 

Until next week... LOVE YOU!

Sister Thiriot

I love being a missionary

So, I'll just start off by letting you know that my companion Sister Walser is still alive.  She is obsessed with football and didn't know if she would make it through the super bowl but I did my best to make her feel at home by buying her a lot of junk food and turning on "The District."  She said it wasn't quite the same but she was grateful for the attempt anyway.  

Meet Sister Walser 

School has been out for 3 solid weeks here in Elizabethton and our mission went as far as taking a snow day.  We weren't aloud to drive our cars so Sister Walser and I hit the shops (AKA. Walmart) to try and find people to talk to!  It was somewhat of a success.  I had no idea a little bit of snow and some black ice could really make a city shut down!  We're praying for better weather this week so we can get something down.  

Week 10 of having no one at church.  We were both kind of getting frustrated, especially because we felt like we literally did everything within our power to stress the importance of church, get our investigators rides, etc. and still, no one came.  We were laying in bed last night and Sister Walser says, "Sister Thiriot, do you realize how many less-actives we have reactivated since I've been here?" In the past 3 weeks, we have had 4 less-actives come every single week solidly.  I guess it went right along with what Elder L. Tom Perry came and talked to us about this week.  (That's right.  He came and spoke to our mission this week)  He stressed the importance of our less-active work and how important it is that the Ward council step it up to help the missionaries and ward become more unified.   We have high hopes as both the missionaries and the ward takes steps of action in helping this marvelous work further along and excited to see the results! 

Agency is frustrating and although many of our investigators seem to be using it unwisely, I was in the middle of a lesson with one of the families we were teaching and even though they didn't keep any of their commitments and were listing off multiple excuses, I just felt so much love for these people and that is truly the hardest part of it all!  I'm just praying that I will know how I can better help these people that the Lord has placed in my path.

I wish I had time for more because there is so much more to say.  I love being a missionary.  I'm sure you haven't heard that before.

LOVE YOU
XOXOX, Sister Thiriot