Hey all! Hope all is going well back home! It's been a good week - though, about halfway through, I got sick. I've got this pesky little cold that will put me out of action sometimes. By the evening, I'm pretty much useless to Sister Johnston, which makes me feel bad, but I don't like having to stop in the middle of the day, just so I can keep working at night. It's hard! But, it's good. We've been working hard.
Tuesday evening, an area Seventy came to Port Orchard, and three or four different stakes - specifically the stake council, ward council, ward missionaries, and full-time missionaries - gathered at our stake center and we had an AWESOME training. President Weaver and Elder Bussy - the Seventy - spoke. It was AWESOME!! Elder Bussy talked about that scripture in Doctrine and Covenants that says, "I will hasten my work in its time." And, he said, "Well, it's time." There is SUCH a sense of urgency in the air. The Lord really IS hastening His work. It started about a year ago, when President Monson made that amazing announcement that missionaries could go out younger. And, it's moving forward. And, they made the emphasis on how it's NOT missionary work. It's the Lord's work. So, missionaries and ward members need to be working in unity. There's a link on LDS.org. If you go to resources, click on sharing the Gospel, there's a link on the left that says, "Hastening the Work of Salvation." It's amazing. Missionaries and members need to be working "shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm." Some people are like, "Oh, so nothing has changed." They don't get it. But...hopefully they will soon. I'm excited for General Conference; I'm positive much of it will be about this wonderful work.
On Friday, through a lot of finagling and A LOT of help from the YSA ward, we arranged a short exchange with the sisters in Bremerton. They have a young man they're teaching who would be able to come to the YSA ward, and they said it'd be good for him to know a bit more, so he can decide if he wants to come to the YSA ward or the family ward there in Bremerton. Sister Johnston and I called President Weaver to talk about it, and he approved an exchange. I went to Bremerton - which is just across this body of water...it'd be a lot more convenient to go over there if that water wasn't there - and went with Sister Graves. This is her first transfer, and being with her was so much fun. It made me excited for whenever I get to train - though, I think I'd prefer to followup train...haha. Sister Graves is a hoot. I really have grown to love her - she's in my zone - but that exchange really solidified that love for her. It was so cool to see how, as she was insecure in teaching and as I pushed her because I knew she knew the doctrine, we taught a fantastic lesson! And I was able to encourage her and help her grow in confidence. I hope I get to have that experience with a little greenie of my own! But, it really made me want to train.
Transfers are this week. Sister Johnston is opening up and area and training - pretty much, she's a beast - and I'm staying here in Port Orchard, getting another oldie. My new companion will be Sister Johnson. I'm pretty sure everyone is going to get super confused. I'm excited for this new transfer, to see what will happen. Truthfully, I feel l have not made as much growth this transfer as I should have, and I hope and pray I will be able to make more progress, and accomplish the things that I need to. The Southworth ward is sometimes a hard ward to be in, but I love many of the members there, and I love the YSA ward SO much! The YSAs are so eager and willing to help us - now, we just need to start getting them to give us referrals!
Our teaching pool has kind of shrunk, and we currently don't have anyone on date, but I'm determined to not let that stay the same. I want there to be success in these wards. I want things to progress and grow, and I want these wards to just flourish!
This work is amazing. I hope you all know that. I hope you all experience the incredible joy that can be found from participating in this work. It's beautiful. It's empowering. I don't think I've ever felt stronger, or more confident, or more sure of anything in my life. The Gospel is true and the Atonement is real. I've never been more sure of it. It's the best thing of my life.
I love you guys. Thank you all so much for what you do. I still would like to hear more from you...mail/email-wise, it's been a dry couple of weeks...but, I'm grateful for everything else you have done! Remember who you are - and whose you are! Heavenly Father loves you, and that is one of the most important thing you could know. Love you!
Sister Beth Ann Root!
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