Dear Family and Friends,
I can hardly believe it is already February! I feel like
January FLEW by. I also can not believe I have been here for about four months.
I know it isn't that long but it really surprises me that I have been here in
England, serving a mission, for that long! From the time I have been here I
feel like I haven't made that much progression. As missionaries we are
constantly finding for those who are searching for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Finding those people is so very hard! I feel like for all the time we spend
knocking, street contacting, and bus contacting we should be
teaching a lot more then what we have been. This week I have come to realize
that planting seeds really is so important! That every door we knock on, every
person we talk to isn't a waste at all. It is planting that seed that one day
in the next life they will accept the message of the restored Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Just keep being good examples and plant those seeds! :)
This week wasn't bad at all. We have taught more
lessons this week then what Sister Smith and I have done in the past. This week
we saw David and Pauline again. We read the introduction of the Book of Mormon
with them and they said they would read it. Sister Smith and I realized that we
will have to take things slow with David and Pauline because they aren't really
wanting to be a part of any religion. As we teach them I think they will
understand that the Church of Jesus Christ isn't just 'another church'. We also
taught Syllene. Her progression has been VERY slow. She hasn't had time (so she
says) to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. We brought a member with us
to the appointment and she and I think she is starting to see the importance of reading
to gain a testimony. Hopefully we will see her this week. (Cross your
fingers please.)
Sister Smith and I were knocking one day, and this 16 year
old girl let us in! Her name is Nikitia. When we met her she was curious in
knowing if there was a God. We talked about prayer and how we can find out
through prayer to know if there is a God. She seemed very interested in the
message we shared. We had an appointment with her yesterday (Sunday 1 February)
but sadly she flogged. This week Sister Smith and I will go over to her house
and try to teach her again.
On Friday, a less-active member (Gwyneth) from the ward
invited Sister Smith and I to her friend's birthday party. At this birthday
party we met a woman named Joey. We talked a lot about what we believe in and
she ended up telling Sister Smith and I her life's story. She has had a hard
life. She cried on our shoulders as she was under a lot of stress. The next day
Gwyneth gave us a call and ask if we could head over to her place because Joey
needed someone to talk to. We talked to Joey for a long time until Gwyneth
suggested in getting a priesthood blessing. We called the Elders and they gave her
a blessing. The spirit was so strong and Joey was comforted after that
. I am excited
to see Joey again. I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ can bless her life.
Sorry this week was a long letter! Sister Smith and I had
the most successful week yet! Thank you for all your support, emails, and
letters. I love you all!
Until next week,
Sister Garrett
