Prayer has been the theme of my week. I felt chastised earlier this last week...God helped me see I haven't been praying very seriously or sincerely in my personal prayers, and I have been working on that. Right after I studied that, we talked about the SAME pages in district meeting later that morning! Definitely what God wanted me to know this week!
I'm working on being more loving, proactive about working, and more service oriented. I think God approves of my goals-- I'm getting better at all these things as I pray about them! I'm so grateful God answers prayers.
Miracle #1: Speaking of prayers, Sister Buhler and I had some incredible experiences with prayer. The miracle of the pie was simple, but probably my favorite. On Thanksgiving, we ate with a family, but as we thought we had another dinner lined up, we left before they brought out desserts. Our second dinner fell through, so we continued with our planned visits. Sister Buhler especially wished that we could have had some pumpkin pie-- it's such a sweet reminder of home. So, in one of our prayers, we asked that if it were God's will, we would really like some pie for Thanksgiving.
We went ahead to our last visit at a member's home. They had asked us about why we came out on missions (two completely un-food-related stories), and when we finished, the sister said out of the blue, "Have you two had dessert yet?"
"No..." we said, caught off guard.
"Well, I have four extra pies sitting in my kitchen, would you like some?"
Sister Buhler and I just looked at each other and laughed in disbelief. We explained our surprise to the family-- we had prayed for pie, and unexpectedly, here she had offered some! Long story short, we enjoyed pumpkin pie that night, photographed the event, and thanked God for the sweet tender mercy. I'm sure it seems small, but it was a sweet (no pun intended) testimony that God does care about the little things. God has certainly been looking out for us.
Miracle #2! A member set up an appointment for us unexpectedly with a girl our age named Devan who's dating a member, and the lesson was hosted at a member's house. We had the member couple, two of Devan's best friends (members, one a recent convert), her boyfriend (putting in his mission papers), and us there. Teaching a lesson with her member friends in a member home made SUCH a difference!! It was incredible! The Spirit was so strong, and the members had such wonderful experiences to share. Devan cried some, and so did several of us. I know she felt the Spirit, and I have never felt it that strongly in a lesson. We invited her to be baptized, and after resolving her concerns, on the third invitation she accepted. I don't want to do a first lesson any differently ever again! My testimony of member presence and teaching in members' homes was so strengthened.
Miracle #3: You know the "God helped me find my keys" stories everyone has? Totally happened, and it was amazing. It was a dark night, we climbed out of the car, and I heard my nametag and magnet fall to the ground. Sister Buhler and I rummaged through the leaves in the gutter, looked under the car, on the grass, and we couldn't find the magnet anywhere. I suggested we say a prayer. "That's the fastest way to find it," I said laughing. We prayed, and we both felt impressed to look under the car. There it was, sitting by the tire! We laughed and thanked God for answering our prayer so quickly and clearly. It was one of those little things that reminds you how much God loves you.
Miracle #4: We met this guy, Morgen, who's 27 and a rapper/hip hop artist/photographer, while tracting and he was super open to our message. To everything we said, he said "Yeah, I believe that." We're hopefully meeting with him this weekend. We felt led to that street, and I think he's the reason why. Miracle!
Sister Buhler and I are working extra hard to make miracles happen in the John's Creek Ward. Our obedience is good, we aren't perfect but it's a constant priority effort. I'm getting a small taste of the great joy I know missionaries feel when they help others come unto Christ.
Merry Christmas!
Sister Christa Taylor
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