Fwd: Jayne's Jump, Families, & Fasting

Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2015 at 12:20 PM

Subject: Jayne's Jump, Families, & Fasting

Hey yall! 

I've gotten to experience some great miracles this week in the mission field. There has also been some opposition. I've had a cough and congestion for two weeks, and I ran a fever for a couple days. We've had some important appointments fall through. A recent convert I dearly love told us she doesn't want to come to church or see us anymore, so we're trying to help her with that. We've struggled to know we're using the Lord's time most effectively, sometimes. But, in the midst of growing and learning and hurting and blowing noses, I've had some truly miraculous experiences I want to share.

#1 Finding Families

We've had an emphasis recently in our mission on planning and setting goals by the Spirit, so this week in our weekly planning session, we set goals for this upcoming transfer (the next five weeks). We started by talking about our visions and dreams individually-- what we hope to accomplish on our missions. We found that both of us have a strong desire to teach families. So, in faith, we set the goal of finding, teaching, and putting one family on date, among other goals. We then broke down each goal into weekly goals, and incorporated those into our weekly plans. We felt strongly that these goals were inspired.

We saw a miracle, particularly regarding families, the day afterwards! We had blocked out two hours Saturday morning to go tracting, because that's an excellent time to find families at home.We went to the first of three streets we'd felt good about on our map the night before. We headed out to the first street, only to find about four houses on the whole long stretch, several blocked off anyway. No good. 

We drove to street two. Same thing. Two houses-- one blocked off, and the other didn't answer. 

Between a few coordination phone calls we'd had to make, and driving time, it had been nearly an hour and we'd knocked only one door and with no reply. 

I was getting frustrated. I wanted to make good use of the Lord's time, especially on a Saturday morning, and we hadn't talked to anyone. We headed to street three close by, which was just a dinky little culdesac with five or six duplexes in it. "This won't last us very long. Maybe we should just go somewhere else," I said to Sister Rowley. She, with more faith and patience than I, suggested we stay and tract it anyway since we'd felt good about it the night before. I'd forgotten that I had felt particularly good about this little street. So, we prayed, and started knocking. 

In that little culdesac, we found two engaged couples who were ready to hear the gospel. First we met Vince. He was thoughtful when we shared the Restoration with him, and he's been looking for a church to go to with his girlfriend. He's a sweet, homegrown, country bumpkin sort of fellow-- with good morals and a humble heart. He and his girlfriend read devotionals daily together. Before we left, he said, "Are you sure I haven't met yall before? I swear I've seen yall around...it just feels like I just ran into old friends." 

"That's quite possible," we smiled. Hopefully we'll teach them this week!

The second couple, Kiki and Alex, both came out on their front porch after we knocked. When we said who we were, they said, "We're lost." They continued, "Today is just one of those days for us when you wonder how God could really be there with all these terrible things going on. We need all the help we can get." When we testified of the reality of God and His love, Kiki started crying and they both listened attentively. The Spirit was so strong. I know we were led directly to their homes to share the gospel with them! I believe that the timing was precise, too-- we had set goals in faith the day before to find people like them. Then the Lord answered our prayers because of our faith and His goodness. 

Last night, we taught yet another family who was referred to us by another set of sisters. David and Mandy just moved to the subdivision behind our apartment complex. We taught David last night about the Book of Mormon, and how God will answer prayers and lead him in the right direction. At the end of the lesson, we invited him and Mandy to kneel down and pray with us. David offered a sweet, humble prayer. He asked Heavenly Father to give him a sign to help him understand if the Book of Mormon is true or not, and if this is the direction he needs to take his family in. There was a spirit of peace in that room. They're engaged to be married too, and David has two kids-- ages 7 and 14-- who live there, as well. Coincidence that a family moves in and we teach them, right after we set goals to? I think not! I love Heavenly Father! He's so good at answering prayers! 

#2 Jayne makes the Jump!

If that isn't enough, we had a HUGE miracle with our Jewish investigator, Jayne!!! She has severe anxiety, the last time we extended a date to work towards for baptism, it was too overwhelming. But this week, we felt impressed to invite her to be baptized on April 18th. I was nervous, but when we prayed, we felt reassured that it was the right thing to do. 

We had a good lesson, and at the end, we told her how much we loved her and had been praying for and about her, and we had felt like God was telling us that she was ready to accept a baptismal date. She simply said, "Sure." That took us by surprise! "I know this is the right path, and April 18th is as good a day as any," she said. She has a long way to go with understanding and believing all the doctrine, but she has made remarkable progress over the last several months. God is healing her illness slowly and giving her the strength and courage to move forward. She came to an activity last night, and is planning on church this week. I KNOW Heavenly Father knows perfectly the hearts of each of His children. I saw that in action with Jayne this week!

#3 Fasting Works

Last week was fast Sunday, and we had invited our investigator Angela to fast with us. She's trying to get a better living situation and has been struggling to quit smoking. She agreed to fast with us, even though it would be difficult with her health issues. 

The next day, she texted us and said her head was pounding from not eating, and she didn't get the insights she was looking for. Sister Rowley and I had planned to fast for her again on Wednesday, so we encouraged her to keep looking for answers to her fast that may come in unexpected ways. When we fasted on Wednesday, I tried to have the best attitude ever about it! I know fasting works, but complaining about how hungry I am can't be contributing to my faith. So I made sure my attitude was a good one. We found ourselves feeling just fine the whole day. We even had extra energy to teach and tract and whatever else we needed to do. 

Angela's blessings came a few days later. A wonderful member couple, the Rodriguez's, had a room available to rent in their home-- and Angela will be moving in by the end of the month! The real miracle is that at first, her son-- who's financially supporting her right now-- originally said no to the arrangements. He didn't want to pay the asking price. But later that night, he called Angela and said, "We can make it work. Go ahead and tell the Rodriguez's we can take their room." Her son's heart was softened, and I believe it was due to our faith in our fast. 

Because of her health, she hasn't been able to attend in several weeks, but she was able to make it to church yesterday! During sunday school, a member asked a question-- and Angela was able to answer it for him. That was something special to see! She also made some insightful comments in Relief Society. She fits in beautifully at church. :) I'm so glad to see miracles like this happen so often!

Those are just a few of the miracles I've seen this week in the misson field. I know this is the Lord's church. I know Heavenly Father has a plan for every single one of His children-- each of us-- and I know as a missionary, I get to share that with people every day! I love what I do! I know that miracles don't just happen in Georgia (even if we do get a little extra than everyone else ;) ). I know when we have gratitude for our circumstances, whatever they are, then God can open our eyes to the miracles around us and we can participate in them, too. 

Have a wonderful week!

Just peachy,

Sister Taylor