1. Deer DON'T Stop: Last night we
went to a less active's home. We love the Rednours. They live way out in the
sticks. In fact, they live the farthest away from us. But on our way home, it
was dark. I was on the phone with our district leaders getting ready to tell
them our numbers for the week. I saw a deer running toward the road. I said,
"Deer!" But she kept going. She didn't slow down. Then the deer hit
the side of the car. She screamed, and then said, "I thought it would
stop!" I got off the phone with my poor district leader who had heard all
of this. And then I busted up laughing. Deer don't stop for cars. She learned
that one real fast. And then she proceeded to speed home. The car is dented,
but not broken.
2. Judy: Judy is doing ok. I can
tell she is getting tired. I would be too if I was in that situation. I don't
know how she does it. Honestly, I would lose my mind if I was stuck with people
that I didn't want to live with. Ok, I have had that experience, and I almost
did go crazy. But I had ways to escape. She doesn't. She is stuck there. The
car doesn't work most of the time, she has two little kids, and since the
government shut down, she has absolutely no income. Oh, and she can't get a
hold of the lady who was going to get her into housing. So she has no options
right now. But she has decided to get a job. She is has applied to a bunch of
places, and is going to continue until she gets a job. Yesterday we fasted
for her, but I don't know what will happen. We are afraid that it will be more
than she can handle right now. I don't think it will be, but there is always
that fear in the back of my mind. I pray for her all the time. With her, I am
learning patience and long-suffering.
3. Brianna: I finally figured it
out!!! I know why now is not the time. Her grandpa is the branch mission
leader. We have to go to him because he has a special needs son that is hard to
handle. So anyway, we get there and he's not home, but is will be shortly. We
talked to his wife for a while. We got on the subject of Brianna and asked her
how that situation might be able to change. What she thought would help. And as
we were talking, it hit me. She is ready. Her mom is not. For the first time in
20+ years, she is reading the Book of Mormon. For the first time, she is
praying. For the first time, her testimony is being kindled. So, as we talked,
I began to understand that what Brianna needs is for her mom to be in the right
place. I don't think it will be her coming back to church yet, but she Shari is
ready, things will happen really fast. And I wouldn't have been able to get
that revelation without Sister Baier. So with Brianna, I am learning that it's
not always the person, but the people around them.
4. Service: We have been challenged
by our STL (Sister Training Leader) to serve at least one member a day. We have
tried this and found that as we do so, as well as other things, that we are
seeing the Spirit work more here. We randomly had a member call us and tell us
that she'd found a guy who's girlfriend at Duke is a member. They are both from
Malawi? who said he might like to meet with us sometime. So, just by showing
our love and devotion to God's children, we are being directed to more of his
Children. I've leaned that service can make all the difference.
I have learned here in Oxford it's
not always about finding people and then teaching them everything in 3 sit
downs, and then baptizing them. It's about patience, and love, and
sucking-it-up when it hurts. It's about relying on the Lord, and not being
focused on the numbers. It's about serving the members every day, and working
with them. Helping them to understand how to do missionary work. It's about
having love, a pure love, from Heavenly Father for everyone you meet. After
about 3 weeks of being here, I could not go down the street without seeing
people in white. That came from a pure love. I want that back, and the above is
how I will make it happen. I know that as we keep His commandments, ALL OF
THEM, we are blessed. We learn, we grow, and eventually, we can become exalted.
I love this Gospel, and I love
teaching it. There is nothing better. I say this in the Name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Love, Sister Worthen
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