Hello Family!!
So I got my transfer call and I'm headed to Belfair, WA, aka, the country. My area is about 1.5 hours from one side to the other....I'm getting a Sister named Sister Chapman. I don't really know her, but from what I've heard she's a great missionary so I'm excited. This means though that sadly I'm leaving Parkland. I knew it was happening but it didn't hit me until we were sitting in fast and testimony meeting yesterday and I realized I'm not just leaving another ward on my mission, it's like leaving home again. This ward has seriously become like my family, there are so many people that I know will be friends for life. Now I just have to get better at writing letters so I can stay in contact with them.
One family I love with all my heart is the Pathakis'. Brother and Sister Pathakis were less active when I got to the area, however God had perfectly timed them to come home from a trip to temple square in SLC the Sunday we got there. Since then we have been able to go over weekly and keep Sister Pathakis pumped.
On their trip she realized that she NEEDED to get to the Temple, and she would do whatever was needed. She was baptized10 years ago, and besides the 2 weeks she had quit smoking in order to be baptized, she had smoked for 37 years. I believe today she is 32-37 days without a cigarette, and really without any desire to smoke. She starts her Temple Prep classes on Wednesday, I'm so excited for her. Not only has she been changing her life, but she has been changing the lives of those around her.
Her next door neighbor Rachel has become a dear friend. We were able to attend her wedding which was in the Pathakis' backyard, and since then she has come to us asking about the Gospel. She came to the General Relief Society meeting on Saturday, and then to church on Sunday. She told us yesterday that she just knows its true. Sister Pathakis said during church Rachel just leaned over to her and said, "Renee, It's true." and sister Pathakis said, "what is?" and Rachel said, "This Church, it's all true!" She's getting baptized next Sunday after General Conference and she's so excited. I love when God blesses us with such amazing people. She is married and has a 18 month old son, Felix. We talked about the temple yesterday and she loved it, she's hoping Edgar, her husband, will feel something at her baptism and feel of the truth. He's hispanic and was raised Catholic, so he's a little unsure right now. I hope President Weaver will let me come back for the baptism, I remember last transfer when Sister Downs and I met Rachel for like 2 seconds I said to Sis Downs, "She's going to get baptized, not now, but soon!" I realize now that the spirit allowed me to see that, which allowed me to not be scared when we shared the Gospel with her!
Another family I will love forever is the Ani's. The Senior couple and sis downs and I were able to help bring them back to activity. And I saw on Sunday that Sister Ani is starting Temple Prep classes as well!! I know lots of missionaries hate working with Less-actives and just want baptisms, but I've come to learn just how important it is to do both. I'm just as happy seeing my sister get ready to enter the temple as I am to see a brother or sister of mine be baptized. They're all God's children trying to find a way back.
Sister Staples is a great example as well. The first time sis downs and I met her 3-4 months ago she said she'd never come back to church, and now she is working on getting back to the temple. Yesterday when she found out I was leaving she was crying, and said, you better stay in contact with me. You're invited to my temple wedding when I find the right man! Tears swelled up in my eyes, especially when her little 5 year old grandson walked up with tears in his eyes and said, "Bye, Sister Thomas, we'll miss you!" Man, this ward.....I was balling like a little baby bearing my testimony because everywhere I looked someone was crying. I wish I could move areas and companions, but keep the same ward, why can't that happen? haha! I know it will all be good though, God has a plan, and it's a plan of happiness, so what ever is going to happen, as long as I keep my end of the bargain, I will be full of everlasting Joy!
So, tomorrow, OCT 1, there will be 100 days til my 1 year mark....CRAZY!! I'm starting the downhill slope, and it's starting to go too fast!! Anyway, since there are 100 days I am doing a 100 day Book of Mormon reading challenge! I hope you all do it! It's only 5.3 pages a day, and it will be so fun! Each Monday I'm going to share a little of what I learned, I'd love to hear what you've all learned too! By the end of next Monday you should be around page 37, I'll get a better schedule set up and send it out, I haven't had time to do it yet! I'm going to try to have the week of Christmas be a little less to read a day since it will be crazy busy, so I'm trying to figure it all out!
I hope you all have a great week!! I can't wait to hear more and more fun things from you!! And I can't wait to hear what you all learn from the Book of Mormon!!
I love ALL of you SOOOO MUCH!!!
I love you!
Sister Brittany Thomas
No comments:
Post a Comment