Hello Loved Ones!!
This week has resulted in so many challenges and blessings.
Last Sunday Sister Norin woke up in a lot of abdominal pain, and after a trip to a GP in Aberdeen, they told her that she had an infection, so they gave her antibiotics. She tried to work through the pain, but she was just miserable, and exhausted quickly. So we had to retreat and rest--really not much else we could do. Now the test results say no infection. Not positive what the problem really is.
But what was interesting was how when we tried to work through it, everything was insane and dropped and was really hard... but when we took time to rest, the Lord made up the difference and brought us miracles!
Several weeks ago now, this girl named Gemma came up to us when we were waiting for a bus on high st. and asked us when church started on Sunday! Sis. Norin met her again later the same day when she was on exchanges and we set a time to meet with her, but then she had to cancel, and we were out of contact with her for forever after that... until Friday when she texted us and asked when she and her friend should be at church! She AND her friend Georgia came (for all 3 hours!), and they are both so prepared! Georgia met missionaries in Japan, and went to church with her friend who was investigating--even attended her baptism! It really made her want it for herself! She is moving to Oman though!! Flip! Och well, we'll refer her to Skype missionaries :) Gemma went to church every Sunday growing up, went to sunday school and everything, even helped out with sunday school after she grew out of it. But then when she started university she stopped, and then visited her old church years later and it wasn't the same--so she's been floating around with nowhere she feels at home at this point. But craziness, she had somehow found the Gospel Library to download the Bible on her phone--which then included the Book of Mormon and she had read bits of it!! WHAT??!! Miracles happen. All the time. Hopefully they progress! They both (seperately) accepted the Soft Challenge--to be baptised when they know its true! It was so good!
Other miracles that happened this week: We met an interesting guy named Gary who CHANGED so much after talking with us! He wouldn't give us his number, but he tried to refer us to his partner and her daughter. That didn't work out, but I think Gary believes in God now.
So President Donaldson served in our area (as a young full-time missionary) and he had some assignments for us, one of which was locating a less-active, Sarah, he taught and baptised when she was 8/9, who was no longer on our records. WELL the Spirit totally led me to look at the old elder's area book, at formers ((thinking, yeah, totally can find someone to teach)) well, one of them mentioned the investigator was found living at a less-active's address ((It was Sarah's mum!)) and he was her grandson, living there with his mum. I knew that if it had Joan's ((Sarah's mum)) name on it--we had to follow up, so this detective work led us to an address--we chapped---SARAH ANSWERED!! And she was so so sweet! She had so many fond memories of elders and church members from when she was a child--she remember feeling the Spirit and a change in herself when she bore her testimony at a stake event. She went less-active when her mum stopped going. It was heaven-sent timing. She was so good and I'm really hoping that we can bring her back!
Something I really have learned from "The Highly Effective Missionary" and President Donaldson is how actively we must be INVITING. and that means Boldly inviting them to make commitments that will lead to covenants. WE CAN do more--by working smarter, rather than pushing the same old approaches that land on deaf ears. Changing habits and getting out of our comfort zones will make it possible to depend on the Lord and His Spirit more--and They will convert the people--not us. The Lord has prepared so many people, the Spirit is with them and with us. He'll make it all possible. I know there is still someone I'm meant to walk the Lord's path with to their gate unto the strait and narrow path. If the Spirit and the Lord is working for us--we have to do our part by Boldly inviting and warning the people we meet. There is much to do. Miracles are happening everyday!
Keep Tracy in your prayers--we're inviting her make and keep commitments and to enter unto the strait and narrow. It will mean sacrifice, but so many blessings! Pray that she'll understand and desire and ACT.
So yeah. CrAzY week. Missions are weird. But the Lord loves us so so much. He is hastening His work here, and we are trying to lengthen our stride! The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. But that's what Christ's grace is for. We need all the prayers we can get!
I love you all. Remember your Heavenly Father loves you more!!!
Always lovingly yours,
Sister Mary Ann Kirkpatrick
"Hurrah for Israel!"
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