Hello family and friends!! This week has been amazing!
From getting peed on by a frog, to washing horses, I think I can truthfully say that this area is awesome!
When we got to the apartment late Sunday night, we were surprised to walk into a hot stinky mess! Our apartment ceiling was falling down, and coated in mold. It reeked of animal feces, and there was grime that coated every surface. It was a mess! We had no food, and when we turned on the faucet, the water came out brown.
When we finally logged into the Area Book Planner, once again we were shocked. There was no one in our Area book! We were teaching no one, and there was no potentials for us to reach out to.
We prayed day and night for a miracle. We walked everywhere with a Book of Mormon in hand, hoping to find someone who would be interested in hearing a message, but rejection after rejection led us to wonder why we had even been called to this area.
Over the course of this week, we reached out to 86 members and finally found someone who accepted our offer of service.
They let us feed and wash their horses!
Now, you may be thinking: what are missionaries who aren't teaching anyone, and who cant go knocking doors supposed to do?
Good question! We have been working on creating Facebook posts, calling every member in our ward directory, going on frequent walks, talking to every person who crosses our path, and loads of SERVICE!
After praying almost hourly to find someone to teach, we decided to go on a run at a track by our apartment. It was about 7:30p.m. Saturday night; we got dressed in running clothes, and made our way over to the college track.
There, we ran by this man a who made a comment to us each time we passed about having a blessed day, or to just keep running. Eventually he commented on the shirt I wore which said "Y'all need Jesus".
Sister Stephen's and I kept moving around the track, but we agreed that if he passed us again, we would stop and talk to him.
As we came around the track, we spotted him as he walked to his truck and got in.
I turned to Sister Stephens and smiled before bolting to this man in his truck.
He rolled down his window as I jogged over.
"Hello sir!" I called "We felt prompted to ask you a question. Do you have a minute?"
He nodded, and I asked him how God has blessed his life.
He told us his story of how he has come to know the savior, and when his story was finished, we taught a simple principle of how much god loves each one of us. We exchanged numbers, and set up another time that we could call him and study from the bible. His name is Steve, and he was our miracle!
I know God hears our prayers! He places people in our path so we can bless them. Sometimes, we have to run to them, other times we may kneel to meet them where they are, but we have been called to find those who god has prepared. Not only those who are set apart with a badge on their chest are considered Missionaries. You can be a missionary!
I know God has a plan for each of us, and even if I have to run 100 miles, I will go where he wants me to go!
I hope you each had an amazing week filled with miracles of your own!
Pictures (sorry I always forget this part... haha)
*Sister Stephens and I on a walk
*Sister Stephens and I washing the dirty door
*A member brought us pizza!
*moldy ceiling
*What a burger!
*Feeding horses (The horse went to eat some hay, and he got it all over his head!)
*Snow cone shack to celebrate Sister Stephens 5 month mark!
*Me.
*Running the day we found Steve! :)
*grimy house!
*back to church!! (With masks)
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| At Church again with masks |
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| Dirty apartment in Alvin |
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| Sister Stephens & Elgaaen jogging |
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| molding falling down ceiling in Alvin, Texas |
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| Pizza from a member for Sister's Elgaaen & Stephens |
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| Sister Elgaaen & Stephens |
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| Sister Elgaaen & Stephens |
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| Sister Elgaaen |
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| Sister Stephens and Elgaaen What a Burger |
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| Celebrating Sister Stephens 5 month mark |
