Safe in Belconnen

Week 12 Belconnen

I'M STAYING!  Yes, it is a miracle with how many new sisters were coming in. The Lord needs me here and it is so apparent because there were so many miracles this week. Our district leader, who is just the best, so nice and from South America, who never gets our jokes, totally got us when he said all 4 were training and shot-gunning a new area- so pack our bags (which I already started packing). But we heard the good news when Sis. Holtz and I were BBQ-ing it up with Sussanah and her family when we found out the good news. So that was exciting to have some family away from home to celebrate with. We all were screaming quite loud.

Our ward is also getting a set of elders, so 3 sets in one ward. Last transfer a sister split the area by suburbs but we were told by our zone leaders we were all called to this ward, not to specific suburbs and that we need to open up our area because that won't work with three sets (heck it didn't work with 2- we were tracking all day with no investigators last transfer, while there was a big pile of former investigators we couldn’t contact). So we are really excited to dig into the HUGE amount of former investigators, start checking out other suburbs and move around people to what missionaries will work the best with them. We are handing over some of our investigators to the elders and even some to the other sisters, because everyone works better with different personalities and backgrounds. So I see huge success this transfer for the Belconnen ward, which I love so much and am so happy to stay a part of.

NATIONAL ZOO. Well it was kind of small but GREAT. I petted, played with, posed with, and literally hopped with kangaroos and little joeys. I saw a koala bear, touched a snake, and woke up a sleeping lion when all four of us started singing some Lion King. Best p-day yet.

STREET NAMES. Dumas (I was so excited when sisters called to ask where we were and being able to say, Why do you ask Dumas?) Blackbutt. And then heaps of names... found a Kennedy St. Cassidy Cl. and Kerrigan St. Will have to get a pic of the Kennedy one (obviously) and the Kerrigan one for my sweet cousin!

HEART ATTACKING. We have been heart-attacking heaps of members, less actives, investigators and random people. We got caught twice. And one time were even chased with a golf club.

EMBARASSING MOMENT. Peed at a random house. It had to happen sooner or later. Tracking in a new suburb.... after we drank a whole bottle of fizzy for lunch at Nandos (YES. THE NANDOS WE HAD IN LONDON NANDOS, to celebrate our great week and baptismal date.. read below)

MIRACLES. Well as I said before, we have had heaps of success with the Sudanese... one leads to another. We now are teaching the 4th person of contact and as of this last week, her husband. We casually gave a church address to her husband and got a call 10 minutes after church started on Sunday wanting directions. He came to church, then after church we met with his wife.  He accepted a baptismal date for end of November, and that night he brought his 2 oldest kids to the cottage evening (like a family home evening with some people in the ward).

Then we stopped by our older Spanish investigator, and he was so happy we came. He said he was too nervous to call because he really likes what he is reading. He also came to church Sunday, but was down with a bad cough, so he just stayed in the hall with the ward mission leader who said it was the coolest thing bearing his testimony to him in Spanish (his mission language). He loved church and the fellowship there and wants to come back next week. Then yesterday we ran into him and his wife on a bus. About 10 more words of Spanish came back to me as well #giftoftongues

Also, Miro from the ward is the best. She went out with us Sunday to do heaps of visits, with a member present (our lacking key indicator by far) and drive us around everywhere too, which is a huge blessing. Unfortunately we can't get the parent's permission from our 16 year-old investigator, with the strict Hindu parents, but seeds were most definitely planted.

Then as simple as it is, we had my favorite lesson with another Sudanese investigator. She was reading Matthew 5 in Dinka and we would follow and reread favorite verses in English. The spirit was so strong. We need Dinka Books of Mormon! We left her to try to read 3 Nephi 12 in English since it is so similar to Matthew 5 :)

MAIL. Also we got mail brought down to us last night. Grandma CC, Kate and Will... y'all are great. I will post those replies today. So if you want your mailbox to have a cool letter from Australia as well, you know what to do to make this missionary's day... ;)

Yes, I got swooped again and it hit my helmet. even with the antennas on it!

FEELING GOOD. I feel like things really are going to pick up this transfer. The witness comes after the trial of your faith and the fruit has been growing. After getting maybe 3-5 lessons a week last transfer (this is why y'all need to give referrals, not just let your missionaries track) we have been at about 15 a week and last week reached our mission standard of excellence of 20. I am so thankful to still be in this area. I have loved being able to finally teach and build relationships with so many wonderful people and see the gospel change their lives for the better. There is work to do. Thanks for the prayers and support. Y'all are the best. Love yous! The church is true!

Sister Rushing :)