By Small and Simple Things

Villawood week #14

Hey yous!

Wonderful week. We finished our last pday strong at Sharon's, and have been in contact with her daily ever since. She is the suicidal cat lady. But seriously, I feel so much sympathy and true charity whenever we visit her. I will admit, the phone calls daily are very emotionally draining but going over and seeing her light up, and washing 20 plus cat bowls and kitty litters make me feel like I am serving as the Savior would serve. Of course, we had to draw the line with her when she started rolling her own fag (cig) so we wouldn't be second hand smoking!

We FINALLY had a translator for our golden Vietnamese investigator Wen who has come to church the last 5 weeks in a row. And don't worry, we have confirmed that she is indeed golden and is on date now for September 30th! Just can't have that member from the neighboring stake come to church with her every Sunday (She speaks her language to her so if she can’t be there, she doesn’t want to come) we will have to tackle that with her but she is incredible. Speaking of dates though, Helen has been MIA and the member that referred her to us only told us to keep her in our prayers and to visit... but not teach her anymore... yet.... hmmm. She will come around! And our golden Rochelle has still been super sick so a priesthood blessing this Thursday!

Wednesday was Zone Conference with the Backs. It was super inspiring... and fun. I love them so much. It shocked me at MLC yesterday when they said they've "already" been here for 8 weeks.... haha But all the sisters in the zone did a musical number. Mind you that sister Pagnin and I are the only two palangi (white) sisters... so we sang a song we didn't know the tune of, and a verse in Tongan and Samoan.... yeah 10 min of practice before was not enough. EPIC FAIL. On my part at least - But Sister Pagnin gave an amazing talk on the power of prayer and I gave a so-so talk on the atonement and me as a missionary. I felt super fancy solely on the reason I quoted scriptures all throughout mixed in with my transitions like the general authorities too.  It is the little things that make me happy :)

But President gave a great training on faith and obedience. I loved getting extra insight on D&C 123:12-17. So many are blinded because Satan is so sneaky and literally tries to trap us. People need the truth and need to know where and how to find it (that's our job) and that is why I want to "waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness" and man, let me tell you. Going to bed tired everyday is a good feeling! And this duty should be attended to with "great earnestness" and the biggest trap is when we think something is small. "let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity (in the future. our decisions now will determine it), pertaining to the saints, which depends on these things. Once we justify something as being small, we get ourselves in trouble and the sails of our ship, or tracks of our train will lead us in a different direction to where we'd never thought we'd end up. But when we cheerfully do all that lies in our power, we can stand still and see the miracles of God. I love working my tail off and being busy busy yet still taking the still and quiet moments to pause and reflect on all the miracles that are happening.

I also went out with an amazing member that joined the church a few years back. She was telling me how she did sales one time and after trying a few doors with me said "GIRL! YOU WOULD SELL!" So I'm going to call this revelation if any of my mates want to move to Tennessee with me after next semester and sell pest control or alarms and sneak some Restoration pamphlets in there at the same time, just let me know ;)

Great exchange with Hermana Perez (Spanish speaking Sister missionary)! If singing in Tongan and Samoan wasn't enough of a reason I'm called to speak English this day was another one. But highlight was attending their Relief Society activity (all in Spanish) where an investigator I found with her companion two transfers ago was there and a less active we talked to that morning WHO FINALLY TAUGHT ME HOW TO ROLL MY R'S!! Do you know how many years I have tried? And yes, it is caught on video :) #bestdayever Oh and Aunt Heather, did you have Mate on your mission? I tried it and they said it was Argentinian. Or Hermana Hill if you are out there reading this?

Then I had the most amazing exchange in Prairiewood with Sister Suli. She has totally stepped up and is an amazing trainer. We had a "Just Do It!" day and I think Nike should sponsor me for it because it was just that good. We didn't ignore a single prompting and talked to EVERYONE. It was amazing. Oh and I out ate her 3 times (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and have been reminded that both my stomach and my laugh is Polynesian. Maybe this is why divine inspiration sent me to Australia!

Placed heaps of Book of Mormons though. Our Persian investigators Maria and Milad that came to church 2 Sundays ago (He is Christian, she is Muslim) finally accepted a Book of Mormon in Persian. It took a while to communicate with language barrier it was not the Holy Bible or Koran. Placed another one with a dodgy investigator in Arabic. And then re-knocked on their neighbors door that are now our new investigators, also from the Middle East!!! And Sharon also accepted a Book of Mormon given to her personally from Sister Adreanna, the inspired fellowship we found last week!

Yesterday at MLC craziest small world! The emotional and mental health psychologist and his wife, Sister Taylor, from the area came to talk to us and Sister Taylor just ran into a newly called Stake President in Utah and his wife at the airport...Uncle Chad and Aunt Jenny! They told them their niece was serving in Australia. I'll attach a pic!

(Sister Taylor that ran into my Aunt and Uncle at the airport at MLC)

But the work is amazing. The gospel is amazing. It is by small and simple things that great things are brought to pass. Never think any small effort to invite or serve is wasted. I was reading maybe one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon this morning, Alma 5 and it mentions twice that it is by way of invitation... to come unto Him and to accept the blessings of the gospel that I know the Lord is longing to grant us as we do our best to follow Him. Love you all and have the best week ever!

Ofa Atu, 
Sister Rushing 

(Sister Haynes, the wonderful sister at the office who goes home next week!)