Transfer week and Sister Pagnin and I are staying! No shocker there but they did release some STLs to train because people are losing the vision of how important the role of trainer is. I loved training so much. So I'm at a toss if I want to die in the beautiful Villawood ward with Sister Pagnin or die in the outback of orange training my last two transfers. haha But Heavenly Father will know best right?! Wow though....after this it is just 2 transfers. That literally freaks me out. I just said goodbye to Sister Davis yesterday, until her wedding Dec. 30th... yeah, I actually am going to be a bridesmaid and her "honorary" maid of honor.
But back to this INCREDIBLE week...Wednesday I was on exchange with the beautiful Sister Burgress.
I love this Tahitian sister SO MUCH. She is so selfless, she even let our Persian investigator wax her "moostache" because our investigator got reeeeeeally excited about it. It was hilarious. And then she even threaded my eyebrows. That was an interesting experience. Walking out of that appt I was just laughing and Sister Burgress told me we must baptize her so losing her "moostache" was all worth it. And don't worry, it was! Maria, her husband Milad and baby all came to the first 2 hours of church on Sunday!
Thursday we had exchange with the Samoan sisters. They are so good. We cover the best language sisters in the mission (ok, I might be a little bias) but we spent the morning at the mission office for a massive interview for some other samoan sisters previously in their area that were abusing their phone privileges. I love President Back though and his choice of scriptures "If you love me, keep my commandments" and "wo be unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell." Gotta have a sense of humor right? But once we got out of that we had a great day. haha
I was with Sister Fotualii for the day though who use to be my Sister Training Leader (i told you we have the best sisters) and I have always looked up to her so much as a leader and have tried to be like her, she is incredible.We taught the most golden investigator Mano that wants to know how he can see his wife again and what he needs to do. We pretty much taught all of the Plan of Salvation, the gospel of Jesus Christ and committed him to be baptized. But he prefers Samoan and has more connections in their ward so we were happy to pass him over. I can't wait to see him progress. Then our dinner appt wasn't there, she was working but her daughter wanted to give us the money her mum left for dinner... fifty dollars. First of all, we can't accept money. But if we didn't, she said she would get a hiding (aka an islander beating that makes you want to go and hide, hence a hiding), so we took it. And we were like ok, we just need to spend it all on dinner because that is to replace our appt. So we found the fanciest Thai resturant we could and then got fancy gelato next door. Done and done. And then on the way back to the car we saw a man preaching/rapping about Jesus. We were really confused if we should clap or not at his finale….
Friday was Zone Training and President now wants the sister training leaders to all give a training too so we trained on change in ourselves and conversion. As we come unto Christ we can change our nature, not just our behavior and how we can accomplish this by developing Christlike attributes. Everyone really seemed to enjoy it! Glad that was over with... until next month. Then MIRACLES. So we went to the hospital for Sister Pagnin's cast right? Sat by this old man and had a great conversation with him. We then filled out a pamphlet to hand to him when he came out but he left straight away. Then for about 60 seconds we debate, run after him.. or not? Then I go back down copying my old mission prep notes into a nicer journal and II'm writing all about the promptings of the Holy Ghost and I can't ignore them anymore, "Sister Pagnin! Let's go find him!" WHY AM I ALWAYS CHASING POOR PEOPLE DOWN? This guy on his cane was booking it! haha But he was so happy we found him and said he would love to stay in touch and visit with us some more. So the Prairewood sisters now have a golden new potential. And then Rochelle has been sick but still is reading the BOok of Mormon and says how each time we drop by it is perfect timing and she feels the spirit so much. She is just a miracle herself.
Then the biggest miracle/something that will make my parents very nervous. We almost got in a car accident.There was a lady about to turn right (its like a left turn) with her blinker on and everything in the opposite lane than the one we were driving in, then some ig (idiot) speeds past her and clips her car and we see the whole thing, car bits flying, their reactions getting hit, everything. The cars collide into our lane right in front of us and the car stoped right before it would of hit us. The guy behind us even was saying what a miracle it was we didn't become a part of it. But everyone involved was safe. But the guy that hit this poor woman and her 9 year old cousin was cussing up a storn, he is not insured or anything. But we were able to comfort the 9 year old alot and chat with the guy behind us who too was just coming from hospital where his son was with his appendix. So we got to plant lots of seeds, and I even got to give a statement to the cops and now we have addys to go drop off cookies at today to see if everyone is ok. Crazy as right?! We are truley being protected and watched over as well as being put in situations to find those who are prepared and the only price we had to pay was a broken wrist, poor Sister pagnin!
Saturday was even more amazing because I got to go to the temple with Sister Davis and Simon, a recent convert from Belconnen who was getting out his endowments! We even got to see the Green's! My one and only American family here in Australia! It was pure bliss to say the least. Guess I am just making up for lost time right?! I LOVE THE TEMPLE!
Then Sunday Maria and Milad and their baby came to church as well as Winn, our cutest Vietnamese investigator who makes our day... everyday. Can't wait to teach her with a translator this week! And the miracle of that day had to be seeing a part member family and it was just the nonmember wife home and she still let us in to just teach her and we had a great lesson!
And then yesterday no transfer meeting, which is a good change, less casualness and more time to get to new areas and get to work! And biggest miracle yesterday is a less active/part member family we have really broken through with for trust. Their 15 year old unbaptized daughter was there, the less active mum was saying how everything is pointing her to come back and the 16 and 14 year old boys have been reading the Book of Mormon on their own!
I love this work, I love seeing the Lord's hand in everything. We just have to have the faith to see it. His tender mercies are in our lives. I have been doing a gratitude journal for 2014 and I highly recommend it. Each day there is some little miracle or tender mercy we can all be grateful for and with faith we can learn to not just be grateful for our circumstances but learn to be grateful in any circumstances. Also, look up that talk by President Uchtdorf. It's been a favorite of mine this week. Love you all and see you all too soon :)
Ofa Atu, Sister Rushing xx
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