Sister Pierce is Called to Serve: So Many Miracles!

August 3, 2015

Hello everyone!!! There were so many miracles this week, it's crazy!!

1. Service=Lessons: earlier this week we did service at a bookstore and the owner, Nancy, was a former investigator and just started talking to us and expressed her concerns to us with the book of mormon and joseph smith. She eventaully asked us if there were any converts in the ward that would be able to talk with her and if we could do some lessons with her with a converts perspective. Of course we said yes!! and we met with her last night and found out that she has a lot of confusing ideas about the church and about the roles of women and callings and the basics of the book of mormon, etc. It's really interesting how people hear one story about the church, and they immediately think that's how all mormons act or what happens in every church. Ridiculous. Satan is really working hard on people when they show some interest in the gospel. The convert that we brought was brother Johnson, who is our next door neighbor and super goofy, and that was a miracle within itself! We were thinking of people to bring and they kept falling through and that was all happening at church. We were running out of people to ask when we remembered Bro Johnson was a convert and asked him. I'm pretty positive he only came for the free food involved, but he was PERFECT!! They are practically the same person, and it was a miracle that everyone fell through so we could bring the best person for Nancy. God really does work in mysterious (sometimes frustrating) ways!

2. Joseph Smith Memorial: we went to the JSM on Saturday!! That place is amazing!!! we went with an investigator and got to learn more of her concerns and struggles with the church, and we know more of what we can focus on lessons since she is a former investigator and already knows the lessons pretty well. We also found out that Elder Holland and his family were there 3 weeks ago! We missed him by 3 weeks!! Bummer. But it was still amazing.

3. "This Mormon Thing": earlier this week we also talked with our landlord's father, and he asked us if we could meet sometime because he wants to "do this mormon thing". SWEET!! People are pretty much just asking us to teach them!!!! So cool!!!! He said he'll call us sometime soon, which I hope will be sometime this week so we can continue to teach people.

4. The Ward (#infected): We are also continuing to strengthen our relationship with the ward and one lady had us over for FHE on Monday and dinner on Thursday and she opened up to us asking us for advice on how we handle being rejected everyday when we share the gospel, which is so special to us. we felt honored that she would open up to us and for her to explain that she gets anxiety over sharing the gospel with others, and really looks up to us. Then on Sunday, she told us that she invited one of her neighbors to church! She didn't come, but at least she still invited her! We're starting to become really close to some ward members, and i'm excited to see how that relationship will continue to strengthen this area and help the members continue to be member missionaries and become "infected" with spreading the gospel!

5. LA Member=potential baptism: On saturday, we also helped a less-active family move and the mother asked if we could come over later in the week to teach her son so he can be baptized. That's another person who approached us this week about teaching their family!!

6. Street Contacting, didn't think anything would come of it: My first day in the area, we went over to try and find a LA member and when we were walking back to the car we met this guy who looked like he didn't want to talk to us. With being slow, but brave missionaries, we took a step passed him then turned around in a second to invite him to learn. he wasn't interested but said he'd call us about his landlord possibly looking for service. he texted us a week later and told us about some service then told us that he would like to sit down and talk with us sometime. Another person asked us to learn. What is happening??? We had a lesson planned earlier this week then he told us he wanted his boys to be there so we rescheduled for yesterday. it turned out that he had to cancel, but still wants to meet with us sometime soon. So sweet!!

The work here is hastening and sister Davis and I are PUMPED!!! We can't even believe what is happening, but it's worth all of the "PUSHing" we're doing!!

Speaking of Sister Davis, some of you have asked what she's like. Well, let me start off by saying she's hilarious!!! All we do is laugh, and we get along so well! you would probably wonder how we get anything done, but we do! And we're having so many miracle happen. We think it may be happening because we do enjoy ourselves and aren't "robots" and are still striving to be diligent each day. Missionary work is SO much better when you're having fun!! She also is an artist and is a basketball and volleyball player. she plans to go to BYU-Idaho (sweet!!) and has been serving for a year this past week. She also is pretty awkward....but it's a good awkward. that's probably why we laugh so much because it's just hilarious all the time. haha yesterday she would approach someone and ask if they were a convert (trying to find someone for nancy) and after some strange looks, I would respond by explaining why we were asking in the first place. she said "we compliment each other so well! i'm the awkward rude one, and you're the not-awkward, nice one!" haha So great.

The gospel is true and I am so grateful to be serving a mission and have the chance to help others come to learn of the truth themselves. I love you all!!

Keep P.U.S.H.ing!

Sister Pierce