1/6 of the way done ... haha

Last pday we got to hangout with a bunch of missionaries! It was way nice to play pickleball with different ppl. We also played spikeball and it was so fun. I was sore for like 2 days after though I wore myself out

This week flew by! We had lots of lessons and not much time for finding. We had a lesson with Brandon! He told us he's going to make sure his Sunday mornings are free so he can start coming to church. I'm super excited for him so everyone keep him in your prayers! We taught him the Plan of Salvation & Restorarion but we quickly realized we need to slow it down & teach him how to pray and how to feel the Holy Ghost. I still feel so new at this missionary thing and I'm scared I'm going to mess it up with him. Even though I'm the greenie missionary it feels like I'm having to lead us in lessons, my companion gets pretty shy. I feel like I never know what I'm doing in lessons. If I can get Brandon to feel the Spirit and come to know Jesus Christ I bet he could be baptized while I'm here in Collierville.

I have a week left of training! I feel like I've got the hang of most things finally. Next week I'll get a new companion & I'll most likely stay here in Collierville. It's always so scary getting a new comp I'm nervous there is alot of weird sisters in this mission...

Saturday night all the primary children in the ward sang in their church quior. Alot of the members invited their friends who aren't members. The kids did so good!! I was bawling along with everyone else in the room. My companion and I agreed it was the most we've ever felt the spirit 

Tuesday we were doing some knocking. It was a pretty day outside so I wanted to walk. We ended up walking pretty far & didn't realize we had walked to Mississippi. We talked to this lady in her front yard & asked if she needed any service. She said no but she asked if she could come to our church! We were so shocked and gave her the time and address. We didn't have high hopes for her to come but she showed up! She loved it and said she will be back next Sunday. She isn't technically in our areaaaa but she's close enough haha

We are teaching this guy named Matthew & I'm pretty sure he has some form of autism. He is way smart and wants to learn intellectually not so much spiritually. He really does want to know if the Book of Mormon is true though but I think he has a hard time feeling emotions because he probably has asburgers. It makes it hard for him to feel the spirit. He committed to reading the Book of Mormon cover to cover though! Hopefully a light will turn on for him & something will click. He reminds me of Matthew from the chosen haha

Sorry it's a short one this week! Tons happened but I can't really remember it all. Just so crazy busy. Love & miss u all everyday

Tuesday we were getting gas & right as we were leaving the gas station I noticed this man walking to his car and he smiled at me. My stomach sank & my heart started beating fast. My companion pulled out onto the highway and I told her to flip a U-turn. I told her we needed to go back to the gas station to talk to that man. She looked at me sooo confused but I was almost positive I was having a prompting. She pulled into the pump next to him & I didn't know how to go about talking to him. He definitely saw us circle back around. He was about to get into his car so I walked over to his trashcan to pretend I was throwing something away (I had nothing in my hands). I went up to him & said "Hey sorry this is so random but I feel like I should talk to you." I explained who we were & about the Book of Mormon and immediately he was so interested and wanted to know more. He said it was interesting that I said I felt like I should talk to him because he's been conflicted with what religion he wants to be apart of. He said he's been reading a bunch of atheist stuff but he isn't sure he believes it. We got his number & he said he wants to meet with us this week! It was so cool because I wouldn't have even thought about talking to a random middle aged man at the gas pump. I could have easily just ignored that feeling and gone about my day struggling to find people to teach. I learned that we can find people where they are.

We had a lesson with him at the end of the week! His name is Brandon hes probably around 30 years old. It was an awesome lesson! He told us he grew up going to a bunch of different churches but never really knew what he believed in. He has no idea how to pray either. We taught him about to Book of Mormon & the restoration through Jospeh Smith. He had so many questions and we were able to enlighten his mind so much. We taught him how to recognize the Holy Ghost. He agreed with everything we were saying and was so excited when I handed him a Book of Mormon. He said "Is this mine??" I promised Brandon that if he read from the Book of Mormon that it would have the answer to all of his questions.

We woke up the next morning and we got a long text from Brandon in the middle of the night. This is what he texted us: 

"Sorry to message so late. I just couldn't let this sit till tomorrow 

 

Y'all may have me 

As you promised, there is an answer for each question that comes up 

My "sciency" research based background has a counter for each answer, of course, but not an answer for each question 

Meaning that there are questions that have a refusal to be answered in science but not in the Book of Mormon

There are no questions I've had that don't have an answer in the Book of Mormon so far 

Many use the fact that Smith was 14 and therefore wholly incapable of translating anything as an argument against your beliefs (I agree, no 14 year old could pull this off) 

But I see it as confirmation of sorts. Because, of course, no 14 year old could do something like this without intervention/revelation

What you have is very interesting and I hope that I can start to feel it 

I just analyze everything to the teeth and it's hard to find unbiased content to absorb 

It is astounding how little most people know about your church.

Misconceptions are the clearest detriment to the cause. 

The message is very genuine."

I wanted to cry reading this text. We only taught him one lesson & he said: "Y'all may have me." We've been working so hard, praying so hard, every. single. day. to find people to teach. Heavenly Father answered my prayer through a prompting. I am so thankful I was able to follow this prompting & meet Brandon. This really is the Lords work & I am just an instrument in His hands. 

I told Brandon that I was inspired to talk to him. He told us he felt the same way when he saw us, he said that we stood out. He told us he saw us flip our car back around. He said he was about to leave, he was done getting gas but he felt like he should wipe off his windshield instead of leaving to see if we would talk to him. So cool.

Alma 26: 11-12, 16

"But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God. 

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel."

More from the week :

Friday we went and visited Tarlisha! She showed us all her stab wounds. She was stabbed 5 times!! She was stabbed in the back and on her wrists. So crazy

We went to one of our outer areas one day & knocked on this run down apartment complex. Everyone that answered the door was African American. Alot of the people let us talk to them though! We were able to hand out a couple Book of Mormons but none of them could read... There was this one guy sitting on his porch in his wheelchair & he yelled at us "Come over here and teach me something!" I love when people tell us to do that haha. 

This super old lady in a wheelchair was sitting on her porch and we asked her if we could talk about Jesus with her. She seemed really depressed but invited us inside her home! We found out she's 98 years old. She told us she grew up picking cotton for work as a child & that she's had a tough life. She said that she doesn't ever have any company. She lives by herself and I seriously wanted to cry I was so sad if I lived closer I would go over everyday to visit with her. She can't change her clothes by herself or bathe. She said someone will help her in the morning but that's it. She mentioned that she's been depressed and we made her feel so good inside by talking about Jesus with her.

When we were walking in the apartment complex I saw this man standing in his doorframe behind the glass door. He was looking in our direction but he was standing there not moving- and his eyes were completely white they were rolled into the back of his head. I was sooo scared I think he was on drugs or something. He didn't move he just stood there.

Friday we had 24 hour exchanges! I went with Sister Vincet. She is my STL and she is such a good missionary! But man she's intense. I was so glad it was only for 24 hours because she is too much for me haha. We had a lesson together though and we taught our friend Hannah. Hannah is SO sick & she told us that she can't stand longer than 30 seconds without having to lay down. At the end of the lesson Sister Vincent promised Hannah that if she will read from the Book of Mormon that she will be able to receive the strength to stand longer than 30 seconds. I was shocked when she said that & I asked her about it. She told me that she almost always promises blessing to everyone she teaches. She told me that we are set apart with priesthood power to promise blessings. She said that God fulfills the promises every single time. She said she promised someone in the past that there mom would recover from Covid that day if they came to church, && she said it happened! She explained that the Lord wants His children to hear the gospel & be baptized, so he will always fulfill the promises we make to our friends.

This week I listened to one of the best testimonies/conversion stories I have ever heard in my life. It is such a cool story. It's an hour long but it is so worth it to give it a listen. It's called "The Conversion Story of Bill Carpenter."

Love you all! Especially miss u mom

Caroline Reeves	Mon, Mar 11, 6:03 AM (7 days ago)

I got bashed for the first time this week! This old man was working in his garden & we went up to talk to him. We told him we were missionarys and that we share messages about Jesus! He was so friendly at first then out of no where he asked if we were Mormons then his face dropped and a flip switched in him. He bashed us for 45 minutes and lectured us about the Bible. My companion was too nice to say anything to him but I kept trying to find ways to get out of it. I eventually just told him we had to go and asked if he had any neighbors who needed an uplifting message. He said "I'm not going to tell you because I don't want to send them in the wrong direction." I bet this won't be the first time I get bashed on my mission...

Every week we go and crochet with this sweet inactive member named Sandy! I just ADORE her. She hasn't been to church in years but absolutely loves having the missionaries over. She's teaching me how to crochet and it's actually so fun haha. I felt prompted to invite her to church this Sunday for my companions musical number & she said no so fast. She's had the missionaries over for years but doesn't come to church anymore.

We had zone conference on Thursday! Zone conference is always so good but it is way too longggggg. We got to the church at 7:30 AM & left at 5:30PM. Its a long time to be sitting in a chapel. I always get teary though when we all stand up as missionaries to sing together. It's super powerful! We are all so different from eachother & come from different backgrounds but we all have the same purpose. 

Our friend Tarlisha (who we've been teaching but haven't had the best contact with her) was stabbed!! We found out that she was stabbed in a fight but that she's ok. She asked us to come over & pray with her but we weren't able to because she lives an hour away. 

On Sunday Snoop Dog Steve came to church! I invited him two weeks ago and he told me he'd come. We didn't have high hopes at all for him to come but he ended up coming!! He's met with missionaries since 2021 and no one has been able to get him to come to church. I was so nervous when he walked in but it was also the most excited I've ever been. He sat with us and EVERYONE was staring at him haha he sticks out a ton. All the members came up to him and shook his hand & were so kind. I was so nervous about how the members would act towards him but they were so loving it was so relieving. Steve told us that he loved how welcoming everyone was & that he would love to come again. I was so happy !! Steve also asked if we could take a picture with him after haha. I think he felt a little awkward because he didnt dress right but we told him it didnt matter. The ward was so amazing I just love all of them so much. We go out all week and it sucks- we get rejected all day long & no one wants to listen to us. Sundays are so refreshing because the members all have such a sweet spirit about them & it feels like a home away from home. 

I'm almost finished with the Book of Mormon & I think Alma 7:11-12 is by far one of my favorite scriptures.

 He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. 

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

"The Savior has suffered not just for our iniquities but also for the inequality, the unfairness, the pain, the anguish, and the emotional distresses that so frequently beset us. There is no physical pain, no anguish of soul, no suffering of spirit, no infirmity or weakness that you or I ever experience during our mortal journey that the Savior did not experience first. You and I in a moment of weakness may cry out, “No one understands. No one knows.” No human being, perhaps, knows. But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He felt and bore our burdens before we ever did. And because He paid the ultimate price and bore that burden, He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy in so many phases of our life. He can reach out, touch, succor—literally run to us—and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do through relying upon only our own power." 

-David A Bednar 

My comp & I stopped to get gas and ran inside to use the restroom. While my comp was in the bathroom one of the workers kept walking back and forth by me. He eventually came up to me and said "Excuse me but you are a sexy individual." I was mind blown he said that to me he must have not even noticed my name tag haha. So weird. A couple days later a man came up to us & asked us who we are. We ended up explaining the Book of Mormon to him, gave him one, and set up a time to meet with him again! We were so excited because we hadn't had any luck all day. He then starts asking us if we have boyfriends and if he could take us to a movie and dinner.. We have to be pretty cautious teaching men because alot of the time they arent interested in our message and its SO frustrating !!

We got the cops called on us! We were sitting in our car trying to move our schedule around & next thing I know there are two cop cars. One cop is on the driver's side and the other on mine. Apparently some old person complained that we were parked in front of their house. The cops took their job way too seriously and looked in the back of our car. They were not very nice and told us to leave ...

We went to go visit a member way out in the country! They live on a farm & the wife asked if we wanted to go see the baby calfs that were just born this week. We hopped on her side by side and got to see her farm- it was beautiful! She was a very classy older woman and told us she did not choose the farm life haha... their house was SO beautiful!! A cute farm house on a ton of land.

We have been working so so hard this week. We made a goal to find 6 people and we were determined to meet it. We knocked probably 200 doors, talked to anyone & everyone we could & hardly had any luck, we were so discouraged. I know we can't force finding people but I've been sooo impatient. I know it'll come but it's hard to wait around for it. I was able to hand out 5 Book of Mormons in one day though! We found one lady but she doesn't speak good English, so we sent her over to the Spanish sisters- I really really wish I spoke Spanish it would be so helpful. We told our mission president about our numbers and that we were discourged. He was shocked! He told us to just be patient and trust in the Lords will & timing.

Everyone we talk to usually tells us "I already know Jesus", "I've already been saved", "I go to Collierville Baptist", "I already have a Bible". 

I think the Lord is trying to teach me patience haha. This is definitely the hardest thing I've ever done but I'm adjusting more and more as time goes on. I pass out at 9:30 and sleep amazing every night because I am so tired. I have moments where I tell myself that there is no way I can do this for 18 months but then I have moments where I love being a missionary. It's just hard because we don't have very many people to teach, and the ones we do teach are not progressing. When we finally find someone promising we have to send them over to the Spanish sisters. I just have to be patient and trust that the Lord is preparing me and preparing those who are ready to hear the gospel. 

Alma 26:27

Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

"Faith means that we trust not only in God’s wisdom but that we trust also in His love. It means trusting that God loves us perfectly, that everything He does—every blessing He gives and every blessing He, for a time, withholds—is for our eternal happiness.

No, the purpose of faith is not to change God’s will but to empower us to act on God’s will. Faith is trust—trust that God sees what we cannot and that He knows what we do not. Sometimes, trusting our own vision and judgment is not enough."

-Dieter F Uchtorf

I love & miss you all !