I know I always talk about how crazy each week is, but really. This week was NUTS. The Lord has helped us so much. And the fasting works! This area has been averaging 1-3 Lessons with investigators a week- we just got 10 this past week. I am so excited to be a part of all of this! This poor ward has no idea what they signed themselves up for. The Lord is working full speed ahead ini this tiny part of the vineyard!
We have been teaching a less-active lady in the ward, and the first few times it was really hard for me to stay positive after her lessons. She was constantly complaining about her neighbors, the government, Las Vegas, and lots of other things she learns on talk radio. She just broke out in a bad case of shingles on her face and her son might be headed to prison soon- our conversations really would just wear you out. After much prayer and scripture study though, we have been able to see a complete turn around with her. It is so great! In fact, when we taught her yesterday she was laughing so hard she was crying, and she only mentioned obamacare once! Once we started to read the Savior's teachings with her (in both the New Testament and 3 Nephi) she lit up and started talking positive and bore her testimony to us! She told us about when her and her friends started an Elvis Presley fan club- she was the president- and would hang out at drive-in movies back in the 60s. That was a huge miracle of the week.
We had the chance to meet with a less active family this week for the first time. They were so sweet- it was a single mom with two of the most darling girls i have ever met. We taught them the story of Ammon and they were so excited! At the end of the lesson, we offered to have someone pick them up on Sunday for church and they said they would come. She had a nonmember friend at the lesson and she said she wanted to come as well! They all got to church right as it was starting and we were so excited to see them. After church though we had two members come up to us and ask how in the world we got them to come to church. Apparently they are very less active and the mom has refused to come in years. We had no idea! All we did was invite them and get them a ride. Guess sometimes that is all it takes. So never give up on anyone!
Sister Remund and I are going to the temple tomorrow. I am so excited!!!! Oh and the Hoover Dam was quite the experience. We went down to some secret tunnels that apparently aren't open to the public. And we got to see where transformers was filmed! The perks of wearing the black badge. Oh and also we went to Great Harvest and they gave us 4 loaves of free bread. Bad idea. They all may or may not be completely gone now too. I don't want to talk about it.
There is an awesome article in the Ensign this month called A New Writing. I hope you guys have had a chance to read it. I love how it talks about feasting on the scriptures. There was also one about asking questions in class and I have been able to implement that a lot as we teach. Especially this Sunday because we taught Gospel Principles, Young Women, and had a brief thought in Relief Society. What a Sunday.
Well I love you all!
Sister Stoker
