Sister Benson: 8/29/22

 

Week 41: A WEEK OF MIRACLES

Hello my friends! what an insane week we've had. I dont know how to fit it into one email that anyone would want to read lol! lets just start strong :)

Monday night we had our first lesson with Alex the car guy. we taught the plan of salvation and it seemed like it went really well!! unfortunately we havent been able to get a hold of him since... so prayers for alex the car guy!! 

another huge miracle, our friend michael is an ordained baptist minister. which means that its so fun to talk about the bible with him. (cause hes nice about it) so as long as we've known him we've just gone over and prayed with him, we havent really taught him. but this week we decided to be bold and ask if he was interested in hearing what we had to offer! and HE SAID YES!! such a miracle! so on sunday we went and taught the restoration and it was such an awesome lesson. we hope for amazing things!! 

Tuesday was a crazy day. we went out to find this inactive lady and she wasnt home, so we decided to just walk the neighborhood. well no one was out but we circled through and as we were making our way back to the car there was a guy getting his mail. as we approached we realized he had his headphones in, and was on the phone. so not wanting to be rude, we just smiled and waved. but! he took one headphone out and said "hey! hows it going!" and then he HUNG UP ON HIS CALL and started a converstion with us!! his wife eventually came out and we ended up talking to them for like 30 minutes!! it was SO COOL!! They gave us their numbers and said we were welcome anytime. so pray that we will get the opportunity to teach coco and daniel!!! 

the next miracle was like literally right after coco and daniel. we went to go find another inactive lady and we ended up in the middle of the woods. so we parked kinda on the dirt road and when we got out we asked this guy in his yard if he thought it would be okay if we parked there. he very kindly was like mmm... maybe not but you can park on the other side of this building! *motions to burnt down cement block building next to his house* So we moved the car and went to find the lady. she was not interested in us coming back :( so as we're heading back to our car the man in his yard goes "HEY! how did it go?" we ended up talking to him for a bit and he told us he had heard of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("theyre like all from utah right??") and we talked for a minute, then before we could even ask he said "well my wife and i would love if  you came and taught our family what you believe!! could you come next thursday?" and we said :o So Anthony (which is his name) gave us his phone number and we set up an appointment!! We're stoked!!!! what a miracle!! 

then!! on thursday!! I GOT TO GO TO THE TEMPLE!!!! So i spent all day either driving, or in the temple. and it was amazing. I have missed the temple so so much. I invite yall to get there if you get the chance (or make the chance) because the power of the temple is unlike anything else. And i know that the temple blesses lives, and that by making, keeping, and remembering your temple covenants, you can and will be closer to God. I was so so grateful to be able to go. The Orlando temple will always have a special place in my heart :) 

ONE MORE MIRACLE!! sister ballard and i went finding on the community college campus that we cover. Santa Fe. so we were walking and trying to talk to people and college kids are SO SCARY. :) but sister ballard had a prompting to go and talk to this pair of boys and so we did. and we ended up having a really awesome doctrinal discussion and getting BOTH of their numbers!! Skyler had a doctrinal question written on the front page of his notebook and was literally waiting for someone to ask him about it. and Mattias is the sweetest kid who just helped us answer skylers question lol. so we're super stoked about that!!! 

Other people!! 

RICHARD: still has not come to church. hes still struggling with medical things and we've had to move his baptism :(( much needed prayers. 

MANSFIELDS: we're working on it! Theyre a fun (stubborn) bunch and we're trying to get them to see the importance of church. 

DAVID: is doing good and meeting with us consistantly. we're trying to help him recognize the Spirit verses his own desires. a hard thing!! 

an amazing week!! as always we are in need of your prayers here in gainesville 2nd. oh and also we had transfer calls and sister ballard and i will be staying together!! very exciting :))) Love yall!!