Week 11

Dear Family,
 
This week, I'm sythesizing two letters and adding a story. The story is about a man named Sheldon who is First Nations that we met at a bus stop. He was really interested in the Book of Mormon and agreed to meet with us at the church. We found out his foster daughters are going to our congregation and he just got out of rehab. He didn't know what the Atonement was, but when we explained it, he looked like a little boy on Christmas. He just kept saying, Really?! The Atonement really can do that? The Spirit was so strong and he wants to be a better father for his daughters. He said it is so hard to only see them once a week and we're working on helping him use the Atonement to overcome his addiction.
 
We went on exchanges on Wednesday and I just wanted to work so hard. I felt like I was carrying the other missionary along, but in a good way. I think we worked harder than she would have and it was really good. At the same time, I knew she needed encouragement, so I kept complimenting her and it was just a really good experience. I also got to drive. :) Towards the end of the night, we were walking on a street they had just tracted and I asked her if anyone answered this blue house we were passing. She said no, and they became a new investigator! It's amazing to me how the Spirit is really starting to work through me when I really want to bring people to Christ. Then we went to see a mom and daughter who are coming back to church. I haven't shared this on the mission except with them, but I told them about bearing their testimonies to themselves in the mirror at night, and challenged them to do that for a week. It's not like reading the Book of Mormon or anything, but it really helped me and I thought I should. I could tell the daughter, who is in 8th grade, was struggling, so I was hoping it would help. The Abbotsford sister missionaries called me in a few days and told me that when Lexi bore her testimony the first night she started to cry and said she felt the Spirit so strong! I was so happy.
 
I also love D&C 136:31. We have to go through trials in order to be prepared for the glory that He wants to give us. My companion said on the way here that if a person didn't have trials, she wouldn't care about the birth of the Savior. It really is the hard things in life that bring us closer to Jesus Christ, because the more we suffer, the more we appreciate Him and love Him.
 
 Elder Call came to Stake Conference yesterday and talked to the Stake about our duty to be member missionaries. He told us that before this life we volunteered to share the gospel. That is why we have so many resources and privledges that so much of the world doesn't. He said if you have any question reguarding that, pray about it. We really did volunteer to share the gospel. He said the pressure we feel when people talk about member missionary work is real. He said to pray for oppurtunites and they will come and they CAN be natural. A man talked about how when we enter a store and someone says, Can I help you find anything? We can just say no. He said they changed to question to Have you been to our store before? and whether they say yes or no, you can offer to show them the sales. He said selling rates went up 34%. He said we need to change our questions! Elder Call said hiding away talents in the earth could be changed hiding away our talents in the world. Like putting them in worldly things.
 
Last year our mission had the goal of 400 baptisms. The year before that 125. We've reached both goals. This year the goal is 2014. I know the work is hastening. We're going to reach this goal too. When I got to the mission, we were finding about 350 new investigators a week. When my mission president came in, it was 30 or 40 NIs. A month ago we broke a record and had 400! This week we had almost 600!!!! The work is really hastening. 
 
This work is incredible. Last thought. We volunteered to share the gospel. All of us. That's why we have so many privileges and nice things. Elder Call told our stake if you have any doubts about that, pray about it. So I hope you're praying for opportunities!
 
Love you all!
 
Sister Thomson
 
PS. I decided to leave my volunteered for missionary work plug in there. So yes, this was meant to be in the letter twice. It's really important. :)
 
 
PPS. I forgot to get my card thing to send pictures again. Sorry!
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