This has been another busy week! We got to go on our first exchange as STLs. So I spent Tuesday-Wednesday with another Sister in Meridian. It was really crazy because we exchanged back and went right to our District Council meeting. That night we had the wonderful experience of being selected to be observed by Shane Littlefield. He works for the church and travels to missions all around the US and finds out their faults and gives feedback on how to improve. So needless to say, we were a little terrified of meeting with him. The plan was to meet him at dinner and then go from there to our appointments we had set up. Well, the problem was that we did not have any appointments and no one could meet! It seemed like everything was falling apart. I cannot tell you how many prayers we said as we were trying to fill that time. Everything worked out and 30 minutes before we had to meet him we had everything set up. It really humbled me and taught me that I need to be putting in every effort even when no one is watching us.
We met him at a restaurant and ate dinner with him while he asked up probably 100 questions about our mission, one after the other. The questions were geared towards digging deep into the struggles of our mission. He asked us about the struggles of missionaries, commitment, urgency in the work, relationships, and accountability. It really opened our eyes to how much we have to improve on!
Then we went to our next appointments. The first one was a member visit in which we were asking for a referral. This probably went as bad as it could have gone. The kids in the family were running everywhere and even the parents were very distracted. That did not end how we wanted. Our next appointment could not have been more opposite. We had a lesson with a recent convert who we are teaching the new member discussions to. The spirit was so strong in that room! His name is Keawe and he is just about the best guy ever! He has so much faith and even when he questions things, his first thought is to trust God. I was blown away with his testimony! So, we had a good end to the night.
As we were thinking about all of the things we had talked about with Brother Littlefield, we realized that our mission has so much more potential. We committed all of our companionships that we cover to do everything they could to find one new person to teach in the remaining 3 days of the week. Every single one of them was able to find AT LEAST one person (including us)!
We did not have very much time for finding this week and were worried that we would not be able to accept our own challenge, but we did it! On Sunday we ended up eating lunch with a member family. In Relief Society the wife had felt impressed to invite a woman that sat by her during class. She knew nothing about her and was hesitant but felt the prompting again so she acted and invited her. Well, she came! While eating we learned that she is a member and also served a mission! She had a connection with us because she was in one of the wards we are serving in and asked us about the daughter of one of our recent converts. She told us that she had previously expressed a desire to be baptized when she was visiting with her mother. That night we had only 30 minutes free to reach our goal and decided to visit this family. We had a wonderful discussion with the family and are going to be teaching the new member lessons to the mother (Sonia) as well as teaching her daughter (Katheryn)! It was truly a week of miracles!
I have never had a stronger testimony that Heavenly Father uses all of our efforts, no matter how small they may seem. He is there for all of you! I know it because I see his hand every day and I know that he sees all of our sacrifices. He WILL help us if we call out to him for guidance and direction. I love you all so much and hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season!!!
Love,
Sister Beutler
