Week #54

Hello my friends!!

This week has been AMAZING!! This week we had transfers and I was wondering what the Lord had in store for me as a new companion. I got something I did not anticipate at all...TWO companions!!! Sister Elliott and Sister Doll. They are wonderful, and we have been working hard. We've all been out about the same. Sister Doll goes home a month before me (but she's extending a few weeks), and Sister Elliott will be hitting her year mark very soon! It is beautiful how we all have difference experiences that qualify us, and that we've been able to bring to the table and brainstorm for our investigators. We have had miracles, and we have been working very hard!!! We had 16 lessons this week, which (I'm still learning what to expect from stats in this mission) is very good. I District Leader called us to congratulate us, so that felt good!

It also has been an adventure learning/teaching the area solo now. The Lord has definitely helped me to remember and there have been some fervent prayers on the way to some appointments. It has helped that I'm driving, and that has only added to the comics at times.  :D

Big announcement,.....We have a very progressing investigator!! His name is Jeffrey, he's in his 50s and he is bipolar, schizophrenic (sp?) and has paranoia. But he has a great desire to be baptized. He is a seemingly eternal investigator, he has been taught by missionaries on and off for about a year. When we were going through our area book, I saw his information and felt strongly we needed to go. We all agreed and we went but realized that his apartment number had not been recorded. Sister Elliott said, "What if that guy is Jeffrey?" It was a man three floors up wearing neon green shirt watching us. We said okay, you back me up, and while you're doing so, yell to him and ask if that is his name. But when she went out, he was gone...he came down to us! It WAS him!! What a tender mercy! We had a short lesson with him, and he said that since his toe is broken he's had trouble keeping his apartment clean. So we told him we'd come back and clean. We invited him to church as well, which he readily accepted. We brought a member and his nonmember friend Tim, with us because he was going to be his ride and we wanted him to meet him. It's a good thing we brought the help, because we had no idea what we were up against. I  have never seen that many cockroaches in my life. It was filthy and disgusting. They were all in his cupboards and we were just vacuuming them up. When it came to washing dishes, he had the water just standing there, and there were cockroaches floating in it. I was the lucky one to do that one. :D It was nice though because there was one cupboard that was really, really bad. I opened it and gave a little shriek and shut it quickly because the was writhing with cockroaches. I took a breath and went back to do it, but Brother Ross wouldn't let me, he's a gentleman and he took over while I got him lysol and cockroach spray. After the experience, Tim started asking questions. We shared a spiritual thought with them, and we invited him to meet with missionaries. He said yes readily...miralces all around!!

Sheila is back in hospice. I have been very worried about her, and have kept feeling like we needed to call/see her. I followed it and lucky we did, because she was leaving that night. It may be the last time I get to see her, she looked awful when I saw her. Please keep her and your family in your prayers.

Pray for Shea. She can't meet with us because ex is stalking her. The police found a tracking device in her car. Pray for her!

Frank is on fire! Pray for Kim and Lannie to get on board. Kim still doesn't care about Frank's salvation.

Alice is good. She loves the nail police and has been showing off.

Kyle is new. He really really wants to meet with us. We're going to extend bapt date for 15th!!

Also....yesterday was the first time in my mission I got to sit next to my investigator at church. I may or may not have shed some tears of gratitude for that one. I have been praying and praying for that, because I felt like the area really needed that to happen. And there has been an amazing response. Almost all of the less actives we have been working with were at church these past two weeks. Even now, I tear up at the memory of seeing them in the chapel. Truly, every soul is great in the sight of God. I am so blessed to be able to love on these people. I am so thankful for Jesus Christ. And I am thankful for the trials I had in the past transfer, because I was chomping at the bit to get a move on and make progress and changes. The sisters I'm with have the exact same goals, and we make an incredible team. I am humbled the Lord has put me in this area at this time, and that I am with the companions I have.

Love you all.
Sister Lake