4/21/14

SUCCESSFUL MISSIONARIES

If you have ever studied Preach My Gospel, at the end of the first chapter the last section says "A Successful Missionary." There are a list of bullet points that help us to identify when we have been a successful missionary. i love those bullet points but my very favorite part is " when you have done your very best... you will not be disappointed in yourself. you can feel certain that The Lord is pleased when you feel the Spirit working through you."  

This week I felt like a successful missionary. This week I worked with members, and watched as they felt like successful missionaries. (even some of you and your experiences this week! :) )This week we had miracles and were so busy, we didn't even have time to recognize that time was passing. just one appointment to the next. I loved it! and this week is looking to be the same. The WINTER IS over! and everyone loves it! it was rough for everyone, and took a toll everywhere. spring is here and everything is moving forward!  :) 

We invited 4 people to be baptized this week!  and all of them said yes! (well they didnt say no, which means they said yes :) ) haha - when they know it is true! There is such a special spirit that enters as we invite people to follow Christ. It is amazing. hard to describe. 

We have had two really excellent lessons with Sue. She really is coming to recognize these things as truth. Last night we met with her and she agreed to live the word of wisdom!  :) she even was thinking about the future and some of her family traditions she will have to change because she wont be drinking Alcohol! so cool! Her son Tim was there and it was just such a wonderful lesson. we have such a good relationship with her. I love her so much! Seriously! during our first lesson of this week with her. she told us she had read all the way to 1 Nephi 21 and she re-read all the pamphlets and watched the restoration DVD! There was so much happiness inside of me. it is weird to explain. it was literally bubbling over. it was an "indescribable moment of perfect joy." - President Fenn. I had to really control my self because i just wanted to jump up and sing and shout and PRAISE THE LORD!! HALLELUJAH!  so wonderful! 

Friday we had an amazing lesson with Mackenzie and brother Bruce Bingham was there, he lives in Utah and comes to visit his father Burton Bingham who is 97! It was an interesting experience because it felt as though the spirit was so much stronger with him there and that we were under a microscope or something, and it was so intense.  After the lesson we came to find out that brother Bingham is a seventy! What?! It was like the equivalent of having president Fenn at a lesson with us. It was so cool! But so intimidating at the same time. I can't believe I didn't know before we went in there. Now I am all worried about if we taught clearly or not or if we were too wordy and what he thought about our teaching job and skills. I just felt like we were being spied on. Haha but not really. It was great and the spirit was strong. Then we set up a time for her to meet us at the church on Saturday for a tour and lesson and she cancelled on us and told us that she was no longer interested in learning.  It hit us like a rock. And came so unexpectedly. I was so sad. She had come so far. She was reading the Book of Mormon everyday and she committed herself to keep the word of wisdom. I know she could feel of the spirit and feel of those blessings in her life and yet. She still has her agency. I just feel like that is the only explanation I can give my self right now. It just doesn't make sense, and it makes me so sad. I have not given up on her. I know she will come around some day because that is who she is, and it's possible that she is caught up in the social norms and lifestyle of someone her age, 22 and going to college. We are going back to see her again on Tuesday. Hopefully we can resolve any concerns and answer questions. I will be praying that the spirit will be with us and we follow the promptings of what to say. I pray her heart will be softened and she will come to understand. She is amazing. She needs this gospel in her life. 

We had 18 lessons this week. An amazing improvement and left with feelings of such success. 

Sunday we had a wonderful lesson with the Grob family. They were the family that texted us and asked us to come and teach their friends on easter sunday. Well they invited all of their friends an none came. But they knew that they had commited to us to have someone there for us to teach and so they kept their commitment. They invited two of their neighbors who are 9 and 11. they were awesome! They have such a desire to learn and are SUPER respectful. The Grob children taught some of the doctrines of the gospel and i was so impressed with them.  It was such a wonderful experience and i couldnt help but think about how amazing this generation really is. These were 7 and 9 year old kids teaching their friends about how the Holy Ghost felt to them. It was amzing! i just thought of Eric and Michael and Maddie, and all the other little ones being our future Army of Helaman. I am so EXCITED for them! they are going to be AMAZING missionaries. 

I really felt like a successful missionary this week. I know i do every week but this week i REALLY did. It was so amazing. and hope we will continue to have great success. I know that we succeed when we invite, no matter how small the invitation, when we extend that hand to help others hear and learn of the gospel and the love from our Heavenly Father, we succeed. Keep up the good work people! i love you! 

Easter Sunday was so wonderful. It was the first year the bunny Easter did not find me, BUT I have never felt the love of the Savior for me in such an abundant way as i did yesterday. There was just such a peace that followed me through out the day and i loved it. 

I hope you had a wonderful Easter. I know the gospel is true. I know our Savior Lives. I know he loves us. I know our Heavenly Father loves us. I know he only wants for our happiness. #becauseofhim I am blessed.

I love you all

Sister O'Neil

ps. this week we were getting into the car and there was a sister with us and she asked " what are you going to do now?" and sister Oliphant said "I think we will go watch some TV."  I just looked at her first with a startled face and then started laughing. I had COMPLETELY forgot that watching TV is an option in the real world. As a missionary i would never, but it was just so funny, because it was just something that had not crossed my mind in over 10 months and i forgot about that being a choice. haha it was so funny. We have had a good laugh about it since. 

pps we just got a text that told us that our zone goal for member present lessons was 122 and our actual was 170!! do you know how amazing that is!!  we are so excited!  the work is moving forward!  THE HARVEST IS THE BEST!