Howdy, y'all! Texas is treating me just fine. I am flourishing in this new area and my new companion and I are, as Anne Shirley would say it, "kindred spirits." We laugh a lot and have a wonderful time. We are keeping busy and meeting with joy and determination the challenges that confront us. This has been the most amazing week of my mission yet, just because it feels like the Lord's hand has been in the timing and everything is going according to His will. It means learning to walk by faith, but that has become so much less of a frustration and much more of a blessing. Let's get down to details because it won't mean much if I just keep talking in all these vague phrases. Okay. We have a couple that has been being taught for a while, Allen and Brigette. They both have quite a past, but they have two little girls, seven and two, and an amazing story of how they found the gospel. He was driving along a main road in this part of Houston back in April when he realizes that the path he's taking is not going to lead to happiness. So he decides that he's going to walk in and join the next church he sees with lights on and people inside. He stops at one, but the doors are locked. Same thing with the next one. But the third church he finds is ours and they're having institute classes. He's been meeting with missionaries since then, and now he and his wife will either be getting baptized this weekend or in a few weekends. I am ecstatic for them! They are a perfect example of how much the gospel can really change lives and bless families and bring us happiness in life. Plus, I heard from Sister Layton in Katy that another couple we had been teaching is also going to get baptized on General Conference weekend. That's what I call miracle after miracle, just like Elder Kikuchi promised.
And if that weren't enough, we had another few this week. Thursday morning is our planning day. We do our studies like regular and then spend a few hours planning out what we can do to help our investigators and less-actives come closer to Christ and when we should meet with them. We had finished our planning, and we thinking that we still had a lot to accomplish with Brigette and Allen and just thinking we didn't have that many people to teach anyway. We were out meeting a few people, and no one seemed to be home. I had also just been thinking that it had been a while since we'd gotten a church headquarters text referral. They don't come all the time, but they are a good source of people to teach. And then just a little while later we got one for a "Joseph." It gives a few details about him: he wants to be baptized and is engaged. I don't want to call is skeptcism, but it probably is, but I usually reserve my celebrations on such things until we actually meet with the person. We went to the street, but the address is wrong. So something in me (read: the Holy Ghost) tells us we should try a different combination of the same digits. We do, but no one's home. After our last appointment that night, we are heading home and decided to try again. This time someone was home, but it's not the right name. As we're walking back to the car, a different combination of digits flashes in my mind, one that could also be on the street. And when we knock on that door, he answers and says, "I didn't think you were going to come. I'm so glad you did." I NEVER thought I would hear those words on my mission. We set up an appointment for the next night. He used to meet with missionaries when he was in high school, but stopped. And now he is engaged to a member in California and is definitely looking towards baptism. We're seeing him again tonight. Golden.
There was a series of perfect timings yesterday at church. And a great discussion with someone we met at the park. Sister Smith and Sister Taylor stayed with us for a few nights while going to a training conference at the mission office. I wish I had time to tell you about all the little details of how the timing has just been perfect this week. But I'll record it all in my journal to share at a later date. We had dinner at President Hansen's house last night. What a lovely experience. Everything is wonderful. The Spirit is so good to us, and this week looks to be just as good as last week, especially if we have a baptism on Saturday to go along with the General Relief Society broadcast. We will be having a special sister missionaries conference on Thursday. It feels like I am finally understanding my purpose as a missionary and reaping the joys serving. All the perfect timing is finally starting to come together.
Much love and shining,
Sister Whitney Sorensen
PS According to a rumor Sister Schlauder heard, Reba McEntire's daughter is a member in a neighboring ward. I don't actually know if Reba even has a daughter, but I don't really care. It's good enough for me to know that the show, REBA, takes place in Houston, so I kind of found her suburb, and she already sort of has the gospel. Good to know.
PPS Remind me to tell you later about the attack cat at Allen's house. Great story.
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