GOOD MORNING UTAH. It's a beautiful sunny day in the 407 with a light Floridian breeze coming in from the south from the lightest Floridian there is, me. I'm elated to announce that there is nothing but pleasantries to report from Pleasant Hill this week!
On Tuesday I had my first Zone Training Meeting in the Hunters Creek Zone and I have to say it was probably the best ZTM I have had thus far. A few days beforehand the Zone Leaders told everyone to bring something for "Show and Tell" as a get to know you activity and it was absolutely fantastic. There was everything from a flying orb (which I really want now) to a toilet paper roll. Even those who forgot to bring something proved to be extremely entertaining. Elder Hernandez for example, decided to make the most of the situation and whipped off his belt and raised it high for everyone to see and announced that this was his "Chastity belt", and that it was there to always remind him "never to be a baby daddy on the mission".
I felt like Tom Sawyer on Thursday when we got the opportunity to whitewash a bench for the Palominos. I had been dying to paint something for service ever since the start of my mission and I was so excited to finally get the chance. We went over and provided much needed help doing various odd jobs in preparation for Clarissa's 2nd birthday party taking place the next day. The bench was needed as a photo prop and by the time Sister Stevenson and I were done it was white as snow. We were so proud.
Lucky for us we were even invited to the party itself! We got the chance to stop by and join in some festivities and had a great time with the many members that were there and take some photographs.
Saturday we had the best day in a long while thanks to the help from our Sister Training Leaders, Sister Yance and Sister Reid! Instead of doing the usual exchange, we got to blitz! Blitzing is something relatively new to me and the mission, it's like exchanges however the companionships both work in the same area. So Sisters Reid & Yance came down late Friday to spend the night, and the next morning we went to work. Sister Stevenson and I planned out two separate Saturday's with lessons and finding events in our area so two companionships could go and have work to do.
The first half of the day I spent with Sister Reid and after we met back up for lunch we switched and I spent the remainder of it with Sister Yance. Each companionship saw so many tender mercies and miracles!
Sister Stevenson was able to meet with Yeshie and put her on date for baptism in mid April! Yeshie seemed a little hesitant about being prepared in time, but she has been wanting to be baptized. We're so happy to get to work with her so she can be ready to make that covenant. Sister Stevenson also got to meet with and see Susan again and Susan has finally been praying on her own! She's never done that before! She'd only pray when she was with us but now she has been having personal prayers and we are overjoyed!
I got to find some success in meeting people including a brand new investigator, Fairy! She's from Trinidad and has lived in Florida for over thirty years and has such a solid faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. She accepted the Restoration so well and was so intrigued and surprised that she had never heard about the Apostasy and the Book of Mormon before! She seemed eager to understand and learn more. She was so genuine in her interest and is so kind. It was such a blessing to us to have been able to find and teach her.
Even though we had such a successful Saturday we still didn't have any investigators at church on Sunday, which we were somewhat expecting but still disappointed about. We haven't had a single investigator at church since I've been here in Pleasant Hill and I am beyond ready to fix that. It's going to happen. We'll figure it out.
One reason we suspect no one came was the fact that daylight saving time started yesterday. I mean we would have missed Sacrament too if it wasn't for the North Sisters calling us at 6:47am. For something that happens twice a year, I don't understand how I always forget.
Sunday also marked my 6 months of being in the mission field, which is surreal. To quote myself during my second week at the MTC: "Everyday feels like a week and every week feels like a day. Time has no meaning. it's non linear. I don't understand how it works anymore, but I didn't really have a good grasp on it in the first place so I guess it's business as usual".
I am so humbled to be able to devote all of myself to serve the Lord full time and be an instrument in His hands, I am filled with gratitude for this sacred opportunity every day. I have grown so much and have learned even more about my Heavenly Father and His plan for me and all His children. Even though I have felt disappointment and heartache often while serving, I have found the truth given in the First Presidency message at the beginning of Preach my Gospel; "The Lord will reward and richly bless you as you humbly and prayerfully serve Him. More happiness awaits you than you have ever experienced as you labor among His children".
I cherish everyday of my mission, and look forward to many more.
-Sister Olivia Petty🎂
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| Being weirded out by Sister Jamison and Sister Lamborn 3.10.17 |
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| Me with Baby Olivia & Brian, members of our ward 3.10.17 |
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Sister Reid, Sister Yance, myself and Sister Stevenson while blitzing 3.11.17
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