Week 68 (Dec 5th- 11th 2017)
The dazzling topic of conversation this week is the weather. Florida has begun its annual “cold snap” where it has dropped to 50 degrees and will last approximately a week. I am absolutely loving it. You can definitely tell a local from a tourist as the residents are bundled up in coats and boots and the visitors flip flops and shorts. In Utah, this is basically swimsuit weather.
On Saturday it was the first genuinely chilly day, and it happened to be the day that our ward was tasked to get a work party together and mulch the church property. There were two huge mounds of mulch sitting in the parking lot, but with a few faithful members with tractors, wheelbarrows and various shoveling instruments, we were able to successfully spread the mulch across the church yard. I got to put the rake and work gloves that I invested in after Hurricane Irma to good use. Because my mind is such a jumble, for some reason I kept calling the event a mulch party. Due to the fact that the term “work party” and “mulch” were being used together frequently when planning it.
This is the final week of the transfer, so there is a high possibility I will be leaving my beloved Winter Garden a week before Christmas. However I know that wherever I’ll be is where the Lord needs me. Also, send mail to the mission office for now, I’ll let you know next week if anything changes.
There was a day this week that I felt like an absolute garbage missionary. I was lacking in my studies, motivation, energy and teaching. By the end of the day I felt as though I had accomplished nothing to hasten the work of the Lord and I was quite honestly ashamed of my efforts. That night I knelt in prayer and let my Father in Heaven know how I felt. I covenanted with Him that tomorrow would be better, that I would be better. and you know what? It was. and I was.
We started Thursday off with a zone service activity volunteering at an annual local event for children with autism in the nearby school districts. It was kind of like a fair with fun activities like face painting, pony rides, inflatables, etc. Sister Bullard and I were helping with the hay ride. It was a very enjoyable time for all present and we loved being able to help out. I even saw some members I knew from when I was serving in Lake Crescent! Not only that but I recognized and a former investigator I saw! I approached her and said Hi and her name and said that I had met with her once or twice several months ago (we’re talking like, April. I’ve been serving in this Zone/Stake for a long time) and she was like, “Oh yes! I thought you looked familiar! Wow, you have a really good memory!” and that was really neat. I told the Elders now serving in the area that maybe it was a sign to check up on her and see if maybe now she is ready to learn more.
After that service we had a busy day and really good study sessions. That night we had dinner with a favorite member family (I have a lot of those here, I just adore everyone) the Wagstaffs. We love going over there because most of the time it’s beautiful good old fashioned family chaos. It feels much more homey than when we go somewhere for dinner and everyone is proper and the good china is brought out for the missionaries. Don’t get me wrong, I am very grateful either way no matter what, but we feel more at home when things are just a tad crazy.
After dinner we dropped by to deliver a bible to a woman named Deborah who ordered it for free off of Mormon.org forever ago. It had always been phone tag and she was never home when we tried to drop by. We decided to just go over and give it another shot and she was home with her family and we were finally able to meet her! We taught her about the Restoration and she was interested. She drank it all in and her whole family listened in as well. She then referred her niece to us, who happened to be moving to Georgia, so we got her number and address and sent it to the missionaries there. Then a former investigator showed up who happens to be related to Deborah! Her name is Consuela and I’ve been trying to meet this woman ever since I got here. She met with the elders in the past, but was never home whenever we have stopped by. When we realized who she was, I was so excited I went up and hugged her. She said she had a hectic schedule, but that she’d be willing to meet with us again.
At the end we got to pray with the entire family! We all held hands while I offered the prayer and several family members audibly added occasional “amen”s throughout it. This is a southern norm, and it means things went well. They loved having us there and tears were shed and both Deborah and Consuela set times we could come back.
After that, our apartment complex put on a Christmas party for all the residents! We got to meet with so many people that live nearby and make some friends. What a magnificent opportunity. And I got to pet a corgi puppy. Ugh. It was perfect. There was even a woman there who said that she saw me earlier in the day at the fair during the hay ride! Small world! Or is it?
To end the night off we stopped by another woman who isn’t quite an investigator yet, but we have done a lot of service for who we hadn’t seen in a while. She was so glad to see us and she said that she had lost our number and feared she’d never see us again! It was great to assure her that Heavenly Father was watching after her and wouldn’t leave her alone... and to program our number into her phone.
When we got home I was amazed at how well the day went, and I offered a prayer of gratitude. The Lord heard my prayer and consecrated my efforts. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who is mindful of us and for His perfect Son who extends mercy there for us always.
Account with the Lord and tell him how you feel, and make a plan with Him. You’ll be surprised what you can accomplish with Heavens help.
Fear sin and nothing else,
-Sister Olivia Petty💩
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