Week 80 (Feb 27th- Mar 5th 2018)
Back when I was in Lake Crescent with Sister McCullough, we brainstormed different ideas of creative new ways to find people to teach. She thought of a classic summer staple with a twist: a free lemonade stand. We’d set up in a high foot traffic area and offer passers by some free lemonade as Christlike service and hand out pass along cards and let them know what we are about.
We had started collecting the various items required- a table, lemonade mix, a cooler, etc.- from several members of the ward. Before our plan could be executed, Sister McCullough was transferred and Sisters Evans & Hill came in. I told them our plan in the works, and they were game to give it a shot. We had a Saturday scheduled to do it. The Wednesday of that week I was emergency transferred to Buena Ventura with Hermana Klein. Sisters Evans & Hill proceeded with the free lemonade stand without me and when I received the photographs my heart hurt. I wished I could have been there.
A week ago, Sister Russell and I were brainstorming creative new ways to find people to teach. I brought the free lemonade stand back into the game. Round two. We planned the Saturday, we planned for the spanish elders to join us, we had the necessary supplies, we were ready to go.
It was a learning experience. We learned more about what can be better prepared when doing this sort of thing. Initially we were having no success. Despite the Elders dancing with our homemade poster boards. My fear beforehand/standing theory is that adorable small children are needed in order for any type of lemonade stand to work. Next time.
Finally, when we were about to pack up and cut our losses, a member pulled up and let us know that a park nearby was bumping with people and families. So we boogied on over and had much more success. We made a few contacts and planted a few seeds; we’re praying that Heavenly Father will consecrate the efforts we put forth in doing His work.
An actual miracle happened this week while at a member dinner. During our spiritual thought, there was a knock at the door. Missionaries aren’t used to being on the other side of the door. When we opened it it was our members across the street neighbor. She was very emotional and clutching several dollar bills in her hands and asked desperately if our members brother in law was around and willing to mow her lawn the next morning. He was out of town, but jumped right in and offered to help. She looked so relieved and thanked us profusely. She told us that her husband had just been hospitalized with a stroke and her landlord was coming the next day and she would be fined if the lawn wasn’t done. She offered up her money, and we declined and told her we would do it for free. Tears rolled down her cheeks and her voice caught in her throat as she thanked us again. We went the next morning and mowed her lawn and weeded and she was so grateful. Hopefully we will get to see her again soon and offer her a message of peace at this time.
It seemed like it wasn’t going to happen for a minute there, but lo and behold in the eleventh hour came the long awaited permission from President for our district to go to the beach. I had hoped to have the opportunity to go at least once on my mission and that hope was fulfilled. We were up before the sun so we could catch it rise above the ocean. Also because if missionaries are there at any other time there are a great number of other people at the beach; and because we want to uphold our image as hardworking servants of the Lord and not as frisbee playing shell collecting youths we go when the least amount of eyes are there. Plus when other people are there they are usually not fully clothed like us and we don’t need to see that when we are keeping our eyes single to the glory 😎
While beholding the beauty of the rolling waves and having sand embedded in every article of my clothing, I thought of the words to the hymn ‘Brightly Beams Our Fathers Mercy’:
Let the lower lights be burning;
Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
This week as I embark on my last week of full time missionary service in the Florida Orlando Mission, I pray that I can find a one that I may rescue, I may save through our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is my hope that you can too
See you next week,
-Sister Olivia Petty🌊
THE BEACH 3.5.18
THE LONG AWAITED NAMETAG IN THE SAND PICTURE 3.5.18
Murals on the boardwalk 3.5.18
THE FREE LEMONADE STAND 3.3.18
Me and Chevy, the chug (chihuahua/pug mix) 2.28.18
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