Week 86

Family, there's snow . . . a lots of it, :) (For NC at least :) ) (2)

Feb 12, 2014 at 1:42 PM

So . . . right now, I'm sitting at a computer, watching the snow fall down like it was Colorado or something.  It's capital A awesome.  :) :)  Not only that, it was cold before it snowed, so the ground was a little colder than it was a couple of weeks ago when it snowed.  It's pretty much shut down the town.  It's actually caused a big damper for most of the departing missionaries.  They have had their flights cancelled and delayed numerous times.  Ergo, today, they sent out some of them with some of the companionships in the Raleigh area, mine included, so that they wouldn't have to be stuck in the mission home all day.  But then the snow came . . . I love the snow.  

Speaking of which, transfers.  So I am now serving in an area outside of Raleigh and Wake Forest in a ward called the Falls Lake ward.  I'm really excited.  I also go to church in the same building as the wake forest 1st ward, so I'll be able to see some of my friends from the 1st ward. :)  I'm excited.  My companion's name is Elder Curtis, and he is from Gilbert, AZ.  I love him to death already and we're going to have a ton of fun together.  I'm really excited.  Things are already getting super busy.  Elder Curtis is a experienced missionary, so I expect to see a lot of good things happen in our area and with the work.  

It was sad to leave Hope Mills and the work that is going on there, but I'll tell you what.  We went out with a bang.  We had 6 investigators at church a few less active members.  And I guess since I can't really remember a lot about last week since that was like a million years ago, or so it feels, I will tell you a testimony building story about consecrated goal setting.  

I have learned a ton about setting goals and reaching those goals on my mission.  So, the big push across the world, as directed by the Lord, is for the missionaries to teach 20 lessons per week with a decent part of that coming from direct involvement of the Ward Council.  Well, Elder Bagley and I have been hovering around 12 or so per week, but this last week, at the beginning of the week, we made the specific goal of teaching at least 3 lessons a day on every day we had, with possibly an exception of 2 on one day or something.  Either way, we wanted to get 18 lessons because on Friday, we were going to be in another companionship's area for the entire day, so we only had "6" days in our area.  I say "6" because on Sunday evening we had a previous responsibility where we were going to be unable to teach or proselyte.  The week started, and we saw miracle after miracle.  It was truly amazing.  In those 6 days, we taught 20 lessons.  We hit about 3 a day with I think 5 on Saturday and 1 lesson on the day we were gone all day, where we came back in our area for the dinner appointment.  It was incredible.  And, Friday, the day we were gone, is 1 of our 3 largest proselyting days.  When we set a goal in faith and do all we can to accomplish that goal, we will see miracles.  And I can promise that you will achieve more than if you had not set the goal at all, even if you don't fully reach the goal.  Many times, though, in the big picture, you will exceed your goal.  It was amazing, and fortified my appreciation for and understanding of true goal setting and how it enables us to do more and better accomplish the Lord's will.  

It's still snowing . . . hard.  I think the snow completely shut down the Atlanta airport.  I don't know what else to say...because I couldn't email Monday, everything from last week has fled from the grey matter of my brain . . . sadly . . . but I guess in the end, it dura matar!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm going to have to sign off now.  I have to go.  Probably, I 'll "talk" with y'all next week.  

I love y'all so much, 

Elder patty