Don't Blink Your Eyes

"Don't Blink your eyes! Refers to what Sister Mendenhall always says.

time flies on the mission!, so i drew a picture of it. "

Okay! So I will first answer the questions about the investigators....

We have a bunch of baptismal dates but none of them have been answering phone calls. So it is hard to ask you to pray for them/give specifics when I have given up on them myself and moved on. Perhaps I am the problem? Lack of Faith? 

We dropped SJ. Duval and Danika.  Ricardo and Gerrald are both from China! We can't get in contact with them but we VERY SIMPLY taught what the 5 principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, keeping commandments). They seemed to eat it up....but like I said we can't get in contact. Marvin flaked so we haven't met with him. Caroline and Shadyane....haven't met with them either! UGh! However, the most unlikely of investigator--Maria, Samirra, and Mila--we have consistently met with. Unfortunately, they have many unmet physical needs and have lost every single book/pamphlet we have given them, etc. 

They are from Romania. I know some are illegally here.... Futita Begs at the subway, sends money home to her kids in Romania, and is mad at religion because of the corruption it has caused in her country.  At this time in her life I don't think she is ready. She speaks English the best. Maria is a Christian and has so much faith! She is awesome. There definitely is a language barrier. We taught them the plan of salvation and it was great. Although there is a language barrier, we knew they understood. Maria thinks that her church teaches the plan of salvation the same way....we said they likely didn't but because of the language barrier it made it hard to explain but at the end of the lesson she asked the perfect question. It was something along the lines of: "Which church do I have to Join to get to the celestial kingdom? Which church has authority? Why is your church different?" So we left a restoration pamphlet and we are teaching that Wednesday! Pray that they will get to church! They are cool. Before I came to canada I imagined that everyone would have clean living conditions....not soo...haha sometimes I feel like I am in the deep south...but the people are great! We are going to clean Hosnee's house tomorrow:) When I see cockroaches crawling up the walls....I just have to pretend that there is NO POSSIBLE way that those things are getting in my hair or in the food.

This week we had two awkward situations where our investigators wanted married counseling. We were teaching one couple and the husband starts arguing with the wife because he wants to learn more about Christ and she only wants to believe in Alllah. The second was at our "English as a Second Language" session. I asked a little girl, "Do you like going camping with your dad?" to which she replies, "HE's not my DAD. He is Antonio." Later on the mother  tells us that Antonio doesn't want to get married and then Antonio says his wife is the one who doesn't. It was so random. It is as if because we are missionaries people think we know how to help their marriages....we just kinda shrug it off...because we shouldn't be giving counseling or we'll say something generic and sorta off topic like "Temples are great! We can be with our families together forever there!"

General conference was awesome. Saturday I had lots of questions answered. Sunday was good but not as amazing as saturday. I think It was because I wasn't exactly obedient.  I didn't start my Personal study at 8, rather like 8:05, because I was taking muffins out of the oven. I had the thought that I should put the muffins in later but I ignored it. Sooooo I felt bad after and I was terrified that I wasn't going to get anything out of conference and lose my opportunity to receive revelation. So I was saying sorry but then I felt like I was being like the Nephites, who, in 4th Nephi or Mormon,  after have lost the battle, are crying unto the Lord but not because they are forsaking their sins but because they are sorry they can't have joy in wickedness--as if I was only sorry because I knew I was loosing blessings.  Shortly thereafter, instead of having companionship study, we taught a lesson to a man in our apartment. I prayed that if I was forgiven I'd feel peace in my heart. Finally at the end of the lesson I did a bit. ughh ha this letter is awful! I know you guys read them for fhe....this one isn't like lifting. I'm sorry. I'll do better next week. :(

"I am working on drawing."

We have another investigator named Halil! He  accepted a baptismal date. He is a truck driver and his family lives in the states. They are originally from Albania. His closing prayer was so tender and he had tears in his eyes it was so sweet. Hopefully he reads a bit from the BOM during his drive to BC this week! the lesson was 1hr and a 1/2!!!! (They are supposed to be at most 45 minutes...he just asked a lot of questions! ah!)

After the Sunday session we went to a less active named Gladys [note from editor--name removed]. She became a member like 10 years ago and was active for 2 months. Then her controlling/schizophrenic husband took her out the the country and she couldn't go to church. Thus, her knowledge of the gospel is very limited. We are going to teach her all the new member lessons. She gave the sweetest prayer at the end of the lesson. She needed a lot of help, but you could really feel the spirit while she was praying.:)

Okay, back to Saturday. A couple weeks ago I met a guy on the bus named Ahab [note from Editor: name changed to protect this person]. He was a former ESL student! I asked him if he wanted to go on a church tour and he said yes! I called him on Friday to invite him to general conference, to which he responded that he wanted to come and learn more about Jesus.  He said that he felt like his religion was conflicting and wrong. He and his son came!! It was a miracle--something we weren't expecting. I have never felt so anxious at a conference session before! All I wanted was for him to have a spiritual experience and understand what was being said.

After the session we talked with him and learned a bit more about his background. He is Islamic and from Turkey (P.S. DON'T POST ANYTHING ONLINE ABOUT HIS FAITH NAME ETC. Some converts from the Muslim faith lose everything and their lives are in danger when they convert. One sad event happened a couple years ago. A man who converted from islam and the missionaries mom posted a picture of him on FB. The Iranian government found out, cut off all support and if he returns to his country he will be killed. He can't see his family ever again.)

"Last P-day we got together and played games!"

"I made Black Bean Soup! So good, I was crying 

because of the onions and mascara went EVERYWHERE."

"For ESL we played a game and had a potluck...it was good....

I tried every doughnut....(I just cut off pieces....;)"

Anyway :) We taught the restoration. The son K. [note from editor: name removed]. who is 14 isso ready to get baptized. He was saying how even if his dad can't come to church he will ride his bike. He was so sweet. Ahab talked about how he wants to get back to live with the father and he knows that can only be done if he is in God's church. ahhhhh and guess waht. the lesson was 2 hrs!! The time flew. Ahab and his son never got antsy and just kept asking questions and I didn't even realize it had been that long. The spirit was great. 

He told me that If I ever needed help that we could ask him....especially becuase I was an American....haah that was kinda scary/funny. They are sooooo cool! It's kinda funny that all of our investigators this week are from Eastern Europe. 

I met two Frenchies on the Bus!! Every time I talk with the I realize how awful my french is...haha but they love it when I... and i reallllly love it.

Yesterday on the bus I was talking to this girl about the Book of Mormon and how we can ask God if it is true, etc. While I was talking to her I could feel the eyes of the guy sitting next to us. I sort of ignored him because I thought it was probably some anti who was going to ruin everything. When I finished speaking, he began to speak.  I cringed, bracing for him to spewing anti stuff.  

"Sorry to interrupt," he began, "but I just have to say I know this book is true. Four years ago the missionaries came up to me and told me the same thing that she is telling you. I had questions, but I read and prayed. I know what this missionary is telling you is true."

To say the least I was FLOORED. Then my bus stop came. I picked my jaw off the ground, shook his hand, asked him his name, and hurried to get off the bus so I didn't miss my stop. It was so cool. Then Sister Mendenhall asked if he was a member. The thought didn't even cross my mind!!!!! Ahhhh I hope he is....because I didn't get any info of his!!! Half my brain was in the clounds and my jaw on the ground. He did have a white shirt and tie on though....so  maybe he was coming from conference...?! :) So that was like my favorite experience this week.

Some questions that I had for conference were:

• How can I have more hope? Preisdent packer answered it when he spoke about how the Savior is Hope and we must learn of the savior.

• How can I teach children the gospel? Teach them how to pray!!! (I loved that comment from...I can't remember...but It reminded me of my own conversion experience, I learned the gospel through my mother who taught me the importance of prayer.)

I have so much more to tell you about my lovely answers but I will have to do some next week!!! ahhh Conference was so good!! 

Love,

Sister Reeves

The sweetest lady in the ward named, Sister Gayle gave us some clothes. :) 

Ah i wish you could meet he! She has the most incredible testimony, she reminds me of 

Grandma Helen and Grandma Reeves. She is constantly stopping people and sharing the gospel. 

Her prayers amazing! I imagine that the disciples of Christ prayed that way after 

Christ came to the Americas.