Week 47--Matthew 18:2-4

Hey Loved Ones,

THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN AS A MISSIONARY:

#37 Had an investigator so impressed with our doctrinal knowledge. I could see why he was so impressed when he said he thought I was 14. #only10yearsoffbro

This week has been great! I love my new companion, Sister Giles! She is great. We had a jam packed week because we did not think we would be getting transferred. She got into town, had lunch, and then right after went to her first lesson! And we had like three more right in a row after that. She had to wake up at 2am the day before but was still going strong! She really has jumped into missionary work head first. 

We've been focusing on tracting by the spirit rather than just doing it to do it, although it is a great way to practice teaching simply. We felt inspired to skip some houses and go around the corner then to knock on one in particular. As it opened, we were disappointed it was a younger boy whose parents weren't home. Also disappointed when his ill-behaved dog ran out the door and down the street. The boy just closed the door and were trying to figure out what to do with this dog who was running into the street. A truck pulled up and we thought it might be the owner of the house trying to get back the dog. But the guy driving asked us if we needed help. We explained, and then he said, "So what are you guys doing here?" We told him we were missionaries and started talking to him about the Restoration. He eagerly accepted a pamphlet and return appointment, and when we texted, he told us we had lifted his spirits and one of his goals was to be a better Christian this year, but didn't know where to start. When we came back for our return appointment, he told us all about what good things he had heard from his friend about our church, and how he had been wanting to go with him for a while. Turned out to be the right time, right place. Thanks, Holy Ghost!

It has also struck me this week how much simplicity really does bring the Holy Ghost. With the incident above, we only had a few moments to tell him about the message of the Restored Gospel. Sister Linder went with us on her first "practice run" for visiting teaching, since she was nervous. When she bore her testimony, it was amazing. With recent converts and incidentally the best member missionaries I know, they have testimonies that are so simple and pure.  She has since contacted all of her friends from high school who initially brought her into the church--they are all inactive. It struck me on how her simple testimony was what laid the foundation for her to be the only one of her friend group who was active now, and for her to bring the Spirit into her home so her husband could partake and be baptized. It brings to mind this scripture:

"And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." {Matthew 18:2}

"[Become] a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and [become] as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." {Mosiah 3:19}

And I love you, but Jesus loves you best,

Sister Pugmire