Serving is the Biggest Privlege Ever!!!

Dear Family and Friends:

Just to reiterate. . . I love Des Moines!

 

This past week it has really dawned on me that serving a mission is the biggest privilege ever.  Heavenly Father is really the one in charge of His work and we are privileged to witness first hand, His hand in the work of salvation!  What greater privilege? 

 

So Monday evening we had dinner with the Henry family and then afterwards, Sister Henry came with us to the lesson with Gary.  And what a privilege it was to teach Gary!  When we came in he talked about how he wants to know what he has to do to become a member, and so we told him the requirements.  And then started teaching the message of the Restoration.  He mentioned how he had been in darkness and we brought him the truth, when he didn't even realize that he had been in darkness.  The lesson was amazing and so at the end of the lesson we were able to set a baptismal date for April 19th!  Also,  Sister Henry is just amazing and at the end of the lesson she invited Gary to come over to her home and have dinner with her family this coming week!

 

 Monday night Sister Whipple and Sister Etherington arrived at our apartment, because Sister Etherington would be going on the departing temple trip the following day.  Oh how I love sleep overs on the mission!  Especially with past companions!  Tuesday we were able to have SIster Whipple with us the entire day and we had a great day!  We volunteered at the YMCA and there is a couple that is now helping us with the pantry and seriously they should be members. . . we will work on that.  They said that on the cold days when they see the elders walking they will tell them to get in the car, take them to their home, fix them a meal, invite all the friends over so that the elders can share a message and get referrals.  hahaha umm who does that?!  They are wonderful and will be at the YMCA on the Tuesdays when we are there!  We were able to have many miracles on Tuesday as well as we were able to visit with several less actives and members!

 

Wednesday was a day of finding which when people are home it is great, but when you have several homes in a row where no one is home or when people aren't as friendly then you get discouraged.  But it was still a great day!

 

Des Moines District minus the A.P.'s plus the ZL's

Left to right:  Elder Dutson, ZL Elder Monson, Sister Brown, ZL Elder Bates, Sister Call, Sister Crapo, Elder Crapo, Elders Wardle, Flint, Bowden, Hensley, and Zabriskie

Thursday was another great day!  We had our last district meeting with this particular district, since transfers are this Thursday!  Once again we had district lunch at the valley west mall food court. . . we go there every district lunch and I wanted to throw up as we were trying to decide what to eat, since nothing sounded good there.  After 4 months of eating there, I think I would be totally okay with never having to eat at another mall food court again in my life. . .. Hopefully we will be able to change lunch locations this next transfer!  After district meeting we were able to visit more members and less actives, and then after our dinner appointment we called to check up on Gary and set up a time for our next appointment.  He was doing well and when we asked if we could come on Friday or Saturday to meet with him again, he said that on Saturdays he usually goes to Starbucks in the morning to get his coffee, but then immediately after he said that he asked "do you drink coffee?"  We said no, to which he asked "is it a personal thing or a Mormon thing?"  We said it was a church thing, and he said "well I guess that is one habit I will have to break, but I don't drink or smoke so I am good on that part."  I am positive that my jaw hit the floor.  He also asked about tithes and offerings and loves the idea of it!  Anyways we were able to set up an appointment for Saturday!

 

Fridays are when we get to teach English to one of the Karen families and they are seriously so so cute!  I love them so much!  The grandma, is so tiny and frail and speaks very little English, but will run to the door to give you a hug when we walk in!  The couple that we teach are so cute and love to joke around, so they will sometimes purposely answer a question wrong. Like when we asked them how old they are they would say "I am ten years old. . . 4 times!"

 

After English we were finally able to visit with a recent convert that I have never been able to meet in the 4 months I have been in Des Moines!  She is 18 and the only member in her family, but is amazing! 

 

Saturday was again filled with miracles!  We were able to meet with Gary and his daughter Sophia and go over the Plan of Salvation!  Sophia will take a little bit more time, but they both seemed to love the principles and doctrines taught in the Plan of Salvation!  After Gary and Sophia's we were able to meet with Stella and Francis!  And then after wards we were able to meet with Rochelle who we taught the first week Sister Brown was here, but haven't been able to meet with her since. 

 

I just love the Des Moines ward and love going to church!  Both Gary and Francis came to church and stayed the entire 3 hours!  The ward members are so amazing and welcome everyone with loving arms, so as missionaries we are never afraid to bring people to church in this ward! 

 

Anyways a little tender mercy took place last night as we were heading to the dinner appointment.  We were driving and at a stop light we looked in our mirror and Brother Henry was behind us, so we figured he was probably coming to the Beck's for dinner as well!  haha this ended up being a tender mercy, because the message we had planned on sharing was the same message we had shared with the Henry's earlier that week!  So we were given a few minutes before we arrived the Beck's to change our plans!  But it all turned out great!

It seriously was the best week of my mission!  We had 28 lessons for the week! 

 

Well I love you lots and I know that Heavenly Father is fully aware of all of His children!

 

Love, Sister Call

Only in Iowa!