Hello family!
First, Happy Birthday to Gma Crandall in 2 days! 74! yay!
Wow, it sounds like a lot is changing back home! I'm excited for everyone :) This week has been a good one and really busy! First of all Friday was a VERY significant day for me :) It was my 9 month mark, a year ago from friday I had opened my call AND I FINALLY finished the Book of Mormon in Spanish! It felt so good. I have learned soooo much and have grown so much in a year spiritually, mentally and thank goodness NOT physically :) As I was in the last chapter of the Book of MOrmon, I was starting to get excited because I wanted to take Moroni's promise and pray after, but all that was going through my head as I was reading the last couple pages was, "you already know" Almost before I finished, I still had the excitement to pray, but it was more of a falling to my knees in gratitude in knowing that it's true.
We started off the day running. Hermana Mendoza even ran with me!... until she face-planted it. It was really funny. She was falling for like 10 whole seconds and I just sat there and thought, "Is she gonna fall, or not?" It was like slow motion. Her fall was a good 12-15 feet fall if you include her arms stretched out above her head. I was careful not to laugh too hard though because I want her to run with me again!! She was a good sport.
We were able to do another service project for the lights! I can't believe it's October! So crazy. It's going to be huge! They said we get thousands and thousands of people that come and 2500 referrals or something. I'm excited.
I had a cool experience at the vc this week! We had a training at the vc about phonecalls and we did a bunch of roleplays with all the sisters. Every time I would pretend to be the person on the other end I would say that my name was "Maria" but I didn't know why. So when I was on the phones later that day I looked at all my contacts and investigators to see if I had a Maria on there. There was one Maria that I had contacted and taught when I 1st got on my mission but she had moved and I lost contact. Not expecting anything, I called the number, just for kicks and a guy answered. He said he had no idea who Maria was. Awkward. So I said, well.. what's your name? He said Mario. I told him that maybe it wasn't a coincidence that I called him and I started to teach. He said that he was going through a really hard time and actually wanted to try anything to change his life around and do something for his 1 1/2 year old son that he's never even seen before. He told me I could send the missionaries and that he wanted to come into the vc so I could teach him and show him around. Cooooooooool huh??
I took the famous "9-months prego" picture and I was so excited to send it today, but I can't find my camera cord now! So sad. I will have to send it home.
I brought my study journal to share a little more about what Elder Bednar said.. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around everything!
Here are some "gems"
"Apoint and invite the Holy Ghost to be the teacher"
"You are inviting people to act, not to be acted upon"
"When you feel the spirit and are prompted, it's ALWAYS to bless and edify someone else"
"Always use a pattern NOT a method"
"Dont ever "challenge" someone.. that a salesman. Invite"
"It's not power then action.. It's action and THEN power."
"People have to accept the message into their heart, not just unto"Alma 23:5,6,7
"If you're being good, you don't need dramatic answers, if you are always seeking dramatic answers, you'll get them, but not from the right source"
**Watch the patterns of light mormon messages on lds.org
"A belief is a mental acceptance of something.... that's it. To have a testimony is to have evidence that something is true. A testimony is not enough, you need continual conversion"
"You are not an affective parent or missionary unless you help them to be an agent and to not need you. How quickly can you teach them so that they don't need you? It takes a lot more work but don't just answer their questions. Lead them in the direction to find their answers themselves. (that's what heavenly father does for us)
"it's a living church because He lives... the tomb is empty"
Talking about senior couples: "your absence speaks louder than your presence would. "When thou art converted, strengthen your brotheren"
"Because you have heard the doctorine and testimony of a special witness of the Lord, you are more accountable"
Someone asked how he was prepared to become an apostle: "I wasn't! The more experience you have, the more you understand your calling and the more unqualified you feel. You are never prepared." (I understand that as a missionary)
"You can ask the Holy Ghost to show you as you really are, but it will be the hardest, humbling experience you will ever have"
I hope everyone listens intently to conference! Listen as agents, not objects! Don't miss Elder Bednars talk especially!
Pleas pray for all the missionaries! We are gearing up and buckling up for the elections coming up. Especially those that work at the VC.. I expect there will be a lot of interesting things that happen.
The chapter this week is alma 23:5,6,7- this was the answer from elder bednar after someone asked how can we prevent going less active
love you all!
SFTE
Sister Cottrell
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