I do not have much time! I will start off by sharing some random events of the week:
1. I stepped on a bee last thursday and it stung me!! It hurt so bad! And now it is really itchy! I don't know how, but some creepy crawlies keep finding a way into our room. We also saw a huge centipede thing the other day. It was sooo fast! But my shoe was faster. ;)
2. I got on a elevator today with a man who had a little dog. The dog had a leash that was dragging on the floor. So the dog walked into the elevator with the lease dragging behind him. Then the doors closed with the leash still outside of the elevator. We start going up, and I watch in horror as the the dog starts sliding towards the door closed doors!!! It was being tugged towards with doors because of it's leash!! Then the elevator stops and it is jammed! We thought we were going to be stuck in there! But luckily we got the elevator to go back down and the pulled the leash in! But we decided to get out and take the stairs instead!
3. At the grocery store a man looks at my tag and the looks at me with bulging eyes and asks me if I am Jesus Christ... haah I was like "no...I'm sister Lounsbury. I'm a member of the CHURCH of Jesus Christ of Latter-dday saints." it was pretty humorous.
4. Highlight of this week was that a general authority Elder Bruce R Carlson came and visited our mission. it was AMAZING. And I forgot to tell you all but Sister Matthews and Elder Hurst were asked to perform a musical number. We decided to make our own arrangement of Let Zion in her Beauty rise and hark all ye nations. And I got to help make the arrangement. it was amazing to see it all come together and to hear the final performance. I don't exactly know why but it almost brought tears to my eyes. it was so amazing because I got to see how the Spirit really took over. Sister Matthews played beautifully and Elder Hurst sang better than he ever had... It was amazing. I love it. it was amazing to be taught and instructed by President Morgan and Elder Carlson. I came away feeling truly blessed. I wish I could share all the insights and truths I learned, But there is not enough time :/
I learned that becoming a consecrated missionary is a process and becoming a consecrated member and disciple of Christ is a goal I will have for the rest of my life. If we do not have a baptism this Saturday, we were told that is not what is important. What is important is that we changed, we improved and we are more consecrated. I can say that this goal has pushed me to a higher plane and I am a much better missionary because of it. I have learned so much about myself. I am learning more about how hope conquers discouragement and how we need grace each and everyday to empower us so that our capacities can be increased. I know that through the grace of God we can become more than what we naturally are on our own. It is through grace that we can overcome our daily weaknesses. And I continue to be amazed as I can see that all that I go through is strengthening my faith and shaping me into the person I know my Heavenly Father wants me to become.
We do not have a baptismal date for this saturday, but we have seen miracles. We have had our numbers go from in the teens consistently to in the 20's consistently every week. The Lord is trusting us to teach more of his children. We have so many more people we are teaching. I am starting to recognize the hand of God more and more in our work. I talk to way more people on the streets then I have previously. And miracles have happened. There was one lady we stopped and talked to whos name is Memunatu. She is from Africa. We stopped her on the street, introduced ourselves and asked if she'd be interested in meeting. She said yes! We met with her this last Monday and we found out that her daughter in Africa was recently baptized. memunatu said that every time her daughter calls she tell her about the Church and tells her to be baptized! because of her daughter memunatu (who was muslim) decided to follow Jesus Christ! I just felt that it was a miracle that we stopped her and met her. I am sure that her daughter in Africa is praying that her mom can find the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Chirst, and here in new york Sister Matthews and I found her and started teaching her! She is going to pray about being baptized.
Esther is another real miracle. I met Esther at the lemonade stand APF we had a few months back. She has been impossible to get in contact with. But we finally had a lesson and the spirit was so strong! We were able to clearly teach and she was able to understand the significance of baptism by someone holding the proper Priesthood Authority of God. She said she that she wanted to be baptized! She is not ready to get baptized this month, and we told her that was fine. She said that she would read from the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it truly in the word of God. We had the total of 6 new investigators just this week. Oh! And we had a new referral given to us. We stopped by her house last night and she said that she wants to start meeting with us!
When God knows that we are really committed to give it our all to this work, then He can trust us. He will place the Elect and those who are prepared in our path. I have seen that. I know that I need to open my mouth to everyone and to share this gospel with all that I see! Fear holds me back sometimes and I pray for the courage. Rejection can be hard, but the joy of finding someone who is seeking for truth and watching them change their lives makes it all worth it.
I am so thankful for all of you and for all of your prayers. The New York New York North mission has more than doubled the normal amount of baptisms they have every month! And this week there are 55 more scheduled baptisms! I know that the Lord has truly poured out blessing upon us. Thank you, thank you for your faithful prayers. I love you so much! September is almost over, but we are going to push forward with just as much enthusiasm and faith. I know that as we as a mission continue to consecrate ourselves to this work, we will continue to see miracles happen. I hope all is well!
Love Sister Lounsbury
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