Thursday we visited sister James. She calls me Sister Tooney and I just don't have the heart to correct her. Then we had a really good lesson with Kyla :) we owed her froyo for sitting through stake conference AND the YSA thing, so Caeli came with us and we went out. We talked about the word of wisdom and Kyla pretty much told us "duh" :) which was great. Then they spent the rest of the time hassling me about dating which is seriously the worst. Kyla keeps telling me I have to find my "boo" and she told me that when I HAVE to be nice. Like she's my mother or something :)
Friday we had this awesome day planned. I was pumped to be teaching all day long. And then... Pretty much everything fell through. :) not only that... But the weirdest things fell in its place. We got a call during studies from a distraught LA because her cat had died. She had two cats die in FOUR days! Then we went to leadership meeting and the elders said she called them too... And asked them to come and bury her cat. As if that wasn't enough... Halfway through the meeting she texted them and asked them to clip some whiskers for her to keep! We were dying. After leadership meeting we all went to a cat funeral. It wasn't funny. But it was. We are pretty horrible.
Later, we were able to help Sister Vilela with some stuff around her house and then she introduced us to her friend! We have been getting so many referrals. It makes me wish I could have stayed in all of my areas for nine months :) we shared a good message about faith with both of them. Her friend expressed real desire to learn more about the scriptures, which was great. People are led to truth in so many ways.
Friday was also Alana's birthday, so after sister vilelas, we went to dinner. Caeli came with us & we went to sonic. Our investigator Tracy just started working there. We pulled into the parking lot and I made some comment about how I really hoped we'd see her. We ordered food and guess who our car hop was!! None other than Tracy. I basically died laughing. And she accused us of stalking her. Really, it was just a miracle. Also, she really needs some practice, if ya know what I mean ;) we shared a message and then Caeli and Alana started talking about this YSA activity at a members house. We told them that they each needed to leave with a boys number. Turns out there was only one boy there... And they both failed. :)
Saturday we did the usual. Service at the Phillips. :) before that, though, we had an AWESOME lesson with our online investigator. I've never felt the spirit of the hastening of the work so strongly! She asked about original sin and the Holy Ghost and so many good things. I'll let you read it when I get home ;) Saturday night<x-apple-data-detectors:/
Sunday was a great day. We had meetings before church, and after, bishop pulled me into his office. He asked me why I was a little anxious about coming back to middletown (thanks, Carol) and then he told me thanks for asking him to give me a blessing. He said it felt like a dad doing it for his own daughter. I love bishop :) he told me that I was the best ;) of course... I already knew that.
It was fast and testimony meeting this Sunday. My very last. So many people that I love were there, too. I think I've only felt the spirit prompting me to share my testimony so strongly once before. I seriously couldn't hear anything and I thought my heart might explode. I had so many things I wanted to say and as I got up there I forgot all of them. :) it just felt good to be up there. Right after I finished, Sister Castro stood up and bore her testimony about how grateful she was for missionaries. I had held it together pretty well up until this point, but then I just lost it. She said she was so grateful that we were willing to leave our families and our lives, and how blessed her family is because of it. She has three daughters and this was the first time they had had sisters. Now all of their daughters are talking about where they want to serve!
After church we continued our streak of finding NO ONE at home. We went to dinner at the Santos house where we were entertained by brother Santos and his NYPD SVU stories. On our way home we stopped by Arecelis house. She was a potential investigator. She told us her whole life story basically and about how she is looking for a church. I just wanted to hug her and tell her she had found a new home for herself, but I think it's best that she finds that out on her own. Her living conditions are so very interesting. She rents a room in a house. The other rooms are occupied by middle age Mexican men who spend all weekend drinking. I've never smelled so much alcohol or seen so many drunk Spanish people wandering around. It was a real treat, I tell ya.
Monday was pretty average. More doors with NO ONE home. We did visit Abi though. Did I tell you she is one of my best friends? She is going to help me lace up my Jordan's before I leave ;) I made a list of things to do before I go home because I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed. I felt better after the list :) we had dinner at the Lennons. I love them :)
Yesterday was seriously crazy. We needed to go on a split with the Poughkeepsie sisters and the Kingston sisters that we inherited last week. We talked with both of the companionships and neither seemed too excited about going on a split with us. We decided that we would just take a day and spend half of it in Kingston and then drive to Poughkeepsie for half the day rather than do two full splits. Go ahead and look on the map. 150 miles and 3 hours of traveling. :/ it was good to spend time with them, though. When we got back to middletown we stopped by Kyla's. She is AMAZING. We were talking about her baptism and how we might not do it on the 23 and she was almost mad. She basically bore her testimony to us and told us it didn't matter because she knew the church was true. :) we told her what else we had to go over and she said well when are you coming back? I LOVE HER :)
I am grateful for my mission experience and the chance it has given me to really think through the things I know. Here are a few of them:
First, I hope you know that I LOVE missionary work. And I am eternally grateful & indebted to my Heavenly Father for this chance to love, serve, and grow. I have seen individuals change their lives as they open their heart and accept the gospel as a way to live. I have seen the spirit physically change people as they have learned about and felt witness of the restored gospel. I know that I have only been able to see this change in others because it was a mirror of what is happening to me.
Second, I want you all to know that I KNOW my redeemer lives. That He is there with open arms no matter what we have done. He has helped me not only reclaim my life but improve it. He truly is the light that shineth in darkness. I don't worry so much about "the true church" anymore. I have never understood the phrase "I know this church is true" what I do have SO much faith in (because I can't say I have a perfect knowledge), is the fact that my Savior lives and that He is at the head of this church. Everything in this church points us to Him. Including and especially the Book of Mormon. I know the words in that book are inspired and divine.
I know that I am a daughter of God who chose to follow my savior before I came to this earth. I know that He has a bigger plan for me than I could ever dream. I know that is why I want so badly to continue to follow Him while I am here. I know that God is anxious to help and support me in my righteous actions, and to help me find truth. I know that He is understanding when i have doubts (and often, there are many) and that he made me with imperfections and weaknesses for a reason.
I KNOW that living the gospel is how we overcome all of these things... Doubts, imperfections, sins, weaknesses... All of it. I know that if we have a desire to exercise even a particle of faith, it is enough. That seed of faith can foster and grow, even amid our doubts and uncertainty, until it motivates us and inspires us to become more like our Older Brother. When we pluck the weeds of sin and disobedience from our lives, we make more room for His spirit to lead and guide us in sowing more faith, repenting more, and desiring to become more like Him. I know that our covenants bind us to God... And that living the gospel and keeping these covenants insure that we will be given all He has.
I love you. And I will see you soon. :)
Xoxo
Sister Toone
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