Here is some of us missionaries with a wonderful family spray-painting a play park with bright happy children colors. it is a place called Henderson Haven Inc.
It is an organization for kids with autism. We spray painted their play place. It was one of the best days of service…well wheel chair rugby comes close. I love spray paint!
I feel I haven’t done the last few weeks justice because we have really seen so many miracles! Today I am actually on a computer instead of just on my iPad so we figured now is the time to repent and catch up.
We started teaching that guy I mentioned last week who was a big miracle. He just walked into the church building asking the times for services. We talked for a bit and he committed to come. We were excited for this miracle and hurried around to the rest of our appointments that day. Later that night he called and asked to talk to me. (He did not understand much about missionaries and that we were a companionship and wanted to meet.) We set up an appointment with the member who was coming out with us that night. We taught the first half of the restoration and that is about all we could because he had so many questions. We set up an appointment for two days later and had our lesson at the church building again with member present. This time it was in the foyer…which attracted many people…not the best idea. One of the men that just joined into our lesson said, “I don’t feel the Spirit here!” and, “A Bible! A Bible!” was repeated a couple of times. hahaha BUT our actual member present Sister A—- pulled us through! She said simply, “If you want to learn, will you stop and listen to the message these sisters have prepared for you?” It was such a good lesson for me. The gospel is true. The Book of Mormon is true, it just is. Anyone that sincerely desires to learn, WILL. Those qualifications for getting an answer about the Book of Mormon are truly stated in Moroni 10:3-5 asking in the name of Christ with a sincere heart and real intent. Otherwise they have no promise. Z—- has studied on line about Mormons for 40 plus hours, which seems like a lot! But because he would not go to the right sources for that information, in fact refused to! He learned things from unreliable sources which held him back from learning and growing with us. We had to drop him at our third lesson but we will continue to keep contact. He’s devoted and when he’s ready to start learning and keeping commitments we will be there.
I MET AN APOSTLE OF THE LORD!!! I forgot to tell ya’ll about that last week. He came this past Wednesday and all of us missionaries got to talk with him!!! Elder Anderson and his wife are amazing. I don’t know what it is about the wives of any leader but they are so amazing. Maybe it is because I am a mama’s girl or maybe they are just amazingly blessed. I feel they are select individuals. We talked about many things. Mostly about faith and the Prophet Joseph Smith as there has been A LOT of investigators with questions about him of late. Living in the Bible belt people are pretty intense too. One of the things that he said that really hit me was, “You are nothing.” I feel this though has helped me in my own faith. Accepting that there is much to learn from the Lord and that I have the need to grow. When doubts come, instead of being quick to count on myself, I go to the source and I am patient with answers I receive while still asking, begging and pleading with the Lord for those answers. Elder Anderson IS an apostle of the Lord and I was blown away to be there.
C—- is going to be baptized soon! He is ready. He’s got lots to learn still but he is ready. What a miracle. He was just riding his bike past us and we stopped and talked to him. He told us he had prayed for someone to help him and then we came! I have seen soooo many miracles here in Orange Park!
A wonderful family took us to St Augustine today. Sending a photo. Sister H— and I won cleanest apartment award last week. We got this trip for an award! This week Brother Bell (who is my favorite because he reminds me of my own brother) in our ward referenced this talk. I love to hear talks about gaining a testimony of anything. Here is the link:
We had FOUR investigators at church all from different families!!! One reading and praying every day AND CAME TO CHURCH! She is the the sweetest, funniest lady I’ve met (not counting you mom)! She told us this week, “I am so happy you kept asking me to read the Book of Mormon.” She has been a member since she was 30 and never read it through. She has just always jumped around reading. It is a miracle that she read it and I feel so blessed to be a part of her feeling the joy that she expresses about it. I love being a missionary so much. I mean we get rejected LOTS. People yell and chase after us and we do get into some seriously awkward conversations, but it is so worth it.
This week I have been studying every spare minute I can. My time here is ticking and I don’t want it to end. This is that last stretch and I don’t want to waste it. Doctrine and Covenants Section Four, “See that ye serve Him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.”
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng
I love y’all, you each have amazing talents and I am so blessed to know you. Lots of love, Muah! Sister Winkler
SisterWinkler 