28 January 2013

Hello family and friends,

This week has been busy again. We met with a less-active member Sister Lofgreen. She’s had a lot of trials in her life, but she will not deny her testimony she has of this Church and Joseph Smith. She has stuck up for her religion even though she is not a picture perfect Mormon. She is having a very hard time in her life right now. We were able to help bring some hope into her life. She told us that when she is able to get back on her feet she wants us to help her to quit smoking, so she can return to church. I told her that she is welcome to come to church whenever she wants to.

 

We met with the Brother and Sister Deaton twice this week. The first time we confirmed our appointment they told us that they were excited to see us, which is new. So we went and we had a very good discussion with them. They had lots of questions about the scriptures they had been reading. They are starting to read more. We also had a church tour with them. Sister Deaton stopped coming to church because when she moved here from Florida, she came to church and felt judged by  the looks she was given. She had her arms crossed for most of the time. When we made it to the chapel she relaxed. I think she could remember the peace that is in the church. We were able to talk to them and she opened up. They won’t be at our church this Sunday because of work, but they will come the next Sunday. We are super excited to get them to start coming again.

 

We met with Sister Hancock. She has come to church every Sunday for four or five weeks in a row now. She hasn’t been to church in 10 years. She told us that with how wicked the world is becoming she wanted her children to grow up in the gospel and it was time to come back. We gave her the “Forget Me Not” talk by President Uchtdorf. She was excited to read it. One of her best friends is not a member, so she invited her and us over to have lunch together. She just started coming back and is sharing the gospel with her friends. She is amazing. Her son is nine and he realized that he isn’t baptized. She is planning on talking to her husband about it. Her husband was almost anti-Mormon, but he told his wife he might come to church with her sometime. We are seeing a lot of potential and good coming from this family.

 

We tried going over the Sister Magallons multiple times this week. She also hasn’t responded to any of our calls or texts. We finally saw her. When we asked her about missing church, she told us that her friend never came to pick her up. She said that she was going to take her this week. We told her that if things fell through this week to let us know and we would set up a ride for her and her family. Well Sunday came and no Magallons. I don’t know what else we can do. If they don’t make it to church they can’t be baptized, and Sister Magallon keeps telling us how important it is to her.

 

Exchanges went very well. After study in the morning we went tracking. We met with a Jehovah’s Witness who was interested in what we, as missionaries, do. We also met with a lady who wanted us to drop by another day, so we got her information. We also met a young man, Jesse. He had a lot of questions about prayer, God, and life. I was able to testify about Joseph Smith and just like he prayed to know so can we. We taught him the order of prayer and he asked if we could come back in ten minutes because he was feeding his niece and nephew lunch. We did and his girlfriend also joined us. We answered all of their questions the best we could and set up a return appointment. We gave them a pamphlet and Jesse said, “I’m going to do my research and read this, you need to do your research too!” We told him to write down any more questions they had so we could answer them.

 

We also met with a recent convert Sister Frick. She is so sweet. She has given up on the hope of finding love and having a family because she is 56. I told her not to give up that Elder Oaks wife was single until she was 53 and then she married Elder Oaks. She just magnified her callings until she found her husband. She told me, “Well I’m too old to have kids now.” I told her that my aunt didn’t get married until after she couldn’t have kids anymore, but my uncle had 3 boys from a previous marriage and she loves them as if they were her own. We were able to show her there is hope. She also told us her conversion story and how she is worried that her dad is mad at her because when she was little she promised him she would never change her religion. She didn’t for many years, until this September when she was baptized. I told her, “At one point you had to pray to know if all of this The Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and the whole thing is true. Who’s to say you can’t pray to know if your father is okay that you’ve changed your religion?” She told us she was afraid of the answer. I told her to start with praying to know that Heavenly Father loves her and I bore testimony that he does love her and is proud of the decision she made. I hope she receives her answer.

 

This work is amazing. We are meeting with so many different people. I love seeing the light that comes to or back into those people who awaken that realization of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I had some insight during my studies this week. I was reading in 3 Nephi 18:11 about the sacrament prayer. We only have His Spirit with us WHEN we remember Him. The Holy Ghost is a conditional blessing based on our thoughts. So the goal is to always have His Spirit to be with us. I accomplish this by always remembering Him. Nothing huge, but having the Holy Ghost with us is easier than I thought. When my thoughts are turned towards Him, His Spirit is with me.

 

Love, Sister Malinda Bennett

January 21, 2013

Hello family and friends,

 

This week has been a fabulous week. It’s had its highs and lows. I had an amazing morning where I was receiving revelation through prayer for my investigators and what they needed to hear and what I should study for them. The Holy Ghost was so strong. I knew exactly what to study and I know I was being guided by the Holy Ghost. I love this work.

We met with the Pescadores a less active family. We talked to them about how they could have better family time. We talked about family home evening and watched “Family First.” They really enjoyed it. We gave them a copy of The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Sister Pescador loved it. She said she was going to find a frame and frame it.

We met with Sister Marksberry this week. She was offended by the last missionaries and told them never to come back and that they weren’t welcome at her house. She refused to pick up their calls after that. We went over with Sister Lofgreen, one of her friends in the ward. It went well and she told us to stop by whenever. She has started bringing her granddaughter to ward activities. Good things are coming because of Sister Marksberry.

We also met with Brother Harris and Sister Huber. It went really well. We talked about having faith in Jesus Christ. This is important because Sister Huber thinks that the stories of Jesus Christ are just fairytales. By the end she is open to praying to know if it is true, and if Jesus was a real physical person. Brother Harris told us that he had been praying to know if it was true and he said the transmission on his car went out. He wasn’t sure if that was an answer or not. We were able to discuss with him and he is going to pray about the church some more. When the end came they were more than willing to meet with us again. They are excited to learn more.

We met with the Brother and Sister Fugate and went over a talk about always looking up and directing our thoughts to God. They told us they weren’t going to make it to church this week. Brother Fugate told us that he wanted us to know that we were doing good things. That visiting people like him, even though he’s not coming to church right now, that we are doing good and helping him. He said, “I know I will come back.” He told us to always remember our efforts are not in vain. He made me feel like everything would be okay. His words strengthened me for what would come at the end of this week.

At district meeting this week Elder Petersen taught us the importance of getting our investigators to church. Our numbers for investigators coming to church has been especially low. His training worked, I was so excited for everyone to come to church so they could receive the blessings that come from attending church and remembering to keep the Sabbath day Holy.

We met with Brother and Sister Crail this week. We had a member, Sister Peters, come with us. It was perfect. Brother Crail and Sister Peters both served in the armed forces so they have that connection and respect for each other. Sister Peters bluntly asked why they haven’t been to church. We talked it over and they said that they would come to church if Sister Peters would give them a ride. She said that she would have to miss choir practice, but she would miss that if they need the ride. We called the night before to confirm that they were still planning on coming they were super excited to come.

We met with Sister Magallon and her family. The lesson went great. We had Sister Hales come to the lesson with us. She is a Beehive leader and Isabella, the oldest daughter, turns 12 at the beginning of next month. Sister Magallon was super excited for Isabella to be involved with the Young Women program. When we asked Sister Magallon about church and if she needed a ride, she told us that she convinced her friend Mariah to come and spend the night and she would drive all of them to church. She told us Mariah is less-active in our church and this way maybe she’d start to come back. We were so excited.

Sunday came and Sister Peters showed up without the Crails. She told us that Sister Crails mother opened the door and said that they stayed up too late last night and didn’t wake up. Sister Crails missed choir and told a young woman in our ward she wouldn’t have room in her car to drive her also. We were so upset that they choose not to come.

We waited and the Magallons never showed up either… We were devastated. We taught them what they needed to know and helped set up everything they need help with to make it and they chose not to come. They lost out on a lot of blessings. It was a very tough and emotional day. We had a lot of members give us words of encouragement.

We have been so busy this week we have to find time to eat! Haha it's amazing!

Love, Sister Malinda Bennett

First Mission Photos

 At the Provo Temple

 Sister Alexis Smith, a friend from Dixie

 In the classroom at the MTC

 New friends, Elder Buchanon and Elder Lawrence

 With her district in front of The Map

Malinda and her trainer, Sister Bonner

Sister Malinda Bennett - On her way!

Malinda's Letter 1/14/13

Hello family and friends that I miss dearly,

This work is so amazing. Not only does the gospel change investigators lives, but the lives of the members as well. Missionaries work more efficiently when they work with and to support the ward. We have had to re-establish the trust with our ward because previous missionaries have “had a reputation of being pushy” that’s from a members mouth. We are growing that trust and we are so busy we hardly have time for lunch and dinner. I love it. I wish every week was as productive. I love this work. I love this area. I love my mission. I love my companion. I love this gospel. I am so blessed.

This week we received a text from one of our ward members telling us that he had an impression we needed to go to a "Kay" street or a street starting with "K." We followed his prompting and we could only find one street starting with K in North Vernon. It took us awhile to find it, but when we did, we tracked it. Only 2 people answered the door. One could not speak English very well, so we left him a pass along card in Spanish for a Book of Mormon. The other door was opened by a small girl and her mom came to the door and told us she was not interested, we still left a card. A few days later our 2nd councilor, Brother Bailiff and his wife took us out to dinner. Our waitress ended up being the lady who said she wasn't interested. She recognized us. Brother Bailiff is always seeking opportunities to share the gospel with others. He asked for a few of our cards with our numbers on it that he could give to people he talks to about the gospel. As we left he talked to the lady at the table next to us and gave her a card. Sister Bonner looked back and saw our waitress kissing the girl at the table that Brother Bailiff left our card. Sister Bonner recognized the girl as the same girl who opened up the door on K Street. It clicked the lady who Brother Bailiff gave our card to, is the mother of our waitress/ the lady from K Street who told us she wasn’t interested. Something good is going to come out of this experience.

At district meeting this week we learned about prayer. Elder Petersen talked to us about when we pray to try and give thanks for all that God has given us and then to pray for the needs of our investigators and to try to not pray for ourselves but those we are in contact with. He had us all go right then and do this. It was powerful to see the difference of praying for others instead of all about myself. I know I do still have prayers asking for strength and guidance, but it is nice to have prayers where my focus is on my companion, my ward, my area, and those I teach. I’ve seen a huge difference in the meaning and power of my prayers.

We met with Brother and Sister Deaton again this week.  Their son was not there this time. It was good because we brought up the topic of baptism and if the previous missionaries had talked about it. They said they had and that they were offended by how it was presented. We talked with them about their concerns. They don’t understand why they need to be baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints when they’ve already been baptized into their church. They don’t understand about the Priesthood authority of God. We are planning on taking them on a church tour so they can feel the peace of the building. When we get to the font we are going to bring up baptism and the Holy Ghost. We are hoping and praying this goes well and that they can understand why the proper Priesthood authority is so important.

We met with ward council this week and it was amazing. I guess before the missionaries weren’t even acknowledged, but they started off with sharing some missionary experience they and their families had and then they kept on referring everything back to us. They gave us a ton of people we can go see. The ward is changing and growing to see the importance of missionary work. I can’t wait to see all of the work we can do now that we are starting to grow that trust with the members.

This week we were able to visit a less active family. We read with them Ether 12 and talked about the importance of faith. Brother Fugate told us that he hasn’t been to church because whenever he starts going to church his finances drastically change for the worst and he feels like he shouldn’t go because bad things happen and that maybe God is punishing him. Sister Bonner asked if he has heard of tithing before. He said yes he has and he always pays it when he has money. He told us, “When you started talking about tithing something started poking me.” He said that he is willing to give church another try. We promised him God would bless him if he does. I can’t wait to continue to visit with them and help them strengthen their family.

We met with Sister Magallon and her family again. We went over the Plan of Salvation. Sister Magallon really understands what we are saying. We did have to clarify some things, but she told us how she explains it to her children and would relate it to her kids so they understood. She told us that even if she doesn’t get her birth certificate by March 9^th she still wants her children to be baptized that day. At first her kids didn’t want to do it if she couldn’t. She explained to them why it is so important to her that they are baptized as soon as possible that they all agreed to be baptized that day, with or without their mom.

Sister Bonner’s had the stomach flu for the last day or so. Poor thing, she was up all night vomiting.  She is doing better now. We have full week ahead of us and can’t wait to get back to work. I love you all so much.

Until next week,

Love ,

Sister Malinda Bennett

Week 3 in the Mission Field

Hello friends and family,

 Miracles are happening in the North Vernon area! 

 Tuesday was an inspired day. Sister Bonner woke up and felt like we were going to lots of good things that day. In companion study we read in D&C when it talks about going westward to find. Sister Bonner said, "We are going westward to Seymour!" Then I told her how I had been reading about Ammon and Aaron and I exclaimed, " Ammon and Aaron, AA. Bennett and Bonner, BB." We drove to Seymour and during our lunch we needed to wash our car because it was snowing Monday. Sister Bonner asked me if I had seen any car washing facilities. I looked up and between the building and a sign I saw a car wash sign. We drove over to it and payed. We drove in and it never told us to stop so we drove around and drove through again. We did this a third time and when we looked up we saw Ivy Place Apartments. This is significant because in North Vernon we found a place called Ivy Park Apartments and we decided to tract them because this is Sister Bonners first name. We kept on calling it Ivy Place even though it was Ivy Park. We knew immediately we needed to tract there. We did and we knocked on every door and no one answered, until the last one. Sister Bonner recognized the lady who came to the door. She had met her twice before. Her name is Carolyn Ivy. Haha She told us she almost came to our church one Sunday when she was in North Vernon. I gave her my first Book of Mormon since I've been out and our number. Then for part of the day we tracted and received one return appointment and 3 referrals for the Spanish Elders.

 We met with Brother and Sister Deaton this week. In previous lessons they told the Sisters that their boys were not going to learn from us because they didn't want to confuse them. When we went this last week their son sat in on the lesson. They said that as a family they made a new years resolution to read as a family. Amazing! They also told us that their 11 year old son has been reminding them to pray at every meal, and they have been taking turns doing so.

 We met with Sister Magallon this week and she opened up about a lot of concerns she's been having. We helped her develop her faith. By then end of the lesson her and her 3 oldest kids excepted the invitation to be baptized on March 9th! :) Sister Magallon does not have a birth certificate because her parents didn't get her one when she was born. She has been working with an attorney to get one so she can be baptized. We fasted for her yesterday so she can be baptized with her kids on March 9th. Great things are happening here.  

 We have 2 new investigators this week. Sister Crail who's husband is a member. We went over to visit them and she is having troubles with their daughter who is pregnant. Sister Bonner asked if she would like to start meeting with us regularly. She said yes. We've been meeting with Brother Harris and his girlfriend use to be meeting with the missionaries, but she was offended and stopped. Well she came in and sat in on the lesson and asked some very good questions. She did mention she was worried that if they both learned at the same time that Brother Harris wouldn't get as much out of it and she didn't want to take away from his learning. I said, "Well would you like to meet with us at separate times. Sister Bonner and Sister Huber started talking. Brother Harris looked up at me and said that he would really like it if they met together with us because he feels that he learns more. He doesn't like it when all of the attention is on him. He told me that when all of us are looking at him he puts up a wall because it makes him uncomfortable. This is the first time Brother Harris has ever looked at me in the eye and had a conversation. Later when I asked if we could come back he said, "Of course, for sure, for sure!" He has never been that excited for us to come back ever. The next day Sister Huber even came to church. She stayed for all 3 hours! This is incredible. I love this work.

We are starting to earn the trust of our ward. Members who refused to talk to us are now asking how the work is going. We are getting more referrals than ever. We have a lot of good coming from this area.

 Thank you for all that you do.

Sincerely, 

 Sister Malinda Bennett