Week 7??? I think it's week 7... that's crazy!

How much peanut butter is too much peanut butter? Apparently it’s normal for missionaries, but I think peanut butter is it’s own food group now. Also, fun fact! A new life skill that I have learned is that any sort of food inside a tortilla is a meal! Whether that be a mozzarella stick, just eggs and avocado, or homemade fries!

ZONE CONFERENCE: The Finding Flow

At the beginning of the week we had zone conference, and it was so good! They introduced a new way to go about finding people. One of the biggest things in missionary work is talking to EVERYONE. Doing this definitely gets me out of my comfort zone. But before the training a standard interaction would look like:

*walks up to woman working in her garden*

Missionaries: Hi! How are you doing today?

Woman: Fine, how are you?

Missionaries: We’re great! Your garden looks beautiful!

Woman: Thank you.

*We try to talk about gardening for a little while*

Missionaries: Don’t you just love working with God’s creations. It’s just so peaceful and makes me just feel closer to God and Christ. Do you have a relationship with Christ?

*We talk about how they have/don’t have a faith in Christ, we ask if we can read a scripture, occasionally people say yes, most of the time they say they’re not interested, then we usually share our testimonies, ask if they would like to meet again, usually it’s a no, and then we go on our way*

You see, going about it this way, we have got quite a few lessons, but most of the people we would teach aren’t actually interested. So we just spent 5-10 minutes with someone who isn’t open at all. So in the training they taught us a new way to go about it. Instead of sneakily turning the conversation over to the gospel, everyone you see and talk to just open it up with "Would you be interested in coming to church with us on Sunday?" If they aren't interested we just say "hope you have a great rest of your day" and not waste either our time or theirs. If they are interested, we start a gospel centered conversation and set up a time to have a lesson before church. I'm still adjusting to being so bold, but it really just helps us more quickly find the people who are truly prepared!

People

So the beginning of the week was kinda rough cause we had to drop a bunch of people (we stopped teaching them) for different reasons. But the finding flow is so cool!! We found quite a few people that said that they would be interested in coming to church, did any of them show up, no, but they at least had a big enough spark to say yes!

One of the people, Amanda, we met as we were getting off the bus. She's here from New Jersey helping her sister with a community event. We invited her to church and she said that she actually really wanted to come, but she had to be at the event. Well, a few days later we go to the event and we see her. She starts talking about how she doesn't think she can leave wenatchee, she's just fallen in love with it. She said that she feels that God has lead her here for some reason, but she's not quite sure what it is. Sister Spencer and are super hopeful about her, but the only problem is that she's headed back to New Jersey before she be able to come to church with us. But hopefully we'll be able to get a lesson in and help her want to learn more about the church.

Temples

So this next Sunday is the Moses Lake Temple dedication!! Everyone is super excited about it. I feel so blessed that I'm in a zone that will get to be a part of the dedication. We won't actually be able to be there in person, but we'll be in one of the churches where it's being broadcasted. On Sunday, everyone spoke about temples, and it honestly made me homesick for the temple. I have been so blessed to be able to go to the temple so often, and it's my sanctuary. Being here the last 3 weeks is probably the longest I've gone without going to the temple in a very long time, thanks to my wonderful parents for always making the temple a big priority! While I was at college and even in the MTC, the temple has been my home away from home, so I definitely miss it. But I am so excited for the people here to finally have a temple close by because it makes life better!!

Spiritual Thought

In our zone conference, President Welch talked about how essential obedience is as a missionary, but how important it is to truly understand the purpose of the commandment or rule, so that way our whole heart is in it and we have a testimony of why we are obeying. He taught that:

doctrine=why

principles=what

behavior=how

And following these lead to blessings. I think that it is so important to fully understand what we have been commanded. Don't follow blindly, but gain a testimony of the truth of it. And as you do, your heart will be softened and more dedicated. The lord loves effort, and he sees our heart.

I love you all so much and pray for you daily!

Sister Wanlass