This week has been a bit of a challenge. Sis Waddoups and I spent a lottttt of time knocking on doors. And let me tell you, southern people are just so polite when they slam the door in your face. It's lovely. Pretty much all of our appointments cancelled on us this week. But that's okay, because we are not discouraged! Just getting plenty of exercise. Which is much needed around this time of the year. To put things into perspective, the highlight of the week was when Sister Waddoups and I both stepped in dog poop one night. BOTH of us. We were laughing until we were crying.
Despite the few setbacks, there were many wonderful moments. This week, Sister Waddoups and I were chosen to attend a special leadership training meeting in Macon. It was wonderful and much needed. What a morale boost. We felt very thankful and blessed that we were chosen to attend. The speaker was Bro Donaldson (who is from the missionary department, and who was the mission president over the missionaries in The District 2). He completely shook up how we are supposed to teach. Essentially, his message is that as missionaries we work too hard, talk way too much, and try to cram every bit of gospel knowledge that we have ever received into our poor investigators heads. Great stuff. And at this meeting/conference we able to attain our long lost box! A cell phone! Hallelujah! It was like Christmas day.
Oh, I have to tell y'all (yeah, I say y'all now) about the R’s. This family. Oh goodness, they are fantastic. Grandma R has a beautiful home outside of town, and most of her children and grandchildren live in the adjacent homes. None of her children attend church, but two of her grandchildren were just baptized. A and K. A is a rockstar. She has been out with the missionaries over 30 times, been going to church with her grandma for years, was the first kid in her family to be baptized, and she's only 16 years old. She is amazing. K is hilarious. She's 9 years old, super talkative, and spunky with a capital S. They both hug us whenever they see us. So much love. Grandma R buys food for us missionaries, and feeds us, and loves to come out and teach with us. A drives us around when we're low on miles and teaches with us as well. Their cousin sat in on the one lesson that we had this week and said she wants to be baptized. She's only 7, but turns 8 in March. We gave her her own Book of Mormon and she was so excited. What a wonderful moment. I just loving teaching kids, they are so open and willing to learn. And nice. And loving. Just an awesome family all around.
And as I read on one of the 6 million church reader boards here in Georgia: "Plan ahead, it wasn't raining when Noah built the ark." Go out and talk to someone today. Make someone smile. Go tell a little girl that she is a princess.
The Valdosta wards combined together and had a 3 night nativity exhibit at the church this week. Oh my lanta, did those ladies out do themselves. I mean the gym was absolutely stunning. It is already the most beautiful LDS church building I have ever seen, but wow was it amazing. 215 nativities in total, dozens of lit and decorated Christmas trees, just magical. And we had many people attend. One guy the elders have been teaching agreed on a baptism date at the event! SO wonderful.
Us four sisters and A in the middle at the Christmas nativity exhibit!
There are so many kind and supportive people in our ward, we are just so blessed. The bishop's wife is making us come up with a list of items that we need/want for our apartment, and giving us a huge box for Christmas. And we already know that we are going to be fed both Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Happy happy joy joy.
I love you all so much. Don't forget, you are a son or daughter of God. A son or daughter of a king. That makes you a prince or princess. We live in a real life fairy tale people. Life is beautiful.
Sister Szilagyi
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