Hello y'all!
I would like to start off with a story: Once upon a time, you go to Walmart to go grocery shopping. You are walking along with your companion, doing your shopping thing, when you catch a glimpse of yourself in a window. And you realize, with sudden horror, that you have made the most grievous of mistakes. You did that one thing that you are never supposed to do.
You wore a navy blue shirt and tan skirt to Walmart.
And to make things worse, you are also wearing a name tag.
"No ma'am, I can't help you find the Twinkies, but would you like to sit down and talk about how we can find Christ?"
Struggles.
Anyway, it was a great week, with many miracles. Another transfer is here and I am very relieved and excited to be with Sister Arrieta for another transfer. We are committed to go above and beyond what we have previously done, because we both think we have so much more we can/need to accomplish. And we are excited and ready to work!
Just a few of the miracles I've seen lately:
We were able to have a family attend church this Sunday for the first time, and they loved it. This family is composed of a couple and their four kids, all of which are very good friends with a number of families in our ward. They have had Mormon friends for years, and it wasn't until recently, that the wife approached her good friend, and asked her if they weren't "missing out on something" by not being a part of the Mormon church. This great friend set up a time for Sis Arrieta and I to go help her paint some rooms in her house. They had tried three years ago to introduce them to the elders and evidently that dinner was pretty awkward haha... But one painting adventure led to two, which led to three, and teaching the Restoration and Plan of Salvation, and answering so many questions. They are definitely still hesitant, what with both of their families being very strong Baptists, but they love what we teach and how we live. The other day when we were at their house, the mom told us that from what she could see, our church truly tries to function as "the body of Christ." And she likes that. We are very excited for them.
We also experienced a miracle or two (or more) on exchanges this week. Exchanges are when we swap missionary companions for the day, and as sister training leaders, it is our job to organize these exchanges. So on Wednesday-Thursday, Sister Arrieta and I went on exchanges with Sister Applegate and Sister Taylor who are serving in Waynesboro. I went to Waynesboro with Sister Taylor and enjoyed sleeping in a trailer in the middle of Georgian farmland, and was lucky that I didn't have to experience the mice that have taken residence in their trailer for myself. Meanwhile, Sister Arrieta was here in Grovetown, and while knocking, met a Filipino family that had just moved here! Not only that, but they live on the exact same street as one of the Filipino families in our ward! Heavenly Father is the best. So there I was, Saturday night, sitting in a typical family room in south Georgia, listening to the gospel being taught and discussed in Tagalog. And I tried to smile and add things best I could when I could pick up on some of the Spanish vocabulary. (Which is limited to 2 years of Junior High Spanish, mind you.) But it was truly beautiful and an amazing example to me of how God is always in control, and has a plan for each of us.
If we are living the way we should, we all can be used as instruments in His perfect hands. The scalpel never knows more than the doctor, but it is extremely important to the operation.
So this week, I challenge y'all to wake up each day and ask God what He wants you to do today. I promise you, you'll be amazed at what you can do.
I love you all.
Sister Szilagyi
