Hey everyone!
Ok, sooooo let's talk about my week!
(As I try to remember it..haha)
Ok, sooooo let's talk about my week!
(As I try to remember it..haha)
OH! haha So guess who got a flat tire on the way home from Moncton
(District Meeting) this last Wednesday? hahah Well, as a disclaimer, we were in
the back-seat and the elders were driving. hahahah We were on the highway and
the elder hit something in the road and then about 30 seconds later there was a
lot of grinding going on in the back of the car. So we pulled over and the
tired had a good 3 inch slice on the side of the tire. Good times.
We had to change a tire on the side of the road. (yes we. I helped. =D haha I remember a little from auto tech class.) So yeah, the elders had a doughnut on their car for a little while until they were able to get a new tired put on it. Which is kinda sad because they just barely got 4 new tires.
We had to change a tire on the side of the road. (yes we. I helped. =D haha I remember a little from auto tech class.) So yeah, the elders had a doughnut on their car for a little while until they were able to get a new tired put on it. Which is kinda sad because they just barely got 4 new tires.
We were pretty blessed because it was rainy a lot of that day but during
the time we were out changing the tire it had stopped. It didn't start again
until we got home. (P.S A year ago Wednesday is when I left the MTC and flew to
Canada.)
Which by the way, MAN IT RAINS A LOT! I have to look at my calendar to remind myself it's Summer because it feels like Spring or Fall. hahah But I don't mind it, it just is unusual for me cuz I'm from the DESERT! =]
And I have to say, I HIGHLY recommend a vacation to Nova Scotia. It. Is. Beautiful here. But only come in the Summer. Unless you're dying to trudge through mountains of snow, then Winter is an option too. =] hahah
Which by the way, MAN IT RAINS A LOT! I have to look at my calendar to remind myself it's Summer because it feels like Spring or Fall. hahah But I don't mind it, it just is unusual for me cuz I'm from the DESERT! =]
And I have to say, I HIGHLY recommend a vacation to Nova Scotia. It. Is. Beautiful here. But only come in the Summer. Unless you're dying to trudge through mountains of snow, then Winter is an option too. =] hahah
We had another exchange this week. I went to Fredericton with Sister
Lowry. It was fun. =] We had a lot of conversations about things she wants to
work on and be better at. And I really enjoyed getting to be in a big city like
that. THE BEST PART WAS THERE WAS A MEXICAN RESTAURANT!!!! Totally went there
for lunch. =] I didn't realize how much I miss Cafe Rio. lol
Cool story from exchange:
So we were walking back to our car after street contacting a little bit and we met a lady who was asking us for a bus ticket or money to buy one. All I had on me was literally a Book of Mormon. And I really couldn't tell if she was pulling a scam or if she really needed it. (Which sounds bad, but ya know.) But I could definitely tell she seemed distraught. And I honestly can't remember why, but I felt that I should give her a hug. So I did. =] And we ended it nicely and we walked away. But as we walked away I felt like we weren't finished. That I should turn back and give her the Book of Mormon. I battled with myself for a moment until I finally humbled my ever-living-self and turned back. I ran back to her and I told her that I didn't have money for a ticket, but that I wanted to give her something else. Something that is worth more than any bus ticket could ever be. I handed her the Book of Mormon and told her that I can promise her (and as I spoke I wanted to show my sincerity to her) that this Book can bring more happiness than anything else in this world. And as I spoke to her and gave her the Book of Mormon, tears filled her eyes. I know she felt the Spirit. She gave me another hug. She told us that she is far away from home and that she misses her Granddaughter a lot. That she was back in Alberta. And I think seeing us young girls brought that memory to her. We talked for only a little bit and then before we left I told her that Heavenly Father loves her. She gave us another hug and then left.
In that experience, I didn't invite her to meet with missionaries and I didn't do and say what we normally do. And looking back on it, I think it was because that was what we were supposed to do. Just follow the Spirit. Because I think that is what she needed.
So we were walking back to our car after street contacting a little bit and we met a lady who was asking us for a bus ticket or money to buy one. All I had on me was literally a Book of Mormon. And I really couldn't tell if she was pulling a scam or if she really needed it. (Which sounds bad, but ya know.) But I could definitely tell she seemed distraught. And I honestly can't remember why, but I felt that I should give her a hug. So I did. =] And we ended it nicely and we walked away. But as we walked away I felt like we weren't finished. That I should turn back and give her the Book of Mormon. I battled with myself for a moment until I finally humbled my ever-living-self and turned back. I ran back to her and I told her that I didn't have money for a ticket, but that I wanted to give her something else. Something that is worth more than any bus ticket could ever be. I handed her the Book of Mormon and told her that I can promise her (and as I spoke I wanted to show my sincerity to her) that this Book can bring more happiness than anything else in this world. And as I spoke to her and gave her the Book of Mormon, tears filled her eyes. I know she felt the Spirit. She gave me another hug. She told us that she is far away from home and that she misses her Granddaughter a lot. That she was back in Alberta. And I think seeing us young girls brought that memory to her. We talked for only a little bit and then before we left I told her that Heavenly Father loves her. She gave us another hug and then left.
In that experience, I didn't invite her to meet with missionaries and I didn't do and say what we normally do. And looking back on it, I think it was because that was what we were supposed to do. Just follow the Spirit. Because I think that is what she needed.
Other than that, I can't really remember my week too well. haha Sorry.
But I will talk to you a little bit about being genuine.
Something that is a little bit of a struggle for a lot of missionaries is being real. And it's not like we have a bunch of missionaries running around who are purposely being fake and trying to deceive people, it's just it's hard for us to open up sometimes to complete strangers. It's hard to let yourself be natural because it's scary sometimes to approach someone you know nothing about. At the beginning of my mission, I developed this challenge of being real because I was always terrified of "messing up" and not being the type of missionary I thought that I was "supposed" to be.
Since then I have learned that there is no "right way" to be a missionary. There is the Lord's way, accompanied by who you are. Missionaries will worry about how they are acting with people because they get it into their minds that they all need to fit this cookie-cutter missionary cut-out. Well. We don't. God called ME to serve in my areas and He is fully aware of what my personality traits are that come with me. Knowing that, He has a purpose for those personality traits. For myself, other missionaries know that I am not an "intense" missionary. That I take time for people. That I enjoy and value getting to know the people I am working with. And because of this, sometimes I can be viewed as wasting time because I don't "get to the point" quicker. But I had to come to realize that that's ok that I don't. This is how I interact and God knew that when He sent me here. This is how I build relationships.
For other missionaries, they are very "get to the point". And you know what, that is very much ok too. Because God is fully aware of who they are! He called them to their areas for people who need that. That is what is SO beautiful about this work. We each work together as individuals to create a singular outcome. Bringing others to Christ.
When painting a picture, you need multiple colors. You need variations of shades and you need them to blend and to mix in different ways. Some colors will be much brighter and prominent than others. Some colors will mix and blend ever so softly to the point that they fade in and out so as to be vaguely recognized. Regardless of your color, shade and vibrancy, you are you. You are needed in the scheme of the painting. And each person we meet we are placing another color onto the painting of their conversion. SO BE YOU! Because if everyone decides to be BLUE than that will make for a very boring painting that the investigator will eventually throw away. We want to nurture their testimonies and give them the chance to experience the gospel in different ways.
But I will talk to you a little bit about being genuine.
Something that is a little bit of a struggle for a lot of missionaries is being real. And it's not like we have a bunch of missionaries running around who are purposely being fake and trying to deceive people, it's just it's hard for us to open up sometimes to complete strangers. It's hard to let yourself be natural because it's scary sometimes to approach someone you know nothing about. At the beginning of my mission, I developed this challenge of being real because I was always terrified of "messing up" and not being the type of missionary I thought that I was "supposed" to be.
Since then I have learned that there is no "right way" to be a missionary. There is the Lord's way, accompanied by who you are. Missionaries will worry about how they are acting with people because they get it into their minds that they all need to fit this cookie-cutter missionary cut-out. Well. We don't. God called ME to serve in my areas and He is fully aware of what my personality traits are that come with me. Knowing that, He has a purpose for those personality traits. For myself, other missionaries know that I am not an "intense" missionary. That I take time for people. That I enjoy and value getting to know the people I am working with. And because of this, sometimes I can be viewed as wasting time because I don't "get to the point" quicker. But I had to come to realize that that's ok that I don't. This is how I interact and God knew that when He sent me here. This is how I build relationships.
For other missionaries, they are very "get to the point". And you know what, that is very much ok too. Because God is fully aware of who they are! He called them to their areas for people who need that. That is what is SO beautiful about this work. We each work together as individuals to create a singular outcome. Bringing others to Christ.
When painting a picture, you need multiple colors. You need variations of shades and you need them to blend and to mix in different ways. Some colors will be much brighter and prominent than others. Some colors will mix and blend ever so softly to the point that they fade in and out so as to be vaguely recognized. Regardless of your color, shade and vibrancy, you are you. You are needed in the scheme of the painting. And each person we meet we are placing another color onto the painting of their conversion. SO BE YOU! Because if everyone decides to be BLUE than that will make for a very boring painting that the investigator will eventually throw away. We want to nurture their testimonies and give them the chance to experience the gospel in different ways.
Anyway, long color rant. But my point is, we all have something different
to offer. Don't throw it away. Refine it. And the only person who can direct
you in how to refine it is our Father in Heaven. He is the Refiner. If someone
tries to refine you themselves, always take it to your master refiner. He knows
the best way for you to be refined. He knows your potential and your
capabilities.
So, missionary or not, be you. Because that's all God ever expects you to be.
So, missionary or not, be you. Because that's all God ever expects you to be.
I hope that you all enjoyed my ranting. I hope that you have a great
week!
Sister Creager
Sister Creager
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