Called to Serve


 

18 July 2021 

 

Dear Family, 


One week ago today I was set apart to be a missionary.  Several family members came to see me set apart and to hear me speak in church:  My daughter Susan & her husband Patrick Jones and their daughters & sons-in-law Katelyn & Porter Zohner (with children Saywer & Ian Zohner) and Sydney & Corey Saunders, my son Daniel and his wife Amanda (and daughters Christina & Rebekah), my son Adam Homer, and my brother Dale and his wife Carolyn.   My sister Linda was able to watch my Sacrament meeting from her home in Washington via a Zoom link.  I felt very loved and supported.

This week in the MTC has been very instructive and uplifting.  Studying Preach My Gospel has been enlightening!  I have owned this book and referred to it from time to time, but I had never studied it until now.  For me, Chapter 11 was the best!!!  I learned how to invite people to make & keep commitments.  I wish I had learned these skills long ago!  I would have been a better teacher, leader, and mother! 

On Tuesday our MTC trainer asked us to think of someone we could meet with this week to teach a short lesson to and schedule an appointment to meet with them.  I decided to reach out to my son Adam because he is semi-active in the church and has been struggling with his faith.  I texted Adam and he agreed to meet with me.  I was excited and spent a lot of time studying and practicing my new skills. Daniel helped me a lot. 

Wednesday in our MTC class I felt a little bit frustrated because as we talked about things MLS missionaries do, teaching the gospel was not mentioned.  I know the young missionaries are called to teach the gospel, and perhaps “I do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.”  But if it is God’s will I pray I may be the means of bringing some soul unto God.  (Alma 29.) 

Wednesday evening, when I met with Adam he expressed his willingness to be taught because he said, “I need this.”  I told him his willingness showed faith and we discussed faith in our Savior Jesus Christ.  I asked him to pray about it and he said he would.  I also felt inspired to ask him to read Moses 1: 1-22 after he got home and he said he would.  I promised blessings and testified how I have been blessed by reading scriptures.  Then he agreed to meet with me again. 

On Saturday I was able to follow up with teaching Adam.  He has been reading the Book of Moses and praying.  He spoke of some of his personal challenges, so we read Matthew 11:28-30.  I promised him that when we do all that is within our power to help the Lord with His burdens—however small our efforts may seem—the Lord will carry our burdens;  the Lord will do the heavy lifting.  We discussed how he feels when he is serving others.  I invited him to find some way to serve someone every day.  I promised him that the Holy Spirit would come into his life as he served.  It was a very spirit-filled conversation.  Adam even took notes and suggested that we read the Book of Mormon as we drive to North Carolina J 

On Thursday my MTC district and two other districts were able to get together via Zoom and practice teaching gospel principles in small groups.  Next week the MTC has arranged for each of us to have the opportunity to teach a total stranger.  I am thankful for all that I have learned and will yet learn in the MTC. 

Thanks for your prayers and support

 Sister Manwaring 



 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gathering Israel on Both Sides of the Veil

Dear Family, I’ve discovered ways to invite people to come unto Christ. I've attached some photos of where I’ve been inviting and teaching. Yes! I go to the park, or the store, or anywhere and just walk up and start talking to people. Since last Sunday, I’ve contacted 37 persons, taught 9 brief lessons, and gave away 4 Books of Mormon! I was inspired by letters & messages from missionary relatives and by D&C 33: 8,9,10 which says, “Open your mouths and they shall be filled….Yea, open your mouths and spare not….Yea open your mouths and they shall be filled…” I can truly testify that the Holy Ghost has given me the words. At first I would walk up and tell people God loved them and that they can be with their families forever even after they die. All of them just said they already knew that. But one woman at a park gave me a better approach. She asked me to explain “Latter Day.” This lead to a discussion of the church Jesus Christ established in the former days...
Read more

We Are Family

Image
Me with Brother Itejere 10/31/2021 Dear Family & Friends,   I have relatives in North Carolina   I never expected to run into family on my mission, but today at church I met a woman (Sister Martin) who said her grandmother was a Manwaring.  When I asked her grandmother’s name, she said Alta Manwaring!  That’s my Grandpa Manwaring’s sister!  That makes us 2 nd  cousins!  Three of her daughters are in the ward, so I took pictures of me with Sister Martin and several family members.  The women in the photos are her daughters and granddaughters; the men are spouses.  So cool!   I don’t have anything else interesting to write about.  My companion & I continue to find ways to serve. Last week we started mid-week discussion groups in both wards for the Come Follow Me lessons.     We also taught Sheri about the Plan of Salvation. Actually I taught Sheri because my companion hasn...
Read more

Always be yourself!

Image
Be yourself   August 8, 2022   Dear Family and Friends,   We discussed the book of Job in our “Come Follow Me” discussion group last week.  I like the book of Job a lot.  I like how his friends sat with him and didn’t speak for 7 days (before they started in with all the unwanted advice.)  I like how God answers all the questions about why bad stuff happens by asking questions of His own!  And God’s questions (like where were you when the world was made, and who taught birds to fly) are unanswerable by any human!  So Job learns to trust.  And then he sees God.      On Thursday when I delivered food to refugees, I was able to see my friend Habiba again.  She insisted I come in and gave me a bowl of yummy food.  It had chick peas, lentils, spinach, and a scoop of home-made yogurt on top.  Her English is improving.  She told me two of her sons (ages 14 and ...
Read more