Lost and Found




 Sept 5, 2021 


Hello family & friends!

 

Monday, August 30 - Most days my companion and I spend a lot of time driving around in our VERY LARGE ward looking up inactive or overlooked members.  It’s easy to get lost especially when our phones get no cell reception📶 And I gotta say that even when we do find an address, the people are either not home or don’t answer.  So I sometimes wonder if our efforts are worth it. 

But today two persons invited us in and we were able to share a message🤸‍♀️  And another woman, who only spoke Spanish, wanted to attend church in Spanish but didn’t know if there was a Spanish Ward.  I was glad I could converse with her and get her connected with the missionaries from the Spanish Ward! 

In the evening we helped teach ESL.  After the ESL lessons, the sisters always share a scripture, bear testimony, and close with prayer.  Today, Hermana Morales shared the scripture about the Savior leaving the ninety-nine to go find the one.🐑  It was just what I needed. 

Tuesday, August 31 - We worked at a food pantry in the morning. Later, we met with the elders to teach Doris who is an elderly lady whom the elders have helped with several yard projects.  She was in a serious car accident a few months ago, so she has appreciated their help.  She has a dog 🐕that is blind😎and he keeps walking into stuff.  I pet him whenever he wanders over by me because I feel a kindred spirit🤟

We also met with a lady named Cindy.  The elders have done a lot of service projects for her also.  She is trying to open her own thrift store where she can give free stuff to the needy.  She was willing to hear what the elders had to say, but thinks we’re all going to the same heaven 👼no matter what we believe.  Later we met with Sheri and her mother Virginia. While Sister Gray helped Sheri with her Braille lesson, I opened up my computer to Family Search 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦and showed Virginia a 1940 census record wherein she was only 5 years old!  

Wednesday, Sept 1 - We had a very uplifting and helpful Zone Council meeting.  I’m starting to catch onto some of the terms which previously baffled me.  For example STL means Sister Training Leader. And SML means Sister Media Leader.  Our STLs offered to go on splits with my companion and me.  It could be very helpful if we don’t get lost and waste their time 🏳

Thursday, Sept 2 - Visited homes around the Louisburg and Lake Royale area and got lost A LOT!  We drove through some very rural areas where our phones couldn’t pick up a signal. 📶 Later, we took dinner to a sister. 😋

Friday, Sept 3 - Friday afternoon we visited Sheri again.  Her mother wasn't there, but a friend was there, so while my companion helped Sheri with her Braille, I talked to Sheri's friend about families and about the eternal nature of the family.  She seemed interested.  

We went to dinner at Brother & Sister Phipps home. They also invited two other ward members to diner.  It was very enjoyable.  The Phipps’ are wonderful people.  They have been married for many years, have raised their kids and cared for each other’s aging parents.  It is interesting that Sister Phipps is a member of the church and her husband is not.  And until COVID he was as active in the church as she--attending meetings, serving, helping missionaries, etc. ("Doubtless a great mystery...." Mosiah 8:19) We look forward to getting to know them better😊   




After dinner we helped teach ESL again.  After the lessons, Hermana Morales asked me to share a scripture!  Yay! I read 2 Nephi 25:26 “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”  When I looked up from the book and saw them all nodding their heads in affirmation, I was too overcome to say much. 

Saturday, Sept 5 - My companion and I spent a lot of time driving around an area called Spring Hope where we nearly lost all hope trying to meet ward members. As per usual, we ended up in an area where both our phones lost reception😩 Anyway, we have discovered that (as in life) if we just go back toward where we lost the signal, things tend to work out😉

I love you all.  You are in my thoughts and prayers🙏


❤️Sister Manwaring

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