Sister Manwaring: Serving in North Carolina

  November 15,2021 Dear Family & Friends,   The best part of my week was Friday.  My companion and I were decorating a Christmas tree in the church foyer and went to the Dollar store to get more decorations.  That’s when it got interesting.   The woman behind us in the check-out line had a large bunch of balloons, so we let her go ahead.  We chatted about the party she was having that night. Then I offered her a pass-along card with a picture of the Savior.  She declined stating that she didn’t need a picture of Jesus because He was already in her heart, and added that she was a pastor.  I love talking with people who know the Bible!  I was able to talk with her about our love for the Savior who did for us what we could not do for ourselves.  But the best moment came when she went to pay for her purchases and discovered she had left her wallet at home.  I offered to pay for her purchases--...

  November 7, 2021     Dear Family & Friends,   The highlight of the week was participating in teaching a non-member family about the gospel.  We were invited to dinner with a family in our Ward.  They had also invited their non-member friends.  I didn’t know ahead of time that they were going to have Family Home Evening.  It was great!    During the lesson, I was asked to tell the story of Joseph Smith’s first vision. I was glad I had memorized it and didn’t have to look it up.  I began with, “I saw a pillar of light…” and ended with “Hear Him.”  I was able to testify that God knows each of us by name, that He has a plan whereby we can return to live with Him, that Jesus Christ is central to that plan, and that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.  The spirit was strong!  I felt on fire!  After the lesson, the family made an appointme...

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...