Monday, September 26, 2016

Love Athens!

 
On the way home from a lesson in Stewart.



Hey fam and friends!

This week was great.

Let me update you on M. (the late Baptist preacher's grandson). He is so great. We really feel so blessed, almost inadequate, to be teaching and learning with such a prepared child of God! This week we have been in frequent contact. Whether it's just a call or a lesson, we get to talk daily. Yay daily contact!! His lessons have been great. He absolutely believes all of the things we teach and has great experiences to share about praying about their truths. He really loved the plan of salvation and connected really well. He has loved ones who have passed on and he knew they were somewhere waiting for and supporting him. We were able to teach him the word of wisdom. He has a problem with smoking. He smokes about a half a pack a day. He sees the blessings and warnings that come with living and not living the word of wisdom. He is striving to cut back his cigarette usage by setting numerical goals (gradually getting to zero), praying for strength, and calling us every night to report. During that whole lesson we were outside his house (he lives in the woods next to his dad's house in a mobile home). We could only find 2 yard chairs so I sat on this old pool ladder. It was kinda broken but it worked... My legs and butt were numb by the end haha the things I do for missionary work... But Today was his first full day and he is having a tough time. Satan is really working on him, but he is determined not to give up! We have enough faith in him. and he has enough faith in himself. He will get over his addiction! Keep him in your prayers please :).

We also had a super awesome experience with a returning part member family. Their nonmember son lives in the apartment below them and comes by their place every so often. We got talking with him and he really opened up to us. He was able to share some challenges in his life and we were able to help him feel the spirit to know that he needs to come to church and work toward baptism. We've been in frequent contact with him and he is looking awesome. His faith is awesome and will only continue to grow! I think his phone is messed up or he's just hilarious.. Every text is all caps and he says the funniest things. He is awesome. He's getting baptized.

We got a referral this week from a member who met her in Chicago. We are so excited to meet with her this week. We have a lesson with her in a few days, but we got to talk with her on the phone for a bit. We've been texting the guy who referred her and he says "baptize her, she's golden." We're pretty sure she's an OU student. So pumped!

We've done a little tracting this week! It's been so fun. Not many people were rude to us, and a few even want us to come back! I love missionary work. Service is great too! We've been doing tons of random service things. This week we helped brush this lady's horses. Pretty cool. I also loved Women's Conference. President Uchtdorf's message was awesome. I love learning more about faith and being reminded of ways I can increase my faith even more. If you haven't watched it, watch it!!

I hope everyone has a great week! I can't believe it'll be October this weekend. AND GENERAL CONFERENCE, WATCH IT!
Love you, bye!
Sister Barnes

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