Week 32

It has been a crazy week!  On Monday evening a member from our ward made us dinner and brought it to us. It was amazing! It was some kind of stuffed breaded chicken, and it was so yummy. Mmmmm:) We went to a Zone Training Meeting on Tuesday. President Cusick attended, and it was really good. At the end of it, they committed us to set a baptismal date every day for a week. I committed to do all in my power to accomplish this goal.

At Zone Training meeting

The St. Pete North District

So we went out and worked and we set 2 dates that day! All 4 of our appointments fell through, but we still set 2 dates. That was a miracle. On Wednesday we again set 2 dates! I am so grateful for this challenge. We worked as hard as we could and invited everyone we met. Those two we found at a park in Tarpon Springs. It was beautiful and we walked up to this woman on a bench, and taught her and her daughter. Afterwards, she said that she felt like she went to the park for a reason. She said they almost went to the beach instead, but she felt like she needed to come here. That was such a cool experience.

On Thursday we taught D and M (our recent converts) using the conference talk "What Lack I Yet." They loved the lesson! They said they really needed to hear that message. We had a funny experience that night, as well, as we street contacted. A man was filling up his vintage car at a gas station, and we decided to try to teach him. He gave a short answer that he was not interested. We asked if he knew of anyone who could use the video, and he said "no, that's your job. you've gotta find 'em." We thought it was hilarious that he said that. Sometimes people's responses are just so funny! Apparently they were just really not interested.

Friday was really good. I learned about the power of resilience and prayer. I am grateful for my mission! Saturday was SO HUMID! It was gross. I can't imagine what July will be like. We went to a baptism for an 8 year old in our ward and met some of his friends who attended. We also tracted, street contacted, etc. That evening we went back to the church and watched the General Women's Broadcast. It was such a great broadcast! I love hearing from the prophets.

Sunday, Easter, was great! We went to church, which I loved. We went to Craig park and taught a man who seemed really laid back, but said he wanted to be baptized. We also saw dolphins! He was sitting on this bench right by the bayou, and we walk up to talk to him and then I saw 2 dolphins just surface and breathe, then go under again. They did that for like 5 minutes. It was so cool! But it was a distraction because we were trying to teach him. We also taught W and A at a members. It was a great day!

Easter dinner at the Johnson's

General Conference is next week. I am so excited to come to Conference with a question. I know that my question will be answered because of the Spirit that will be there with the speakers and with me. We are going to member's homes to watch conference, and I am so excited!

With love,
Sister Minson

Week 31

This week was great! I have some wonderful experiences that I would like to share with you all.

 

 

We were street contacting by a Bayou, and we saw this girl sitting by some tennis stuff near a tennis court. We walked up and offered to show the #Hallelujah video. She was so open! She said yes, we taught her a little bit about the restoration, and we asked if she wanted to meet with us again to help her strengthen her faith. She said that she wanted her faith strengthened, and she was happy to have us come back. That meant so much to me. It really helped lift my spirits and showed me that as long as I talk to everyone, God will put people in my path who want to learn.

 

 

We went on an exchange on Wednesday!  I went with Sister Judkins. She helped me out with what I needed to do to build my faith. She talked a lot about how it is easy to get discouraged, but that when you have fun and are diligent, God will bless you in one way, shape or form. We did something spontaneous (got Chinese food) and it was really fun.

 

Going on exchanges!

Me with Sister Judkins

Another tender mercy was K and B. We met them a couple of months ago, and we had to drop them because we couldn't get ahold of them. So we decided to stop by and see them on Tuesday, and they were home! We taught them and the spirit was SO strong in their home. I've only ever felt that same spirit in an investigators home in D and M (our recent converts). I know that K and B will get baptized one day. They are so willing and receptive and open to learning. We met with them again Sunday night, and K was in a lot of pain. Sister Hunt was prompted to ask him if he wanted a blessing. Our Ward Mission Leader was nearby and so he came over and gave him a Priesthood blessing. It was wonderful. I felt the spirit so strongly.

AN ALLIGATOR! I finally saw an alligator! Can you see it?

I love being a missionary. Love you all!

 

With love,

Sister Minson

Week 30

Pie-Day is my favorite day. It really is. and today is Pi-day (3.14)!! My companion says we might be able to get a pie today. I hope we can get a Banana Cream pie, because those ones are pretty good.

Yesterday, the church released a new Easter Video called #Hallelujah. It is amazing! I want to shout for joy every time I watch it. We are using it as a finding opportunity and we are seeing people's lives change because of it. I challenge you to share the video on Facebook and Instagram. Invite your non-member friends to watch the video! It is powerful.

But anyways. The past few weeks have felt a little slower, but that doesn't mean they were any less great! We worked diligently and I saw so many little miracles that lifted me and helped me continue on.

This email will be a little shorter this week, but it doesn't mean I love you all any less;)

We biked on Saturday, and we had quite an event, like normal. I feel like any time we try to bike, things happen. So both of our bikes fell over; mine in our lanai, and Sister Hunt on the side of the road. We were finally able to carry them down the stairs, and we went biking. We put sun screen on, and off we went! By the end of the afternoon, my face felt burnt. EVEN though I wore sunscreen! It was awful. We met a guy from Canada who was very kind and talked with us for a while. It was great:)

Adventures on bikes!

I have learned the value of being bold, and talking with everyone. If I have the courage to speak to everyone and invite them to hear the gospel, I am fulfilling my duty as a missionary. I love being a missionary!

With love,

Sister Minson

At Lake Tarpon

Working hard!

Sister shadows!

Zone training meeting

Zone training meeting

More February pictures!

So I took a lot of pictures on the last SD card I sent home.  We spent the Pday before the last transfer at the Sponge Docks and Sunset Beach and got a lot of fun pictures! (These were all taken BEFORE the last transfer, except the last 3.)

Me and Sis Macfarlane

With Sis Macfarlane, Handley, and Olson

With Caroline, a member from our ward

Me, Olson, Handley and Macfarlane

Feet in the sand!

Celebrating my 6 month mark at Waffle House!

A gorgeous sunrise one morning!

Sister Hunt and I with a man we were teaching

Week 29

"There is a time and a place for pictures, and it is usually all the time." Truth!! I took a lot of pictures this week. There are some really pretty ones and I decided to edit them with the Ipad editing features. Florida is gorgeous!

There were a lot of miracles that happened this week. On Tuesday, 3 of our appointments fell through, but God provided us with other people to teach! We were able to set a baptismal date with a woman who has been taught by the missionaries before. I really want to help her progress towards baptism because she needs it. She is amazing, and I love her so much.

On Wednesday, both Sister Hunt and I got to use the languages we learned during High School! We knocked on this door where we thought a member lived, and instead it was a deaf man. Sister Hunt learned sign language in High School, so she was able to talk to him and ask him if he was the member we were looking for. He wasn't, but it was a really cool experience. And then later, we were walking down the street and we saw this woman waiting for a bus. We talked to her, and she only spoke Spanish. So then I was able to use my High School language! I didn't know enough, by far, but I knew enough to understand what she was saying and to talk to her a little about the church. It was so cool because certain words came into my mind as I was trying to think of how to say certain things, and I know that it was the Holy Ghost bringing my high school class to my remembrance. I loved that miracle. The Gift of Tongues is real! (Also, I think I used the correct conjugations without thinking about it. That was a miracle in and of itself). We also ate ice cream after we got home for the night because it was Sister Hunt's one month mark!

Thursday I got a letter from Mom and Dallin! It made me so happy to get those letters. I was feeling a little overwhelmed for some reason and it helped me take things one step at a time, I think. Everyone, send letters please!

Friday we had the opportunity to street contact at an event called "First Friday" on Tarpon Ave. That was really cool! There were a lot of people, but when it started getting dark, people started drinking more, so we didn't stay too long there. And then on Saturday we had a wonderful lesson with a woman we met a few months ago! She loves studying with us and she is really taking everything to heart. I love her so much and we had a great lesson with her.

Also, I got to bear my testimony this Sunday!  It was a great week. We had a lot of fun and it was BEAUTIFUL outside! No sweating, and only a light jacket at night. I love Florida!! Now if only it will stay this temperature for the rest of my mission. Wouldn't that be nice...

With love,

Sister Minson