Week 8: Throwin' Down Prayers!

So, as is natural and normal, "the rest of the story" came in Becca's email to her mom (Btw, I checked with her to make sure my sharing some extra stuff on the blog was okay, and she said it was😊).  Let's just say that she still really needs prayers to get through this last week with her companion.  Even a chat with her companion from the Mission President couldn't make a dent, so they've missed some important appointments and opportunities over the last week.  Bec did get to confide in her Mission President again, though, which I'm sure was a relief.  President Rogers told Becca that he's sending her a Sister Training Leader (STL) next week, when transfers take place. (Transfers are every 6 weeks--that's when missionaries get moved around to new areas and new companions, but they don't all get moved everytime.  They just have to rotate the newbies in and the finished missionaries out.)  STLs are often the cream-of-the-crop hardest working missionaries out there, so we just need to pray that Becca will have extra patience this week because, let's face it, she's related to her mother.  That means there's always a risk that she'll blurt something out this week that she would regret later... You can see in the picture she sent that they still manage to have happy moments, but I'm beginning to think that some of those extra-smiley pics she's been sending are actually pics of her gritting her teeth really widely... 😂

Becca also got to see the sisters she served with in the MTC, and she was able to get some love and support from them, too.  She said talking to her MTC companion made her realize how hard the last few weeks have been.  Still, I'm glad she got a little reminder that "this too shall pass," and there will be better times ahead.  She is one of my greatest examples, and I know she'll lean on the Lord and get through it.  Here's her group letter:

Hello! 

Um... yeah this week was just plain weird. There was good stuff, though! Wednesday was the best. We started the morning serving at Meals On Wheels, which is my favorite. I love the people there and it's fun to cook giant batches of food. Especially when we don't have to do the dishes, haha! 

We spent that afternoon at one of our investigator's houses with her three boys. Mary [the woman who's been "investigating" the church, which means learning and praying about whether or not to join] was having surgery and so we were there with them to make cards and help in any way they needed. Then we got a text that she was out of surgery two hours early! A miracle! So we took all the cards and said goodnight to the boys and went to see her. I expected her to still be asleep but she was totally awake and looked amazing! Holy cow! We said that she was a miracle and she replied "GOD IS GOOD!" Yes, He is! 

Then we got this call that a member had picked up our other investigator, Garnet, and they were waiting at the church for us to come and do a lesson. We hadn't even planned an appointment but we said goodbye to Mary (who said, "You can't leave without throwin' down a prayer!" haha!) and ran down to the church. We met with Garnet, who is so excited to be baptized that we set a baptism date for this Saturday! Amazing! We are so excited for him and definitely saw miracles coming together to make this all happen. 

Another highlight was that on Friday I got to see all of my MTC sisters again! That was wonderful! All four of them are strong women that have helped me more than they will every know. I love them to death. 

My favorite scripture this week has been, "I can do all thing through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13    It gets used all the time because it is SO true! 

I love you all! Have a great week! 

Sister Fairbanks