Hey y'all.
On Wednesday we said a very heart-felt prayer as we left the apartment, and I said another in my heart, both of us hoping that we could find someone that day that could be taught. We MISSED teaching, and not just that, but none of our investigaters as of right now were ready to be baptized, they had all been taught for a very long time, and are progressing, but slowly. We had one appointment that morning, where we taught an investigator, then thought we could stop and do some service for some people we knew. As we were walking over there, we get a phone call from a number we don't know, that turns out to be a lady from the distibution center. We had given her a card just a few days earlier, as she mentioned to us that sometimes people come to the church and want to get in contact with the missionaries, but she doesn't have our number for them.
What do ya know? That phone call from her said there was a young woman at the center, who wanted to know more, and had gone on a walk for about a half hour, if we could only be there when she got back she'd LOVE to meet us.
Let's just say that we made that trip in a record amount of time. We arrived there and talked to Vicky, who said the girl should be back anytime. When this young woman comes to the front door, very nervous looking, and lookin like she might bolt, we invite her in and start to talk to her. Very nervously, but extremely honest, Sonja(we find out is her name), starts to tell us that she has a friend in another ward and they go to school together. He's one of the nicest people she's ever met, and he told her about the church. He even gave her a Book of Mormon! When we asked her about the Book of Mormon, she says, ''He told me that I needed to get a testimony of it myself, that I should read it to know if it's true. Well I have, and it is. I've prayed and God answered my prayer.'' We asked her if she knows about Joseph Smith. She said, ''Yes, I've watched the long movie about him, and he's definitely a prophet.'' Sister Williams and I were DYING to say the least. Amazed by what was going on, the miracle taking place, we asked her to be baptized in Oktober, if that was something she wanted. She JUMPED at the word baptism, and told us, ''YES! That's what i want, definitely!'' So we set a baptismal date right then and there, about 6 weeks out. We got her information, and she promised to come to church on sunday.
Saturday night, we have a strong prompting. To change her baptismal date. We're not sure why, as she's BARELY met the church, and Oktober isn't really that far. There's no need to do it. But we feel that she could and should be baptized at the end of September. HOLY COW. THAT'S SOON. We say a prayer, and ask about the 26th. Well, confirmation is real, and we had it. Time to find out if Sonja is ok with it, and if it's really best for her.
Sunday came, and despite all the crazy traffic on the main road(due to a half marathon being run RIGHT OUTSIDE) she made it there 5 minutes before it all started. Walking her in was so glorious. We found out as soon as she steps inside, that it's her birthday, ''What a great birthday present to myself? To come to church!!!'' Um...how about you're astounding, Sonja. It was amazing. In sacrament, she learned probably 5 principles, and we would discuss what they were while they happened, so she understood. I have NEVER seen someone grasp concepts so quickly. She asks the most amazing questions. ''Why do you use water instead of wine, even though the scriptures say wine?'' We told her it's because the most important part of the ordinance is the prayer, not what is partaken. Her response was just, ''Of course! it's doesn't matter what it IS, as long as you say the prayer.'' She was reading along with the prayers the whole time they were said. I gave her one of my scripture markers so she could mark things in her Book of Mormon. She was so excited. She immediately looked at my BofM, and marks the first scripture she sees I have marked. Mosiah 28:3, my mission scripture. She was like, ''how does one mark????'' I can't handle her cuteness. Oh, and did I ever say, she's only 16? That's ok though, her parents want this for her, and we'll be seeing them this week when we visit her.
Anyways....After the most amazing church of my life, we have a short lesson with her, so we can set up appointments, and get to teaching her. She tells us a concern of hers, which is, that she can't wait until Oktober, and that in Oktober her school schedule becomes insane, with studying and exams all the time. We now knew why we had to move up her already speedy date. We didn't then waste anytime at all, and asked, ''Sonja? We feel very strongly, that we should invite you to be baptized a bit sooner. Would you be willing to change the date to September 26th?''
Oh my goodness.
The YES that shot out of her was so fast it blazed by all the marathon runners.
She was SO excited. She then invited all the young women to come and attend, because they're her new besties.
The ward loves her. She has been invited to like 4 different members to eat at their place. She's SO excited about everything she's learning. I've never seen someone ask so many questions, accept so many truths, and progress SO rapidly.
That prayer we said wednesday morning changed my life. I can't help but be giddy, thinking about the difference this girl is making in MY life. So much faith. I've never seen a truth seeker like her. I know that God heard our prayers. I knew that before Sonja. But my testimony had indeed been strengthened. Sonja is a miracle. I'm just grateful we're here to witness it.
The ward loves her. She has been invited to like 4 different members to eat at their place. She's SO excited about everything she's learning. I've never seen someone ask so many questions, accept so many truths, and progress SO rapidly.
That prayer we said wednesday morning changed my life. I can't help but be giddy, thinking about the difference this girl is making in MY life. So much faith. I've never seen a truth seeker like her. I know that God heard our prayers. I knew that before Sonja. But my testimony had indeed been strengthened. Sonja is a miracle. I'm just grateful we're here to witness it.
Well.....hope you all had a great week!
LOVE YOU!
<3 Søster Floyd
p.s.I'll attach a bunch of awesome pictures we took this week. My favorites are the ones we took right after our first appointment with Sonja, where we freaked out. I also love our pictures with Sonja in front of the temple, where she told us she'd like to go in next month. This gurl tho.
Picture 1. WE LOVE SONJA OH MY GOSH HOW DO WE EVEN REACT TO THIS SO EXCITED
Picture 2. wait.....what do we do now?
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