Mission Adventures: Natalie February 24, 2014

Hello Everyone!

What a week! It has been one of the craziest weeks of my mission. Such a learning experience and I'm definitely not the same person or missionary that I was a week ago.

We had a pretty crazy week. We had a lot of difficult situations, but through each one we learned so much! And now, we can laugh about them. We were rejected more than we ever have been before. We were not only rejected, but rejected pretty hard. People were extra mean this week. haha But we took it as a great opportunity to practice, ya know just in case we have some problems of getting rejected in dating. I was told I was fat and that I needed to watch what I was eating, got my butt slapped, I was spit on AND mocked in the same moment, we were laughed at and made fun of, all of our rendez-vous fell through, and our amis ignored us. It should've been really hard, but through the Atonement, we made it through! And in each hard moment, we had a ray of sunlight. Something to help us through!

Throughout this week, we learned that this work is impossible without members! They are the key. The only way to keep investigators is to have a member involved. The best way to find investigators is through the members! I can't get enough out of it. We've been struggling with that, in how we can help the members understand that. We fasted and prayed to know what we could do, because what we were doing was not working! We were a little discouraged. So here is my challenge! Each day, pray for a missionary experience! Find out who the missionaries are in your area and contact them to see if there's anything you can do for them! I know that if you pray specifically, God will lead you to people who need us! That is the best gift you can give to a missionary.

Friday, we had interviews with President and Soeur Poznanski. We fasted before to receive answers. oh man. It was absolutely incredible. They are 2 of the most inspired people I have ever met. Soeur Poznanski met with me and built me up. She reminded me of the things I've seen on my mission. I didn't tell her about our week but she somehow knew! She's so close to the spirit. She gave me incredible advice and things that I can do. It amazes me how well she knows us. She loves us all individually and personally. President was incredible too and from the moment I stepped in the room I felt his love! He told me we were put in this area to build the ward and help change their mind set and attitude towards missionaries. He told me that he knew we could do it! And we were there for a reason. he gave me great advice of things we could do.

Then we had zone conference. Soeur Poznanski talked about Alma's story in Alma 8. When he was teaching in Ammonihah. He was rejected and spat upon and cast out.

9 Now Satan had gotten great ^ahold upon the hearts of the people of the city of Ammonihah; therefore they would not hearken unto the words of Alma. 10 Nevertheless Alma ^alabored much in the spirit, ^bwrestling with God in ^cmighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance.
sound familiar??
Then, an angel appears to him. the same angel who first appeared to him and changed his life.
15 Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that ^adelivered it unto you.
16 And behold, I am sent to ^acommand thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the city; yea, preach unto them. Yea, say unto them, except they repent the Lord God will ^bdestroy them.
So Alma went back, and he continued to fight. And at that moment, we decided that we would too! Just like Alma, I had an angel too; actually i had two! And they both told me to head back and return because I can do it! So we will. I know that we're close and we're going to find someone incredible!

We also had stake conference and surprise! It was all on member missionary work! It was so KEY. It's the only way! We need members! Some of our members spoke, and it was so inspiring. I sure do love them all.
Here is a little video from Elder Oaks and Ballard about their visit a couple of months ago! It gives you a little info on our area and such. Thought it was cool.

https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/unto-all-the-world-hastening-the-work-in-europe?lang=eng&cid=email-shared

Well I sure do love you a lot. and i felt your prayers this week! I am so grateful for your support and the examples you are to me! I'm excited to head back and try again and find these people that are ready to progress. Wish me luck!

Soeur Cameron

100% No regrets I've promised to give MORE

pic of these cute kids we ate with this week