Hola familia y amigos!!
This week was... well, it was not what we expected or wanted from the week. It wasn't really bad, but just different. We had very little planned at the beginning of the week, but we went forward in faith, and despite a couple fairly hard days, we had some ok days planned out for the end of the week. We had a number of appointments scheduled and most of them confirmed, but as you might guess, most of them canceled. Some of them called and canceled, which is ok, at least they're comfortable enough with us to call us, some of them weren't home, and then some just gave us erroneous addresses (which has happened to me less than you think it would. This is one of the few times I've had this happen to me). But we did visit a lot of less-actives and a few of them came to church, some for the first time in a few months! I'm very grateful to the Lord that he made the way open for them to do that. On the other hand though, there was A LOT that could have been better from this week.
To continue on things I've learned: This Sunday was Fast Sunday and I don't know if I've told y'all about it before or not, but on Fast Sunday we pray for an hour before we end our fast. I prayed pretty hard about the area, about what we need to be doing to have success, what I need to change, what I need to do, etc. I didn't really get much answers right then, and I still don't know if I have answers to all of my questions yet, but yesterday we also went to meet the Stake President, Pres. Gibson as all the missionaries in the Stake. He told us that too much we hold on to, and value, the "fruits" of our labors, instead of valuing the labors themselves. I think I've been focusing too much on the fruits of my labors, or a lot of times the lack thereof, and not focusing on just laboring with all my "heart, might, mind, and strength". I hope y'all had a great 4th of July and are having a great summer!
-Elder Whitaker
This week was... well, it was not what we expected or wanted from the week. It wasn't really bad, but just different. We had very little planned at the beginning of the week, but we went forward in faith, and despite a couple fairly hard days, we had some ok days planned out for the end of the week. We had a number of appointments scheduled and most of them confirmed, but as you might guess, most of them canceled. Some of them called and canceled, which is ok, at least they're comfortable enough with us to call us, some of them weren't home, and then some just gave us erroneous addresses (which has happened to me less than you think it would. This is one of the few times I've had this happen to me). But we did visit a lot of less-actives and a few of them came to church, some for the first time in a few months! I'm very grateful to the Lord that he made the way open for them to do that. On the other hand though, there was A LOT that could have been better from this week.
To continue on things I've learned: This Sunday was Fast Sunday and I don't know if I've told y'all about it before or not, but on Fast Sunday we pray for an hour before we end our fast. I prayed pretty hard about the area, about what we need to be doing to have success, what I need to change, what I need to do, etc. I didn't really get much answers right then, and I still don't know if I have answers to all of my questions yet, but yesterday we also went to meet the Stake President, Pres. Gibson as all the missionaries in the Stake. He told us that too much we hold on to, and value, the "fruits" of our labors, instead of valuing the labors themselves. I think I've been focusing too much on the fruits of my labors, or a lot of times the lack thereof, and not focusing on just laboring with all my "heart, might, mind, and strength". I hope y'all had a great 4th of July and are having a great summer!
-Elder Whitaker