Zone Conference

Hey Family!!

 

This week has been really good! I love this area a lot, especially now that i know where I'm going and I don't get super lost everywhere we go! In my last ward, my bishop gave me a blessing right before I left and blessed me that I would have a good memory and I would be able to learn people and places quickly, and I've definitely seen that! Its nothing short of a miracle how quickly I've been able to learn the area, the members, and our potential investigators. I'm grateful for the gifts of the spirit! This ward is so different from my last one... this one is just so... normal! I don't know how to handle it. I'm starting to see more and more how quirky Tampa 4 is! and I love them for it:) i fit right in there! I've actually found myself feeling homesick for Tampa 4 quite a few times. Seminole looks just like salt lake except take away the mountains and add palm trees:) Its really easy to forget that i'm in Florida! My companion is great! We are really, really, really different. like really different. But I love her and that helps us to get along:)

 

Sister Johnson and Sister Rowland

We don't really have any investigators right now. We had one lady drop us, and another man that we found and had to drop in less than a week. Our other investigators we haven't really been able to see. We have been doing so much finding, but we haven't really found. Its weird because everyone that we talk to ends up really liking us and trusting us, but they have no desire to learn more about the Gospel. We have been more bold, and a little more persistent, but nothing is coming of it. We aren't really sure what to do now... just keep trying I guess!

 

We are working with a really awesome guy! we found him because he lives next door to one of sister Chadwick's former investigators. He is actually a member. He was baptized when he was eight by his grandfather, but he never was really a part of the church. Teaching him is like teaching an investigator. But he is so sincere and he is seriously seeking to do God's will. Its funny because it seems like right after we found him, his life starting falling apart. His girlfriend cheated on him, his daughter was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, then his girlfriend tried to commit suicide. He has lived a really hard life. hes been successful. Hes sold his success for pills and alcohol. Hes pretty much at the bottom. But his heart is so prepared for this gospel, and he needs it so badly.

 

Sister Chadwick, Bishop Hodges(Tampa 4thWard), Sister Rowland &?

We had zone conference last week! We got to watch Meet the Mormons! By the way, I don't know where or for how long that is playing in the theaters near you, but i definitely recommend it! And I recommend inviting a non-member friend to it. A lady in the ward said that she has been trying to get her best friend to come to church with her for 16 YEARS and nothing has happened. This last saturday she took her to meet the mormons, and on sunday she came to church. That film is powerful! We were also trained in zone conference about not fearing what man can do, and about being bold. President Cusick told us that he'd rather us be too bold with members, and offend someone than not be bold enough. He said that if the ward hates us and runs us out, he has no problem moving us somewhere else and he would be proud to do it. He also said that if we are thrown in prison for being too bold, he will bail us out:) So thats something I'm really working on. Boldness has never been in my vocabulary, let alone my nature. But i'm trying really hard not to fear man!

 

I forgot to ask last week, but what were your favorite conference talks and why?

 

Sister Rowland, Sister Chadwick, Tampa 4th Ward Mission Leaders, and ?

Yesterday Sister Chadwick and I went on exchanges for a few hours and left our trainees to fend for themselves so that we could attend the funeral of a member in Tampa 4. Remember the gay guy that baptized one of our investigators? He passed away unexpectedly last week. I really love him, everyone does. It was so crazy and unexpected. He was supposed to go to the temple this month to receive his endowments.

 

It was a sad occasion, but it was also really nice to see all of my Tampa 4th ward family!

 

Well I've got to go finish preparing for the week so I can baptize nations! (By the way, Sister Johnson and I have a goal of 9 baptisms by Christmas) 

 

I love you all like crazy!! and i hope you have a fantastic week:)

 

Love always, Sister Rowland :)