This morning while I was
praying at the end of my studies, I asked Him what I should blog about this week.
"The Benefit of the Doubt" were the words that came to mind. As I
reflected on all of the different experiences I had been given this week, and
all of the lessons I had learned, I realized that they could all be easily
categorized into this one phrase.
Let me explain to you why, we
had to attend an all day meeting, have interviews with President, prepare
people for baptism, prepare a baptism for Alivia, speak at the baptism, train
at zone meeting, speak in sacrament meeting, teach gospel principles, and teach
in Young Women's. All this week. All without a car.
To begin we dropped off our car at the dealership to have it fixed. As it turns out, they weren't going to be giving it back for over a week, and this was going to be the coldest week of the year so far.... Joy -___-
To begin we dropped off our car at the dealership to have it fixed. As it turns out, they weren't going to be giving it back for over a week, and this was going to be the coldest week of the year so far.... Joy -___-
LUCKILY our first day without
a car we were in a meeting in Nashville all day. It was MLC! (Mission
leadership counsel). We woke up at like 4 in the morning. I sat up front with
Elder Nez because we both get pretty carsick. It was a 3 hour drive but worth it
because we get to see the sun rise.
When we got there the
Andersens had breakfast ready for us and I got to meet all the new Sister
Training Leaders! Kind of crazy to be standing in a group with sisters who you
will probably be companions with sooner than later. The trainings were
great, and it was nice to get to be apart of something so big as setting
mission wide goals for the year. I can't wait to implement them! Setting
goals is really important. Preach My Gospel says that goal setting and planning
are acts of faith, and that we should do everything in our power to achieve
them while respecting the agency of others. So this got me thinking, "Why
bother setting goals, if it's completely dependent on someone else's
agency?" I realized the answer is faith, because faith precedes the
miracle. It is my responsibility to have faith sufficient enough for Heavenly
Father to provide the miracle. In other words, I have to give this the benefit
of the doubt.
The next day we went out with
Sister Hayes to see Sarah, who wasn't home. We normally see Amy K with Sister
Hayes, but this week she was sick and asked us not to come by. When Sarah
didn't answer her door, Sister Curtis told me she felt like we should go see
Amy K. I was really hesitant, because she had just asked us not to go... Since
we both had different opinions, we decided to pray and ask Heavenly Father what
we should do. After we prayed, Sister Curtis still felt right about going to
see Amy. Needing an excuse to go by, we stopped at Krogers and picked up some
flowers and soup. While there, Sister Hayes ran into an old friend, and we were
able to meet her and give her a pamphlet! (Did you know you can have them scan
those things for a store discount??). Amy ended up not being home, so Sister
Hayes dropped us off at an apartment complex so we could go knocking on some
doors. We tried to go see a nearby investigator, but they weren't home, just
their son and his girlfriend. They were acting pretty awkward, so I was backing
away to leave when Sister Curtis stepped forward and basically got through the
door and began teaching them. I rolled with it, and the things we shared were
exactly what they told us they were needing to hear. It felt really nice to get
new investigators in this way. I learned the importance of giving EVERYONE the
benefit of the doubt, and not just assuming they don't want to hear my message
because they are uncomfortable or awkward. I also learned to let my companion
have the benefit of the doubt, and provide her with the opportunity to learn to
recognize her promptings and use her agency.
Following this we had
interviews with President Andersen. As leaders, President and I talked a lot
about correction and the proper way to give it. I appreciated his
gratitude for the correction I had given to the sister thus far, and I was so
thankful to receive his insights as well. Throughout our discussion, we
talked a lot about the importance of pointing out the good in the things the
sisters do. President told me to remember it from a parents
perspective. Your children are the one thing you can correct and control
all you want, but if you continually are telling them what to fix they
won't respect you or listen anymore. I know I've worked with people in the
past where it seemed that all they wanted from me was to be better. [oh snap! she's talking about her PARENTS!!!!] It
made it so that everything they said irritated me- even when it wasn't
meant to be bad! I think about experiences I've had just on my mission, and I
realize how necessary it is to catch those around you doing good. You have to
give these sisters the benefit of the doubt, show them you trust them to be
doing the right thing, otherwise they will never listen to what you say or feel
understood enough to accept advice.
(Sorry I wasn't looking) |
We continued our no car
adventures into Friday where we had our first zone
meeting of the transfer. Having not had much time to prepare a 45 minute
training, I was a little nervous. Nevertheless, as Nephi said: "I know in
whom I have trusted" (2nd Nephi 4:19). Sister Curtis did a fabulous
one on faith that I really loved, and the Elders taught
about setting goals. As the meeting went on (I was to be the last
speaker) I didn't think I'd have enough time in my training to do
everything I felt inspired to do... But God worked his magic and I fit
everything in perfectly and it flowed super well. It was so wonderful
getting to sit among some of the greatest missionaries in the mission. Of all
of the Zones, Paducah is leading the way and I am so proud! What once was known
as "outcast island" is now the promised land. All it needed was to be
given the benefit of the doubt :). Since the Hermanas BOTH had
their birthday on this day we went to Kentucky Fried Chicken in
Kentucky!
Saturday was Alivias baptism.
It was a very spiritual experience, because Alivia is a great warrior among her
families. You see, all but her aunt have left the church, and have refused to
come back again. Because of Alivias choice to follow Christ and be baptized,
the room was crammed full of people came into a place they hadn't stepped foot
in many many many years... it was a true miracle. You should have felt the
atmosphere change when she was immersed into the water. After that, many of
those inactive members opened up to us about the church, and many even came to
sacrament meeting the next day. Alivia's mother said that I reminded her a lot
of Alivia, and I just knew that like I could be a missionary for her daughter,
Alivia would be a great missionary for her. I am so proud of her for giving her
family the benefit of the doubt and inviting them to her baptism, and not being
afraid to be bold about her beliefs.
Elder Marvin J Ashton said: "Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet.... Charity is expecting the best of each other."
The following day we frantically wrote a sacrament talk, planned a gospel principles lesson, and prepared to work with the young woman and also go to an early morning meeting. It was hectic, to say the least. Of course, Heavenly Father provided a way and all was accomplished and then some. I am so grateful that despite my weaknesses, he continues to give ME the benefit of the doubt by giving me always more than I feel I can handle.
In weekly planning this week, Sister Curtis and I just didn't feel like many of our investigators were going to be ready for baptism very soon. We prayed, and Lisa came to mind. "No no, it can't be her, she just told us that she will need some time", I said. We prayed again, and again, Heavenly Father told us we will need to put Lisa on a baptismal date. We looked at our calendar. "February 15th?" I suggested. "Uhmmm that's pretty soon" Sister Curtis thought out loud. Sunday night the devil was trying really hard to keep us from even seeing Lisa. She was way too far out to bike, and everyone we asked said they couldn't take us. Then, we called Sister Long. She and Lisa were a match made in Heaven. We taught the Restoration and the spirit engulfed the room and penetrated our hearts. As Lisa shared with us the experiences that got her up to the point where she was meeting with the missionaries, Heavenly Father touched all of our hearts and we knew it was time. "Lisa, you're right, God does build off of our experiences. Will you take the next step and build off of the things you now know, and be baptized February 15th?"
"Before, when you asked about that, I didn't feel ready. But right when you said that, I felt something. YES."
WE WANTED TO CRY! Lisa is the
mom of two recent converts of almost a year. She just radiates sunshine whenever
you talk to her, and FINALLY Heavenly Father was ready for her. Or rather, she
was finally ready for him. All of those years preparing her, all of the trials
she had experiences and struggles she had had, they were all given out of the
benefit of the doubt. God truly loves her. He truly loves her family. And I
know He truly does love each of us.
He has answered my prayers
and he has blessed me with so much charity for dear old Paducah, Kentucky.
There is no other place I would rather be. I LOVE it here. I testify that where
we are, is where we should be. What really matters, is where we are going. I
know that if we can give ourselves, and our Heavenly Father the benefit of the
doubt, all things will work out for our good.
Love,Sister Hochstrasser Write to me!!
[Jennifer's birthday is on the 26th of January! Please write her if you have time. thanks!]
Sister Jennifer Hochstrasser
447 Hutchinson Ave
Paducah, Kentucky 42003
Paducah, Kentucky 42003
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