Conversion, September 3, 2018

Me reading the sealed portion of the Gold plates 😂

Sister Davis and I trying to run with the Gold plates (about 50 pounds) 💪

Friends and Friends, 

I can't believe this week flew by. We are keeping busy that's for sure. 

Monday:

We met with Raymond. He told us he was atheist when we first met him but after our lesson Monday night I think otherwise. He had read 3 Nephi 11 and loved it! He has studied lots of religions in the past and even read the bible. He loves reading. As we were talking about what he read he told us that he just doesn't understand how to apply it in his life. Bingo! That is why we are out here doing what we do! We taught him about the Godhead and he thought it was very neat. He asked us our favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon and he plans on reading them along with the other things we asked him to read! 

Tuesday: 

Man what a day! We had to take our car in to get fixed along with the Brookings car. They all have a recall so setting this all up was a bit hard. The Coos Bay sisters shuttled us all to dinner and then we walked the rest of the night. It was so great as we talked to lots of people and found some new people to teach. We also had a lesson with Natalie and she taught us about having faith. It was super fun and exciting! Then we celebrated some birthdays in our Zone. What a good night it was! 

We had the Bandon Sisters stay with us. 

Wednesday: 

We all got up early and headed into Zone conference. President talked about being converted to the Lord and since then I have been eating up the thoughts on this topic. A testimony is what we know but conversion is constantly being true to what you know. It's the act of turning and repenting. For me a mission is the biggest turn I have made in my life. But it consisted of lots of little turns. Each and everyday we pray and strive to be a little better, that's making the turn even if it is just a little degree to make sure we are on the straight path back to Christ. But conversion doesn't come by us focusing on ourselves but through focusing on others around us. How can we help them make turns in their lives? We need to remember the atonement of our Savior and rely on his strength. "The atonement could not be possible without the Character of Christ."

It was super fun to see a few of my companions and catch up with each of them. We had a fun ride back with the Bandon Sisters singing along to Joseph and the tecnicolored dreamcoat. 

Thursday:

We had exchanges with the Brookings sisters. Sister Bodtcher (my past companion from Grants Pass) and I were together. It was so much fun being able to teach with her again. We had a lesson with Barbara and Nick about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sister Bodtcher asked them what they remembered about their baptism. Barbara replied how she was so nervous but as soon as she came out of the water she felt completely at peace. It was neat to hear that although Nicks was so long ago he could remember who was there. 

We did a stepping stone activity. I had Nick stand on one side of the room representing Hevenly Father and Barbara with notecards on the other. She had to lay down each card to take a step....faith... repentance.... baptism... Holy Ghost... Endure to the end. She wasn't quite to Nick yet and I asked her how she would get there. She didn't know but when I told her to go back and pick up faith and lay it down again she was almost there. She realized she had to go back and get the next card repentance. Her response was priceless "I got to keep repenting" she says. Hahaha it finally clicked. I asked her if she needed to get baptized again and She looks at me funny and says "No! That's what the sacrament is for." It was such a fun lesson! 

That evening we went to the Book of Mormon class where Brother Petijohn had brought the Gold plates that someone had made. It was such a treat and everyone there enjoyed leaning about the scriptures!

Saturday: 

We had scavenger Saturday and met some amazing, crazy, fun people. 

We met Ben and he is very into science and doesn't believe much in God at all. But it was a powerful exspirence as we talked about how experiments take place. It's the same way with the gospel. Look for the if...then... statements and then test them out to see if it is true. We asked him if he would read Moroni 10 and look for those promise God makes and to test it out. He said he would! 

 

5 of my companions! (Sister Davis, Bodtcher, me, Shreve, Evans, Dalton)

Birthday party treats! 

Coos Bay sisters and us 

Sunday:

Exactly a month ago we had a ward fast to have more people join our ward and today it was amazing to see that blessing come to pass. They read in quite a few new families into the ward. Fasting is so real and I'm greatful to have been a part of this exspirence. We had a brake the fast after the meetings and it was so fun meeting new people and watching the kids run around. Overall it's been a busy but wonderful week! 

I love you all so much!

Love 

Sister Leavitt 

I hope this minion puts a smile on your face!