Sao Domingos: Winter Again

This week we experienced every type of weather. It was consistently very cold except for random hours of the day here and there that would be burning hot with a lot of sun. In addition to that, it rained a lot, sometimes it was cold rain and sometimes it was warm rain. All that said, I loved it because I love the rain and it gave me an opportunity to unpack some of my winter clothes and use them again. 

This week was the first week of the transfer and with that my companion and I decided to reevaluate our goals and really plan how we are going to see success in this area in the next six weeks. And then of course we had to put those plans into action. Spent lots of time in the streets contacting people and trying to find new people to teach.

One funny experience: One day we planned to knock on some doors of people who solicited in the past to learn more but never really talked with the missionaries. The first door we knocked.... no one answered. So we knocked again and after some time we heard a man far in the back asking who it was. We told him we were the missionaries but I am not sure he heard cause he told us to open the door. After hesitating a second we slowly opened the door to reveal a large staircase and with a man at the top. We explained to him who we were and why we were there and he invited us up. After confirming that his wife was also there in the house we climbed the large staircase and had a great lesson with this couple and one of their friends. As they expressed concerns and questions about what will happen after this life or how we can know which of the churches in the world is teaching truth, I felt the spirit so strong and the love of God for this family. It is truly amazing to see that we have knowledge that can bless the lives of other people and give them the knowledge they are seeking.

The other week I found a book in the church "The Power of Everyday Missionaries" by Clayton Christensen. Highly recommend this book for all of you out there who want to do missionary work as members, and all of you who don't. We have been sharing with the members a story about facing rejection. A man shared that he always had a hard time inviting people to learn about the gospel because it was something so important to him and he did not like rejection. He shared the statistic that approximately 1 in 4 people will accept an invitation and this means 3 people will say no. He said he set the goal to find someone who would say no. This was a lot easier, and he soon completed it. Then he set the goal to find 3 more people who would say no, but the next person he asked accepted an invitation! As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we have knowledge that other people are seeking. Many people wonder about the purpose of life, about how we can know the truth, and how we can have a relationship with our Heavenly Father but they do not know how to do this. We do not have a way to tell who is searching and who will accept an invitation and that is why we have to invite EVERYONE!

My challenge to you this week is to find 4 people who say no to an invitation. Could be to learn more about the gospel, to attend an activity, or to go to the church. You decide by the spirit. But I know that as you do this the Lord will put people in your path, and as you complete your goal of 4 "no"s you can have joy knowing that this is what the Lord has asked of us. Just opening our mouths and inviting, independent of the result.

I want to leave you all with my testimony that I know this church is true. When I say that I mean that this is Christ's church upon the earth. The fullness of the gospel has been restored, and along with it the power and authority to act in God's name. When we seek Him, we will find Him. Jesus Christ is our Savior. Because of Him.... we have hope for a better world and joy in our afflictions. Whatever doubt, fear, or question in your life, the Lord knows you and He is ready and willing to help you. This is my testimony that I leave with you, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sister Pinkney