We have had a great week and I am loving New Mexico.
State Bird : the roadrunner
State vegetables : chiles and frijoles
New Mexico or Mexico? No ones really sure...
Deming is WAY different than Los Reales - the area and the work. I'm freezing my buns off here in this 55 degree weather (what happened to my sweet, sticky 95 degrees?!). There are leaves changing colors and it finally feels like fall! The work...is tough. There is a LOT that needs to be fixed/done differently and we're constantly praying for help and direction. I feel like in this area I'm going to be stretched and grow a ton - bring it on Deming!
So Hermana Magnusson and I actually work a lot in a tiny city 30 minutes south of Deming, called Columbus, that goes down to the boarder (literally I SAW Mexico on Saturday!) It actually reminds me a lot of Lake Town:) Population:100 The town is too far from Deming for people to come to church so we have a GROUP (not even a branch) down there! I thought it couldn't get any smaller than Los Reales - false. They say on a good Sunday there are 10 people at church...it's like Family Night! And three of those ten are recent converts! You should hear us sing the hymns...haha And we don't have a President, we have a group leader (old and a little forgetful) so we give a lot of talks/lessons/prayers/etc. I'm pretty sure we've almost had to bless and pass the sacrament a couple times too...;) it's a blast!
I got transferred just in time for daylight savings (AZ doesn't do daylight savings but NM does!) so on Saturday we got to sleep in an hour! It was amazing what an extra hour of sleep did - I felt 19 again;) Also another little miracle - we have a washer IN our apt! I almost cried when I found out. I think I've spent probably $100 just on laundry the last 4 months but now it's free! The Lord is blessing our efforts.
Halloween was a blast! We had a tri-ward party and it was so fun! The elders here dressed up as sister missionaries and everyone got a kick out of it. We had to be in our apt at 7:00 so we watched The District, ate chocolate, and painted our nails - girls nights even on the mission! Pretty sure I gained 5 LBS that nights. Best tasting 5 LBS I've ever eaten:)
We have some great investigators/potentials and I'm really excited to work with them. The youth here are amazing! We are working with 3 really solid youth who take their Book of Mormon to school and read during class...?!! They amaze me. The only problem is their parents - but we're starting to work with them more so pray they'll have their hearts softened! Also there are a TON of less actives here so we're doing some lost sheep finding. D&C 15:6 "the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be...that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father."
We were teaching a man named Angel and were going to teach him on Friday. As we walked up to his house, there was another man there. I asked if he lived there as well and he said, "no I am Angel's pastor."....let the fun begin! haha Don't worry, we had a civil discussion (thanks to lots of prayers for help to remain calm - I'm so human! haha) The pastor kept shooting down Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. It was so hard for me to just bite my tongue and wait and then to just bear my testimony. The pastor kept saying, "I hope to see you at the judgement seat of God." haha Yeah, me too! He said he had read the Book of Mormon and I asked him if he had prayed about it. His answer, "We'll see." ....? It was hard BUT from this lesson, I realized how important it is for us to have our own testimony, especially of the Restoration and the Book of Mormon - that's what sets us apart from other churches and that's what everything is built upon, because without the Book of Mormon, everything falls. I came away from the lesson feeing stronger and more firm in my testimony than ever before. I am so thankful for the things I know!
I have been reading in 3 Nefi this week and found a scripture that I LOVE! It's 3 Nefi 5:13 - "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." It doesn't say "I am a bishop/prophet/missionary" but "I am a disciple." A disciple is a follower of Jesus Christ. As members of the church we are disciples of Christ, therefore we are ALL called to "declare his word" and do His work. He trusts us to take part in it and will bless us more than we can imagine!
Camron, keep that mustache growing in thick - you can't get married until I get back. Thanks for the emails from everybody else too - it's so fun to hear from you! I'll write you soon, promise! I love you all tons and can't believe next month is CHRISTMAS! Keep up the missionary work! You're the best!
Hermana Stewart
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