Hey y’all!
This week has been an adventure for sure!
To start off.. Amanda has a baptismal date! officially (: we set it last Monday and she’s committed herself to changing! She even set the goal herself to quit smoking, pray and read every day, and come to church every week! We were also able to see her on Friday with Emily and then again on Saturday night with her and her 6yr old daughter Amber, we went over to Bro. and Sis. Clarke’s home for dinner! What an incredible night! We were planning on teaching her the restoration (cuz we decided to teach her out of order haha) and when we got there we literally shared like one scripture and that’s it. The Clarkes got along quite well with Amanda and through friendly conversation they ended up teaching not only the restoration, but also the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Word of Wisdom, the Law of Chastity a bit, AND the Plan of Salvation.. all while we just sat there in awe… they are the bomb! It seriously was such a great night. Amanda could really feel the spirit and we could tell that she is really progressing and that this is truly the desire of her heart! I’m so excited for her to be baptized at the end of the month!I truly have a testimony of member missionary work! All the Clarkes did was be a friend and bear testimony! It was so easy for them to testify to Amanda what they know and feel to be true and the spirit was right there to help Amanda see that for herself. 🙂 She’s so great, throughout the whole lesson she kept saying to us: “you two church girls were definitely sent here to me from the big guy upstairs! I can just feel it when you are in my house, it’s more peaceful and loving!” God definitely prepares people in ways not everyone can understand at first, it just takes a leap of faith to see the blessings when we land. 🙂
The next day at Church (yesterday) was full of miracles too! Amanda came with her kids (Peta, Amber, and Scotty) and they absolutely LOVED it! well.. actually Peta (who’s 10) was NOT a fan of the sacrament hahaha she thought it was the nastiest thing to eat and drink after so many people had passed it around, but other than that everyone seemed to have a lovely time. Our Bishop’s wife just had a baby on Monday the 29th (leap year baby!) and so in Relief Society they passed around a sign up sheet to bring meals over to the family and Amanda leaned over to us and said “dang! now where were you guys 10 years ago when Peta was born?!?!” haha that’s not the first time she’s said that, lol we definitely wish she could’ve been in the church the past 10 years but I guess the Lord works in His own time(: cuz we’re here now! <3
The next miracle of yesterday is Yvette <3 she is a student from Queensland who is here with an Aboriginal scholarship program thing and a lady in the Tuggernong Ward (the Ward who shares the building with us) is her awesome case worker (: and so yesterday she came with her friend Shakiera and ADORED church! wow… I’ve seen prepared people but she’s topping even Lachy! She is so smart and was already reading the Book of Mormon and the Gospel Principles book by the time Relief Society was over, and told us she wants to finish the BOM by the next week!!! and then she came to our Missionary Fireside that we had last night and loved that too! She told us that she is ready to change her life and she really feels like this is how God wants her to do it! we’re going to set a baptismal date with her tomorrow(: and she’s totally going to be able to be baptized within the month! This Gospel is so true and it WORKS! Miracles happen and people are prepared and ready for truth. <3
The Missionary Fireside was really great! I wore my Tongan dress and my new kekia (no idea how to spell that but it’s the fancy belt thing that you wear with it haha.. I unfortuneatly didn’t get good pics, but I’ll try and send one next week!) so inspiring and we had 2 investigators come! Yvette and Matt(: Matt said the closing prayer even! and he prayed that the refreshments would “nourish and strengthen our bodies” hahaha he is so ready to be Mormon! I love them! <3
Well I hope that this week finds y’all with miracles, joy and peace!
Love from Down Under,
Sister Swan
Pics: Us hanging out with Goliath! and some cool aboriginal art! and a tiny baby “pineapple” I found whilst tracting.. God’s tender mercies are real! 😉 🍍
[foogallery id=”604″]