Crossing Paths

Well, another week has gone by, and Laie is still green and lush (maybe a little wetter than average)! The storm we had brought a lot of rain, and I had the exciting experience of driving through the flooded streets! It was the ride of a lifetime, my poor companion! hahaha

But I have some more information for you about where I am serving now. Sister D and I are covering 10 student wards on BYUH campus. We are covering 8 young single adult wards, and 2 married student wards. It is busy, busy! On Sunday we went to 4 sacrament meetings, and then had our VC shift and other responsibilities so there was hardly time to breathe! But I am loving it. We are becoming professionals at tracting, and navigating the BYU Hale's (homes). I am grateful for this new obstacle to tackle. 

I hope that you were all able to see Meet the Mormons! We got to see it a few weeks ago in the VC, and the VC will be getting it in sometime next year. It is empowering, and if you haven't seen it yet I reccommend you go check it out!! This last week, we were going to a dinner appointment at a resteraunt (the family owns the restraunt) and we were walking past the little movie theatre here in Laie and an older couple came up to us and asked what was playing in the theatre that night. I think they thought that we were employees because of our nametags. We both said, "Meet the Mormons!" really excitedly, knowing that they were not members of the church. The older lady asked, "What is it about, is it a comedy?" hahaha No, it is not a comedy. We tried to build it up as much as we could, but in the end they were NOT interested. So we kept going to our dinner. When we arrived and ordered our meal, we saw the older couple again and they called us over to their table. They had a question about Noah in the Bible because they had just watched the movie, "Noah." We were trying to explain to them that the movie was fiction, and that the real Noah in the Bible was a loving prophet, not an evil man that fights aliens and tries to murder people. Eventually, they began to soften up, and we were able to have a whole conversation with them about the church, and our purpose as missionaries, and why we chose to serve missions. It was just a really funny night, but I know that Heavenly Father provided a way for us to cross paths to give them a touch of the gospel. They were a really cool couple. 

Another thing that happened yesterday was we were doing the tram rides from the Polynesian Cultural Center and we met a really classy group of old ladies, all widows. They had formed a group together because they had all lost their husbands and wanted to travel together so they wouldn't get lonely. They were all sweet, Catholic ladies. At first they didn't want to get off the tram at the VC because they thought we were going to try to "convert" them, but we explained to them that we wanted to teach them more about the temple and about what we believed. They complied, and from then on had all kinds of great questions as I showed them around the Visitors' Center. I love meeting new people, and getting to know them and helping them build their faith. I don't know why Heavenly Father provided the way for us to cross paths, but I do know that I felt true love for these women, and I hope to see them all again some day, happily, with their husbands again.

A few months ago when I was called to be a trainer, I was so overwhelmed and I asked to receive a priesthood blessing. In it, I was reminded to think back to my childhood and all the people that have influenced me, and helped me to prepare to serve a mission. I keep being reminded of certain people that Heavenly Father placed into my life to change and influence me, leaving an impression on my heart. I am so grateful for all the influential family members, leaders, friends and strangers that have made me who I am today (even though I am still a work in progress). Heavenly father does not provide the finishing touch on us, but the Finisher's touch through the people we meet and the experiences He allows us to have.

I love you all! Shine bright like a star! haha

Sister Willardson