20 May 2013 - Eleven New Investigators

We gained 11 new investigators this week!

Sister Ensign and I worked hard this week. It was a challenge for me because I felt a little daunted by the commitment I had made in our large weekly goals and I saw how overwhelming it could be. I also wanted to be the best I could for Sister Ensign and so tried my best not to appear overwhelmed. I told her one morning early in the week I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by the goals we had set and so we talked about how we could over come that. We achieved most of the goals!

Doing proper nightly planning really helped. We set our daily goals based on the weekly goals and needs first then filled in the plans for the day. I found that by doing that aswell, it broke the weekly goals down into smaller numbers that were more achievable and weren't so overwhelming and so I could see that I could do it and that I didn't feel like I had failed before I had even begun.

A lot of times I feel daunted and inadequate around Sister Ensign. She is so good! I wonder why I am her trainer. She doesn't need one, she came prepared haha!

More good news! My Recent Convert (of just over a year ago) Chris is getting sealed to his wife in the Perth Temple on Saturday 22nd June!!!! They just notified me. They asked if I could make it and I said I would do my best. It is at the start of the next transfer so I am hoping that if I am moved, I won't be too far from the temple to attend.

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Book of Mormon reading favourite scripture of the day: 1 Nephi 21:4-5
Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for naught and in vain; surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.

And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb that I should be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.

I love the footnote that goes with it: Isaiah 55:2
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Isaiah 55:2 tells me that even though I feel like my labour is in vain, my soul will "delight itself in fatness". I loved finding a connection between those two scriptures!

13 May 2013 - Training in Waneroo

[Sister Parsons started training Sister Ensign in Waneroo over the last week]

 

We had a tough few first days in Waneroo, it was disorganised and we had no map and a few other things so we had to try and organise while doing some work. We had some cool experiences talking with everyone and got alot of referrals in the first few days.

 

We also picked up two new investigators. One is a young girl called Kathleen who lives at the same house as an investigator we were trying to meet. The other is a lady called Felicia. We were leaving church and as we drove out of the church driveway, Sister Ensign felt impressed to stop in the shop parking right next to the church so we could get out and talk to a man who was walking towards the shops. We we started to talk to him but he brushed us off and kept walking, as we turned back to the car we saw Felicia coming out of her house across the street and walking towards the shops. So we talked to her. We even prayed with her on the footpath. She was really touched by the prayer and I think we definitely provided her with some comfort. We invited her to church next Sunday and she said yes. We have an appointment with her at her house an hour before church.

 

We have set high goals for the coming week and I know that there are some missionaries who are surprised at our goals. We have set them in faith with alot of prayer. We have names to support our numbers and we have told Heavenly Father that we are going to do all we can to achieve the goals.

 

We have seen blessings coming through already, we recieved more investigator records from other missionaries yesterday after church as we have gained a suburb from another area and this morning we recieved a phone call from some missionaries with another "golden" investigator's phone number who had just moved into our area from Bunbury!

 

Tonight we have dinner at a member family home and will be teaching and committing Keanu to baptism. He lives with the family we will be eating with and regularly attends church.

6 May 2013

Simon and Sarah's family with Sister Parsons and Sister Simon

This past week we had the YSA activity that went down really well. We baked rainbow cupcakes beforehand then it was a boys vs girls decorating competition. The girls won of course. We also played blind volleyball.

On Sunday we went to the Berryman's house in Madeley Ward and had lunch with them to celebrate Aunty's (Sister Berryman) birthday and also farewell Elder Cowley who flies home today. Jen Salanoa was there too so we got to catch up with her. Then afterwards we went to a bbq at Deb's house (also Madeley Ward) to celebrate Deb being a member of the Church for 2 years as well as saying goodbye to Elder Robinson and myself. Deb is so nice.
 

We were told last night we are not getting transfer calls today but tomorrow at zone meeting. So we don't know where we are going yet. We have 17 missionaries coming in!
 

We are still teaching Georgia. She reminds me so much of India. She and her sisters want to come to Sydney for Supanova so I told her she can come meet India then and stay at our house and we'll all go to Supanova together haha. She also told us she wants to serve a mission. She has it all planned out. If her dad doesn't give her permission to be baptised, she will get baptised on her 18th birthday then serve her mission exactly when she turns 19 :)

Sister Jennifer Salanoa, ex-Perth missionary from Doonside Ward, visiting Sister Parsons in Perth

We had some lost investigators on the road on sunday morning looking for Church. We tried to help them but they insisted they knew their own way there. Suffice to say, they didn't come to Church (see below photo).

Feed My Sheep

 

 Sister Parsons, Sister Simon, Deb, Elder Cowley and Elder Robinson

 

Sister Simon, Elder Cowley, Elder Segi, Sister Parsons

President and Sister Lindsay visit Sydney Temple

[An experience from the parents of Sister Parsons]

Last Friday, May 3rd, Jenni and Matthew Parsons attended the Sydney Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where they were blessed to meet President and Sister Lindsay who currently preside over Australia Perth Mission.  They were in Sydney attending a Mission President seminar.

What a thrill to meet Sister Parsons' Mission President and wife!  President Lindsay said that Sister Parsons was one of the most successful missionaries in Perth Mission.  They love her passionate testimony and her voice.