Sister Callista Chaffin: Week 38: Sweet Goodness God is Great

Wow what a week! It all started with us "heart-attacking" a few more doors of the the people that we are teaching! What a great time, writing sweet notes on little hearts for those that I have come to love so very much! We knew that the people that we put the hearts on their door, really needed it! They needed love in their day that day and at that time! There are so many things that people are going through, we never even realize it until they open up to us! I know that it was by the spirit that we were lead to the three people we went to, the coolest thing ever! <3

We did a lot to our planning board on our wall of the people we know and want to visit. We have especially found so much potential in "the boonies" part of our area, the houses may be far apart but there are a lot in that area! So we went out there this week to visit a few of the people that we have met and we were able to see Paul! Paul is so sweet! He is a bit older, he takes care of his mother and has a blind dog. He's got his little house out in the middle of some trees! He has met with missionaries before and wants to be a missionary and serve others!! That day he had been working really hard, getting trees, weeds, and bushes and things taken care of in his front yard! He said he took a huge truck load to the dump! we were able to teach him more about what the Book of Mormon is, and where it comes from! He was so amazed! He thought it was so coool that we had spiritual leaders back then and we have them today! And that a family that was from Jerusalem went to the Americas! He had just been reading in the Bible and was noticing so many similarities as we went through the introduction! We invited him to baptized if he were to read and pray about it! He has such a desire to be baptized! :)

We were then able to go to this family where part of the family are part of the church! And we were able to see their son and were able to give him a pamphlet that explained the Book of Mormon and he said we could come back!

Sorry for these random stories and things that have happened this past week, there's not much flow to it, just some awesome things that we were able to do and experience!

We had this Idea to make Baptismal calendars for some of the people we are teaching because we have so many that are so close to enter into the waters of baptism and have a great desire, there are just certain challenges in the way! So we acted in faith and hope that we can meet with them more and set a date with them!

-Baptism calendars!... We made these Thursday I believe, and last night we were able to meet with Yamilet again and we asked if she wanted to be baptized on June 1st and She said "YES, OF COURSE" I love that woman so very much! she has such a strong desire to do good and be good and to help here son and family in any way possible! :)

We had Zone Conference on Friday and man was it good! We talked about how people desire to help their family and how family history and the spirit of Elijah is so key to helping others come closer to Christ and their families! We know that using family history and talking about people's families will help those in Northern Virginia eventually become Eternal families! I thought " DAH!! SISTER CHAFFIN, THAT'S WHY YOUR HERE!" Then President Caplin talked about a missionary who had this great idea in Italy or somewhere to have a street board to help families and to introduce the Gospel to everyone and it was a break through for them to use throughout their whole mission! President challenged us to find OUR street board for our area! --CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! We have some thoughts, but I am not gonna share them until we do something with it and it works... hahah cause there's lots of ideas flowing!

Zone Conferences are great for a lot of reasons, but one especially for me, I am able to talk to sister Wood and see how the recent converts are in my last area!! I had received a message on Facebook from Sister Harley (a recent convert form Centreville) a weeks ago saying her dad was in Hospice, and to pray for him! We are not allowed to communicate over Facebook Messenger so I just replied, "I can't talk on here, but you can email me @ - Email-" I never received an email from her, and when I had written down her information before I left, I didn't write down her email, so I couldn't email her!! At Zone Conference, I was blessed to be able to have a conversation with Sister Wood about her and other recent converts and people in the area! And Sister Wood politely explained to me that Sister Harley's Father, Syrous had passed away. I nodded my head and said " I knew that would happen". Sister Kay and I, and Sister Wood and I did a lot for Syrous, to help him do anything, to move around and dance around the house, read to him from Book of Mormon, testifying of Jesus Christ, ate food with him, took him on walks through the neighborhood in his wheelchair, helped him get ready in the morning for church and helped in getting him to church! We were only able to get him to church once. I was determined to get that man to church! I knew he could be baptized if he desired and had an open heart to it, and knew it was possible. When I heard the news that he passed away, I immediately reflected on my time in Centreville, with him, with Sister Harley and, with everyone else that comes with that sweet little ward and area!

I couldn't help but to think about how sister Harley felt at that moment! I knew that she would not be saying much and telling others that she is fine, because she is that way, and wants to give everything she has to others! She is the most spiritual person I know! For goodness sake we laid a pink rose right outside her apartment! I know that God is so aware of Syrous and sister Harley at this time, and in due time, Sister Harley can go watch someone be baptized for Syrous and Sister Harley and here family will, in due time, be Sealed together! I can not help but reflect on those I have been in contact with and have been able to teach the restored gospel to them so that they can be reunited and sealed with their families. The people in Centreville, here in the Bristow, Nokesville area have ancestors and descendants on the other side praying that they come to the true knowledge of Jesus Christ, their Redeemer! I have full confidence in that!

That night, we had gone out into the Boonies area and tracting to this random house, it said the house was for sale, but the people were actually renting it. we took a video of this really long driveway and the sunset, singing "The Spirit of God like a fire is burning"--not knowing what was waiting right in front of us, We were able to talk to a family who was mourning over a death of a loved one. We stood there and talked to Kelly, the Niece of the one that passed away. She told us that they just had a funeral that day for their uncle! I thought it was divine that I was just notified that Sister Harley's Dad just passed away, because that was one of the first people that I was pretty close to, and old enough to really understand and have good friendship with someone who had died. At that moment in time, talking to this woman, I could empathize with her. Almost tearing up, I explained and testified that he is in a better place and that God is aware of her and her family! About 5 other things in that moment led us to her. We gave her a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and a Book of Mormon. She knew right then that God had led us to her and that her uncle was there, and we left there knowing we had just provided the means to an eternal family. I love Kelly and Rick and there family with only the 15 minutes we were there!

We were able to have a lesson with Farshid and he said that he did not feel ready for baptism on May 4th, he said that there was lots of things that he had to do to become better. Which is funny, because that lesson we asked him all the Baptism interview questions, and he is completely willing to be obedient. But we understand that it takes time so he said to shoot further out to July 6th. MY STOMACH DROPPED. I did NOT know how to respond. I was just kind of sitting there thinking how much potential this man has to do good and receive the priesthood and go to the temple and he is so close, just things to go through the repentance process and he is ready!! Good thing there was a member there that is a return missionary and sister Minaker is so awesome! I was praying so hard at this time to know through the spirit how we can help him resolve his concerns, and I was getting nothing, just sitting there praying for Farshid and for me to be able to do something to not let it be that far out, but we are setting it there for a goal! That night I had a concern of, "where was the spirit in that lesson?" "Where was I?" "Why was I not able to help him better?" So many questions! I had a deep conversation with sister Minaker about the spirit and receiving revelation. It is hard sometimes to understand the spirit or to hear it. It is not the spirit that gets louder when we understand it, it is that fact that we are listening and getting better at understanding it!

God and Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are at the center of this work! I am so blessed to be able to be involved in the smallest part of it, while dedicating these 18 months to these people! Nothing in the world compares. I could never imagine my life with out these people!