Kent Island just keeps getting better and better! This branch is just
so amazing and impresses me more every week. On Wednesday we got to go
down near the Naval academy on our way to Kent Island and do a
service/finding activity with our district. Every year right before
graduation for the naval academy they have the Blue Angles show, which
is like the F-15's (Idk if that's what they are called back at home I
can't remember) right before the boat races. We all bought a case of
water bottles and put Mormon.org cards on them. Thousands of people
come and sit across the river at the WWII memorial on a green field
and watch the air show. So we all handed out free water bottles and
talked to people. It was a really fun way to talk to people. On
Thursday we got to go on exchanges with the sister training leaders.
It's always a great experience learning from other missionaries and
getting ideas on how to be better. On Friday we got to have a lesson
with the Moore family. Sister Moore hasn't been to church very much
and all of her kids are older in their teens. They have showed a lot
of interest in the church and want to be baptized! There are five of
them and it has been really amazing seeing how they want this for
themselves. Another family that we have been working with is the
Mellors. Sister Mellor grew up on Utah, but hasn't been to church very
much since she moved out here 15 years ago. She is so fun to be
around. Her son Zack who is 11 has showed interest and comes to church
every week, we had a lesson with them on Saturday and he wants to be
baptized. Sister Mellors husband isn't a member, but is really
supportive and said he would come to church. There are so many
exciting things happening in this branch lately. I feel really lucky
to be serving here. On Sunday, sister Rees and I were able to give
talks. Sister Rees talked about the Restoration and I talked about the
plan of Salvation. We didn't have a lot of time to prepare and so I
was really nervous that it wasn't going to come out right. Usually I
read my talks while I speak and I've been trying to get out of that
habit. One of my goals being on a mission is to be able to give a talk
only using bullet point notes. Sister Rees and I had been fasting and
one of the things I prayed and fasted for was for me to be able to
rely on the spirit and feel comfortable giving a talk and not to read
it. I got up to speak and felt so confident! I sat down and realized
that I hardly looked at my notes except to read the scriptures and one
quote that I had. I'm not saying this to make myself sound better, but
I'm saying this because I know that the Holy Ghost is real and
Heavenly Father will give us the strength that we need if we are
sincere and ask Him. One thing that I shared in my talk was a story
from "Your 4 Minutes". It is the story about Noelle who competed in
the Olympics for the skeleton. It talked about how years of practice
would come down to four 60 second races. One of my favorite quotes is,
"Now, consider how your pathway to eternal life is similar to these
athletes’ “four-minute performance.” You are an eternal being. Before
you were born, you existed as a spirit. In the presence of a loving
Heavenly Father, you trained and prepared to come to earth for a brief
moment and, well, perform. This life is your four minutes. While you
are here, your actions will determine whether you win the prize of
eternal life. The prophet Amulek described, “This life is the time …
to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day …
to perform [your] labors.” In a sense, your four minutes have already
begun. The clock is ticking. The words of the Apostle Paul seem so
fitting: to run the race, that you may obtain the prize."
I know that there is a Plan for each one of us because we have a
loving Heavenly Father who wants us to return to Him. The only way
that this is possible is through our Savior Jesus Christ. I am so
grateful for Him. I know that Heavenly Father also is aware of each
one of us. I love you all!!!!
Love, Sister Haertling
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