It's misting here in Massachusetts. Kind of like rain and humidity combined. It looks deceitfully dry. You can't even see raindrops, but by the time you get to your car in the parking lot you'll be soaked through. It's a thing here. New England character.
It was a beautiful week! I love my life. :) I have been so exceedingly blessed. Sister Moss and I were able to go to the temple for an endowment session after we emailed last Tuesday. President gave us permission, because we missed going through with our Zone on Monday. It was beautiful, and a small group. It just so happened that President Haight was there, too! And a fresh-off-the-plane return missionary, not even released yet! He came from the Rome mission and knew my friend Jerrick!!!! Small world. :D
We had some time in the office for once! And then on Friday it was back to our busy schedule for a jam-packed weekend! After district meeting, we drove back down to Providence for our monthly open house. Sister Moss had never been there before! This time it was more successful than the last few times. We had two sets of Sisters and two sets of Elders backing us up, and we all took turns hitting the streets, inviting anyone and everyone in for a tour and powerful videos! Haha, Providence can be rough! We got some hard-core rejections. But some of those people who came through made it all worth it. It was neat! The Providence Spanish Sisters found someonegolden. He's so prepared for the gospel. And it really felt good just to be a regular missionary, talking to everyone we see about the gospel. We got home at about midnight. . .
Saturday was insane. So insane. We woke up at 5:00 to get to this Regional Women's Conference up in Lowell. It was for. . . 5 states? I think? Women came from everywhere! Sister Larsen, our Stake Relief Society President, got permission to pull however many helpers she wanted from the missionaries, so TONS of Sisters were there! Sister Moss and I helped out with the Humanitarian donations, registering, and passing things out for the first few hours. You wouldn't believe it--I ran into a girl who danced with me at UVU! Crazy! And I got to see Sister Lima, Sister Fernando, Sister Francis, people from Central Falls and Belmont wards, and so many others I loved! :)
Guess who made a surprise appearance? Elder Holland!!!!!!! He showed up and spoke briefly at the Conference. We were able to catch the end. I love that man. We knew he was in town, because he was meeting with the MLC and President that weekend. Also, we were planning to set up displays Sunday night for a fireside he was giving! How blessed are we?
The rest of the day at the Conference was even crazier! We didn't get clear directions on where to set things up, so we made it up and set up at TOP speed in the middle of a crowd. It was so hot! We did lots of lifting and directing and didn't really get a change to breathe at all until it was over at 4:00. Then we had to take down and pile it all back into the Spaceship. I was so grateful Sister Moss drove, because I was out like a light and slept the whole way back.
Sunday was a day I didn't understand. Literally! :) We went to Brockton first thing in the morning to give a training to the Portuguese Ward Council! That was pretty cool. :) Didn't understand much of their jabbering in Portuguese, but when they turned the time over to us, they didn't even use a translator--they all knew English. :D And they appreciated our training on how to make their upcoming Open House the most effective. Sacrament meeting is a completely different experience when you don't speak the language. And then we trained the Youth on how to give their own tours. We even taught the Primary kids using the PVC display! They loved it. They're so cute, and their testimonies and questions are so pure.
After Brockton, we had to jet to the Weston chapel for Elder Holland's fireside! We were the only English-speaking missionaries there. The fireside was for all the Latinos in the MBM. We brought our Jesus Christ display in Portuguese and our Restoration display in Spanish. It was pouring rain, and trying to get that heavy gear and technology into the chapel in the rain was a trick! Everyone came so early, of course, so we were dodging people and frantically setting up for awhile. But it all worked out, and we were able to retire to our seats on the stage in the back for a perfect view.
Elder Holland is amazing. Truly. There's something about that man. I think President Packard could be the next Elder Holland--they are men of the same caliber. Four testimonies were shared before Elder Holland stood, but I didn't catch a word of those! But when Elder Holland spoke, even when he chose to speak in his limited Spanish, I could understand him perfectly. Addressing the non-members, he taught the Restoration from the pulpit. So incredible to hear an apostle teach the same thing we teach every day, using the Preach My Gospel pattern. He invited all those investigating to be baptized, and to go talk to his grandson Elder McCann (who is the assistant to the President now and was in the office). It was humorous but powerful! And then he taught us all about standing in Holy places. Make your home a sanctuary. Go to the temple. Stand in holy places and be not moved.
In closing, I wanted to share what I wrote down of his powerful witness.
"Wherever you want to go in your life, professionally, economically, personally, I ask you first to come to Him. I know of no other way for us to. . . succeed, be safe, carry our burdens, or find that 'happiness which is prepared for the Saints'. My desire for you is to have more firsthand experience with Him. Cultivate your faith and your testimony, and I promise you that the dangers and concerns you face will be steadily resolved and turn into eternal triumphs. Whatever difficulties in your path, whatever heartbreak you face, you cling to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and you will feel the strength of the Lord in your life."
I know Elder Holland is an apostle of the Lord. I know he holds keys--authority given to him from God. I know he is a special witness of Christ, and that Christ does live, and He cares, and He will be there the moment we turn to Him.
I love you all so much. Thanks for everything!
Love,
Sister Merkley
MBM PVC Missionary
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