(Posted by Steph's Dad 12/19/07)
Holiday Greetings!
I only have 10 minutes because we have a lesson today at 12 (one of our investigators could only meet then this week) and then a man wouldn't get off the computer at his assigned time so I had to sneak onto a different one.
Anyways, things here are great. We have been able to do lots of Christmas things for investigators (a great way to increase daily contact with them!) and then we've been able to deliver the DVD Joy to the World to referrals we've received from members. We were able to get 20 referrals just for our area alone and the two sets of elders got a few as well. It's been great to share a Christmas message with people and invite them to learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. We've seen some success from it and we're hoping for more.
Last Thursday we had mission conference. It was held at the Kirtland visitor's center as well as the Kirtland temple. They asked me to play the piano, so I was able to play "the Spirit of God" while over 100 missionaries sang it in the Kirtland temple. I caught a glimpse of what it must have been like for the saints to hear heavenly hosts singing with them as well. It was beautiful. President also gave us an opportunity to bear our testimonies while we were in the temple. It was again beautiful and amazing and an experience I'll never forget.
We're getting excited for Christmas--the Tallmadge ward really spoils the missionaries and I feel like I can't repay them for all they're giving us, Joy to the World referrals included. I'll be giving you a call in the afternoon on Christmas day, it'll probably be after we eat dinner around 1pm EST. Nicole, I'll try to call you on your cell phone too.
Yesterday we had a great time--I saw a man out on the street while tracting so we walked down to talk with him. He was starting to shovel his walk so Sister Corbridge offered to help. She ended up shoveling for an hour while I taught him the first lesson and a bit of the second. He'd met with missionaries before and we're excited to go back to meet with him again. Sister Corbridge is pretty sore today :) but it was worth it.
We also were able to have 5 lessons with a member present because a member of the singles branch, Leah, came with us for the day. I loved being able to share the gospel with her there. It was just a good day to teach and testify about Jesus Christ.
Sorry again for this being so short, but we have to get going to our appointment :) I love the Lord, I love this work, and I love love love you!
Love,
Sister Cannariato
p.s. I sent a padded envelope for the family...i hope it gets to you in time. you can open it when you get it! Love.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
War and Peace
(Posted by Steph's Dad 12/13/07)
Hola my familia!
I hope things are going well for you in idorut. That's my new word for where all of you are. Ha.
A couple things before I forget. Dad, I talked with Dave Cook and Callie Shaw/Shawl, who both went to school with you. Their daughter lives in our ward and they came out to bless their new grandbaby. They also informed me that the same year Brother Cook was Mr. Incredible for Shelley High, you were too. Is that true?!?
Secondly, Dawn, could I get the alfredo sauce recipe from you? I have a less active family that wants it and I'd love to give the recipe as a Christmas gift.
Thirdly, I had a couple in our ward came up to me the other Sunday, the Seavers, and informed me that "their missionary" was Keith Bond! It was so cool to see how connected the work is. They LOVE Elder Bond and I guess had recently talked with him. I didn't even realize that he'd served in the Tallmadge ward so it was way cool to hear their conversion story and see how the work missionaries do continues to bless the lives of those they taught years later.
I would love to say that this week has been the best of the mission so far, and it has. But it's also been the hardest. I continue to be amazed by the Lord's involvement in the work but also amazed at how much it can hurt when people make poor choices. But even though I've had a heavy heart in the midst of those difficult things, the Lord has blessed me with deep peace and comfort, knowing that He is conducting this work.
We had the opportunity to take Richard to Kirtland last Thursday. It was so great to go to a place full of the Spirit. Richard was very touched by the film, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration as well as the tour. We were able to talk openly with him about baptism (the tour guide even told him that she wanted an invitation to his baptism! I loved it.) and get his feelings about how he's gaining a testimony of the Restoration. It was a great tour. Brother and Sister Stebel drove us there, and I think it was also a very important experience for them to have as well. I'm grateful to have been blessed with the chance to bask in the Spirit of light and truth at Kirtland.
The Lord has really blessed us in the past week in our finding efforts. Last week we found twice as many investigators as we have since I've been here! The Lord really blessed us. I think the Lord knew that we needed to have that support from our finding because many of our investigators that were consistent and solid have begun being flaky/have so much going on that they aren't making meeting with us a priority. Grr. I still love them but want them to just get on the ball about things and recognize the importance of the message! But knocking sense into them doesn't work, because the Spirit isn't in the wind or the earthquake, but in the still small voice. And they have their agency to choose to accept or reject the message we share. I just want to be able to share the message I guess. Sorry, I'm ranting. I just want people to get it! But agency and the Lord's timing are critical factors to that process and I need to just be a willing instrument in His hands to assist in that work.
But then the Lord has blessed us too. Saturday night we got a call from one of our investigators (yes, one of the formerly consistent ones) who called to let us know he'd be at sacrament meeting on Sunday. It was so great to have him there. He enjoyed it and I think will be bringing his kids to the ward Christmas party this Saturday. I look forward to continuing to build upon the things he already knows and strengthening his faith in Jesus Christ.
Another blessing this week has been a project Sister Corbridge and I put together to deliver the DVD "Joy to the World" as a gift to referrals we receive from members. We have received 15 referrals through it and I'm so grateful the members are willing to share the Christmas story from both Old and New world perspectives. If there is anyone you are thinking about sharing the gospel with, Joy to the World would be a great gift to give them to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ and help them get a taste of Lesson 1 from PMG. We were able to deliver 2 last night and it was great to talk with people about Christ. Sister Corbridge and I memorized the nativity story from Luke 2 and Matthew 2 and I loved being reminded of that sacred night in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.
Monday we had district meeting combined with our whole Zone. They're going to start doing that every 2nd Monday of the month so the Zone Leaders can relay the workshops they hear during mission council. We talked a great deal about our role as healers, the need for commitments, and about the need to make plans of action for the goals that we set. I loved the workshop about spiritual healing, going off of the scripture in Matthew (chapter 4? I don't have a Bible with me) where Christ went about teaching, preaching, and healing. Our role as missionaries is to invite people to come unto Christ by helping them become clean from their sins. In asking them to make commitments, we're essentially asking them to repent and align their lives with the teachings of the restored gospel. That's why commitments are so important; they provide a way for individuals to progress. One of my favorite things we talked about was choosing the commitment and/or identifying the concerns, THEN creating a lesson plan rather that doing it in the reverse order. It's like in all of my teaching classes--you start by stating the objective, what you want to have the students accomplish, THEN write the plan. I needed the reminder and also someone to help me see how to apply it to the gospel message.
I'm so excited for this Christmas season and for the chance I have to talk with people about the true meaning of Christmas. Thanks for you love, support, emails, letters, pictures, stories, prayers, etc. I'm so grateful I have such an amazing family--the longer I'm here the more I realize just how blessed I've been in my life. Thank you for your examples of Christlike love and diligence and for helping me to see what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
I hope all is well and I love love love you!
Love,
Sister Cannariato
P.S.
1. when a former investigator opened her door, she was wearing a coat but no pants. she came outside to talk with us for a bit then to clean up some of her yard. yep, without pants.
2. another pants story. while tracting a younger guy came around the back of the house to talk to us. as he walked up, his shorts (which were so low that he was wearing them as pants underneath a really long t-shirt) fell. he casually grabbed them but still, i had a hard time not laughing.
3. I had the nicest dinner at a investigator's house the other night. dim lights, sparkling cider, music playing softly in the background...it was gourmet! then she and her member sister asked me to play the piano for them. For the life of me, I couldn't remember a single piece! I got through maybe 5 measures and then went blank. That's what I get for not memorizing arrangements of church hymns, I guess!
4. we have a Christmas chain :) and it's short. Christmas is less than two weeks away...crazy!
Hola my familia!
I hope things are going well for you in idorut. That's my new word for where all of you are. Ha.
A couple things before I forget. Dad, I talked with Dave Cook and Callie Shaw/Shawl, who both went to school with you. Their daughter lives in our ward and they came out to bless their new grandbaby. They also informed me that the same year Brother Cook was Mr. Incredible for Shelley High, you were too. Is that true?!?
Secondly, Dawn, could I get the alfredo sauce recipe from you? I have a less active family that wants it and I'd love to give the recipe as a Christmas gift.
Thirdly, I had a couple in our ward came up to me the other Sunday, the Seavers, and informed me that "their missionary" was Keith Bond! It was so cool to see how connected the work is. They LOVE Elder Bond and I guess had recently talked with him. I didn't even realize that he'd served in the Tallmadge ward so it was way cool to hear their conversion story and see how the work missionaries do continues to bless the lives of those they taught years later.
I would love to say that this week has been the best of the mission so far, and it has. But it's also been the hardest. I continue to be amazed by the Lord's involvement in the work but also amazed at how much it can hurt when people make poor choices. But even though I've had a heavy heart in the midst of those difficult things, the Lord has blessed me with deep peace and comfort, knowing that He is conducting this work.
We had the opportunity to take Richard to Kirtland last Thursday. It was so great to go to a place full of the Spirit. Richard was very touched by the film, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration as well as the tour. We were able to talk openly with him about baptism (the tour guide even told him that she wanted an invitation to his baptism! I loved it.) and get his feelings about how he's gaining a testimony of the Restoration. It was a great tour. Brother and Sister Stebel drove us there, and I think it was also a very important experience for them to have as well. I'm grateful to have been blessed with the chance to bask in the Spirit of light and truth at Kirtland.
The Lord has really blessed us in the past week in our finding efforts. Last week we found twice as many investigators as we have since I've been here! The Lord really blessed us. I think the Lord knew that we needed to have that support from our finding because many of our investigators that were consistent and solid have begun being flaky/have so much going on that they aren't making meeting with us a priority. Grr. I still love them but want them to just get on the ball about things and recognize the importance of the message! But knocking sense into them doesn't work, because the Spirit isn't in the wind or the earthquake, but in the still small voice. And they have their agency to choose to accept or reject the message we share. I just want to be able to share the message I guess. Sorry, I'm ranting. I just want people to get it! But agency and the Lord's timing are critical factors to that process and I need to just be a willing instrument in His hands to assist in that work.
But then the Lord has blessed us too. Saturday night we got a call from one of our investigators (yes, one of the formerly consistent ones) who called to let us know he'd be at sacrament meeting on Sunday. It was so great to have him there. He enjoyed it and I think will be bringing his kids to the ward Christmas party this Saturday. I look forward to continuing to build upon the things he already knows and strengthening his faith in Jesus Christ.
Another blessing this week has been a project Sister Corbridge and I put together to deliver the DVD "Joy to the World" as a gift to referrals we receive from members. We have received 15 referrals through it and I'm so grateful the members are willing to share the Christmas story from both Old and New world perspectives. If there is anyone you are thinking about sharing the gospel with, Joy to the World would be a great gift to give them to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ and help them get a taste of Lesson 1 from PMG. We were able to deliver 2 last night and it was great to talk with people about Christ. Sister Corbridge and I memorized the nativity story from Luke 2 and Matthew 2 and I loved being reminded of that sacred night in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.
Monday we had district meeting combined with our whole Zone. They're going to start doing that every 2nd Monday of the month so the Zone Leaders can relay the workshops they hear during mission council. We talked a great deal about our role as healers, the need for commitments, and about the need to make plans of action for the goals that we set. I loved the workshop about spiritual healing, going off of the scripture in Matthew (chapter 4? I don't have a Bible with me) where Christ went about teaching, preaching, and healing. Our role as missionaries is to invite people to come unto Christ by helping them become clean from their sins. In asking them to make commitments, we're essentially asking them to repent and align their lives with the teachings of the restored gospel. That's why commitments are so important; they provide a way for individuals to progress. One of my favorite things we talked about was choosing the commitment and/or identifying the concerns, THEN creating a lesson plan rather that doing it in the reverse order. It's like in all of my teaching classes--you start by stating the objective, what you want to have the students accomplish, THEN write the plan. I needed the reminder and also someone to help me see how to apply it to the gospel message.
I'm so excited for this Christmas season and for the chance I have to talk with people about the true meaning of Christmas. Thanks for you love, support, emails, letters, pictures, stories, prayers, etc. I'm so grateful I have such an amazing family--the longer I'm here the more I realize just how blessed I've been in my life. Thank you for your examples of Christlike love and diligence and for helping me to see what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
I hope all is well and I love love love you!
Love,
Sister Cannariato
P.S.
1. when a former investigator opened her door, she was wearing a coat but no pants. she came outside to talk with us for a bit then to clean up some of her yard. yep, without pants.
2. another pants story. while tracting a younger guy came around the back of the house to talk to us. as he walked up, his shorts (which were so low that he was wearing them as pants underneath a really long t-shirt) fell. he casually grabbed them but still, i had a hard time not laughing.
3. I had the nicest dinner at a investigator's house the other night. dim lights, sparkling cider, music playing softly in the background...it was gourmet! then she and her member sister asked me to play the piano for them. For the life of me, I couldn't remember a single piece! I got through maybe 5 measures and then went blank. That's what I get for not memorizing arrangements of church hymns, I guess!
4. we have a Christmas chain :) and it's short. Christmas is less than two weeks away...crazy!
Monday, December 10, 2007
two months already?!?
(Posted by Steph's Dad 12/10/07)Hola,Greetings from snowy Stow! It's been snowing basically since the 1st and I can't wait for the next 4-5 months of it :) Luckily it was only really windy one day so tracting hasn't been too shabby.A couple things for this week. Thank you for the emails this week! I loved hearing from each of you and hope things continue to go well. So from Dad's email he said Monica and Nate are coming this weekend--does that mean you're staying all the way through Christmas or are you doing Christmas early? Just curious.Monday was my two-month mark and Sister Corbridge didn't let me forget! She's so great. She gave me a bunch of quotes about Kirtland and the prophecies that it would be built up again. I'm so grateful I can assist in that work. Sister Corbridge also let me know that as of Monday, I've completed 1/9 of my mission and that January 3rd will be 1/6. It was CRAZY to think of it like that. While I was in the MTC a speaker informed us that in the Lord's time, a mission lasts 2.16 minutes...so we need to sprint. I loved that idea. Time really does fly and we need to make the most of it. I'm so grateful that I can be in Stow, serving the people here, and beginning my 2.16 minute sprint in such a great place.This week was great--we had some memorable things happen. First, we've been praying about how to address Gail's concerns and decided we needed to boldly approach the subject. As we did so, she informed us that she too had been praying about how to voice the concerns that she has so it was great to see the Lord answering all of our prayers. Though we're still working on resolving her concerns, I'm so grateful that the Lord allows us to work through the Spirit to help people see the importance of the message we share. With Gail though, it's still going to take some time. She feels we put prophets up on pedestals and that they tell us too much while at the same time she won't read from the Book of Mormon because there aren't any other churches that believe in it and if she asked her pastor he'd probably tell her not to. She believes that people could have been in the Americas and written a record but she feels reading it would be a betrayal to the Bible and to God. That she's always been taught the Bible shouldn't be added to and that even though Revelations wasn't the last book written it's just compiled at the end, she's been taught that it is and doesn't really want to acknowledge that. As we've read to her during lessons, she doesn't disagree with any principles that are taught in the book but still won't read. It drives me crazy but at the same time I know that her concerns are valid. It's also great to know that as we teach and testify with clarity and conviction and promise her blessings for taking that leap of faith, the Spirit will work upon her and help her to realize the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.Secondly, we had two awesome tracting experiences this week. On Saturday morning we were tracting in a nice, new neighborhood. We approached a lady speed walking and were planning on leaving a pass-along card with her. She said she couldn't stop because she was on a mission so we started walking with her...for 50 minutes. I'm sure it was hilarious to see two missionaries speed walking while teaching the first to a lady. But she was great and we have a return appointment with her. The second was right at the tail end of tracting on Monday night. It was getting close to being too dark but we decided to knock on a few more doors. When Karen came to the door, there was such a great feeling about her and her home. She and her daughter are new investigators and I can't wait to teach them more. To see the spirit that people can possess is so cool and I love being able to add to the light and knowledge and truth that people currently have.The ward here in Tallmadge is so amazing. This past Sunday a super nice lady gave both Sister Corbridge and I a hat/scarf. I wish I had a picture of it, because though it looks a little old lady-ish (it has a fur hat with a scarf attached to it), I think I'm going to break down and wear it when it gets really cold. Then we get fed several times a week and it's so nice to be invited into homes where the Spirit resides and the food is good too! :) One of my favorite families is a family of recent converts, the Stebel family. They live around the corner from us and are so great. Though they're experiencing some hard things, they continue to build upon what they already know and are learning how to rely on the Spirit and their testimonies of the gospel to help them. The mother and father are actually going up to Kirtland with us tomorrow to take Richard; I'm really excited for all of them (and for me too) to have a sacred and spiritual time there.Other than that, I don't have a lot to report. There have been a few hard days, but even in the midst of those hard times I see the Lord guiding me and guiding the work to bring to pass His purposes. Thank you for your prayers and your letters and your love. I pray for you daily and hope that you continue to strengthen your testimonies and receive the blessings you need. You're so great and I love love love you!Love,Sister Cannariato
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