Well, this morning, Robert and I were going to meet Jennifer at the Ft. Worth single's ward for church. Needless to say she wasn't able to make it. It was disappointing. I have tried so hard with her to get her to discussions and church, and have had few successes. Sometimes I think to myself, "maybe she really isn't interested". She always has some excuse. But then when she does have a discussion, she always seems to enjoy it and take it well and want to hear more. It's just so frustrating when we set discussions up and make room in the missionaries' schedule, robert's schedule, and my schedule only to receive some lame excuse minutes before or after she was supposed to come. Although she says that's just how she is with everyone. So I just keep trying. I guess, just like everyone else, i'm just planting seeds. It's so hard to just plant seeds and never see any trees. I have been hunting all my life, and have not seen the conversion of anyone. The only one that would have been baptized couldn't. Meanwhile, the ones I haven't even pursued are the ones who would probably be the most willing to accept the gospel like Sarah and Cathy. I know I shouldn't let it get to me and that I probably do have some influence on other acquantinces by the way I live my life, but it's not very fun to work so hard and never see success. It's weird thinking that I'll be going to mormon-land where most everyone is mormon. I guess I can still do missionary work just by keeping in contact with old friends and such, but it'll be different.
I went to this BYU alumni freshman send-off tonight in Dallas. It was fun to get to know some other Texan BYU freshman. haha, and I met a Packard! I always seem to run into the Packards. Mostly at the temple. but anyways, tonight got me really excited for BYU. I just wish I could fastforward the next 2 weeks at least. There's a lot of drama at work with 11 women working there, and frankly, I'm excited to get out of there. Well, It's late, and my laundry's done, so goodnight!
Sunday, August 06, 2006
BYU send-off
Posted by Katie Bear at 9:05 PM
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3 comments:
I feel like I was just reading an entry out of my very own journal the summer before I went off to college. I felt the same frusgrations and I also felt like when I went away to school that my chances for missionary work would be brought to a screeching hault. One day when I was up at school feeling the desire for missionary work, I was reading my scriptures and came upon a line that hit me so hard, it was an answer to my prayers. It said, "strengthen thy stakes". The Spirit told me that although, I may not be teaching the gospel, there is a greater need to strengthen those who proclaim to be part of the gospel. There is so much strengthening missionary work that needs to be done at LDS schools. I couldn't believe how many of my friends/roomates struggled with their testimonies and with living the gospel the way they'd been taught as a youth. You will have plenty of opportunities to be a missionary, just in a different way.
I totally know what you mean about the conversion issue. I have come to accept that 99% of the missionary work I ever do will end up being "planting seeds." There are a number of people who I know are going to join the church someday... I just don't know when. So I just keep trying to be a righteous example (and answering their questions when they come).
I am so excited for you going off to BYU. It is such an exciting time - but also so crucial to your future. And I'm not necessarily referring to getting a degree. I mean putting into action all the things that you have learned throughout your life to become a mature, responsible, caring, righteous, (I could go on and on) adult.
There are going to be so many in "Mormonland" who are going to be struggling with their testimonies and their independence. Melissa was exactly right. I am shocked at some of the things that I have heard are going on with kids who are going to BYU (Provo, Idaho, where ever).
But I know that you are going to be a great influence on all you associate with. You are a good girl who is hardworking and has a strong testimony. Love you.
(Wow... I think I just beat Melissa for the record of longest comment ever.)
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