"Grateful for the Rain" - September 5, 2022

 WHAT A WILD WEEK!

Hello, everyone! It was a wild week.

We had interviews with President Lindahl on Tuesday. He is so amazing! He definitely is in tune with the Spirit. I'm so grateful to have him and Sister Lindahl as mission leaders! The rest of the day was busy with knocking, street contacting and walking by the river! It was lovely!

Wednesday we had exchanges with the Buckhannon sisters! Since they were staying with us we decided to do exchanges! I was with Sister Narvaez and Sister Livingston went with Sister Anger! It was a crazy day. Both companionships worked in Fairmont! We kept going back and forth between two different parts of Fairmont. We did knock on a lady's door who previously was taught by missionaries! She said she really wanted to meet with us again! So we set up to come back this Wednesday! We are super excited!

We had lots of member lessons on Thursday!! We did meet with our friend Carol, though, at a cute little Italian restaurant! It was fun and delicious! She is such an amazing lady! Later that day we met with Mary, a recent convert! We talked about Patriarchal Blessings. The Spirit was so strong and Mary is so excited to receive hers! I am so grateful for my own patriarchal blessing. It always brings me peace and comfort to read, knowing that Heavenly Father knows who I am and He is guiding my path. That evening we had dinner with the Leavitts! We had co-bobs! They were so delicious!! We also ate rice out of a pineapple! 

On Friday we had exchanges with the Morgantown YSA sisters, Sister Gallacher and Sister McLendon!! It was so much fun! I went to Morgantown with Sister Gallacher and Sister McLendon came to Fairmont with Sister Livingston! It was kinda wild being on a college campus again. The YSA Sisters cover the West Virginia University (WVU) campus. We went to a farmers market to do some street contacting! We ended up trying pure olive oil from Italy! It was crazy! It burned a little when I swallowed but the lady said that's how you know it's pure. We also got to try some local honey and eat honey comb! It was all pretty wild and crazy! That evening we had a game night with the YSA ward members! Only 4 people showed up but it was still a lot of fun! It was a weird feeling being with people my own age but not being in college. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to put my personal life on hold and serve Jesus Christ! It is one of the greatest rewards!

The Buckhannon sisters also left on Friday. They were both transferred down to Roanoke. It was sad seeing them go! We will miss them but we are happy to just be us again!

Miracles abounded on Saturday! While weekly planning we had set a goal to find four new friends to teach. By Thursday we hadn't found anyone! On Friday, during exchanges, Sister Livingston and Sister McLendon found two friends! So, on Saturday, Sister Livingston and I went to work!! We knew that if we continued to work hard, have faith and trust in the Lord, He would help us accomplish our goal! And we did! We stopped by two people we had previously talked with but they didn't answer. We walked to the end of the street and saw a road with a sidewalk leading up a hill. It felt like a good thing to walk up it so we did! We found a cute little apartment complex! We began knocking and met a nice lady named Vanessa! We were able to teach her the Restoration message and give her a copy of the Book of Mormon. It was so amazing! A couple doors later we met a cute family! Matt, Bethany, Dalton and Emily! We had the opportunity to teach them the Restoration, too, and give them a copy of the Book of Mormon! We are meeting with them again on Thursday! All I can say is God is a God of miracles. As we put in the effort, He will lead and guide our paths. I am so grateful for the miracles and blessings we were blessed with this week!

I have felt so very grateful this week for all that I have! Serving a mission, my family, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, friends, the Scriptures, miracles and blessings, so many things! I know God lives and I know His Son, Jesus Christ, is my Savior. I am especially grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ in my life. Without it I would be nothing. I know He lives and loves me!!

Song of the Week: "Grateful for the Rain" LDS Youth Music. It did rain this week! It was wonderful. But, I like this song because it talks about how we have to have the downs so we can have the ups! We have to have some busy days were we do our best but don't seem to see anything come of it. We also have to have days where we do see the blessings from our labours! That is exactly how missionary work is. There are so many ups and downs! But through it all we know Jesus Christ is by our side. He helps us all along the way. 

I hope you all have a gratitude filled week! Talk to y'all next Monday!


- Sister Sariah Francis






Pictures!!!

The beautiful bridge over the river

A big brick structure in the middle of the river 

Beautiful West Virginia

The beautiful bridge again, with a single cloud in the sky

Sister Livingston and I by the bridge

Sister Gallacher and I

Sister Narvaez, Sister Francis, Sister Anger, Sister Livingston

Sister Narvaez and I being blinded by the sun, haha



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