The Little Blessings

Christmas definitely made this week a little bit nuts. Especially with being in a new area and trying to learn all the streets and members while everyone is gone on vacation. But Christmas couldn't have come at a better time. It was such a blessing to be able to talk to my family via Skype and see how well they are all doing - it was also reassuring to see our family room still intact (you never know with my brothers). Since the Mission President told us to just enjoy our Christmas Day, I felt a little lost not doing missionary work all day. We finally figured out what to do with ourselves right before it was curfew though.

 

Sisters Armstrong, Garzand, and I were given the best after Christmas present though the following day. Since almost no one was receptive when we were tracting, we tried calling some members to see if we could visit anyone. Finally, after calling countless people, the Friday family said we were more than welcome to come to their home and share a Christmas message.

Right after we sat down, Brother Friday asked that we teach a Plan of Salvation lesson. Needless to say, we were a little thrown because we were just expecting to share a scripture and go. But we weren't about to turn down a chance to teach a lesson! When we began to teach about our life before we came here, the Spirit came into the room so strong. Chills ran down my spine, even though it wasn't cold in the room. The two teenage granddaughters began to cry and all of a sudden, a voice came into my head telling me that most of the family weren't members of the Church.

As the lesson went on, the Spirit got stronger and stronger. It was just eminating through and it seemed as if there was a light in the room that had no source. By the time we ended the lesson, there wasn't a dry eye to be found.

I felt heavily impressed to offer copies of the Book of Mormon to anyone who wanted one... And... no one took one. Yet, as we walked away, I deftly left some pass-along cards in the hands of Brother Friday to give to his family. I'm confident that one day, his whole family will convert to the gospel - maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow. But some day!

 

The best part of the week was on Saturday for I had my very first baptism!!!! His name is Josh and the other sisters had been teaching him for awhile before I came but I had the chance to teach him almost all of the Commandements. I felt so happy and blessed to see this young man enter into his frst covenant with our Lord and Savior - there's nothing more amazing than hearing the waters run in the church font. As I had the opportunity to witness his baptism, I felt filled to the brim with joy for I knew that what he was doing was right and was setting him on an amazing path. So amazing! I wish I could adequately express my feelings, but the right words escape me.

 

On our way to email this morning, we got a little bit held up. As we were driving, we noticed a young woman sitting in her car, pulled off the road and onto the curb. Everyone was giving her rather nasty looks and just kept driving. Sister Armstrong and I both had a strong prompting that we needed to turn the car around and see if she needed any help. When we finally parked next to her, she looked up at us with such grateful eyes. As it turned out, her car had just ran out of gas and she had three young children in the back seat. She was so stressed and didn't know what to do. Finally, Sister Garzand noticed a near-by car shop, so the three of us left the lady with her kids and made a walk over there. Luckily, the car shop had a gas container and we were able to purchase it and find a gas station to fill up for her.

Yet, as we tried to use the gas can, we quickly discovered none of us could adequately get the nozzle to work! Right then, a random car pulled to the side of the road and a couple of men clambored out and grabbed a large funnel from the trunk of the car. Talking to us in Spanish, we were able to let them know the situation. They quickly unscrewed the gas can and used the funnel to fill up the poor woman's car. As we all walked away, she vehmently thanked us and expressed her profound gratitude.

It was such a blessing to see how the Lord directed many people to this woman's aid right when she needed it most. It was a witness to me that the Lord truly loves each and every one of us and will always give us help.

 

Anyway, there really isn't a whole lot to report for this week because the holidays somewhat hindered the work from progressing as much as it usually does. Biloxi is great and I feel so blessed to be in a wonderful area like this. I'm beginning to get over the shock of transfers and finding out that I have to learn Spanish (I don't believe I mentioned that in my last letter) and the big city atmosphere. There's nothing else that I wish I could be doing right now than serving my Lord with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I know that this Church is true and that this is the fullness of the Gospel.

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All my love,

Sister Sarah Michéle Durrant

My head right now - akdfoadfioanseoifnaeoisdjvoiaerklndgvoijakernfdbv jkaervdiojkaewgsdviklareodjlkaefv[jolkmerfdv.aesd jnawojslkzkasgx huigalmdkutgjnsrtjxfngcdtkghmtuo/.kfwjsym srhtgncsrhtjzgn

Yeah. That about sums it up.

Merry Christmas!!!!

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All my love,

Sister Sarah Michéle Durrant

A Time for Change

Well, I honestly don't want to write a letter this week because it's just going to depress y'all!

This week has been difficult to say the least. I've been having extreme knee problems and haven't been able to do too much. Tracting just doesn't work when you cannot walk at all. My poor companion has been pushing me around in a wheelchair almost everywhere! It's quite the sight though when we're attempting to go door to door (attempting being the key word here). It's been really rough though - there will be moments when I just start crying because it hurts so much and medications just don't aliveate the pain.

The worst part of all the knee problems is that it's near impossible to get work done. Haven't been able to walk anywhere, go tracting, or even concentrate in personal study half the time. Luckily (thankfully), Sister Devenport has been able to go on exchanges with the other sisters in the district and at least get SOME work done. While I hang out at members' homes and eat cookies (okay, so it's not all that bad).

All of these problems though has given me an even stronger testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. For awhile, I felt that no one knew what I was suffering. It had been hurting so much. Then on Wednesday during District Meeting, our whole lesson was based on the Atonement. Right then, I knew that Jesus himself felt this pain. He had suffered though what I was going through already - He knew what pain I was in at that moment. Because of that, it gave me strength to smile through the pain. I know that He is giving me strength to handle it. During the afternoon hours when we work the most, Christ lessens the pain and allows it to return ten-fold during the mornings and nights, when I don't have to push myself as hard. It truly has been a miracle to witness His love and intercession these two past weeks.

It may suck being in constant pain, but I wouldn't ask for anything else. For this has strengthened my testimony and given me deeper understanding of the Atonement and all that Christ does for me and all that He will do.

 

President McDonough made transfer calls on Friday night. Right in the middle of a spiritual thought with some members. Of course, we jumped right up and answered the call because if we miss it, we don't find out for another few days. He certainly was inspired (and probably directed by Sister McDonough) to place me in a new area - BILOXI!

I won't be going far - it's about 40 miles away, still in the same stake and county. Which means I can come back to Waveland ward when Jeff and Domonic get baptized! I'm placed in a trio with Sisters Garzan and Armstrong. My apartment is on the bottom floor (which means NO STAIRS) and I get to work right on the Keesler Air Force base! It's full car (one of the few full car areas left) and there's almost no walking. It's the perfect perfect area for me with all the knee issues I've been having. I'm so excited to go there! I'll be packing up today and heading out tomorrow.

 

In other news, Domonic came to church on Sunday! Which was amazing because we really didn't have a chance to teach him this week from all the knee problems I've been having and members not being able to come to lessons with us. Once Priesthood ended, he came up to us and asked if dreams were revelatory. We explained that they can be and most people who have received revelations through dreams wake up feeling as if that dream was very sacred. Curious, we asked what his dream was.

Domonic said, "Well, I dreamt that I saw a bright light. Very very bright - it hurt my eyes even. As I was staring at it, my heart swelled and I was thinking 'Jesus Christ' in my head. Then I yelled out 'JOSEPH SMITH' from the top of my lungs and I begun to see heiroglyphics. Then I saw Sister Durrant standing in a freezer, handing me delicious white fruit. I woke up with a very sacred feeling about it."

Sister Devenport and I were just dumbfounded. I'm pretty sure my jaw was dropped and I looked like a fool. I didn't even know what to say! Sadly, before we could elaborate, someone inturppted us and we didn't have a chance to really talk after that.

We set up an appointment to teach on Wednesday, but I won't be there! Sister Devenport and I planned to set him with December 28th as his baptismal date. And with everything that has happened? I feel confident that he will be baptized soon!

It's crazy to look back on his journey. Sister Jones and I tracted into him way back in July. When we were tracting his apartment complex, we actually weren't going to go to his door. We had tracted up to the hall right before him and decided that it was time to do something else. Well, all the members were busy, no less-actives were answering their door, and the library was closed for some odd reason. Everything we had tried to do fell through so we decided to go back and tract the rest of the apartments. Then we met Domonic.

Our first two lessons went really well with him. We walked away thinking that he was golden and we'd have a baptism in no time. Then the next lesson came around and he tried to tell us that the Bible was all we needed and to forget the Book of Mormon.

So we dropped him.

A few weeks later, we ran into him and started teaching him once more. Everything went pretty well for a few lessons but then he started to be contentious and wasn't keeping his commitments.

So we dropped him.

Then the first week Sister Devenport came, Domonic was in church randomly! So we began to teach him once more! All semmed to work out well, but he started to tell us once more that the Bible was all we needed and he refused to read the Book of Mormon.

So we dropped him.

Then about three weeks later, he called us several times begging to meet with us because a Bible verse had changed his heart. This time around, he seemed very open and willing to learn. But after awhile, he started to be angry and tried to prove us wrong in everything we taught.

So we dropped him.

But he came back, sending us a text asking if becoming Mormon will make him a better person. Now, he texts us everyday, asking gospel questions. He's always asking for lessons and appointments and does everything he can to make it to church functions. He's so open and willing to learn. He's a completely different person now.

It's been amazing to watch him grow and change. To see Heavenly Father work on him and bring him back to the gospel time and time again. I feel so blessed I've been able to witness this. I'm just a by-stander in his life - watching Heavenly Father show him the way.

 

I'm so thankful I've been in Pass Christian for 6 months - for a 1/3 of my mission. I wouldn't have asked for it any other way. I've seen miracles. I've watched people change. I've experienced every range of emotion while here. There's been tremendous joy to crushing heartache. But I wouldn't ask for any other way. I'm sad to be leaving tomorrow, but I'm full of hope and faith for Biloxi.

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All my love,

Sister Sarah Michéle Durrant

The 4th Return of Domonic

On Tuesday, Sister Devenport and I had just gotten out of a lesson and were heading home for the night when our phone lit up with a message from Domonic. If you don't remember, we were teaching him about a month earlier (after dropping him several times) where he seemed very open to what we had to say. Well, he became contentious (again) and began to tell us (again) that we needed to just rely on the Bible and forget about the Book of Mormon. So we dropped him (again) for the 3rd time. 

Needless to say, a text message from him was the last thing we expected. What he said was even more unexpected though. He asked us, "Will becoming a Mormon and being part of the church help me achieve what I want to become?"

We got soooo excited - my voice went up several octaves and Sister Devenport just sat there, eyes wide. I had to pull over because I was just so happy over the text message! After about 5 minutes of celebrating the text message, we realized that we still had to answer him. So we, of course, said that it would help him become who he wanted to be and asked when he could meet!

Because of Domonic's hectic work schedule, we weren't able to meet until that Thursday. That lesson was THE best lesson I've ever had with him. He was so open and willing to listen to what we had to say. He sat there earnestly nodding his head and actually agreeing with us! Domonic even contributed to the lesson and didn't try to trip us up! I've never seen him so excited and willing to learn. We talked a lot about Christlike attributes and how the Church can help him become more like Christ and eventually stand in his presence. I've never seen someone light up so much at the mere thought of seeing their Saviour once more.

He came to church on Sunday and seemed so happy to be there. He earnestly set up another appointment with us for today and I cannot wait to teach him again! It's amazing to see the change in him once more and see how he has become more open - more so than he's ever been before. That's the amazing part about serving in this Gospel - I get the front row seat to watching it change lives and change people. I cannot wait for the day to watch Domonic descend into the waters of baptism and make his first covenant with the Lord. There's nothing more amazing.

Saturday was another special treat for all of us missionaries. Elder Zwick, from the quorum of the seventy, came to instruct us missionaries on how we can become better teachers. It was enthralling to listen to him and learn from his experiences in missionary work. One of the best parts of the evening was when he had the ward counsels come in from the stake and instructed them on how to be member missionaries - something we've all been waiting for. What effected me most was when he said, "Don't limit yourself by what you think is your capacity. The Lord can expand your capacity - and He will." I thought that was so insightful because I know for myself that I often tell myself, "I can't do this or that," and I let it stop me from becoming who I was meant to be. 

Another amazing part of the evening was when he announced that iPad minis and online proselyting will be arriving to our mission in a few short months! The buzz around the missionaries was indescribable - I'm so excited to be able to better serve the people of Mississippi through technology!

Sunday was pretty.... crazy as well. One of the speakers for Sunday ended up not coming.  When Bishop Grover got up onto the stand to announce the talks, he said, "Bob Davis will be speaking and right afterward, Sister Durrant will be giving a talk. I ask her to use D&C 138:56 in the talk and mention our pre-mortal existence. After that, I ask her to talk a little bit about what Elder Zwick talked about on Saturday and elaborate with her own personal experiences and thoughts. After her, we will hear a talk from the high counselor, Brother Study." My jaw just dropped and I was pretty sure I looked completely dumb struck. The Bishop just told me, from the pulpit, that I was going to give a talk in about 15 minutes. I had no idea that I was going to give a talk until that second! The worst part was when Brother Davis only took about TWO minutes for his talk - so I had absolutely no preparation. I got up to the stand, cracked a few jokes, and somehow managed to give a 20 minute talk on santification and who we were in the pre-mortal existence. I have no idea how I did it nor what I said. Somehow, I gave the longest talk in sacrament meeting that day - and I was the one who had no idea what I was saying!

Needless to say, mission life is fantastic. I love getting to share the gospel and I love being able to completely immerse myself in it. There's nothing more special. There's nothing else I'd rather be doing.

On a completely unrelated note - I keep seeing all of these signs all over the town, saying "What does the fox say?!" WHAT IS GOING ON???? WHAT ON EARTH DOES THE FOX SAY??? I'M SO CONFUSED. Anyone know? Please oh please tell me.

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All my love,

Sister Sarah Michéle Durrant

If there's anything I have a testimony of in missionary work - it's of tracting. I know that many missionaries complain about tracting and having to find the investigators themselves. I know that the First Presidency has said it is the least effective of anything you can do in missionary work. Yet, I know that missionaries tract for a reason.

Awhile back, I related a story about tracting into a less-active woman, N. Recently, she came to church and invited us over for dinner the following day. So of course, we went to dinner at her house and she finally told us her story.

"The day before you girls came to my house, I had an awful day at work. I received one of the worst evaluations I'd ever gotten and I was despising work. I didn't want to keep doing my job. It was miserable. I went home and made a post on facebook, basically asking for a miracle. That night, I prayed for the first time in such a long time. I asked Heavenly Father what I should do, where I was supposed to go, and how I could do it. I needed so much help.

"The next day, I decided to stay home from work. Something I'd never done. Then, you two showed up at my door. Y'all didn't even know I lived here. You just knocked on my door and I answered. The one day I was home from work, you came. Right when I needed church, you came. That's a coincidence I cannot deny. The Lord is watching out for me and He wants me back at church. I'm supposed to be there. I may not have a testimony of everything in the church but when I was going, I always knew exactly what I was supposed to be doing. He wants me back at church."
Somehow, the Lord lead us straight to N. when she was home. Right when she needed us most, the Lord had us out on our feet, knocking on doors looking for investigators. Instead, we found someone who was already a member that needed to come back so much. 

I have a testimony of tracting.

A few days later, Sister Devenport and I were tracting in the same neighborhood. After door after door was slammed in our faces, but we kept tracting! I just have to tell this story because it's too hilarious to pass up.

We approached this one house hidden in the woods and knocked on the door (as usual) and waited for someone to answer (typical). Right as we put a pass-along card into the cracks (normal) Jackie swung the door open and started to talk to us. "Alright!" Sister Devenport and I thought, nodding to each other. "We might just have someone here!"

Before we knew it, Jackie started telling us how she was a prophet. How God had sent her a vision to build an altar and place Jesus' body on it. She started then to prophesy for us, saying how we will eventually see God in all His glory, rising from the dirt of the earth. Then, she stared at us with wide eyes and kept telling us how she was to build this altar. She went on and on about how she was going to make a temple, which was going to take 40 years, and in there, she was going to perform sealings, baptisms, and other ordinances. 

Right when she said that, I whipped out the Salt Lake City Temple pass-along card and told her how it took 40 years to build it and that in the temple, we perform the exact ordinances that she named! I was soo excited! Then, Jackie rejected it, saying that she was the one supposed to do it and that God gave her the exact measurements for this temple. 

She went on and on about how she would just sit at the computer and be able to write out all these prophesies all day. The whole time, all I could think about was Professor Trewlaney from Harry Potter. She even looked like her. Even though she rejected our message, I felt as if Heavenly Father told her that missionaries would come to her and talk about the temple and she just got a little confused. All in all, it was a fantastic tracting experience. 

I have a testimony of tracting.

The same day we met Jackie, we tracted into yet ANOTHER less-active member, D'Laun. (That's now 6 less-active members I've tracted into.) He's already back at church and everything now! He's even offered to come to lessons with us and put on a youth fireside!

Needless to say, I have a testimony of tracting.

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All my love,

Sister Sarah Michéle Durrant