Guess what I just found out?? Remember Pat? Who's mother died and I spoke at her funeral who was excommunicated (Pat, that is)? SHE'S GETTING BAPTIZED!! Do you know how big that is? Do you remember how Pat started off?? She wouldn't talk about the gospel with her mother's home teachers even though they were good friends. Then we would go to "visit" her completely incapacitated mother and read "her" the Book of Mormon, which Pat accepted but would act all uncomfortable if we actually asked her gospel questions. But after many visits and her mother dying and all, we found a way to talk to her about the gospel in a way she accepted and I guess the first Sunday after I was transfered she went to church and went ever since. And now she's getting baptized (again. . . part of the problem the first time was that she felt pressured into it by the missionaries and her mother who was a convert)! Anyways. HUGE testimony builder of, well, I don't know, everything. People can change. People can recognize truth, even if it takes a while. And really, it's only been a little over 6 months since we started talking with Pat. The Summervilles, who have played a big role, home taught her for like 5 years. And they found her mom out of complete obscurity. Pat didn't even know how the church found her mom because her mom had been inactive before they even moved and they hadn't told anyone about the move at all. Tiny little miracles. Really, it was very tiny tiny things. But suddenly Pat's getting baptized!
This week has been great. We had 54 lessons this week. To put that in perspective, we weren't getting those kinds of numbers--that I'm aware of--until late in June or maybe even July last year. But there are just more people here! And way more people on chat. They just keep coming on. We do like three chats at a time. And maybe it's just the luck of the draw, but a lot of them are simply more curious about Mormonism and a lot less anti. It's really great to see.
The reason I didn't email yesterday is because we did the trek. It wasn't the same without Sister Streeter there running around barefoot, wearing the pioneer hat her family got for her, but what can you do?
Really, I just appreciate so much about Nauvoo right now. Every tour/lesson we have is spiritual. Every time. Do you know how many times door approaches and street contacts were spirit filled. Pretty much never. Nauvoo is just the best. I think it's the best kind of missionary work under the sun. The nonmembers on chat are super honest. And with the members who are ready to receive us, you can just jump right in.
Ok, I love you guys. I'll talk to you on Sunday.
Love, Rachel
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