Miracles on Miracles!

Miracles!

So Tim and Phoebe are just miracles in and of themselves. They seriously are the most prepared people and they are so ready to be baptized. They came to church yesterday all aglow and it just made my life. Sadly they had to leave this morning for Arizona so that Phoebe could spend time with her mother while she is put on hospice. They are not sure how long they will be gone, but they are eager to get baptized the second they come home! Phoebe was adamant yesterday about speaking with the bishop for a few minutes. I asked her why and she told me that she wanted him to know that she has real intent to be baptized, even though it has taken her a long time to get there. She wanted to promise him that when she gets home she fully intends to make that commitment and to be a member of the one true church and finally partake of the Sacrament worthily. I have never met someone so prepared or eager to enter into this gospel. She knows it is true with her whole heart! And Tim is the same. They are building a foundation of faith together and they are becoming stronger and stronger every day. When we first heard that they were going to have to leave so suddenly because of Phoebe's mother's health I must admit I was super frustrated. I wondered, why now of all times? Just before they are going to be baptized?? But then I was quickly reprimanded by the spirit and was reminded why not now? What a blessing it is that she is able to face this trial with the truth and knowledge she has now attained. And what a blessing it will be to have the comfort and strength of a ward family behind her as she endures this hard time. Heavenly Father's timing is perfect, and that is something I need to trust more in!

Tim turned off the AC so he decided he didn't need a shirt.

Also this week we went to teach Rita! (She is the one who is living with her BF and can't get baptized until she moves out)  And Holy smoke you are not going to believe what happened. We are sitting on her couch in her home and just chatting on like Wednesday or something and all the sudden she mentions that she is going to talk to her sister in law to make plans for her wedding! We both looked at her and were like SAY WHAT?!?! She just smiled and laughed and was like yeah, I am getting married! Haha so that happened. We are going to have an African wedding! Let's just pray that she follows through and that all works out. She wants to be baptized so bad, and the fact that her BF agreed to marriage is a literal miracle!

Splits with Sister Jordan, Love her!

Ok, so lastly, my favorite miracle of the week (besides Phoebe and Tim because they are just a miracle of my whole mission..haha) is a miracle that occurred just last night. Yesterday was a rough day because most of our investigators did not come to church and we had to "set-aside" quite a few this week because they did not have real intent and were not progressing. Phoebe and Tim came of course, and that was so wonderful, but I was still quite bummed and wondered what more could I have done to help these people understand the urgency and importance of this gospel and this message? Now I realize that was such a prideful way to look at it, because people have their agency, and I am simply a mouthpiece for the truth, but still I was heartbroken. Church and especially sacrament were quite rejuvenating, but even as we went on to our evening appointments my heart was just sad. Towards the end of the night we went to visit a lady named Brandy. We tracted into her fiancé a few days ago and he invited us to come back and talk to her. She was so kind, and so open with us and with our message. We shared the Restoration and towards the end Sister Smith bore a powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon and how it answers questions. All of the sudden a question came to my mind and my heart started pounding...the spirit kept nudging me to ask, ask! So finally I slipped in and asked Brandy if there was a question she had recently been asking and wanted to find an answer to. She immediately got emotional and told us how the last couple of weeks she has been waking up in the middle of the night in panic attacks wondering what is gonna happen after she dies. Sister Smith and I just looked at each other awestruck, then excitedly explained that the next lesson we teach answers that question! And we left her with a Book of Mormon and told her to read Alma 40 to find an answer to her question that night! She said she would and we are planning to see her later this week. This experience solidified to me the importance of teaching by the spirit and trusting in the Lord even when things are discouraging or hard. Even though we had a less than phenomenal morning we were able to see miracles and see someone be brought closer to Christ because we were simply worthy and willing to open our mouths! THIS CHURCH IS SO TRUE!!!

Fun facts:

Yesterday I was leaving a voicemail for this lady and I closed "in the name of Jesus Christ...ahh..uhh...bye!" So I guess you really know you are a missionary when you start bearing testimony over the phone...lol

Twins 

Spiritual thought:
Alma 26:27 - I'll let y'all find out for yourselves why this is so good!

HAPPY PIONEER WEEK!!!!

Love you so so so so so so much!

- Sister Bengtzen