Elder White left. So we back to a companionship for 2 weeks! Then back to Trio with my Son, Elder Searle. He is in the MTC right now and I can't wait to meet him.
Anyways, t'was a good week. Also super long because I had extra days without a pday.
I got a video call from a random deaf man in Pakistan. He signs a different Sign Language than me so we struggled to understand each other but every time I help up the book of Mormon he got really excited so that's good
Also Cricket is progressing! I am slowly loving the Indian Culture and people more and more! We teamed up with our district and one companionship has a friend who is an Indian! He came and played cricket with us for a hour. It was actually really fun. So many Indians walked past us and just smiled. We asked all of them if they wanted to join us and they were all like "I'll just watch for now."
So we need to get better first then we can really start using this.
2 days later, our Indian friend who helped us learn, Sarihari (เคธाเคฐिเคฃी) was baptized! It was beautiful. I also had a very powerful experience, while they were getting changed, Elder Holladay was just playing hymns on the piano. I had the feeling over and over again to walk up to the front and share my testimony. So then I didn't. So then the feeling got stronger. I looked around and there were a handful of people being taught by missionaries there. So I was like ok ok ok and stood up and walked to the front. Elder holladay looked up from the piano and was like "?"
And I just went at it. Testifies of baptism, the book of Mormon, and Jesus Christ. Powerful. Very thick spirit there. Then I sat down and Elder Holladay went up and shared his testimony!
It was beautiful!
Then after that we got to go help at "happy smiles" this huge service where they do free dental work. Except that they had nothing for us to do. So I picked up like 10 pieces of trash and watched the procedures. (I took a Dental Assisting class before my mission and loved it so it was cool to be surrounded by that environment again.)
Sunday was wonderful! We had some guy who we've texted like 2 times show up. He ends every text with "Pastor" like "thank you Pastor" or "ok Pastor" but he showed up! His name is Pugal and he's. . . .from India! He speaks Tamil and a little English! He was so kind and also very shy but our ward just enveloped him in welcoming-ness.
Also- brace yourself- this part is epic. During Sacrament meeting i was like "Hey guys we meed to go get a Book of Mormon for Pugal" and as we're coming back from that we see a brother in the ward with some woman we've never seen. He stops us and is like
"Hey Elders, this is Emma, she just walked in. She said she's been looking for a church and prayed for the spirit to guide her. She said the Holy spirit led her here"
She looked up at us with eyes that had very clearly been crying alot. We shook her hand and introduced ourselves and her smile was full of love and sincerity. We're going over tomorrow to teach her more!
So cool.
Then In ASL Church. I interpreted for a High Council speaker. I knew going into it I was going to mess up. So I prayed for the ability to have a growth mindset and choose to learn and grow rather than feel awful about my mistakes.
And it worked! I messed up so much and missed even More! But I didn't feel awful!
There were so many times I looked down at Elder White and he just signed and I copied. Then hebsat on his hands and I was like . . .ok.
But he smiled and told me I did great.
Monday was the worst pday ever because it wasn't pday. We just went around and said to families elder white is close with.
And Tuesday was the last day with Elder White. We went to the MO, hung out, then went to the temple- wow- so good. So much peace and power. What a beautiful experience.
Then we had pizza and left.
During my last hug with Elder White he said "be happy" and that really stuck with me. So I'm going to try and be better about that and choose to be happy.
And real true happiness that lasts forever, or Joy, comes from Jesus Christ and doing what he has asked us to do. Repentance, scripture study, service, participating in covenants, and a lot of other things are wonderful ways to find this joy.
I love you all! If you remember to, I would ask that you include in at least one prayer this week the Indian people and that missionaries can find more success in inviting them to come unto Christ.
Also, 'Our Prayer to Thee' from April 2022 is soooo good! (President Nelson wrote this song)
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