This last week has been pretty good! It kind of feels like a blur! So much happened but our numbers were really low so that was a little discouraging. It's all good though! We did some crazy weekly planning the other day and we are planning to step up the game and take missionary work to the next level! Sister Faulk and I really got down to business and broke everything down. We wrote all of the members, less actives, investigators, potentials, and recent converts names down on our white board. We figured out who we are going to see this week and prayed about what they need. We are so excited to get to work! It's a little crazy but we planned to have 59 lessons this week! We are doing it too. We are going on splits with some of the members a couple days this week which will really help because we can split up and hit different areas. Our area boundaries are huge and it is difficult to see everyone so we think that going on splits with the members more often will really help. We are also planning to help the sisters in relief society with their visiting teaching. I will go with a set of sisters and Sister Faulk will do the same and we will just keep going until we have gone with everyone. It was just an idea we had this morning because visiting teaching and home teaching are so important when it comes to fellowshipping and strengthening members!
On Tuesday we had a district meeting and it was a lot of fun! We made cookie valentines for some of the members in the branch. After the meeting we went on a 30 hour exchange with the sister training leaders. I joined Sister Maxfield in a beautiful town called New Iberia. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life. I could not believe the trees. They looked like Grandmother Willow from Pocahontas. I met a lot of great people while I was down there but the best part was that I met like 10 Asians. I thought I would never see another Asian until I went back to Temple Square. I missed my peeps. I taught a three year old little Asian boy how to pray and he was so cute! He said everything in the cutest way. I just couldn't handle it!!!! It was a really good exchange but I was happy to go back to Opelousas. When I got back I was informed that one of our investigators decided he doesn't want to learn anymore and it was really hard for Sister Faulk and I. It is comforting to know that Heavenly Father never gives a person just one chance to accept the gospel.
On Saturday us four Opelousas missionaries did a service project! One of the older men in our branch needed some help cleaning up his house so we spent several hours working on that! Sister Faulk and I worked really hard on the kitchen. It took me about an hour and a half to get the pantry neat and organized and I am so proud of it now. This man is very sick and in a wheelchair and we had a big job in front of us but we were on the Lord's errand and He makes all things possible.
After we finished with that we went over to the hospital in Lafayette to visit one of the members. We walked into the elevator and then all of a sudden we heard a small clonking sound. I dropped the phone down the elevator shaft! It was not my fault though because it was in my purse and somehow it fell out! I am convinced that someone or something took it and threw it or made it fall down there because it was situated in my purse pretty good. Poor Sister Faulk. I probably stress her out because this kind of stuff always happens to me. I wasn't worried though and she just kept laughing. It was really funny. We walked around for a few minutes to find help and ran into a security guard. We explained our dilemma to him and he laughed! He called maintenance and a couple of minutes later a cute little old maintenance man showed up and retrieved our phone for us. I couldn't believe it but it wasn't broken or anything. I was so happy to get the phone back and in one piece that I forgot I was a missionary for a second and gave the man a big hug so I feel bad about that but it happened and what can I do about it now? Then we talked to him for a few minutes and asked what we could do for him in return. Well, he leaned in and got really close to my face... I am a big goofball so I thought maybe he was going to kiss me since I hugged him. I was very stressed out! But then he said, "Pray for me." And then he walked away. I thought about that and it reminded me that we never know what people are going through on the inside. It made me so sad. It also made me realize how important it is to always be nice to others around you even if you feel they don't deserve it. I'm not exactly sure why we had that experience but I'm glad we did because I was reminded of a valuable lesson that day.
Yesterday was awesome! Our investigator Holly got baptized! I have had baptisms in my mission but this was the first time where I was actually physically there from the beginning all the way to the baptism! It was such a wonderful experience. She is such a wonderful person! Her faith strengthens me! I just know that God has some BIG plans for her and she is going to be such a great blessing to the Opelousas branch. I gave the talk on Baptism but I didn't really prepare as well as I should have so I was disappointed in how it turned out. It just shows how important preparation is! Going by the spirit is great but being prepared combined with the spirit is even better! The elders baptized and confirmed her and Sister Cathy gave the talk on the Holy Ghost. Now that was a good talk. Cathy always makes people cry when she speaks. Even me and I don't cry! Hi Cathy! I know you're reading this... :)
I love it here so much! Even though it is humid today and I am being eaten alive by bugs! I have bug bites EVERYWHERE! Even on my face and it looks like I have zits so its not fair because everyone probably thinks I have acne and I don't! OH MY GOSH! We went biking along the bayou the other morning and we saw an alligator!! It was so cool! I should have taken a picture! Mom! You need to come here with me after my mission. I know you'll love it. It is a different world that what you are used to. I can't wait to show you around. Tonight we are going over to the Nations' for Family Home Evening. We are planning an awesome lesson. I love that family!
Family and friends, I love you all so so so so much. Have a great week!
Sister Macy Park
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