Snow, Hospitals, and Teddy Bears

Hi everyone :) I hope and pray that you're all doing well!

This week has been nice. We taught some lessons, talked to some cool people (some crazies too! just kidding just kidding), and had some awesome visits with some members. We met with Anthony Monday night. He's doing a lot better. So, he had begun smoking again, among some other things, but he told us that he had run out of cigarettes, and wasn't going to buy anymore! I've been praying that he'll stay strong. He's been reading the Book of Mormon and has been praying every day. I don't know if I've already mentioned this, but it kinda stinks, because I think he was just baptised just to be baptised. I don't think he has a true testimony at all yet. He still isn't even sure about some of the basics, like if Jesus Christ is the Son of God. It's a bit weird, but he's a fun guy, and he's trying. We'll be seeing him later this week!

Patrick's being a stinker. Says he'll do something and doesn't do it. We had planned to meet with him on Friday, but he cancelled last minute. We had to run to the library to use the toilet before travelling somewhere, and we saw him there on a computer. Then he told us he would be at church. Texted the night before that he was going to be out late so most likely wouldn't come. I responded a bit boldly (I feel like I've grown in that area of my personality :)). He didn't show to church. :( He doesn't seem to be trying anymore. It's frustrating.

Jeff Kelly texted and told us that the Book of Mormon wasn't for him, and that he didn't want to meet with us anymore. We encouraged him to continue reading and praying. He said he would and thanked us.

We taught Nathan the Plan of Salvation using some cutouts meant for someone else. He seemed to really like it, and told us that it made much more sense that what Catholics believed. He see's God as loving and merciful, and loved learning about His plan for us. He said he would come to church, and that he would check his schedule to see if we could meet with him again this last week. He never responded to our many texts and calls and didn't show up to church.

Oran, whose number we had received a while ago during a GQ, answered a text that I decided I should send to a few people. Sister Cox wasn't feeling well, so I was phone finding. I made a little text template asking to meet, and then closed my eyes, scrolled through our contacts, stopped at a random one, and sent the text. I came to Oran, almost didn't send it, because we had been trying to text and call him a couple weeks ago, with no response. I sent the text anyway, and he responded! We met with him the next day and taught the message of the Restoration. It was a bit awkward, as he isn't much of a talker, but we set him with a baptismal date! Since then (Thursday) we haven't heard from him.

When these people we meet and teach and begin to love stop trying, it's a bit heart breaking. I have faith that they'll eventually receive and accept the truth. It may be with us, or it may not be. It's been a bit hard, but I've learned on my mission that after the many trials, comes the miracles if we keep holding on to our faith. "There can be miracles when you believe! Though hope is frail, it's hard to kill." Patience in the Lord and His timing is truly a virtue, and I've been trying to increase mine, and have been praying to have the motivation to keep going, even when everything seems to be going wrong. It'll turn out right. God is good, and Christ is merciful. We'll see some miracles!

Some wee tidbits from the week: we had snow for the first time! Just a little bit, but it was beautiful. We also visited a member in our ward who's in the hospital right now. His name is Sam Douglas, he's turning 95 in two days, and he was the first Patriarch in Ireland! He told us some pretty great stories from when he was younger, and mentioned that he dreams about being in the Temple with the children of Israel. Wow. I love him. He's so sweet. During our second visit, Mike was there, who I consider to be my Derry Grandad. He bought me a teddy bear at the hospital cafe. Awwwww. I snuggle with it every night!!

Scotland celebrated Burn's Night on the 25th. I was pretty sad not being able to celebrate with my lovely Scots. And then I'll likely not be in Ireland for St. Patrick's Day. What is up with this TIMING!?!?! Oh well oh well. Everything's good! And honestly, I'm so happy :) I love mission life. It can be difficult and rough, but boy is it rewarding. The best experience in my life.

I love you all! So so much! Be safe and happy and work hard!

Sister Syphus X

 District Pic. What weirdos

My cute little bear

IN THE SNOW!