The Best Darn Day of My Whole Entire Mission

Okay.

So before I begin, I would like to say something in regards to the subject line: I have had so many amazing days on my mission. TONS. I don't want to make it seem like any of the miracles, baptisms, stories, or awesome people I've met don't live up to this. Sunday was just.... awesome.

Let's back up a little bit: Earlier this week we saw a less active woman who is just super sweet and is looking for a church for her kids. It was neat meeting with her, because we got the feeling that in the past the missionaries have always focused on her husband, who is not a member. But as we talked to her, we realized that she needed a lot of help building a testimony. So now we get to focus on her-- hooray!

Friday was a fantastic day as well. We went up to the Mt. Holly/Eastampton area earlier in the day to stop by a headquarter referral, visit a woman in the ward, and to go to our appointment with Brother Laws. As we stopped by the referral, we were able to talk to the mom of the referral and pray with her. It was a really great timing and a wonderful experience! Then we went to Sister White's house for lunch and met her daughter. This was the first time meeting with either of them, so it was pretty awesome.

Since we had trouble finding a Sister to go with us to see Brother Laws, we had to call them up and talk to his wife (who isn't a member). We explained to her that if she wasn't there, we wouldn't be able to go because we didn't have another woman who'd be able to come. Now, Brother Laws' wife is really nice, but she's usually in and out while we're there. But it actually worked out, because she stayed for the whole lesson! Miracle!

We were going to head to the library afterwards, but then we realized it was closed. We weren't sure what to do, and I had the prompting to go visit Lumberton.  I flipped open to the Lumberton section of people in our binder and one particular family in the ward stuck out to me. When we stopped by, we found out that a friend of theirs was going through a really rough time and this family wanted to share things with them that would help. So we went through scriptures and talks with them to share with their friend, and they told us we were an answer to their prayers, which was so humbling. We were truly being led by the Spirit.

Now it comes to Sunday.

Let me give you a little background on the Mass's.
 They are the most awesome family. Brother Mass joined the church first (if you ask him his conversion story it will take three hours to tell, haha), followed by his two daughters, Autumn, then Kyra, and then Sister Mass. Their son Logan has been away for the past 15 months and recently returned home. Autumn & Kyra aren't super active in the church right now, but they're the most awesome family ever.

So...

Sister Wright spoke in church on Sunday. As I was sitting in the pews with Sister Divece, I looked over and saw the Brother Mass, Sister Mass, and Logan sitting down. A few minutes later Kyra walked in followed by... guess who? Autumn! I was so excited to see their ENTIRE FAMILY AT CHURCH. OH MY GOSH.

There were also a lot of other less active members at church, including Sister White, who isn't able to make it because of some health problems. But she made it and stayed the whole time! There was even a man in the ward who was working on getting a yard sale going who told us that he wanted to donate all the proceeds to the Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission!

But the best part is this:

After sacrament meeting and before class, Brother Mass waved us over to the front to where he and Logan were standing. Jokingly, Sister Wright said, "Yeah, what do you want?"

Brother Mass: "I don't want anything..."

We looked at Logan.

Brother Mass: "Hold on, press the rewind button."

Logan: "Well... how would I go about getting the missionary lessons?"

We were both stunned. I'm pretty sure my brain exploded as I sat there trying to figure out how to respond. The only thing I could get out in my excitement was, "Well, we could start teaching you this week!"   

OH MY GOSH. IT WAS THE MOST AMAZING MOMENT OF MY MISSION!!

We've been praying and fasting for someone to teach, and everyone was hoping that Logan would be the one (his family and us included), and now he is! It was a humbling, amazing, truly extraordinary moment on my mission! I was so excited that I could barely focus the rest of the day.

I know that the Lord prepares people everywhere to hear the Restored Gospel. What a wonderful work we can be a part of, and what a wonderful job I have to share the Gospel! I love it so very much, and I know that it is what truly makes me happy.

Share the Gospel. Be happy.

Love,

Sister Singleton

My Missionary Commission

Dear People,

So I must start off by mentioning that today was the first snow of the season! It's definitely getting much colder out here, but at least it's still pretty for now. 

This week we tried stopping by a lot of potentials (people that were possibly interested in the past) and former investigators. We did a lot of that each day, but weren't able to talk to too many people, unfortunately. One night we stopped by every person on our list and then some and we still had an unexpected hour and didn't know what to do. Since it gets dark super early people aren't as willing to talk to us, so we've been trying to find a more useful thing to do in the evening hours. We're still working on a finding a solution, haha. 

On Wednesday, President Corbitt came to our Zone Training and spoke to us. It was really great because he talked a lot about working with members and helping the ward achieve their goals. I've said it before and I'll say it again, but missionary work is all but impossible without the help of members. We simply can't do it on our own, and the ward can't do missionary work on their own. Thus, we have to work together.

One great moment about Zone Training was when we all went into the room with the baptismal font and prayed together for each others' investigators. Afterwards we had a really powerful testimony meeting, in which I was grateful to bear my testimony. 

This transfer we've been memorizing Bruce R. McConkie's "My Missionary Commission," and I wanted to share it with you, because I love it so much:

"I am called of God.
My authority is above that of kings of the earth.
By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He is my master and He has chosen me to represent Him-- to stand in His place, to say and do what He Himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me.
My voice is His voice, and my acts are His acts; my doctrine is His doctrine.
My Commission is to do what He wants done; To say what He wants said; to be a living modern witness in word and in deed of the divinity of his great and marvelous Latter-day work.
How great is my calling!"

How great is my calling! It's very humbling to know that you have been called of God to preach His gospel. My favorite line is "He is my master," because He truly is. Everything we do should be because we love the Lord and we want to serve Him. I invite all of you to refer to the Missionary Commission frequently and to really ponder on what it means to you. 
One great story to finish off the week (well, technically it happened yesterday, but whatever...):

Sister Wright and I went into Philly for the day, and when we were headed back we were trying to find a place to get a cheesesteak (of course). We found a new place and were waiting inside for our food when a guy came in asking if the place did Veteran's discounts, and they didn't. He was leaving and I asked across the restaurant what branch of the military he was in. So we started talking to him and when he found out we were Mormons he mentioned the temple that was being built. So naturally, we started talking about the temple! We gave him a card with the Philadelphia temple picture on it and ended up talking to him for over 20 minutes. He was super awesome, and he had so many questions. He thanked us for sharing it with him, and I was grateful that we were able to. My favorite quote from him was when we were talking about temple sealings (when we're married in the temple for eternity). 

"Wait, what did you call that again?"

"Sealing. It's like being bound together forever."

"Oh... that's so romantic." 

It was a fabulous "missionary  moment," and after that a woman sitting next to us commented about something and we were able to talk to her about the Philly temple, too! How awesome!

I love all of you guys, and I'm grateful for your support and prayers. 

Love,
Sister Singleton

 

LOVE park... with a Christmas tree!

 Parts of the temple are rising above the ground!!!

The George Washington monument.

 

Oh, the Week!

Bonjour,

This week was a crazy, ridiculous whirlwind of a week. How about I start from the top?

Monday: We found out Monday that transfers were actually Tuesday and Wednesday, not just Wednesday. I spent (what feels like) my whole Prep day calling members for a ride to Broomall, to no avail. But hey, at least I was able to get a long sleeve shirt, right?

Tuesday: We were able to hitch a ride to Broomall with the Moorestown Sisters. I knew that I was going to be companions with Sister Adams and Sister Bennett for a day before I picked up my golden on Wednesday. The Moorestown Sisters were leaving in a trio and (presumably) coming back with only two, so it was going to work just fine. Right? Nope.

So at transfers the Mo-town Sisters were shocked when they picked up a third, Sister Maughn. So I then had to rush and scramble to find someone to give us a ride back. We were able to hitch a ride back with the Vineland Elders, and it was kinda neat because both Sister Adams and I were back in Moorestown (Sister Adams was also trained by Sister Meeks!) So we were back in our "birth place."

Right after we got back, Brother Reeve, Sister Mass, and Logan Mass were all waiting for us at our apartments to help move our beds and the rest of everything out. So poor Sisters Bennett and Adams had to help me move, clean, and organize.

Fun story: We knew we had to leave at 7:00 am Wednesday to go to Broomall, so two of us were going to shower Wednesday night. Well, we had never used the shower before, and Sister Adams couldn't get the water to get hot. So I volunteered to just shower in the cold water. It was the coldest thing I've experience on my mission. But right as I was about to shut the frigid water off, I DISCOVERED THAT BY TURNING THE FAUCET THE OTHER WAY, IT GAVE HOT WATER. *Face palm*

Wednesday: Transfer meeting! I got my new golden, Sister Wright! SHE'S NOT FROM UTAH! Haha, I keep telling everyone that she's my first companion not from Utah, which is a big deal. She's awesome though-- she's 19 and totally prepared to go on a mission. I'm pretty sure she's just retraining me.

We were able to go to the Trunk or Treat at the Church later that night. I was so stoked, because I was worried that we wouldn't be able to make it. We cut out a poster to model the Philadelphia temple and handed out candy taped to temple cards. It was really fun because there were a lot of less actives and lots of people who came. Also, a little kid accidentally pulled the fire alarm so we got an extra treat of a visit from the fire department. Hooray!

Thursday: We stopped by a Headquarter referral that was way out in Shamong (a long ways away). We actually had the miles to stop by him, so we did. He is a Baptist Reverend, but he knew that the Mormons gave out free Bibles, so he wanted one to give to his friend. We talked to him a little bit and he said he was always curious to learn more about us. It was really neat, because the timing was an absolute miracle. We would've never had the miles otherwise, and he pulled up right as we were about to leave.

Then.... we cleaned and finally moved out of our apartment.

The rest of the week: Pretty nice. 'Nuff said.

I am so grateful to be here in Medford. I am so excited to be with Sister Wright, and I look forward to more miracles. The ward here is so fantastic, and I am extremely grateful to be a missionary at this time. As I've been reading Doctrine & Covenants, I've noticed something that appear more than once:

"1 A great and marvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men.
3 Behold, the field is white already to harvest;therefore, whoso desireth to reap, let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God.
4 Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God."

(D&C 6:1,3-4)

This great and marvelous work is the Restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We have a responsibility to share the gospel with everyone around us, and as we do so, we will inherit Eternal Life. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love,
Sister Singleton

Sister Adams was also trained by Sister Meeks, and this was both of our
first areas.

Trunk or Treat

An artsy display.

Be jealous-- it's fall!