Hope you are enjoying the beautiful fall weather! I'm serious, I'm pretty sure that autumn came just overnight! Literally. But I have to admit, it is absolutely beautiful! It's pretty funny to go to sites though and see all the sisters wearing coats. Sister Schwanke and I are in denial, though, and have decided that we are not wearing coats until at least the first day of October...and we wonder why we get sick? haha.
We have had a really amazing opportunity come up at Kirtland that we are really excited about! We got a call from the Training Sisters this past week asking us to come in early and be trained in a new program called Chat. It has been in a trial run for the last 2 1/2 years, but now they are starting it up in a few visitor centers around the world: London, Kirtland, and one other place, but I can't remember. It's something similar to what Eric and I would do when we would volunteer at the MTC before my mission, but it's even better. Sister Schwanke and I are heading up the program here in Kirtland, so it's still pretty new and we're learning, but we as companions talk to people who chat on mormon.org. We are able to answer their questions, refer them to different videos and different links to help them understand the gospel better, and it truly is amazing. We are reaching a whole new level of people! So far in the test program, they average 1-2 baptisms a week with a 95% activity rate! It's incredible!
The end goal when we talk to these people is not for them to have the missionaries come to them, but to move at their own pace. But make no mistake, we aren't ask jeeves or anything. This is the incredible part: we are literally teaching them! We teach them principles from Preach My Gospel, we extend commitments, follow up with them, and even have return appointments with them! We literally have investigators! And for those who have served missions, we even have an online area book where we keep track of what we teach them, and what we should do to help them next.
We have only done it one day, but it is incredible to see the miracles. The spirit is so strong as we chat with these people, and we meet sincere seekers who want to know more. We have 2 investigators already, with return appointments and a desire to read the book of mormon and pray. Sister Schwanke and I were able to talk to 2 people in Brazil, 2 in the UK, and many all around the USA. We talked to a 14 year member who was struggling with her testimony of Joseph Smith; a man with no faith in Christ who is a recovering alcoholic looking for happiness in his life; a recently married woman who has lots of LDS friends but was to afraid to ask them how they made their marriage eternal and why they are so happy; a less active woman in Ohio (!!) who hadn't been to church in 11 years, had requested to not be contacted by the church, but now wanted more than anything to come back but was scared...These are just a few of the people we chatted with one just one day! It is incredible.
It seems like every day someone (or something) is reminding me that I go home next transfer, and as a result I've been able to think about what has already happened in my mission thus far. Especially with the addition of Chat this week, I have been filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the chance that I have to serve in literally the best mission in the world!!! How many people get to say that on their mission they get to:
- proselyte 5 days a week teaching and tracting and baptizing
- give tours of a spiritual and significant church history site, teaching church history, testify of the restoration, our Savior, and a true and living church on the earth and strengthen the faith of others
- call others around the world and invite them to learn more about Christ and how a faith in Him and the Book of Mormon can help us find eternal happiness
- chat online with people with all different backgrounds and allow them a safe place to open up and have their concerns met as they have questions answered about the church
- PLUS, get to serve right near their hometown and therefore get to see family and friends from time to time!?!?
Can you see why I am overwhelmed with gratitude? I love this. I love my mission, and I love all the experiences that I have already had, continue to have and WILL continue to have :)
I love you all sooo much! Thanks for all your love and support! Have a fantastic week!
Sister Maughan
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