Hi everyone! Something that I realized I've never really said specifically how I serve in a YSA Branch! I've been here since the beginning on my mission. It's quite small- The average church attendance is around 16 people, and has dwindling Priesthood holders, because so many are leaving to school/moving. Winter is the lean season for the YSA. But it is amazing! I love the people here- they are all very unique and very much themselves.
A strange problem we have in our Area is that the Schaumburg YSA branch includes both the Schaumburg and Buffalo Grove stake, which is outside the mission. Most of our members live up there, and the less active members as well. But me and my companion are super excited, because one of the Bishopric's had lunch with some Zone Leaders in Bufflalo Grove, and they are in the process of asking their Mission President and for him to ask our President to contact us and combine our efforts in gathering all these YSA! Also, there is something called the "1100 List". It's a list of ALL YSA's in our branch. This includes less actives and fully active members but who nest in their home wards. My whole mission so far has been seeking out these people and strengthening this branch as much as possible, all the while trying to find investigators! Member referrals are actually the best way to get a great new investigator- 2 out of 3 member referrals get baptismed. 1 out of 1000 of people that we missionaries find are baptized. This really shows the people of being a member missionary, and something that I am super passionate about. I want to share my testimony to all of you who are members how vital you are to missionary work. You are a way more powerful missionary. . An analogy that an Hermana told me and Sister Jardine that we now use and love all the time is this- Missionaries are the spiritual infrontry. We do all the grunt ground work like knocking doors, handing out Book of Mormon's. But members can be the spiritual ninjas. Yeah. You read that right. You are a spiritual ninja. You can be one by being an example, giving service, slipping a pass-along card in a library book, (I don't know about that last one, just trying to come up with more ideas) But the point is- as members you have such an impact. When a member comes with us to a lesson, a convert or not, the Spirit just blooms. Missionaries are the spiritual extreme! When an investigator talks with us it can be a lot more difficult to relate to. but with members it shows them not only that living by the standards we teach are possible, but are true.
I want to invite you all to read Elder's Oaks General Conference Talk, "Sharing The Restored Gospel". And to apply it. If you are not a member, still feel free to read it whether you're just curious or interested investigating the church. Don't ever feel like my letters are for members only! They are for you too!
I have more to say but I feel that this topic of member missionary work alone is just too important to include anymore and possibly distracting from it. I will mention our investigator Kay because all of you have been asking about him, which I love.
A few weeks ago me and Sister Jardine came with a different approach to help Kay by giving him "homework" when reading the Book of Mormon. (via insparation "The Power of Everyday Missionaries".)When we gave a paper with questions and steps on how to recieve answers he seemed very eager to use it. During the lesson he express ed questions that were really questions of the soul.
He asked: "Why do bad things happen to good people?
Does Good exist?
Is God dead? (He was tentative asking this one but was really concerned)
Is The Book of Mormon true?
What about all the other religious books?"
He asked about prayer. We brought up the point about how it's important to have real intent and not being repetitive and he immediately applied it to himself and even said how he believes he has been having a hard time avoiding being repetitive because of his previous practice praying with matras. He has such a strong desire to learn more, become better, and just to know the truth. He's excited to read the scripture we've given him to read and write answers to the questions provided.
We followed up on Kay's "homework" a while later. He has had it now for three weeks but says he has not found the time to do any of it. So we started his homework with him reading the introduction page of The Book of Mormon. As usual Kay was very inquisitive which was great, but in his comments he often says "Its cool how in the mormon church....". It's almost like he's inspecting a exotic animal, but still with great respect. We all toke turns reading including Kay. Connor was very helpful in answering Kay's more random questions like how long it toke Christ to get to the Americas etc. He had a lot of great questions still though, but again, random. When we asked if he could give the closing prayer he asked one of us too saying how we're more of the "experts". Sister Jardine gave a example prayer first, and then Kay did. His prayer was different than normal which was great, but other than that it seems like Kay has little to no progression. Because of this sadly we will no longer be teaching Kay. We will let him know he is always welcome to start investigating again if he sees baptism as a real possibility.
Transfers are coming up so my next letter might be late, but I'll try to write as soon as I can!
Love,
Sister Petty
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