The Week where it got COLD‏

On this week's episode of Sister Cale in Columbus-the Sisters
contacted a TON, they took fall pictures with all the gorgeous leaves,
survived a shooting threat, had dinner with Chelsea and her awesome
husband, figured out that one of their potential investigators thinks
that he is a prophet, Ohio went from cozy Fall weather to freezing
Fall weather over night, we went on an emergency shopping trip to
Kohl's to buy boots and other winter necessities (I got boots that
don't leak), we avoided the Halloween revelry by doing our weekly
planning and Daylight Savings Time was the best tender mercy in the
universe.

Hey Loves,

This week has been blessed on so many different accounts. I am so
grateful to be serving here with Sister Harris. She is such a rock
star missionary. I love her positive attitude and genuine desire to
become more than she is. Not to mention all the awesome
missionary-ness that she encapsulates, she is also just a lot of fun
to serve with. We're constantly finding things to laugh about and
finding joy in the work. I even love her enough to go running with her
every other morning (#charity).

After our less than successful contacting week last week we sat down
and made weekly goals for contacting with the help of the spirit. When
we drew the boxes on the board that said we were going to try to get
thirteen people's phone numbers and and at least six return
appointments, I knew that we would have to act with faith, because
that was a significant increase in what we had previously done. I also
knew that with the help of the spirit and a willingness to work harder
than ever before that we could accomplish anything that we put our
minds to. As often seems to be the case, when we set out to accomplish
righteous goals, Satan wants to do everything in his power to prevent
that. And boy oh boy did we come across quite a few interesting
obstacles as we set out to work this week.

On Tuesday there was a threat of violence on campus and while classes
weren't cancelled and everything seemed to be mostly okay, we were
counseled not to go contacting on campus proper. I'm grateful that
nothing actually happened, and my personality for sure tends to think
that it's probably better to be safe rather than sorry. As we all
talked about some of the recent violence occurring on other college
campuses, it brought to the forefront the reality of having to "stand
as a witness of God, at all times, in all things, and in all places
that ye may be in, even until death". Few things help you to remember
baptismal covenants of taking upon yourself Christ's name, like
wearing his name on your name tag every day. I know that when I go out
to share the gospel with people that I am acting as a representative
of Jesus Christ. This is His work that I am doing. These are His
people that I am talking to. They matter so much to Him. Even when I
don't know their names or am not sure about what I'm supposed to be
able to do for them, He knows. And I am grateful to stand as one of
his witnesses, though I am glad that I didn't have to do so to the
point of death this week.

Another tricky obstacle this week in accomplishing our goals was the
fact that suddenly it was significantly colder than it previously had
been. I kept thinking that it was much too soon to be feeling so cold
and then would remember that actually, it was the week before
November. Fall here is some kind of gorgeous. I can only imagine what
it looks like in a less city central location. That problem was
remedied easily enough with finally breaking out the tights and the
boots and putting on the light coat. On Friday night, Gretchen took us
to Kohl's for a hunting expedition. I guess it's good that I've been
required by Dad to specifically look for things and then get out. We
were all quite successful and got back to our apartments on time.

Halloween really was the final obstacle for this week. Weekends on
this campus are already pretty interesting-add the socially encouraged
invitation to dress up and let loose and suddenly this campus becomes
an even more interesting place. We went out contacting Saturday
morning and weren't even sure if we were going to be able to talk to
anyone at all. It turns out that campus on Saturday mornings, while
abandoned, is also a brilliant place to be, because the people who are
there are typically not those who were heavily partying the night
before. We met some great people and before we knew it our contacting
time was up for the day.

In addition to the blessed week of being able to achieve our goals, we
also got to see Victor receive the Aaronic Priesthood. There are very
few things in my life that have been a special as getting to see those
that I have come to recognize as my brothers and sisters do things
that I know that our Heavenly Father would have them do. The spirit is
always so strong in those moments and I feel so much of my Heavenly
Father's love.

The church is true, life is good, God's in charge, and Satan hates you.

Love You All,

Jessica