So what do 6 sister missionaries do once they find out they have a flat tire? Of course! Pull into a conveniently located Auto Zone, take pictures with the flat tire, and then go get some snacks and wait for the mechanic to get there.
So Welfare Square is so neat. Something that we are privileged to do while serving there is that we are able to host orders. A host goes around with the people picking up their food order and they mark off the items on a list that that particular person/family is in need of. It is so much fun! It truly shows you that there are lots of different kinds of people with an array of needs. It is both humbling and an honor to go around with them and fill their shopping carts with the food they need. It is fun getting to know each and every one of them! Funny story: we were giving a tour to 2 sets of sisters from temple square, and we had just passed through the cannery where they were canning apple sauce. One of our sisters poked her head in the door and said, "Could I try the apple sauce??" The man working in there loves sisters and gave each of us a jar of apple sauce hot off of the assembly line! That was so nice of him(: The smell of cheese at Welfare Square has gotten quite old, but the wonderful chocolate milk never gets old!
We met Elder Hinckley, President Gordon B. Hinckley's son, as well as his wife at Welfare Square. They were giving a tour to a newly elected senator of Australia, I do not recall his name. But that was neat!
I have seen Elder Williams quite a few times on Temple Square giving tours to his investigators, so it is so funny seeing him around.
Probably the biggest temptation here on Temple Square? Wanting to pick up all the leaves all over the place and throw them in the air, acting like a little kid. The hardships of acting professional.
We have this adorable lady who we got in contact with who lives in the North East, who wasn't understanding that we didn't live near her. When we were talking with her on the phone, she would be like, "Can you tell those nice young gentlemen (Elders) who visited me to give me a call regarding the next visit?" Or, "When will you and I meet in person?" We sadly had to explain to her that we were not in her local area:/ She said, "One day, we will meet. Whether it is here or in heaven. I am so grateful for your service!"
We have this other kid we are teaching over the phone, Josh. He is a high school senior. He had a copy of the Book of Mormon, but hadn't read it in a while, and therefore was losing interest. The scriptures can be likened to any situation(: For some reason, the only thing to try and spark his mind was when Ammon was leading the people of Limhi our of the land of Helam away from the persecution of the Lamanites. Gideon, Limhi's chief general, had the idea of making the Lamanite guards drunken with wine so the people could esacpe with their flocks. Good move, Sister Steenhoek. Hahah afterwards I was thinking, really? That is the first thing that came to mind?? But afterwards we asked him what he was doing at the moment, and he replied, "Not much really." We got you now... I replied, "Great! Could we read with you out of the Book of Mormon right now?" We started with "I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents,..." And stopped to provide input. At the end of our reading with him, he sounded quite intrigued with the Book of Mormon and is going to start reading again! The gospel is true(:
We had a surprise guest come speak to us yesterday morning! Elder Dallin H. Oaks and his beautiful wife, Sister Oaks came and spoke with our mission. It was a pleasure!! We all got to shake his hand afterwards. A sister had asked a question regarding a complex question that doesn't directly apply to the basic doctrines of the church. He said to 1. Respond to the question they SHOULD have asked, 2, answer with what you do know, and 3, Don't state personal stances and beliefs. We are not called on a mission to preach the Gospel of Sister Steenhoek, but of Jesus Christ. We should tell people what he would have us tell them. There was also another question asked regarding what we should tell less-active RMs. He responded by telling us the recipe to become less-active:
Stop your spiritual maintenance.
Stop going to church, stop reading your scriptures regularly, and stop praying. This will surely cause you to drift away. Those who drift away no longer have that weekly promise of "always having his spirit to be with them" when they stop partaking of the sacrament. SO powerful and true. That is what is most important.
Just to end, a scripture I just LOVE to share on tours at Welfare Square is Mosiah 4:21. God has given us everything. None of this is ours in retrospect. We should therefore be in the service of our fellow beings. That is where true happiness comes(: 2 Nephi 26:30.
Keep it fun! Play in the leaves for me(:
Sister Steenhoek
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