Harbor City week 6

 Sister Malani, Sister Deskins and I after a spanish baptism
we attended with one of our investigators.

Well - I've officially been in Harbor City for a whole transfer! I can hardly believe it! Seriously - with each passing transfer the times just seems to fly by quicker and quicker. And with that flying time means that transfers are this week....we will get the call tomorrow night knowing whether we are staying are going, then Wednesday all necessary changes will be made! Ah it's a stressful time, but an exciting one as well. Sister Malani and I think we're going to be staying together, especially because this is her last transfer (sad! I know!) and so we don't think that President/The Lord will move either one of us. But, we never know. So, you'll find out next week! haha I just pray that whatever happens the Lord will help me to see why I'm where I am and why I'm with who I'm with. It can be hard to accept change sometimes, but accept it we do and then try to move on and keep working. After all, it's not my work but His, and so I think He knows what's best for it :D Better than I do at least....

This week was amazing! We had some really great experiences by following the Spirit. For this month, our zone is really focusing on working with the members in our areas to help move the work forward.  Sister Malani and I have really been trying to do that, we haven't been spending as much time finding. Not to say that we haven't been finding (cause appointments always fall through, and there is always time to knock on a few doors) but our focus has just been shifted. And so, this week we decided that we were really going to follow the spirit when it came to finding. We decided to go to a part of our area that we are almost NEVER in, and just tract for 30 minutes. We both felt really good about being there, but had no idea why. Stop and park the car and start walking. We knock some doors, not many people are home and so we turn down a little side street which ends in a cul-de-sac. We start knocking and people are nice but nobody is interested. We had an appointment coming up soon and so we decided to head back to the car when we realized that there was one door left on the block that we hadn't knocked. Then we turned around and when back to that house. When we knocked on the door a GIGANTIC dog came barking and running at the screen door (the actual door was open) and we thought for sure it was going to break down the door and tackle us. Luckily, it stopped short of coming outside. We just stood there. Trust me, we contemplated just leaving but we felt like we should stay. I mean, after all if a door is open someone ought to be home. Sure enough, out comes a man and he opens the door and his big, giant golden lab comes outside and starts licking us and being super friendly. He asked who we were, we told him we were missionaries and then he said, "Ok. Share with me the good news" Slightly shocked we smiled and then shared a message with him about prophets and The Book of Mormon. We gave him a card to get a free copy and to check out mormon.org. And you know what? He was super nice and told us that he works with some Mormons and has always admired them and the way they live their lives - and how they just seem like happy people. We testified that our message/the Gospel of Jesus Christ would bless his life an he said, "yeah, I know" and then he stopped and said, "You know, it's funny that you two girls stopped by today. I've been going through a really tough time with my parents and so I've been trying to really get closer to God lately. In fact, the reason it took me a little to get to the door was that I had actually been praying for guidance. And then I heard a knock. that's crazy, huh?" WOW RIGHT?? Heavenly Father is SO good! He knew that we would be in that area and that this man would be praying and everything. What a beautiful experience. Then we tried to set a specific time to come back but he just said he works a lot and so we could 'stop by anytime' so...we'll see. If nothing else, this man now knows that God answers prayers. Cool, huh?

And to add to that experience the next day we had about 10 minutes before our dinner appointment and so we turned to our backup plans and decided to contact a potential named N****. When we went to her apartment and knocked she wasn't there, but across the way in another apartment visiting for a birthday party or something. Because the door was open she saw us and came to talk for a bit. We introduced ourselves and got to know her a little bit. After about 5 minutes we could see her kids were running around so we asked for a return appointment she told us "Absolutely, when are you guys free?" So, we set an appointment for the next day. The cool thing about this experience was that as we were about to leave she turned around and said, "You know, it's funny that you two girls should come by today. I've been going through a lot lately and so last night after I put my kids to bed I was talking to God and asking him for his help and guidance, to know what I need to do in my life. And then you girls came by today. Isn't that weird?" Sister Malani and I were shocked, especially because the day before we had talked to the man who said the same thing. So once again we testified of how the Gospel blesses families and left her with a card. Sadly, when we went for our appoitnemtn the next day she wasn't there, but she left us a note telling us to please call her and reschedule, so we're in the process of doing that now :)

So this week, I've really learned that the Lord truly listens to an answers all of our prayers. If I had more time, I could tell you about many more experiences that we've had this week regarding prayer and those that we teach. But just know that the Lord knows your desires, he knows what you pray for, and if you put forth the study and effort and faith he will answer you. Why? Because he LOVES you!!!

The work is great!

Sister Hensley

Oh - and on a funnier note, I totally threw up after a dinner appointment this week. On the sidewalk (or rather, the grass in between the sidewalk and the road). About 3 houses down from the members we ate. It's not that the food was bad....just too much and an odd combination of things (including red kool aid and choclate brownies and ice cream) that my body just didn't agree with. It was super awkward. And I felt bad for anyone who walked by after we drove away....

Note from Dad. Shannon has almost always thrown up red kool-aide. We don't know why but we finally stopped making it when she was a kid.

Plus we had a baptism this week.

 left to right: our ward mission leader, me, maya and her primary teacher's husband, sister malani, and maya's mom

The son of a family that we have FHE (Family Home Evening) with every week...we came over and he had ong an astros shirt! (all the little league teams here are named after real teams, and I guess he's on the astros) anyway - had to take a picture!