November 14 - Lumberton

Hello Family and Friends!! It's so good to hear from all of you and see how things are going!! Sister Smith and I have been doing some really great work this week! We have definitely been continuing to see the fruits of our labors from the storm!!

Things here in Lumberton are continuing to improve.  The students here have been back in school now. They went back to school on Halloween. They basically had a month long fall break!! The service opportunities are starting to become slim. This weekend we showed up to help with Helping Hands, but there weren't as many people and not a lot of work orders left to do. Sunday, we finally went back to regular church!! We even had a couple of investigators come to church this week!! It has been quite a while since I was able to have an investigator come to church and yesterday was just wonderful. Also, we were able to set 7 baptismal dates this week!! I am truly grateful for this amazing work I am a part of.

This transfer, Sister Smith and I have really been working hard to have the spirit with us more. We've made changes in our day to day lives to be more obedient and align ourselves more with our Savior. One thing we have done is we have made a change to the music we listen to. We have made the decision to listen to music that is either a hymn, put out by the church, or simply that which invites the spirit. Before, we listened to music that talked about Christ but didn't necessarily invite the spirit the way music on your mission should...if that makes any sense at all? Anyways, we have been able to see and feel an abundance in the spirit we have had this transfer. For me, it has helped me to become more in tune with the spirit. I have been able to better understand and recognize the promptings that the spirit has given me. For example, one prompting that we felt came from this abundance in spirit was to always have baptism on our minds when teaching and finding. This week we acted on that prompting and do you know what?? We were able to set those 7 baptismal dates!! I truly have a testimony of constantly finding ways to become more obedient!! As we become more obedient, we are able to be more in tune with the spirit. I also have a testimony of the influence that music and other types of entertainment can have on our lives. I came on my mission to be one with the spirit and our Savior. In life, we are here to align ourselves with the spirit and our Savior. I truly believe that the music we listen to, the books we read, and the movies or TV shows we watch have a very strong impact on the spirit that we are able to have in our lives. For me, the times that I am happiest are when I feel the spirit the most and I know that it is and will be the same for all of you!!

I hope you all have a great week!! Keep me updated with life and so forth!! I love you all so much!!

Love,

Sister Paynter