4th Floor, Last Door and the Fire Department

This was just a roller coaster of a week. As a mission we have a goal for every missionary to contact 10 new people a day for the past 2 weeks. So as a companionship that's 20 people everyday. Another part of that goal is to get 3 new investigators every week. Sister Garner and I were pumped. We had been low on new investigators so we were excited to get some more. The first week we didn't do so well we had a lot of days of straight lessons so we didn't have very much time for finding. Later in the week we started hitting our goal of 20 people a day but still no investigators. This past week we did better at talking to more people but still not the best. We ended the 2 weeks with only 1 new investigator. That was pretty discouraging especially in this area where people are just everywhere. But we have decided to keep the goal of contacting 20 new people a day so we are looking forward to some good miracles this coming week. 

Our investigators are doing well. We Skyped with Misha against discuss what he has been reading from the Book of Mormon. Hopefully soon we can set up another in person lesson to continue his teaching. He did tell us he's going to take a step back from church. He understands the purpose of a community and everything he was just honest and said he was disappointed with the 2nd hour. We feel that he is just a very smart person and with Gospel Principles being the basics, he can tell it's the basics and doesn't feel comfortable there. He has a lot on his plate with work and everything so we told him we can just focus on the Book of Mormon for now. He said he'll be back at church so that's a good thing. 

Our other awesome investigator is Tom. Tom has been to church twice in a row and really feels included by the ward. The East elder's had a baptism and he came. It was scheduled for 1 and about 1:05 it still hadn't started (because ya know, Mormon Standard Time) Most of us were still out in the hall still and he walks over to us, and goes, "Do these things usually start on time?" Sister Garner and i just looked at each other and then said, "uhh not really yes?" (Fyi it still didn't start for like another 15 minutes after that) We had a lesson afterward and asked him to set a date but he wouldn't. He likes the ward and the people, he just wants to KNOW it's true. We talked about faith and that it's a step in the dark and he seems to understand but I think he wants to pray about it more. 

So about my subject line. Saturday morning there was a couple moving from our area to the West elder's area so we decided to go help them move. Well they live in a row home that has been converted into apartments. They live on the 4th floor.... and their door just happened to be the last. So we spent the morning running up and down flights of stairs carrying boxes and whatnot. So a few of the men are carrying the couch down these flights of stairs. The thing about row homes is they are narrow, so the stairs are narrow. Well they get stuck on like the second floor. As they wiggle and pivot this couch they hit the Fire alarm. So the alarm is going off and the couch is stuck and we are still trying to move. The fire department had to show up so it's a good thing they had 2 sets of stairs. The ward movers and firemen were using one as the couch was taking up the other. Finally they ended up taking the railing off and got the couch down. 

I think the best part of the week was the baptism. The couple that moved that morning and quite a few of the other ward movers showed up for the baptism all sweaty and gross but they were their to support their new sister. That was the sweetest. This ward is made up of a lot of young families but they are all so supportive of each other. I love it. 

I know Christ is my Savior and I love that more and more people are realizing this is His restored gospel. I love being a missionary and I hope all of you are taking the opportunity to be a member missionary as well. I love you all. Have a great week! Don't forget to read the Book of Mormon!

Lots of Love!
Sister Van Buskirk

We made fried chicken because we can. My paper towel only caught a little bit on fire. 

                                                          The moving truck had an AZ license so I just had to.