Sorry! Not a whole lot to report on this week, but I do have a super cool story!
So, as a Sister Training Leader, we get to go on exchanges (24 hour switcharoos with our companions) with all of the sisters in our mission. This week we got to go on exchanges with the ASL sisters! I got to go to their area and learn sign language all day, which was a blast! Anyway, the ASL Sisters have been having a super hard time finding people to teach; literally finding 24/7. Sister Farnsworth and I have been praying all transfer that we could find someone for them in our own finding time. Later after exchanging back to our normal companions, Sister Farnsworth and I had about 15 minutes left until the end of the night. It was too late to drive somewhere, and an awkward time for knocking doors- basically the time where missionaries can justify heading home. So, we decided to walk up and down our street and talk to whoever was out there. On our way out of the car before we started walking I felt really prompted to show Sister Farnsworth all of the things I had learned at the ASL class since she knows quite a bit of sign! While we were walking down the main road I was showing her little things like, "fruit, chicken, salad... etc". Next thing you know, while we are signing, a man sitting on the side of the main road waiting for his bus runs up to us and begins signing, "Do you sign?! What is your name?!" With the most humbled, excited look in his eyes. We got to sign back and have a sweet little conversation with him! He was so overwhelmed to meet someone who could communicate with him that he began to cry. He gave us the biggest hug and signed, "thank you, thank you. God sent you." He gave us all of his information to meet with the ASL missionaries. WHAT A MIRACLE! I know Heavenly Father has children prepared everywhere we go! He knows the tools He needs. He helps us become them. I love this work and I love getting to see such amazing miracles daily, even miracles occurring over the word "Chicken". I love this work, and I love you all! Sister McKayla Montgomery Pics of ASL Exchange in Washington D.C.
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Hi again!
Tuesday we had the craziest experience... one of those moments that every missionary hopes to have while serving! We had a bunch of free time so we decided to pray for guidance on where we should go knock some doors. We ended up at this cute little townhouse area, but were seeing absolutely no success. Door after door slammed or just not even answered. Then I saw the cutest little street and felt like we needed to go there. Again, no success. We hadn't finished the street but looked at each other and said, "should we go to a different area? "And thought, nah let’s just finish this street and then go somewhere else. Well, the next door we knock on, a man named Steven opens the door. I said, "Hi there! We are Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Do you have 5 minutes that we could share the most important thing you will ever hear." He looked at me and said, "can I come out and talk to you guys?" So, we sat on his porch and began to talk. Right away he opens up and tells how earlier that morning, he finally hit his breaking point. He fell to his knees and cried to God, if that's who was even listening. Begged God to send him anything, anything to know that he was even listening; something that he could hold on to as he felt ready to finally give up. He went downstairs and sat at his computer. From his window, he could see me and my companion knocking on his neighbor’s door. Immediately he thought to himself, "hmmm. I wonder if they're talking about God." He then thought if we did happen to be talking about God that there is no way we would go and see him. Next thing you know, he sees his neighbor shut their door, and watches us stand there, thinking "if only they would come and talk to me." Right then was when me and sister Farnsworth were deciding if we should leave that street, but felt the need to stay. He watched us as we turned straight towards his door and rang his doorbell. When we told him we were missionaries he about died, and knew that God had sent us to his home. We were able to testify that God had sent us directly to HIS house; he was aware of every tear he had shed. He knew that it was his time to know of the everlasting, perfect Gospel. What a spiritual lesson and experience that was. We gave him a Book of Mormon as something for him to finally hold onto. How amazing is this work; truly seeing God's hand in every moment. I know that he is aware of every tear shed, and leads us exactly where we need to be, exactly when we need to be there. Saturday night Rosemary came to the Temple for the very first time! She found 13 family names; 13 of her dearest loved ones that have anxiously been awaiting the opportunity to be washed cleaned and start their journey of an eternal family. Rosemary let me do the baptisms for her Mother and Grandmother. I cannot put into words the spirit that was felt as I stood in the water in behalf of her loved ones, and saw the smile on her face. I could feel her loved one’s arms around me, saying thank you. Rosemary got to do the confirmations for all of the members of her family that were baptized that night. She talked to me after and said, "I never imagined I would be able to ever do something like this. It feels like a burden has been lifted off my shoulders. I'm just so overwhelmed with The Spirit." Since we could only do the girls, she asked, "will I get to watch my Dad?" We looked in the waiting room and saw a dad with his 13-year-old son waiting to do baptisms. We asked if they would be willing to do her family names, and they very happily accepted. When he and his dad entered the waters to do her names, they both looked back at us all in the waiting room, gave a thumbs up, and smiled. After this sweet boy had been baptized for all of her family, he looked back and gave the happiest smile I had ever seen. My heart was so deeply touched. I could physically feel angels sitting around us. Growing up I never understood just how important baptisms for the dead were, until I watched the light shining from her smile as her family came to the fold of God, and as that sweet, young, 13-year-old boy stood as their angel that night. A family truly was brought together in that moment; they truly started their eternal happiness. How amazing that we have the opportunity to be a part of that. We need to all make more of an effort to help families come unto Christ; help families be eternal. I know this Gospel is real. The spirit I have felt and love I have seen radiate during these moments are something I cannot deny. This work is so very important, and it's something we can ALL do. I know I that there is individuals and families waiting for YOU to be their angel. Waiting to embrace you with outstretched arms to say the only words that can come to mind; thank you. Go be someone's angel. Love, Sister McKayla Montgomery Pics: Me with my bff, Sister Kunz; Flag at the temple during sunset; Rosemary came to the temple and got do 13 family names! She let me baptize her mom and grandmother ❤️; Jane got her call! Colorado, Colorado Springs! Hi everyone!
First off.... Happy Birthday to my old man! He truly is my very best friend. Everyone give him a big hug and kiss for me !! One of the biggest miracles was Mesi! She has been taking the lessons since January and been coming to church ever since! She has felt, however, that she needs to read the entire Book of Mormon cover to cover in order to 'really' know; to have the Holy Ghost testify to her that these things are true. As frustrating as it is to watch someone you love wait to receive so much happiness and all the blessings in the world, I've learned it is not my will, but Gods; it is in His own timing, not mine. Yesterday, after testimony meeting, she was talking to me and was so touched by Sister Tchampa's testimony (Side note, sister Tchampa is a lady in the ward who just went through the temple last week for the first time! I got to go with her, and how grateful I am for it!) Mesi said that her story is exactly her life- ever since she saw the temple off the freeway the very first time, she told her husband, "I want to go there! Whatever it is, that is where I want to be." After hearing sister Tchampa's experience on the temple, Mesi said her heart was so touched in a way she had never felt.... she asked me if we could plan a day for her to be baptized. To start her journey of one day, finally, entering the place she most desires to be. My heart could burst in that moment! I know that the blessings of the temple are real; it IS where families get to be together forever. Where we can physically feel God’s arms around us. God’s timing is perfect! However, the greatest miracle that happened this week is one that I hope is able to touch even one person’s heart. My Mom has a younger brother (he is one of her half-brothers), Ferron, who grew up in Oklahoma. We don’t get to see them very often, so my parents were thrilled when Ferron called and told them he was coming to Utah for a visit. My family was so touched by his gentle, humble, kind, sweet spirit when he arrived. He has not had an easy life growing up, and has turned his life around completely in his adult years. He came the week of General Conference! My parents loved how Ferron would read and study from his Bible every day. My mom took the time to explain what General Conference was, and how important it was to us, as members of the church, to listen to our living prophet and apostles of the Lord speak. It is so special, it only happens twice a year. They invited him to attend General Conference with them, but told him he was not obligated in any way, if he did not want to. He told them he wanted to! He was so attentive, took notes and marked scriptures quoted. He watched every session with my family over the next couple of days and even attended the special Priesthood session with my dad and brother! He was inquisitive, had many questions for them, truly desiring to know about all of the wonderful things he had just heard. His heart was so touched, his spirit so stirred, that my parents asked him if he would like to meet with the missionaries. He said YES! The Elders came to their house that week and taught Ferron his first lesson. They asked if he would like to be baptized, and he accepted their invitation. He returned home to Oklahoma where he met every week with the missionaries and also included my grandpa in the lessons. The miracle of this story is that my Uncle entered the beautiful waters of baptism on June 3! My grandpa has also accepted the invitation to be baptized and his baptism is coming up soon. My heart is so overwhelmed with love and thankfulness to my Heavenly Father. So often our eyes are blocked and our hearts are depressed because we cannot see or understand His plan for us. But His timing is always perfect; His will is always done. He knows His children's hearts. He knows His children's desires. He knew, from day one, that Ferron would one day find the truth. That one day His child would come back to His arms. How grateful I am to have a knowledge of this gospel. More than a knowledge, a TESTIMONY that it is indeed HIS. It is REAL. It is worth every price and every tear. I know, with every fiber of my being and pulse my heart can give, that Jesus is the Christ. This is HIS gospel. This is the way our families can be together forever and we truly can overcome every trial, every weakness; fix our broken hearts and lives through His love. I know this Gospel is true, and I am so grateful my family is now receiving the blessings that come from it. ❤ With Love, Sister McKayla Montgomery Pictures: 1. Sister Kunz and I having some fun bowling on P-Day 2- Me with my new companion, Sister Farnsworth 3-Fun District! 4- District Pic 5- Sister Tchampa went through the temple last week and I got to go with her ❤️ what a special day! 6- Sister Kunz and I (Love her!) 7- My bff in the ward :) 8- Sister Kunz and I at the temple! 9- My off in the ward again. :) 10- Sister Kunz and I again! 11- This is MIA; she says I'm her favorite missionary! She's the cutest! 12- Me at the temple 13 & 14- Me with Elder Kohler 15- Love tracting in rain storms 🙃 |