Shawntele

Last Tuesday (when Ryan and Lisa were here), we got a call from the traveling elders.  They are working with Shawntele, an investigator.  They asked if we could attend a meeting with them and her that evening.  Of course, we said yes - after all, we ARE on a mission and we are here to do whatever we can!  So we went, while Ry and Lisa packed up for their trip home.

Shawntele has had all the discussions over a period of quite some time.  She is now working at overcoming one last habit - smoking!  She wants very badly to quit - so that is more than half the battle right there.  Today (Sunday) everyone was hoping it was going to be her first day to be cigarette free!  Go Shawntele!  She's had several days now with just one cigarette, so she is making progress.  She has already overcome several other addicting habits, including cocaine and heroine (she's been clean for three years!) - she has to now take this last leap of faith and "let go" and let the Atonement work in her. 

Well, we ended up meeting with her (because the traveling elders were going to be traveling) Wednesday and Thursday.  Friday she had a conflict, and Saturday we were sick - and the elders were back.  They said their meeting Saturday went super good.  Her 13 year old daughter was there, and Shawntele was actually teaching her daughter how to pray!  Awesome.  We are hoping to have a double baptism of mother and daughter in four weeks.  Shawntele has to be smoke free for three weeks before she can be baptized.

Mornings are hard for her - she craves a cigarette when she first wakes up, so I have been calling her each morning to encourage her.  (She never answers, but I leave her a little pep-talk message.)  

She has commented how interesting it is that, now she's investigating the "Mormon" church, she has had long lost "friends" come to her, telling her how concerned they are about her eternal salvation.  Where were they when she really needed them and her salvation really was in jeopardy?!

The traveling elders are going to be gone again this week (Mon - Thurs), so we will be meeting with her during the week.  And evidently Shawntele does not feel comfortable going to Relief Society (for whatever reason), so now, coming to the weekly meetings with us, will be a random R.S. sister.  Not sure how this is going to work, but I guess we'll see.  Looks like both Shawntele and I will become acquainted with these sisters.  One thing I do know, our Relief Society attendance is very small. 

So -- we have a daily meeting with Shawntele, plus a couple other visits we will be making this week in our ward.  They have really put us to work!  Hopefully we can make a difference in some lives  :-)

(My head's a little foggy due to the cold medicine I'm taking.  I hope this isn't too rambly and makes sense :)