letter fifty.eight 05.04.14 the ultimate victory

This has been an eventful week. We started out the week with an amazing member power visit to a strong family in our area. We're really trying to get the members very involved in our missionary efforts. It was a really good experience and their family is now committed to make a family mission plan.

Then on Tuesday we had an amazing district meeting. The Spirit was so strong. I was reminded of the real reason that we all come on missions. It was a beautiful experience.

After that we went to the family history center to try to find names to take to the temple, since President is only letting us do this once. The family history consultant said that I probably wouldn't find any, but I said a little prayer and I just kept clicking. I was able to find three names that I could do all of the ordinances for! It was so exciting!

I also went on exchanges with Sister A (my MTC companion) and that was really fun. It was amazing to see the growth and changes we have both made since the MTC. She is a great missionary. And we were able to set a baptismal date with someone we've been working with for ages now! We've invited him to be baptized so many times, but this time he said yes and his parents said yes! He's planning to get baptized the 17th of May!

 

sister A and I on exchanges

Then on Thursday we found out that Sister B was going home the next day for a medical release, which we were all very sad about. President asked us if Sister T (the first sister I trained) could join us in our companionship for the last two weeks of the transfer. We were so excited. We both really love her.

On Friday morning we had MLC and it was beautiful. I felt so much peace. Originally I was a bit nervous because I knew they would show our key indicators in front of the whole group and everyone would then know that we've been struggling. But, I decided to go in prepared. I know that we have done our very best so it doesn't matter. I felt great all through MLC. I felt very uplifted and I never felt bad about our lacking numbers.

Also, my first zone leader, Elder J, shared some thoughts and he said that something he's learned is that part of having faith is not worrying about if you've done enough, but knowing that you've put in your best effort and the Savior will take care of the rest. That was another testimony of something I have been learning so much recently.

I don't know how many of you read Sister Benjamin's email last week, but I did and it really helped me. She talked about a talked called, "But if not." I felt prompted to read it this week and it really touched me. It confirmed something I've been wondering for a long time now. Sometimes I wondered if it was me lacking faith, when I said things like I know God can help us find people but that may not be His will for us today. It may be that we just need to keep going no matter what. This talk confirmed that that is true faith. Like I've said before, faith is not in an outcome but in Jesus Christ. I know that He can make anything happen, but if not I will keep enduring to the end. I know that He will allow what ever will help me to grow happen.

Then we dropped off Sister B at the mission home. It was a neat experience. It was just the four of us and President and Sister Lindsay. It was a very family feel. I felt a bit like mum because I suggested that we all go around and say something we love about Sister B and it was beautiful. The Spirit was very strong. I love her. I'm going to miss her so much. She's taught me a lot as a missionary.

 

Sister S and I

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Having a companionship change ended up being a bit more challenging than I expected. I know it was Satan but I was feeling tempted left and right to feel down on myself, just after I had felt so much peace. All of these little things that I won't get into were harder than I expected them to be. But it's turned out great. I've learned a lot about humility in just a few days.

On Saturday morning we were able to go to the temple and do baptisms, confirmation, initiatories, and an endowment session for our ancestors. All in one day. It was so beautiful. Especially initiatories. I haven't done them since I left the MTC and it was a strong reminder to me of the potential that we all have as children of God. I am so thankful for the temple.

Then came Sunday. We went to our ward and Sister T's and I'm so glad. It was just what I needed. I felt the Spirit so strongly. One eight year old bore his testimony, because he had just gotten baptized the day before and it was the sweetest, most pure and powerful testimony I heard all day. It was just what I needed to hear. I felt humbled by the testimony of such a young boy. It was so beautiful.

It also seemed like every lesson was handpicked for me and the things I have been going through in the past few days. I felt renewed and refreshed from such wonderful meetings and especially from being able to partake of the sacrament. I am so thankful for that opportunity we have each week. I need it so badly. I am very human. I fall short so often, but I could feel my Savior’s love surrounding me as I partook of the sacrament and had the spirit more abundantly.

I am so happy. I feel so blessed to be a missionary. I love both of my companions. I have so much to learn from them in the next two weeks and I'm thankful for that. I am glad I'm learning more and more how to combat Satan and to never let him win. He may have his small victories, but never the ultimate victory.

I love you all. Thank you for your love and support. Make it a great week!