Well this
week was kind of a blur. It's been so good. I LOVE Sister W! She is so awesome.
I miss Sister K, of course, and we had an amazing
transfer together, but it has been clear to me that Sister W and I are
supposed to be together for this transfer. It's been good to be with someone
that I was in the MTC with because it's very clear the growth we both have
made. We haven't even served near each other for our whole missions and it's
been good to see the change in both of us. We've had some similar experiences
on our missions and it's been wonderful reflecting on the things we have both
learned on our missions. We have such similar views on missionary work. It
makes it great because nothing stands in the way of us just doing the work. We
love each other, we work the same way, and we're both so keen to work hard. We
both want to go home running. We've set some great goals for this transfer
together. Things that will not only help our area grow, but us, as
missionaries, grow to our fullest capacities. We also teach really well
together. It flows so nicely. And we both just love each other so there is none
of the negative comparison that can happen in companionships sometimes. It's so
good. This is going to be a great transfer.
We've had
some really spiritual experiences in lessons. We have made it a goal to make
sure that all our lessons are taught completely by the Spirit and we saw the
fruits of that this week. The Spirit has taught some powerful lessons through
us this week. I've felt the Spirit very strongly. I love that. We've worked
with a lot of less-actives this week and we made some amazing progress with
them because the Spirit guided the lessons and the questions we asked that
opened them up. It was beautiful.
On
Thursday we were teaching the young woman about missionary work. Youth can be a
hard bunch. We were showing videos and trying to make it really interesting but
they were VERY unresponsive. Not that that's incredibly unusual for youth, but
it can still be frustrating, but as we were teaching I felt the Spirit so
strongly. I know the ones that had their hearts open did as well. There was one
point where I felt impressed to testify of the love that you feel in missionary
work. Sarah and Tayla were there and I felt an over powering love for them. I
recognized that the love I feel for them and for so many people that I'm
currently working with and that I have in the past is what makes this service
such a pleasure. It's what makes it easier to keep going hard, because you love
them and desire their salvation. I love it! It's really all about love. I have
felt that time and time again on my mission, but it never ceases to overwhelm
me. As mum would say, "I feel so overwhelmed!"
We also
tried to celebrate Independence Day. The Bishop's family (who are American)
invited us over for a little celebration and we knew we needed to share a
message, like we would at any dinner. So that morning as we contemplated what
we would share, I pondered what our independence really meant to me. I
remembered that it is so much more than freedom, but it's the whole reason that
the restoration could come about. It's the reason that Joseph Smith was in a
position to have so many different religions around him and to be able to be
God's instrument in restoring the fullness of His gospel to the earth. What a
blessing for the world! Not just America. I am so grateful for the religious
freedom that came about because of so many people that fought and gave their
lives for it and the many people that continue to do so.
 |
| happy fourth! |
We also
have had a bit of a weird week. There has been a lot of things that have come
up that have thrown off our plans and made it hard to get all that we wanted to
done.
 |
| after finding Sister W's wallet. |
On
Saturday we taught some less-actives a powerful lesson on repentance and
change. We talked about choosing right now to change, not just waiting for a
new day, or a new week, or a new month, or a new year. We can decide right now
to change and do better.
Later that
night, we were struggling to find an investigator. We had been struggling with
it all week. We were doing all the right things, but it kind of felt like we
were doing it on autopilot. We only had a little bit left of the night and I
thought that maybe we should pray, but then Satan tempted me with the same thing
I had just taught our less-actives about. I kept thinking, "oh we'll just
start fresh tomorrow." "We only have an hour left." Then I
remembered what we had said to them. You can do it NOW. You don't have to wait
for a new day to start fresh. So we pulled over and knelt down in the car and
prayed for Heavenly Father's help to do what we can never do it on our own. We
pleaded for His guidance as we did all we could to find a new investigator. We
were directed to some people that became good potentials. And finally, we were
led to a new investigator. It was such a blessing. God is so good to us. I
don't know why I ever try to do it without Him. It's such a temptation to do
missionary work on autopilot, especially when you're tired. But that's just
Satan's trap trying to pacify us. Lull us into a false sense of security. But
I'm so grateful that God cared enough about me to help me remember to ask Him
for help. He gave a gentle and beautiful reminder that ended up changing the
rest of the evening.
I love
this work. I love this ward. I love this area, and I love my companion. I am so
happy to be a full time servant of the Lord with His name on my nametag. It
brings me so much joy. I hope you're all trying to do the same. I understand
it's so hard when you're not full time, but it's you all who make the work
possible and fruitful for the full time missionaries. I love you and I'm so
thankful for your love and support.
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