Christmas.Mormon.Org

This has been a beautiful week! I love feeling the Christmas spirit!

 

Earlier this week we were asked to give the boy scouts a tour of the church because they were going around to 10 different churches that day to learn about the 10 Commandments, a different Commandment at each church. The lady who arranged the activity told us there could be anywhere from 4-100 people. So we werent sure how many to expect. It was just us and the Elders, we planned a lesson to teach our commandment, which was, "Thou shalt not kill". So 150 people ended up coming!!! And we were not prepared at all for that many people!!! We totally swung the whole thing but somehow I ended up in the front of the group tour around the building, so I gave the church tour. It was so scary... haha... at the end of the presentation we left it open for people to ask questions. The Spirit was really strong and I think we planted a lot of good seeds:) The Spirit had to go into overtime because we had no idea what we were doing! Some of the people noticed that we were the youngest of all the religious leaders they had seen that day. I thought that was cool. The Lord uses the weak things of this world to show forth His power. 

Do you guys remember when I sent the stroy of the lady that rejected us because she said, "I'm sorry! I cant talk right now because  there is an earthquake!!" But we were confused because there was no earthquake? But we were extra confused because there were palm leaves all over her front yard and it looked like her house was having an earthquake because of the palm leaves. Well we went back to her house this week and her husband answered the door and said, "Did you guys come here and my wife was really frantic about an earthquake?" And we said "Yeesss!!!!!!" And he explained that she is really scared of earthquakes and he was on the roof that day pruning his palm trees in the back yard and then throwing them down to the front yard...hahaha and she didn't know he was up there! So she heard the noise and thought it was an earthquake. We laughed about it and then he let us show him the new Christmas video and then he totally opened up to us about his faith. It was such a cool finding story:)

The Christmas video is found at christmas.mormon.org. I invite everyone to watch it!! I get something new from it every time i see it! I know you can too. It will help you refocus on Christ this Christmas. Every time someone agrees to watch this video, they either become a new investigator or they invite us back. The power behind the video truly amazes me.

Ok well this will be my last mission blog because next week I will be really busy getting ready to go. 

 

I want to share my testimony with you.

If you would have asked me before my mission why I wanted to go, it was because I knew that I would be closer to my Savior than any other time in my life. I learned that being close to our Savior is not rainbows and butterfly's. Its really hard sometimes! Every time I am rejected, I know that it humbles me and it brings me closer to Christ because He was also rejected and despised by men. I have come to know that everyone can be close to Jesus Christ, not just missionaries. All we need to do is remember Him and follow Him. We need to follow his Commandments so that He can poor his blessings upon us.

I know that we have a Father in Heaven that watches over us and hears our prayers. He loves us so much that He gave his son in order for us to return to Him. I love the story of Abraham and Issac because it helps me realize a little bit how it felt to be Heavenly Father when he gave up his son's life for us. I know that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is very individual. That means he suffered for us individually and His love for us surpasses all other love. The scriptures say that, "There is no greater love than this, that a man layeth down his life for his friend." Or something along those lines. I know that is true, Christ is our brother and our friend and all joy in life is found because of Him.

I know that our Father in Heaven has a plan for us. Part of that plan is going through things that are hard. But I know that our trials can bring us closer to God when we rely on Him. I know it seems like Satan is winning in the world, but he is not. I know that all things good will conquer all things bad in the end. I know that through Jesus Christ all things will be made right in the end. I know there is life after this and when we endue our life well, we can be with our families for all eternity. I am so grateful to know that I can be with my family forever. They truly have taught me how to love people and that is the essence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I know that God calls prophets because He loves us and His word never stops. Revelation was not made so that it can stop. God continually speaks to us through the scriptures, prayer and through a living prophet. I know that Joseph Smith was called as a Prophet of God and he was an honorable man. I know he saw God and Jesus Christ and they spoke with him. I know that through the power of God, The Book of Mormon was translated. The Book of Mormon always teaches me new things and it helps me learn more about my Savior.

I know this is The Church of Jesus Christ on the earth. He is literally the head of this Church. I know these things to be true, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

It Is Noble, It Is Godly, and It Is God's Will

Oh my goodness!!!! Its been a GREAT week!!!! Ok I will tell you the most exciting thing first!

So we have been working with a less active in our ward. She is 24 years old and usually comes to church with her mom and she just recently decided to come back. There was one night that we didn't know what to plan for so we decided to stop by this particular lady's home (at this point we didn't know who she was.). When we knocked on the door she had just come home from work and she was happy to see us! She invited us in and told us about her job and about her life. She recently decided to stop smoking weed and she told us she wasn't happy anymore with her 'under-the-table' job. The next time we met with her we told her that she has to act in faith and quit her job. We promised her that God would bless her for trying to do what is right and bless her with another job. She said, "I know your right..but I am scared. They need me." She was a manager there and she thought they would be mad at her for quitting. Plus how would she pay for everything? We weren't sure if she was going to do it or not. It was a hard decision because she has to pay rent, car and for school. it didn't seem to be an option to her that because then she wouldn't be making any money. So last night when we went to her house, she was glowing!! She quit her job! She got into a car accident and her car was totaled but she still had a rental car and she has some family that will let her borrow a car until she is able to buy one. Two days after she quit her job, she got hired at another place! She was filled with hope and she was so happy! It was so incredible to see Heavenly Father pick her up when she thought she was falling. I testify that when we follow the commandments and when we follow what God wants us to do, He will be there for us. He will make miracles happen. Sometimes we think we are jumping into water that is 2000 feet deep. But when we take a step forward, we find out it is only ankle deep because Heavenly Father will never let us fall. 

On Monday I was feeling really sick but I rested during p-day so that I would be able to work the 3 hours in the evening. I'm so grateful I did because we talked to this lady getting out of her car. Her name is Cheryl and we asked if we could say a prayer with her. She said yes and invited us to come inside of her house so that we could meet her mother who has cancer. She wanted to pray for her mom, Natalie. So we did and we set up another time that we could come back and share a lesson. When we went back we met Cheryl's sister Marlo. When she opened the door she looked confused but when she saw who we were she was really happy! She said, "Oh!! Missionaries!! Come inside!!" We don't get that reaction very often so it made us pretty happy. She told us how she used to meet with missionaries 10 + years ago and then she moved so they lost contact. We taught them about the plan that God has for them and they both said they would be baptized. It was a huge miracle and I am so grateful that Heavenly Father leads and guides us so that we can find those who not only need, but want the Gospel in their lives. 

I know that being a member of the church is not very easy. Its not easy to go to 3 hours of church every Sunday. Its not easy to take time out of our busy schedules to drop off dinner at someone's house or give someone a ride to church. But I know that it is noble, it is godly, and it is the will of God to do those things. It wasn't easy for Jesus Christ to suffer for each of our sins and feel all the pain and suffering of this world. But it was noble, it was godly and it was the will of God. I love my savior Jesus Christ and I love my Heavenly Father. I am grateful to be in the Lord's army as a missionary. I know that He guides this work and I know that this is His Gospel. It changes other peoples lives and it has surely changed mine.

 

I love you guys!! :) See you all soon!!

Some pictures:

Some of the sisters in the mission at the temple
Sister Beaudette and I at the temple this morning
Sister Beaudette and I at the diner, sitting in a cool car booth
Sister Beadette, Sister Cochron and helping for a big thanksgiving dinner