Thursday in particular was our miracle day. First, we found out that Sister McLaren got a TEMPLE DATE! She's been recovering from smoking and she's been coming to church regularly now and her progress is just phenomenal. Now she's going to the temple for her first time tomorrow and that brings me SO MUCH JOY.
In the same day, we went to visit an older woman who has a disease and is basically just waiting for her death at any moment. It's so so sad. Sister cox and I went to see her and she was in her bed looking so frail and sad...it was horrible. She asked us if we would sing her a song (remember how I don't sing?) and we said we would. We ended up singing 'I Stand all Amazed' and I've never had an experience like that before. The spirit was so strong and the lady was in bed with her eyes closed and a small smile on her face. It brought tears to my eyes as the feeling of joy and gratitude washed over me. I am so blessed to be a missionary and to have this opportunity to do these things for these people. These experiences are what being a missionary is all about!
Another cool thing happened with planning for a certain lesson. I had a prompting that we should share a specific general conference talk with them and that night as we were reading it with them, the husband said "I feel like I really needed to hear all of this. I feel like this was written just for me." It was so neat to have been able to be that tool in the Lord's hand to share that talk with Brother Bernier at the time he needed it most.
An update on the 25 days of Christmas...its been going wonderfully! Since this is such a boony area, everyone lives pretty far away from each other and we don't have enough miles to bring them something individually every day so we just text them and encourage them to do different things. We've shared conference talks, we invited them to call up a relative that they haven't talked to in a while to wish them a merry christmas, we've challenged them to bake something to take to a friend or neighbor, etc. It's been so uplifting to hear their miracles and experiences as they've done these things and AHH I just love being a missionary :)
Something really different about this week was how often we were tracting and knocking on SO MANY DOORS offering them the new Christmas video. We dedicated hours out of our days just to go and offer it to people which was actually pretty successful! The video was an awesome tool to use as a door approach and it made us less threatening and the video brought a nice innocent spirit. We even got a couple return appointments out of it which is a stinkin miracle. There was even a man who tried paying us which was a first....we didn't take the money of course but it was cool to be offered it nonetheless :,)
I've been asked to give a TWENTY-MINUTE talk in sacrament meeting next week. And I'm teaching gospel principles that day....I didn't sign up for this. (Yes I did...oops). I have no idea what to speak about for twenty minutes. #help
I've been asked to give a TWENTY-MINUTE talk in sacrament meeting next week. And I'm teaching gospel principles that day....I didn't sign up for this. (Yes I did...oops). I have no idea what to speak about for twenty minutes. #help
Did you all watch the Christmas Devotional?! It was SO GOOD and I wish it could have gone on forever. I loved how Elder David A. Bednar brought up the comparison of Christ referring Himself as The Light and how the Christmas holiday has so many symbols of light. Christmas lights on our trees, on our homes, candles, etc. Samuel the Lamanite also prophesied the sign of Christ's birth with light. I just loved it all!
A scripture that I found this past week during my personal study time is something I'd like to share with all of you as well. It's 1 Peter 4: 12-13 which says:
A scripture that I found this past week during my personal study time is something I'd like to share with all of you as well. It's 1 Peter 4: 12-13 which says:
Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Look at your trials as opportunities. We are given these hard times to give us a chance to grow closer to our Heavenly Father. He isn't punishing us or shoving trials down our throats because He's bored...He knows what we can handle and even when it seems like we can't handle it, that's when He begs you to draw nearer to Him so He can take on the rest.
"No pain that we suffer, or trial that we experience is wasted." -Orson F Whitney
Like the scripture said, once His glory is revealed, we will find that exceeding joy. Until then, work hard and turn towards the Lord. All our strength and answers can be found through Him :) I should probably take my own advice because there are times where the trials I'm facing seem a lot more apparent than the blessings I'm being given. There are times where I feel abandoned or lonely and I feel like God is stepping back to watch me handle things myself which sometimes may be the case, but it isn't always. There are times where I feel like my testimony isn't where it needs to be for someone serving a mission like I am.
Look at your trials as opportunities. We are given these hard times to give us a chance to grow closer to our Heavenly Father. He isn't punishing us or shoving trials down our throats because He's bored...He knows what we can handle and even when it seems like we can't handle it, that's when He begs you to draw nearer to Him so He can take on the rest.
"No pain that we suffer, or trial that we experience is wasted." -Orson F Whitney
Like the scripture said, once His glory is revealed, we will find that exceeding joy. Until then, work hard and turn towards the Lord. All our strength and answers can be found through Him :) I should probably take my own advice because there are times where the trials I'm facing seem a lot more apparent than the blessings I'm being given. There are times where I feel abandoned or lonely and I feel like God is stepping back to watch me handle things myself which sometimes may be the case, but it isn't always. There are times where I feel like my testimony isn't where it needs to be for someone serving a mission like I am.
I need to ALWAYS remind myself that I am never alone...I am not waking up before the sun, knocking on doors, giving 20 minute talks, missing my friends and family, or anything like that alone. I would not be able to do this by myself! There is no way I have the strength and capacity to handle this without any extra help. I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father and for my Savior and their love for me and for their willingness to stand right next to me during this time. I am so blessed.
Also, today we've been invited to go chop down a Christmas tree with the bishop and his family :) YAY. I've never chopped down a tree before so it should be fun! I looove bishop Lilly and his wife SO MUCH. They had us over for the devotional last night and Sister Lilly comes with us to lessons all the time. They're so coooool.
LOVE YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD WEEK
Oh...by the way....this week the temp has been in the 50's. Somebody explain that kthanksbye
AND another thing...sister cox and I and the elders that are also serving in this ward have to do a skit at the ward Christmas party this Friday. PLEASE SEND IDEAS WE ARE PANICKING.
Oh...by the way....this week the temp has been in the 50's. Somebody explain that kthanksbye
AND another thing...sister cox and I and the elders that are also serving in this ward have to do a skit at the ward Christmas party this Friday. PLEASE SEND IDEAS WE ARE PANICKING.
We got matching pajamas. Why are we so adorable.
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