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| March 10, 2014 The New Ones...MTC Friends Forever. Back: Sisters Plante, Christiansen, Pope, Ormsby, Wilson, Weaver, and Walker Front: Sister King, Hatch, and Packer |
Dear Family & Friends,
That is SO cool that you all were
able to participate as a family effort in doing baptisms for the dead! What a
wonderful experience! We are still trying to find an opportunity to get to the
temple :(
Were you able to see the Oscars?
Someone from St. Vinny's told us that Ellen had hosted it...I can only imagine
how THAT was haha.
When we went over to Dee's again she
showed us Allison's comment (because she is friends with Sister Gardner on
Facebook) and I was able to read it. Love you Sis!! She also said she looks
like the girl from Juno...I don't really see it.
Cool beans on Cathy and Nani's house!
It looks great! I can't wait to see inside :) I sure hope that Chelsey will
continue on this path of reactivation. I love them so much!!
Weather-wise: it is 50 degrees today.
Balmy!!!!
I probably shouldn't even be telling
you this, but later this week, I had a fainting spell during a new missionary
training meeting. I willed myself not to pass out in front of everyone, so I
managed to get to the mother's room before my dizziness took over. Luckily, I
didn't really pass out, I just got light headed...plus the anxiety didn't help
either and I submitted to an hour of shakes. But, like always, I said a prayer
and the Lord helped me overcome and I was able to get through it. President
Cutler was there and he gave Sister Anderson permission to drive me home. I was
okay until the next night, when I lost my appetite (the fear of passing out
again taking hold), so the next morning I asked Brother Tateoka (the ward
mission leader) for a priesthood blessing. I was so comforted to have Elder
Hubert and Elder Schvaneveldt assist in the blessing. The Lord instructed me to
listen to my body and be healed and also, to continue to find that one person
who I need to find.
I had been overdoing it with not
eating enough + exercise. That day my appetite returned after I had learned
that this transfer I would be staying where I was with my same companion! I'm
sure stress with that played a key part. Yesterday at church, my appetite still
hadn't come back, so I called the nurse and she said to just consume liquids
and rest as often as I could. After a little bit I was able to eat dinner. I am
so grateful for Sis. Anderson! She fasted for me yesterday and I am eternally
grateful for her care and consideration towards me. You couldn't ask for a
better companion. I am so grateful for the Lord's protecting hand and although
I get frustrated when I don't know when my body is sick from natural causes or
my own anxiety, He is always there to instruct me in the ways that will best
benefit my own contribution to this work.
During my bought of anxiety, when I
reached the point where my feelings of inadequacy and homesickness sought to
take hold, He led me to this scripture from Paul in Philippians 1:3-6, 23-25:
"I thank my God upon every
remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request
of joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from this day until now; being
confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will
perform it until the day of Jesus Christ...for I am in a strait betwixt two,
having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.
Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you...And having this
confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your
furtherance and joy of faith..."
I see each and every one of you
family members in every beautiful countenance of those whom I meet. And I know
that you are all with me as I do as Alma encourages me to do and "see that
I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which
I have been called?...I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory
in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath
commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in
the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy"
(Alma 29:6, 9).
Okay enough about my problems. Lets
get to my joy.
This week we were able to visit with
Willie and Nikki again, this time teaching them the importance of going to
church and went more in depth about the covenant of baptism.
We met with Jorie again and this time
taught her the Plan of Salvation and how it connects to her purpose in life. We
committed her to pray specifically about the Book of Mormon and if it is true.
We also visited with Brandon, an
investigator who was a former Jehovah's Witness, with Sister Duran in our ward,
who has such a strong testimony. We discussed the importance of the sacrament
and he related his fears of going to church because of all of the hypocrisy and
that he often felt worse after going to church than he had before he went. I
bore my testimony about the significance of the Atonement and how that personal
relationship with the Lord helps shut out any doubts or fears one may have
about the social "club" he believes churches to have.
We also finally stopped by Sister
Yopps' house, after we had been struggling to get appointments with her. She is
worried about the welfare of her daughters who have gone very wayward and we
related the scripture about Joseph Smith's adversity in D&C and also how
sometimes the Lord stays His hand in order for us to be refined through the
fire of tribulation. She agreed and we encouraged her in the strength that she
has and is currently gaining regarding her faith.
Funny story!!!! The Spanish Elders
have been teaching a woman named Rosa whose only setback from being baptized is
stopping coffee. She's been to church and has a baptismal date and is the
sweetest lady! So, while she gets a blessing to help her prepare for baptism
and receive strength, she says her own prayer that the Lord will help her quit
drinking coffee...So, the next day, a miracle happens! She gets arrested! She
was fined for something that she had already paid off, but she thought the cops
were being very friendly (like I said, too sweet!) so she complied. But, since
it was the weekend, she was confined for 4 days...no coffee. She said that she
spent a lot of time thinking about how much she wanted coffee and by the time
she was let out she had no more desire to drink it! Miracles happen! The Lord
answers prayers!
I love you all! You remain in my
prayers, always!
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