Joy to the World and Blitz with the YSA ward

This week has been a pretty weird week to say the least. On Tuesday we had district meeting and during our meeting we each went around the room and shared our converstion story. It was so amazing. Everyone's conversion is different yet it all has led us to the same place, a mission. I am so grateful for Heavenly Father in putting us all here and helping us to strengthen our testimonies as we serve him faithfully.

 

On Tuesday we had a lesson with a woman name Joy. She is a single mother whose husband was deported back to Mexico. She has two of the cutest boys ever! I love her so much. I am excited to continue to teach her. She really wants this gospel. She already wants t get baptized!

 

On Friday we went on an adventure trying to find a house of a former investigator. It was like craziness. We were driving up the Shenandoah Mountains almost at 1100 elevation. It was so much fun until... we didn't end up finding the house. Lame! We called but they didn't answer. So sad yet so worth it.

 

On Saturday we did exchanges with the Charlottesville YSA Sisters and then did a blitz with our zone in their area. They are struggling with finding new investigators so four other sets of missionaries and the Charlottesville YSA Elders came and we all took over Charlottesville. It was so much fun. I love serving with other missionaries. It is so much fun and you get a lot of things accomplished. That night I got a letter from my mom that freaked me out so I called President Wilson. I got a Priesthood Blessing from the zone leaders that calmed my entire frame. It was so amazing! I am so grateful for the Priesthood and that it was restored to allow for 20 year old men to administer to me and say the words that God wants to say to me.

 

Next week is going to be super crazy we have zone conference on Thursday (which we have to train at, it's going to be hilarious we hope we don't get in trouble), Tuesday/ Wednesday we will do exchanges, Friday we are going on exchanges with the Spanish missionaries, and Saturday is the day of service and the relief society broadcast! Busy, busy, busy.

 

Spiritual thoughts:

 

This week I studied both 'His Grace is Sufficient' by Brad Wilcox and 'Broken Things to Mend' by Elder Holland:

 

In Broken Things to Mend Elder Holland says:

 

 It seems clear that the essence of our duty and the fundamental requirement of our mortal life is captured in these brief phrases from any number of scenes in the Savior’s mortal ministry. He is saying to us, “Trust me, learn of me, do what I do. Then, when you walk where I am going,” He says, “we can talk about where youare going, and the problems you face and the troubles you have. If you will follow me, I will lead you out of darkness,” He promises. “I will give you answers to your prayers. I will give you rest to your souls.”

 

He continues:

Considering the incomprehensible cost of the Crucifixion and Atonement, I promise you He is not going to turn His back on us now. When He says to the poor in spirit, “Come unto me,” He means He knows the way out and He knows the way up. He knows it because He has walked it. He knows the way because He is the way.

 

I know that He hears us and He knows us. As we lean on His Atonement we can and will be healed. I know that He answers prayers.

 

As I have read the speech by Brad Wilcox one part in particular has been on my mind everyday for the past four days:

In all of these cases there should never be just two options: perfection or giving up. When learning the piano, are the only options performing at Carnegie Hall or quitting? No. Growth and development take time. Learning takes time. When we understand grace, we understand that God is long-suffering, that change is a process, and that repentance is a pattern in our lives. When we understand grace, we understand that the blessings of Christ’s Atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). When we understand grace, we can, as it says in the Doctrine and Covenants, “continue in patience until [we] are perfected” (D&C 67:13).
I constantly want to improve and get better but I find myself hitting those 'wrong notes' now I am realizing that it's okay to not be perfect right now. I need not beat myself up when I make those mistakes. I can and will be better but it does take time and it really is that process. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who helps us and who sent His Son to die for us so that we can have access to the Atonement and to His Grace.

Sisters Meeting, Crazy Week of Exchanges, and a Baptism

This week was a super busy week. On Tuesday we had Sisters Meeting with all of the sister missionaries in the Richmond Virginia Mission. It was very interesting. One of the speakers talked to us about mental and spiritual well being. She talked about how our personal worth is not dependent on our circumstances. She said that no matter where we are or what we are doing on worth is the same. She slammed a pole onto the ground and said: "I will not bend. My worth doesn't move, it doesn't change." It has impacted the past few days as I have tried to constantly remind myself of my needs.

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we went on exchanges with four sets of missionaries. We were so exhausted when we got home Friday night. It was so crazy but it was super fun. I got to teach in Spanglish with a set of Spanish missionaries. It was a lot of fun. On Saturday we went on two- two hour exchanges with sister missionaries in Charlottesville, it was a lot of fun. 

On Saturday Robin Blanco was baptized. The sisters had been meeting with her for a month. I had the opportunity to teach her some lessons before she was baptized as well. She is so great. Her baptism was super hilarious. Satan really did not want her to be baptized. Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong. It was so stressful but seeing her finally, after two hours, enter the water and partake of the ordinance of baptism made it all worth it. 

I am so happy that I am here with Sister Hammond. She really is amazing. Everyday I learn from her how to be better. She is so great at loving the sisters and insuring that their needs are taken care of. Sometimes I get stuck in thinking about our area that I forget to take the time to really get to know the sisters and seek for revelation on how to help them.

Spiritual Thought: 

This week I have been focusing on my, and the sisters, spiritual well being. I have been reading the talk 'You Matter to Him' by President Uchtdorf and I am still studying the topic of Sacrifice. I have also been deciphering and personalizing the hymn 'I am a Child of God.' All of these things have been great sources of strength.

Sister Training Leader and Sacrifice

This week has been a week of adventure as I have taken on the responsibilities of Sister Training Leader. We are over seven sets of sisters and they are so fun. Two sets live close by (the neighboring area) however the other sets live 35-80) miles away! Because of this we are not often in our area (maybe two- three days per week) so when we are in our area we have to work really hard. Three of the sisters that we are over are struggling a lot so we have spent a lot of time in their area helping them and working with their other leaders and president. But it has been great to fervently pray to Heavenly Father to receive revelation for these sisters and then say the things that they need to hear. 

We had a baptism here of a part-member family. The Sisters had been teaching Natalie for months and she was baptized on Friday. I want to help her husband get back active. She seems like a great woman so I hope that she stays on the right path and will be a blessing for him. 

I am excited to continue in this adventure with Sister Hammond. Heavenly Father put us together for a reason. She is so funny just like me and we really get a long well. I am helping her with some things and she is helping me. I love her so much and I hope that we stay together for my last transfer. 

Spiritual Thought: 

This week I have been studying 'Sacrifice' along with the rest of the mission. President Wilson wanted us to. So as I have been studying I have seen the significance of the Atonement and what a huge sacrifice that was for our Savior. I have also studied the sacrifice of Joseph Smith. He sacrificed his entire life for the gospel to be brought forth. 

I decided that I wanted to sacrifice something for my Savior as gratitude and also be come closer to Him. I am going to sacrifice my comfort zone. There are those little sins of omission and even commission that we do everyday. We find a reason to continue to do them and even rationalize about them. I have determined now to do away with them! They hinder me from being closer to my Father in Heaven and even cause my Savior pain. Why would I ever want to do that? I am choosing this moment right now to stop doing/ not doing those things that will stop my progression towards exaltation. With the help of Heavenly Father I know that I can become better.