There is a less active that we have been trying to meet the whole past two months that we have been here. We were meeting with Kate one night and she walks in the door! Her name is Special and she moved so we haven't been able to see her at all, and finally she runs into us! It was really cool, she said she misses coming to church and she misses relief society and all the people at church. It was such a miracle to be able to talk to her.
Remember how Sister Buchmiller and I both started our missions in Tappahannok? Well, someone that I had met, and Sister Buchmiller had taught, got baptized on Friday and we were able to go! It was a 3 hour drive so we needed a member to take us. The Rannoks took us to Fredericksburg and then Sister Heath (she was already in Fredericksburg for a job) took us the rest of the way. So I was able to go to both of the areas that I have served in on Friday! It was so fun to see those places again. It was also fun to go see Melissa get baptized, and all the members in the ward that I first served with. It took them a while to recognize me without my glasses on.
Jerry came to church this Sunday! He said that he loved church, which is so great! Also an amazing member came up to Jerry and asked if he would like to come over for dinner one night this week. So Jerry has already made some great friends. Not to mention that when he saw John they both got excited because they grew up together! What are the odds?! It is such a miracle. We have been meeting with Jerry about two times a week and he said that since he has started meeting with us, and reading the Book of Mormon that two of his problems in life have gone away. His life is becoming easer and better because of the gospel!
Monday, amazing Sister Roberts set up an appoitment with us to go teach her friend. We go to her house and share a powerful restoration lesson. Her name is Pat Foster and she said that she felt it and understood the differences in our church and a need for a living prophet. She said that she is going to read the Book of Mormon to know if this really is true. It was a great lesson because our words were backed up with Sister Roberts' testimony. People listen to their friends more than they listen to us haha.
Tuesday was amazing! Elder Schwitzer, who is a General Authority Seventy, and his wife came to our mission and we had a little conference with just the Sister's and then our zone conference with half the mission. It was really amazing and I learned so much from him about how I can be a better missionary. Which is what I strive to do each day.
I truly do know that the gospel brings peace to us in our lives. Something that Jerry has been struggling with is why he needs to go to church and keep reading if bad things are going to happen to him anyway. I know that disciples of Jesus Christ don't have perfect lives. Just because you are doing the right thing, doesn't mean that you aren't going to go through trials. I am so grateful for the trials and hard things that I have been through. Heavenly Father gives us those times to make us stronger. The gospel isn't going to change your circumstances, it is going to change YOU. Through Jesus Christ and the Atonement, we are able to be given the strength and power to overcome anything. "The unique burdens in each of our lives help us to rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah. I testify and promise the Savior will help us to bear up our burdens with ease. As we are yoked with Him through sacred covenants and receive the enabling power of His Atonement in our lives, we increasingly will seek to understand and live according to His will. We also will pray for the strength to learn from, change, or accept our circumstances rather than praying relentlessly for God to change our circumstances according to our will. We will become agents who act rather than objects that are acted upon. We will be blessed with spiritual traction."- Elder Bednar
"He defeated death, and conquered sin. He offers peace to all who follow Him. He can calm troubled seas, and troubles souls. He can heal broken lives, and broken bonds. He can turn water into wine, and heartache into hope. He lived, died, and rose again the third day, so we will all live again. His resurrection gives us peace now and forever. He is Jesus Christ. King of Kings. Lord of Lords. The Prince of Peace."
I know that true peace comes from our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that as we follow Him, we can feel peace and joy in ANY circumstance. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth. The Creator of all things from the beginning, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity. And I love Him with all of my heart.
No comments:
Post a Comment