First off, I'm really sick. Haha...and then I got my poor comp sick. So here we are at the Church writing emails..because we're too tired to go to the internet cafe. Not telling you this to complain but instead so that you will understand if my letter is all over the place.
Huge highlight of the week was when Elder Kearon came and spoke at a mission conference. It. was. AMAZING. He is so inspired and so humble. It was one of those moments in my life of recommitment to the Savior. I think we all need those ever now and again (hopefully more often than not). But it was a beautiful conference and he really inspired me to kick missionary work to the next level. It was interesting because the other day I was thinking "I feel like I have gotten stuck in a bandwidth. I bring city to a certain standard of excellence but then I don't know how to push beyond that. I want to break my own limits". Well sure enough. That is what half the conference was on.
Huge highlight of the week was when Elder Kearon came and spoke at a mission conference. It. was. AMAZING. He is so inspired and so humble. It was one of those moments in my life of recommitment to the Savior. I think we all need those ever now and again (hopefully more often than not). But it was a beautiful conference and he really inspired me to kick missionary work to the next level. It was interesting because the other day I was thinking "I feel like I have gotten stuck in a bandwidth. I bring city to a certain standard of excellence but then I don't know how to push beyond that. I want to break my own limits". Well sure enough. That is what half the conference was on.
Funny how it works like that isn't it? He talked about literally "breaking the bandwidth in which we work." How villes, missionaries and missions get stuck in a certain standard. And how we need to break the ceiling and work in a new bandwidth. He said that our Heavenly Father is SO pleased with us. But He is not satisfied. He went on to say that he really doesn't think our Father will EVER be satisfied with missionary work because he loves each child SO dearly and wants EVERY child to return home. So yes. He is pleased but how can He ever be satisfied when so many of His children are still wandering without the Gospel? It was really amazing. I wish I could describe it more than that but unfortunately...I can't haha.
Another highlight was seeing some of my favorite people on this entire planet--Soeur Hilton, Soeur Rhondeau and Soeur Barton. Unfortunately I'm a fool and never got a picture with Soeur Hilton but it was seriously such a blessing to see them all again. Every day I thank my Heavenly Father for the opportunity he gave me to come out here. Not only do I have a chance to share the Gospel every day but He gave me these amazing companions to do it with. These people who have changed my life for good.
Another highlight was seeing some of my favorite people on this entire planet--Soeur Hilton, Soeur Rhondeau and Soeur Barton. Unfortunately I'm a fool and never got a picture with Soeur Hilton but it was seriously such a blessing to see them all again. Every day I thank my Heavenly Father for the opportunity he gave me to come out here. Not only do I have a chance to share the Gospel every day but He gave me these amazing companions to do it with. These people who have changed my life for good.
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| With Soeur Rhondeau |
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| With Soeur Barton |
Theme of the last couple days: The Lord really takes care of His sick missionaries. Friday I started getting sick and it was downhill to Sunday (but things are looking up again). Well I hate staying in -- even when I'm sick. So I was praying BIG time that throughout the day that I could have energy and that we would be led to where we needed to go so we could maximize the time that I did have energy enough to do work.
Here is our day:
So I know a lot of you are dying to hear the update on the Duret family (family of 15 kids). So Friday we decided to have a rdv with just the mom and see how she's doing and what we can do for her. It was an amazing lesson. Let's start off by what her husband said to her after we left the first time "My love. I think it's time. I think it's time we start returning."
Our lesson with her was so beautiful. She apologized for not really participating the last time we were there. She said that she was still angry at our Heavenly Father for a lot of things that have happened in her life. She has never doubted that He is there or that Christ is her Savior but she had a lot of experiences between our first lesson and the one last week that showed her that it really is time. At the end of the lesson I asked her what we could do to help her. She looked up, saddened, and said "it's up to me now. I'm the one who messed up. I'm the one who shut the door so it's me who's got to work to clean up the mess".
With eyes full of tears we expressed to her that that is exactly why we are here. That she isn't alone and that the missionaries and more importantly-Christ will be there for her as she makes her steps back. There are those moments on your mission that you can never really explain. I wish I could. I guess it's a little like trying to describe what the Holy Ghost feels like. It feels good, you feel at peace and you gain understanding and direction but at the same time you really can't describe fully the feelings of the Holy Ghost. Just like I can't describe what these lessons feel like. But hopefully you get a feeling of what this marvelous work is like.
Right after, her son and his friend walk in. The friend asked who we were. Before we could reply she boldly replies "They are the missionaries for the one true church on the earth. There are other churchs that teach pieces of the truth but we're talking about Heavenly Father's church." BAM! At which point I turn around and say "Hi. My name's Soeur Bitter". Haha
Right after that, we go to the bus stop and we see that the next bus isn't coming for a little while so I thought "alright. well we can stand here in the cold or we can start walking and contact people along the way". Then I hear *honk honk* and I look across the street and it's Helene! One of our members. She motions for us to cross the street and hop in her car. SUCH A TENDER MERCY. She drives us all the way to the church.
Right after that, we go to the bus stop and we see that the next bus isn't coming for a little while so I thought "alright. well we can stand here in the cold or we can start walking and contact people along the way". Then I hear *honk honk* and I look across the street and it's Helene! One of our members. She motions for us to cross the street and hop in her car. SUCH A TENDER MERCY. She drives us all the way to the church.
We stop along the way to say hello to some people who were preparing for the wedding that night and then Sr Mangum and I decide to do a passby of someone who Soeur Mangum met on the bus (soeur magnum and I always split up on transportation so we both can contact someone. Double the contacting power! WOOT). Her name is Francoise and she plays the violin :) Win. Well she was there! We had a wonderful lesson and at the end she said "You know. I am never here on Fridays. Never. I literally stopped in to grab my violin and to change. God really wanted this to be." I nodded my head in agreement. She turned to me and said "You think so too?" "Most definitely" I responded. I left feeling so grateful to our Heavenly Father for taking care of invalid me.
Right after, we stopped by the wedding of a couple in our ward. Everyone INSISTED we come haha. That is one thing I adore about this mission. The missionaries REALLY are part of the ward. It was such a beautiful moment. They had a little service where they explained what would happen in the temple the next day and the power of the sealing ordinance. It was powerful to hear so many strong testimonies of Eternal Families. After that we mingled with TONS of non-members and less actives. A lot of them want to meet with us too. HAPPINESS.
Right after, we stopped by the wedding of a couple in our ward. Everyone INSISTED we come haha. That is one thing I adore about this mission. The missionaries REALLY are part of the ward. It was such a beautiful moment. They had a little service where they explained what would happen in the temple the next day and the power of the sealing ordinance. It was powerful to hear so many strong testimonies of Eternal Families. After that we mingled with TONS of non-members and less actives. A lot of them want to meet with us too. HAPPINESS.
Unfortunately after all of this, I was dead. :( We had to go home for the night. Besides an early turn in, the day was amazing and the next couple were just as good.
Wish I could share more of the weeks miracles but honestly, I'm not feeling well. It's time for us to go home.
Wish I could share more of the weeks miracles but honestly, I'm not feeling well. It's time for us to go home.
Love you all
Soeur Bitter.
Soeur Bitter.
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| Thanks Mindy! My boots now stand up straight. |
This weeks spiritual thought is brought to you by one of my personal favorites: Elder Maxwell
"Whenever Church members speak of consecration, it should be done reverently while acknowledging that each of us “come[s] short of the glory of God,” some of us far short (Rom. 3:23). Even the conscientious have not arrived, but they sense the shortfall and are genuinely striving...
A second group of members are “honorable” but not “valiant.” They are not really aware of the gap nor of the importance of closing it (see D&C 76:75, 79). These “honorable” individuals are certainly not miserable nor wicked, nor are they unrighteous and unhappy. It is not what they have done but what they have left undone that is amiss. For example, if valiant, they could touch others deeply instead of merely being remembered pleasantly..."
I cut it off after the "2nd group" because I really do believe that so many of us fall into that category. May we rise to a higher level of conversion so that we can become more useful tools in the hands of the Father in blessing those around us.
"Whenever Church members speak of consecration, it should be done reverently while acknowledging that each of us “come[s] short of the glory of God,” some of us far short (Rom. 3:23). Even the conscientious have not arrived, but they sense the shortfall and are genuinely striving...
A second group of members are “honorable” but not “valiant.” They are not really aware of the gap nor of the importance of closing it (see D&C 76:75, 79). These “honorable” individuals are certainly not miserable nor wicked, nor are they unrighteous and unhappy. It is not what they have done but what they have left undone that is amiss. For example, if valiant, they could touch others deeply instead of merely being remembered pleasantly..."
I cut it off after the "2nd group" because I really do believe that so many of us fall into that category. May we rise to a higher level of conversion so that we can become more useful tools in the hands of the Father in blessing those around us.
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