Happy 4th of July! The second year in a row not being able to see the fireworks, but hearing them. I guess that's kinda like faith, right? It's things that we can't see but the Holy Ghost can tell us that it's true. Missionaries can relate anything to the gospel...
This past week was quite the party. I think that we were humbled just a bit. This whole transfer we have just had teaching appointment after teaching appointment...and this week most of them decided to cancel on us. As much as going through struggles isn't always the most fun...I cling to the fact that it's after the trial of our faith that the blessings come. So I know they are coming, and some of them already have.
There really isn't anything as rewarding as being an instrument in the hands of the Lord. It is such an honor to represent Him. This week for the 4th of July I read a lot of scriptures about freedom in the Book of Mormon. And it just so happens that the freedoms that we enjoy come from keeping the commandments of the Lord. Ether 2:12, "Behold this is a choice land and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written." Jesus Christ is the life of the world. He sets us free. And I've seen that in the life of especially Todd and Suzie the past few weeks. Even though they were prepared, they had to make lots of changes, and what a great experience it has been to see how the gospel has been that light in the wilderness. God is good.
Monday night a lesson fell through and we went to stop by a less active family. Mailey, the daughter, opened the door and we could see Sister Ball laid out on the floor. We were able to talk with her through some things and contact her home teachers to come and give her a blessing. My thoughts have changed when a lesson cancels to, "Where does the Lord need us to be?"
Another night, two of our lessons-both of which NEVER cancel on us- canceled! We prayed and sought where the Lord would have us be. Plus, there was a major storm coming(monsoon season is officially here). We got in with an investigator that we hadn't been able to contact in a couple weeks. We were able to resolve a couple big concerns about the priesthood and having faith in Christ. She says she doesn't believe like she used to.
Of course, we got to be the source of some peoples freedom when we did some service this week. We painted FOREVER one day and helped a less active family move out of the ward. Not a single person from the ward showed up to help, so we had to enlist the elders. They were very grateful.
On the 4th we got special permission from the assistants to spend the night with some other sisters. They told us to keep it on the down low because they didn't want lots of people asking for it.ha. It was lots of fun. We had to go in early and study for a couple hours and then we had a FIRE in the backyard! with S'MORES! The sisters here are just awesome.
One day during the week we went to teach Suzie the last lesson before her baptism. And her and Todd had just gotten back from Deseret Book(the LDS Bookstore). They told the workers that they were like kids in a candy store. They bought a few things and are each getting a CTR ring. They're just the cutest.
Saturday...we thought we had everything prepared for the baptism. And at like 8:00 the musical number backed out. Then the elders text us and said they didn't have baptismal jumpsuits under 6 feet. So there was a bit of panic and pandemonium...but we got it all figured out. Sister Hibbard and I along with 4 other sisters organized a musical number...Nearer My God to Thee. And we had to go round up another jumpsuit from a different church building. Good thing there's like a bajillion down here. The baptism was SO AMAZING! People showed up. The programs were pretty. We involved lots of different families. People actually cried during the musical number, hopefully not because it was really terrible. And of course Todd was able to baptize Suzie! It was such a sweet moment. They went into the font and he looked at us and pointed and said, "Stop making me laugh." He had practiced the baptismal prayer so much, but stage fright got to him and Suzie even whispered some of the words to him. And instead of holding the small of her back while dunking her he grabbed her neck...which looked like he was drowning her...but it all worked out :) A councilor in the bishopric told us it was the best baptismal program he's ever seen because we asked all the less actives we knew to contribute something and they were able to strengthen their testimony as well.
Mirlande and Barbara both came to church and were able to see Suzie's confirmation. And Todd blessed the sacrament! We are also going to take them to the Gilbert Temple this coming Saturday to do baptisms for their ancestors! So it's going to be sooooo amazing!
One thing that's really hit me this week is how everything is eternal, and what that really means. We are eternal spiritual beings having a mortal experience. Our families can be eternal. The covenants we make with God are eternal. Our agency is eternal. And what we do in this brief mortal life determines how we will spend eternity. Kinda scary but fear is good for you every now and then. Anyway, I hope that all is well! I love learning from all the people that I've met here and having my testimony that Christ lives strengthened each day. He loves us. He is aware of us and our situations. I love this work.
Love and miss y'all.
Sister Adams
.JPG)
No comments:
Post a Comment