"All I could think is that's not long enough"
Hello
helloooo! Happy May!!! (Why does time keep flying by so fast?!)
Sorry
this will be shorter, nothing too miraculous to report on, lots of appointments
fell through, and then just got the usual anxiety because transfer time is upon
us once again. (This Thursday)
Sister
Udall got a training call!!! Trainin' right outta 12 Week cus she is a
pro!!
She will
be the best little mom to the new little missionary!
Sadly,
however, this means that after a VERY VERY short 6 weeks, I will probably have
to leave the celestial land of Liberty 1st Ward.
I will
be so so sad. This ward has been the best ward I have been in!! And I can't
even think about having to leave my Investigators!! Ahh. But so is the mission
life.
Learning
how to submit to God's will and finding joy in whatever way He directs your
path.
I
learned a lot this week about finding that joy and feeling God's love.
We had
exchanges this week, and I was with the lovely Sister Anderson.
I am so
grateful for her, because she helped me answer a question I had had for a very
long time. She gave me some advice that I have applied this week and that I
want to invite each of you to do as well!
She told
me to take the time every night to go somewhere alone and pray - just talk to
God out loud. Be completely honest with Father in Heaven about your thoughts
and feelings. Believe and hope that He is there listening. Pause and listen to
the promptings of the spirit as you ask questions and share your thoughts.
You
think I would have been doing this all along, but honestly I had slacked off in
the sincerity of my prayers and let me tell you that is detrimental!
I am so
grateful for the power of prayer. As we are open with our Heavenly Father, He
can be open with us. We open up our heart to hear Him and accept His will. We
feel that He understands us and loves us. Having this simple
knowledge/confirmation will help you through ANY trial.
This
past Sunday we also had the most amazing lesson about the conference talk from
October: "Joy and Spiritual Survival"
The
discussion we had about it was a direct answer to what I had been praying for
for weeks. And they started with this question:Look
at one 24hour period in your life. And analyze what percentage of that 24 hr
period do you feel true joy?
With
that in mind, the talk is all about finding joy no matter what the
circumstances. And self-evaluate for a second... Easier said than done...
So how do we do this?
Focus on Christ!
D&C
6:36 says, "Look unto me in every thought. Doubt not, fear
not."
But how
can we look to Christ in our thoughts?
Someone
made the comment that chemically in our brains, we think in pictures!
As we
picture Christ, and imagine what He would do in the situations we are placed
in, we can feel of the joy that He has. Because our thoughts are then connected
to our feelings, we feel as Christ would.
Christ
felt joy as He was suffering for us. He felt joy as He was paying for our
sins!! He felt that joy because He was thinking of all the joy that His
Atonement would bring US. He could have joy in the moment, because He knew of
the future joy that would come from what He was going through now.
In the
MTC I prayed for a hard mission. Why? Because I wanted it to be a life (and all
eternity) changing experience. I only have so much time to completely devote
myself to God, and submit to His will completely. I wanted to work my hardest,
be tested, and grow. And it has been that way! I can't say I have had pure joy
the whole time it has been hard, but I know I can have joy amidst affliction as
I look forward to the blessings and joy that will later come.
And it
is worth it.
The
gospel is always worth it.
We never
have to wallow in self pity, never have to succumb to the depths of despair if
we will remember Christ. So don't do that! If you are, as Elder Holland once
said, "How Dare you." When we do that we mock Christ and His
Atonement.
And we
owe it to Jesus to be joyful!
This
work is great. It is true.
Much
love.
I'll let
you know next week where I am! Pray I stay in the jail! (I hopefully
will)
Have a
happy day! :)
Pics!
1.
Sister Peterson (went home my 2 transfer) came to visit with Sarah my recent
convert!
2.
Sister bishop and sister Brinegar brought my investigator Micheal who we found
last transfer in Crooked River and I got to take him through! He is getting
baptized may 20!! :))
3.
Bff
4.
Started saying goodbye to people.. this is the Ames. My heroes. Our ward
mission leader and former mission president. They are the best.
5. The
millers and burchs!!!
6.
Goodbye to my favorite senior couple The Wilsons. They head home this week :(
They got me through the beginning of my mission. Love them to death!
(And all
the rest). Got to be a part of the Zone barbecue at a members home yesterday!!
Had some fun festivities there #ClassicLifeInMissoura
Today we met up with my returning member from Crooked River
and my fav
people!! Fun day! ❤
people!! Fun day! ❤
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