07. 07. 2014

Hi family!!!

Okay so I am really really really trying to practice not talking so much. Yes I know, this is basically like having a pig practice flying. But I really want to listen more to the spirit when I teach and my talking kindof gets in the way of that. So this week my email is going to be sweet and simple and I am really going to try and share those moments I had last week that converted me even more.

The biggest one of those moments was Sydnee Parker. So last week I told you that she wanted to wait until December to be baptized. That was heart breaking for Sister Wahlen and I, we just didn't want Sydnee to have to wait to receive all that Heavenly Father has in store for us. So we started to pray. We prayed every day that The Lord would provide Sydnee, whether through us or something else, with a strong spiritual experience that would increase her desire to be baptized. Of course Heavenly Father did just that. We got a text from her last Monday saying something like "I just read that chapter Mosiah 18 that you told me too and it helped me so much!" We couldn't wait to hear all about it. The next day we had a lesson with Sydnee and we discussed Mosiah 18 and what it teaches us about the qualifications for baptism. My heart was on fire, I knew Sydnee was ready to be baptized sooner and I just wanted to blurt that out, but I waited. Then Sydnee said, "I want to be baptized sooner" We asked her about July 26th and if she would pray about it. She said yes. We taught her more and the spirit was with us. We then prayed and Sister Wahlen asked Heavenly Father to help Sydnee know if she should be baptized on the 26th. After the prayer, my heart just felt so calm and warm. Sydnee looked at us and said "July 26th" while shaking her head. My heart lept for joy! After talking to her parents we actually changed the date to July 24th. He family is very excited and supportive. It is truly wonderful. I am the luckiest to get to witness the miracle of conversion.

This last week we also got to meet our new mission president and holy moly I LOVE HIM AND HIS FAMILY!!!!!! As he was introducing himself I couldn't help but feel in my heart that he was sent here at this time just for me. I am so excited to serve with him. He taught us a powerful lesson about covenants and how they bind us to God. Did you know that the Book of Mormon is a covenant? yes it is look in D&C 84:54-57 (I hope that is the right reference) He then reminded us how key the Book of Mormon is, it is everything. No one will ever be converted to the gospel if they do not read the Book of Mormon. No one. As he taught us I couldn't help but review those that we are teaching and to if they were reading the Book of Mormon regularly. Only one was. Sydnee Parker. You see?? That is why Sydnee knows the Church is true, not because of me or Sister Wahlen. It is because of The Book of Mormon and the Spirit she allowed into her heart as she read from those pages. She then was able to recognize that same Spirit at church and youth conference and when Sister Wahlen and I would teach. It came from the Book of Mormon. So what does that teach us if we truly want to be converted? We need to read The Book of Mormon. and not just once in awhile but every single day. I know that is why my heart is being changed. I love that book.

So our 4th of July was without fireworks and barbeque. I made Sister Wahlen go with me to Freddy's because I wasn't going to go with our French fries and a hamburger on the 4th of July! We then went and taught Virginia again. Sister Denton (who served a mission in Salt Lake in the Family History Center) is working of Virginia's genealogy. It is wonderful to see the role that the Spirit of Elijah has played in the progression that Virginia has made so far. We are so excited to teach her more. We know she can't wait to learn about how she can be sealed to her husband. oh by the way she is 85 haha. She is as sharp as ever though! Her grandson Marcus is the most adorable thing you have ever seen as well. He always has his cowboy hat and cowboy boots on. He also has the cutest southern accent. He was our 4th of July entertainment.

I finally became an official missionary, my shoes got a hole in them :) I couldn't be more proud of myself.

I love this work. I just love it. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that He lives and I know that with Him on our side we really will have joy in any circumstance. I am becoming deeply converted to the gospel. I never want to stop learning and growing and I am so grateful that I don't have too! You know how I can never get enough Frozen Yogurt? Yeah that's how I feel but times ten about the fruits of the Spirit. I can never get enough of it

xoxoxo