I am really starting to see the world so differently. I am starting to see the strength I have within me. A strength that has come from the fiery furnace of affliction out on my mission and in my past. I see the wisdom and knowledge I have gained about God, the atonement and who I am. I have been able to see what kind of a role I will play in my own life (thanks to me talking to myself all the time and rambling on and on) and for others. I have humbly seen the spirit work through me on a daily basis which I have never been aware of in my entire life. I have learned more things from listening to myself speak then from anything else, and that's really how they spirit can work through us, because I am not perfect, but he works through the imperfect. He is seriously the master at killing two birds with one stone haha I love it. Having talked to so many already out here I have been able to see from so many perspectives how much God trusts his missionaries and loves all his children. He has given me things that bring me hope and strength when Satan tries to attack me. I know I am attacked because I have a happy and bright future, and he does not. He can see my potential and he does not want me to reach my goal. He will never come in unless I let him walk in. He has given me so many reasons to never let him in. I am so grateful for my family and all those who support me. I am even more grateful for this gospel and my savior and my god.
Without them I would not exist. They are the center of my life. I know that this life is meant to be uncomfortable because that's how God works. If we were comfortable all the time we would never learn a dang thing, we would be lazy and have no desire to improve or get off the couch. I am mastering this in a new degree when I get home(: I love that god has set that up for us because I know that is where his humor comes into play as well. God wants us to enjoy this life, but to live it with the spirit. Stand ye in holy places means more to me everyday.
We have the gift of the Holy Ghost which means we have the blessing of having it with us at ALL times. I never understood it until now.
Heavens, let him help you as you pick out the smallest and dumbest things like what toilet paper brand to buy at the store. He should be your best friend. He is the teacher of all things. He is our comfort and our guidance. We can learn from man (the world) OR from God (Holy Ghost). We have the choice. This gift of agency, life and a savior will never cease. The savior has done the impossible and has made all things possible for us. And guess what it all dwindles down to.....love. The love that a father and a brother had for each one of us. That is the spirit of Christmas and the essence of life. I am so grateful to be so far away from home this Christmas because my perspective is ever widening. This experience will change my future.
I hope that I come back a person people won't recognize, but not in a negative way. A way that they can see my light, a light that will never cease, and have a desire to know the me that was there all along. The me that I had to find. I am finding her because I am finding my maker and my savior. We cannot control the things that have happened to us or the things that will happen. We can only choose what we do with those things that are put in our path. The choice is ours.
Embrace that savior and his example. Find him and you will find yourself.
Tuesday:
Today was zone conference. For any of you who don't know what that is, it is just a gigantic meeting where lots of missionaries come together from a couple areas by each other. The president and his presidency comes and talk to us and train us from around 8ish to about 4ish. We of course eat and have some breaks and we had a small Christmas program today as well. Needless to say I was spiritually edified all day and just loved and soaked it all in. Everything that was said was something I needed to hear or what my area needed.
Tuesday:
- we met Lindsay a very less active and her son Phillip. He is age nine and has a prayer box! He is taught an hour a day in the bible. He blew my mind. We had a wonderful lesson with him and we talked to him about the Book of Mormon.
Wednesday:
- The temple trip was amazing. I am Learning more and more how I can receive revelation while I am there. I love the analogy I learned about the temple and life. We work so hard to get to the celestial room and them so many even me just walk right through. I don't think any of us would just walk through heaven. As I sat there I had such a wonderful experience and honestly I really didn't want to leave!
-
Thursday
- We had a Artist, Ryan and guess what! Artist's wife was there! She is a doll and a gold mine! We had the best lesson with them yet. We talked about the plan of salvation and she said we should come back when she is off from work next week! I was so pumped!!!
- We had dinner and the mann's home. They have a daughter who is very less active. We met her at the Christ,as party and she loved us so much she made us a Christmas present and we are getting our hair cut next week and hopefully helping her get back to church! It was a miracle!!! She also has a son who isn't baptized.
- Alex was a new investigator. He is sister sosa's (less active) nephew. He read some of the Book of Mormon and we didn't even ask him to. He loved it and said he had a desire to keep reading it. He is golden!
Sorry this email is different. This week has been one for the books. I really don't think I will forget a week like this. Words cannot even describe what I have been learning and what I still need to learn. We had Phillip. At age nine he came to church with us alone. He sat through all three hours and loved it. He said he wants to come back.
He listens and retains things so well. He is a testimony builder to me. God really loves his little ones and knows how to hasten his work with them, as they, at such a young age want to follow God. He prays every night and he knows and feels gods love for him. He is the essence of how we all need to be. A simple child focused on gods love for all of us. We met with Tina a Davey and had one of the most spiritual lessons with them. They are struggling and being so humbled.
We set up a time to all go to the temple this Saturday! Pray it
happens(:
YOU ALL ARE SO AWESOME! HAVE THR BEST CHRISTMAS EVER AND DONT FORGET ABOUT CHRIST!!!
❤️ Sister Richards
No comments:
Post a Comment