Kim and Rocky Ayers got baptized on Saturday! I am so grateful that I got to be here for it! Kim did not want anyone at her baptism. Unfortunately (but fortunately) some people came to support them! As she walked back to the font, she looked at Sister Rodriguez and said, "I'm going to kill you later." To say she is a little sassy is the understatement of the century. Thankfully though after the ordinance she was a changed person! She was grinning ear to ear and she looked back at me and joyously exclaimed, "I got wet!" She seemed like a little 5 year old! It was the best!
I almost let pride get the best of me this week. Thankfully, I have a Heavenly Father who constantly works with me to recognize what is real. I have been praying and fasting as to how to best love and forgive people around me. My prideful heart hindered me from doing so. On Thursday afternoon, I could not focus on the work. I received the prompting that we needed to go home so I could figure some things out with my Heavenly Father. My heart hurt and I was not being where I was. After praying, studying the scriptures, and reading my patriarchal blessing, my heart was changed. I felt firsthand the miracle of forgiveness. I know it is only because of Jesus Christ. I cannot express my gratitude, not only for this miracle but all the others of this week. We met wonderful less-actives who are ready to progress, Kim and Rocky were baptized (and I was privileged to attend!), we got to know the husband of our investigator family and he is never home, and I felt an increase of genuine love for my companion, those we are teaching, and my Saviour.
Though I forgave others and myself, I was still having trouble with my pride. I felt alone and I wanted recognition for what I am doing. I let Satan convince me that I am not important and that the work I am doing does not matter. That changed yesterday. I can be the daughter that my Heavenly Father not only wants me to be, but need me to be. And no one can stop me but me. I find that gratitude makes all the difference. It changes me. I have been blessed with so much. I have to remember that the least I can do is what He asks of me. And the way to remember is by continually thinking of the Atonement and being grateful. It makes everything better because I can see things for how great they really are! I am so grateful for my companion, my area, the privilege to serve the sisters, and the opportunity I have to humble myself everyday.
This week I went on exchanges with Sister Georgina Smith (I say her first name because first of all, it is awesome and second, there are 70000 Sister Smiths in our mission). She and Sister Tonga (who is actually from Tonga!) are doing such a great job with their area. Sister Smith is struggling to find the motivation to find so we talked to everyone we saw! They had a family of 4 be baptized on Saturday! What a miracle! On our exchange, Sis Smith and I contacted a less-active fam named Jacob and Priscilla Cone (say her name one more time out loud). Turns out they have been married since March and they both served in the Edmonton mission....Sister Cone said a Jason Steed was her ward mission leader. They are some of the most interesting people I have ever met....They told us they would come to church on Sunday but they didn't. I still have hope for them! It was a great reminder that living the gospel is a lifelong commitment (actually an eternal one) and serving a mission doesn't really mean anything. It's so imperative that I recognize and let my experiences change me. Sister Cone also pointed out to me that no one here makes puffed wheat squares! Say what? I knew I had been missing something since July 2013! Yet another reason why Canada is the best place in the world. Can you please have some with you when I arrive in the airport? I'm going through withdrawals.
Also on exchanges we taught Ashley with Sister Marchant. She is not a member but her husband Justin is. They have a 7 month old little baby. He is in school full-time and she is a therapist. They decided it's best if we have 15 minute lessons. We all shared our testimony and experiences of how the book of mormon has blessed us. It was so incredibly powerful. Both Sister Smith (she was baptized only 1.5 years ago) and Sister Marchant are converts to the church. I love nothing more than that feeling of power that the spirit brings!
One of my favorite parts of my mission is meeting the active member families. This week we had a dinner with one of the funniest ones I've ever met. They are the grandchildren of the second councilor in our mission presidency. He is a very expressive and flowery man. And his 9 year old grandson, Callen, is exactly like him. When we arrived he was wearing jeans, cowboy boots, a giant belt, a plaid shirt, and a bright purple tie with the Angel Moroni all over it. As we began to share our lesson, we somehow got on the topic of waffles while discussing prophets. Then he randomly states, "If there was a prophet named Waffles, I'd be hungry for his words." Oh man, that kid is punny!
The Women's Broadcast was incredible! I love the temple! Man, the leaders of our church really know how to win over our hearts. Those Korean kids were the best! I also appreciated the one lady wearing a yellow shirt in the choir and the ginger girl they kept showing over and over again. Our stake had a dinner beforehand. I was privileged to sit at a table full of little old ladies. It was so fun to get to know them and learn about their stories. One of them, Sister Hamblin, was actually in the 9th ward. I didn't ever really get the opportunity to know her so I am so grateful that I still got to. She is amazing! She's from Alabama and she and her husband converted to the church young in their marriage after some missionaries came to their door. I asked her how she decided to be baptized and she said, "I had a manifestation that I could not deny." How powerful her faith must be!
Something my comp and I have really been trying to focus on is getting to know and love the ward. We are supposed to be having 8 pm member lessons each night but to be honest, any time we set one up they cancel and we haven't been very diligent in setting up more. Yesterday we determined to change. We finally got a new ward list (something that brings me more joy than I can express!) and decided to start calling alphabetically all those we know who are active. We started with the Allens. I had only ever seen the mom and her 2 kids at church. Turns out they do have a dad, he just works every Sunday! It was so good to get to know them and to see how they are trying to strengthen their little family. It was such a privilege to be in their home!
Miley, Ayden, and Dagon are still doing great. We are running into a few roadblocks but I have the faith that they can overcome it all because of Jesus Christ!
Thanks for being such great examples! I hope you all have a great week!
Kim and Rocky at the baptism and finally a companion photo shoot!