Hermana Bittle
I got to be in the Spanish area! Hna Bittle has only been out for 11 weeks but took over the area like a champ. It was fun to read a lot of scriptures in espanol and say prayers. A lot of our appts cancelled but we kept the faith! And miracles happened! We randomly had a lesson with an 11 year old Kimmy, her member mom, and their wml. Kimmy has never agreed to a date because she is too scared but we got her to agree to pray about December 15th! I couldn't understand much but I sure felt the spirit! Sister Bittle helped me so much. She reminded me that I don't need to be so hard on myself. It was exactly what I needed. I realized also when I come home from my mission, I will become fluent in espanol. I'm going to do it!
Sister Smith
I came out with Sister Smith so it was fun to serve with her! She is from Wisconsin and has a fun accent and is the only member in her family. She's awesome. Sadly our exchange was cut short because of the next point....
Elder Rhodes and the Sister Leadership Meeting
Elder Rhodes, the 70 representative in our area, had a meeting with all the women auxiliary leaders in both of the grand junction stakes. Randomly we were invited to go, along with the APs. Sister Hilton and I had to cut our exchange short and race to the G Rd building. Before the meeting, Elder Rhodes introduced himself to us and told us that one of us should be prepared to recite the First Vision and bear testimony of it during his talk. YIKES. I spent the rest of the time before his talk trying to say it in my head. I couldn't focus because someone else was speaking and then I got even more stressed because I couldn't do it. It was a nice little cycle. When he finally got up to speak, he started his talk by announcing to everyone that we would first hear from Sister Turner. I knew it was going to be me...I walked up there and he stopped me. He motioned me to come closer and then whispered that I needed to bear testimony of the Atonement IN UNDER 2 MINUTES. He kept repeating that part and it was quite comical (at least now it is). He really wanted to make sure I got it. I walked up to the pulpit with no idea what I was going to say. And then I took a leap of faith and started talking. I shared about the feelings that I often have of self-doubt and inadequacy and how our Saviour is the only way we can overcome these things. I think more than anyone else there, I needed it. I needed to remember what I know to be true and to be grateful for it. And don't worry, I kept it under two minutes. Elder Rhodes is so amazing. He led a discussion by the spirit. My favorite part was when he paused and then asked, "Does anyone feel prompted of a question that is of general interest?" And then the discussion began. He taught us that we cannot force people to change or to be inspired to do more. We can only inspire them TO CHOOSE to be inspired, to be a disciple, or to change. And one of the ways we can inspire them is to pray with the spirit. The Lord knows what they need and now we just need to listen. I encourage you all to study D&C 46:28-32. I felt the spirit so powerfully. Everything that we do in the church focuses on families so that we can live with God again. He promised us that if we focus our efforts on eternal families, Satan will have no power to stop the work of the Lord. I also learned that in lessons if I leave out "I know that..." the spirit will bear testimony of the fact of something, rather than just the fact that I know it. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and Redeemer and it is only through Him that we will be able to return to our Father in Heaven again (and I know it too!). Another idea he presented was so simple but so profound: Heavenly Father is so easy to love. How often do I really think about how much I love Him? And how often do I show it? He's so easy to love that I think I often forget the fact that I do love Him.
Colton and the Elijahs
As part of our missionary work, we teach the members the lessons at 8 pm. This week we had one with the Elijahs after our meeting with Elder Rhodes. We were both filled with the spirit and we taught them the message of the restoration more powerfully than I ever have before, especially at a member's home. Afterwards, Brother Elijah told us how much he felt the spirit and that he knew we were worthy. That was one of the best moments of my mission. Everything that we have been doing is to build the ward, to strengthen the members, to gain their trust. And that moment was what I have been praying for and working for and worrying about, for the ward members to know that we are on their side and that we are ready. And then they gave us a referral. Brother Elijah works with him. He's 19, marrried, and has a baby. Last night we went over to his house, contacted him, taught him the first lesson, and he said he would get baptized if he knew that it was true. MIRACLES. And we already have a fellowshipper for him.
Tiffany
Friday morning we decided to go on a different route than we usually do running, as it is now light out when we go because of daylight savings. Sister Hilton is inspired. She led us down a road we don't normally drive down in the light and we found a little street that we've never seen before. We mentally marked it. Later that day we headed back there to tract. It was cold, dark, and to be honest I didn't really want to be there but we went anyways. And then we found Tiffany. We did the survey with her. And we started talking about the book of mormon. They have mormon friends who have given them a copy of the bom. She has such a strong faith in Christ. She and her family were moving the very next day to New Mexico. We taught simply, powerfully, and with the spirit. I said a closing prayer. When I finished, her eyes were full of tears. She thanked us for sharing our faith. She said it was exactly what she needed and that because of us she was going to read the Book of Mormon. The last question we ask in the survey is "Would you like to be happier than you are now?" Tiffany's response was my favorite that I've ever gotten, "Happiness is a choice."
Sister Elijah gave a talk in church yesterday. In it she included the idea that Heavenly Father is up there narrating our lives as we live them. When it comes time for a decision, He pauses. And He waits to see what we will choose, how we will continue, what we decide. And then He continues with the narration. Agency is true principle. No one can take it away and we decide for ourselves if we want to be happy or miserable. And in the words of dad, "Life's too short to be miserable!" It's a good reminder to me to be happy and grateful and humble. And I get to choose to be that way!
Priesthood blessing
I've struggled with asking for priesthood blessings my entire mission. I've been struggling with feelings of negativity, self-doubt, inadequacy etc. I finally humbled myself and realized I needed help. It was hard. The best part was though in the blessing, Heavenly Father noted this fact. I was told that it took a lot of faith for me to ask and that I would be rewarded for it. He really is so aware.
Shaylynn
She came to church! She's the first investigator we had at church all transfer. (YIKES. It's not for a lack of effort). She's 13 and her grandma randomly already comes to our ward even though we tracted into her! Kaylee Fullmer, her friend from school, came with us to the lesson and invited her! And she came!
Losing my Journal
I think the most difficult, challenging, learning, stretching, growing part of this transfer has been the fact that 2 weeks ago I lost my journal. I've finally come to terms with the fact that it is gone. I've been hoping and searching and praying that it would turn up. I've learned a lot from this. Sometimes things happen that we can't control. I have written in my journal every single day of my mission. Thankfully, the one I lost only contained from June 2014 on. I know I am an organized person and I just can't understand where it is. But I know that God is aware of how I am feeling. At first, I felt sick. It felt like that part of my mission had not happened because it was gone. And then I realized what an opportunity this is to be grateful for my experiences that have changed me. I've been able to reflect on what really matters and I've started re recording those things that have truly made a difference in my life. I hope you all take a minute to appreciate those things in your life that have changed you because they have eternal purpose and meaning.
I hope you all have a great week and that you know that I love you and that I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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