Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Go Get 'Em!

What a wonderful week. We have been having a great time challenging the adversary with our diligent efforts. I often think of Connie's little quote about being the kind of person that when you wake up, the devil has to get his game on. Here we go!

Can I just say how much I love the Holy Bible? It is such a beautiful companion to the Book of Mormon. Together, with the Spirit, it is impossible to doubt the Love and saving plan Heavenly Father has for His children. We have been avoiding Bible bashes at all cost. The last one we were in was quite interesting, and proved again how important it is that we choose into the gospel. We stepped outside the library last week to hop on our bikes after a great session on facebook, when our old friend, Mr. Thomas (a library regular) approached us again with a smile. He had been looking up anti-mormon literature, and was concerned for our salvation, so he tried to argue with us about the Bible. He finally admitted he still hadn't read the Book of Mormon we gave him, so that was that. We really do need two witnesses. Otherwise, we just argue ourselves silly.

The Coupee family got the flu this week. BUT we started teaching their grandma, Bobbie, because they were sick, so that was good! Everything that happens can be turned to divine good, through our faith. 

It has been a week chockful of less-active member lessons. They know a lot of non-members, mainly we get to help them to enlarge their vision of who they can become. Often, people get stuck in our own little concepts of who they are. I really like Elder Hallstrom's talk from the priesthood session about having faith that we can change through the atonement. I am such a lucky person. Let's all go out and open our mouths this week, so that our brothers and sisters can have the blessings of the gospel, okay? Okay. Sounds good. I love you all. Thank you for praying for us, and for keeping your covenants, and magnifying the good that is in the world. 

"Every good thing you do increases the sum total of good that is in the world." (quote from a general authority, i think)

Love, Sister B

Monday, May 19, 2014

Quickie

I fail at writing fast. I just want you all to know, the Lord IS hastening His work. It is such a great thing! We are teaching a wonderful little family that really need prayers, to help them progress. There is a lot of opposition from other churches around here. Pray for the Coupees! 

Sister TUrley and I have had a great week. WE just keep working and praying and studying and planning. The ward is supportive and we get to go on a lot of member exchanges (my favorite). I apologize for this tiny little email :( Can't wait to email you again soon!!!

Monday, May 12, 2014

Birth, Mother's and other days

I love skyping. Then again, I am so miserably scatterbrained, I can barely hold a conversation with all of y'all (: I hope I was mostly coherent.
 
I failed to mention some of our most daring adventures/funny mishaps that have occurred over the past two weeks:
A week before the birthday, I got in my first "accident." No serious repercussions aside from a torked neck. And we got to literally "contact" someone, and share a mormon.org message with him. (: His name was Zebulon... perhaps we are gathering the 10 tribes. We have determined not to instate fender-benders as a permanent finding net, although it was effective. We believe the colateral damage is too much. So, what happened was: Sister Turley and I and Sister Bush and Sister Tanner were all drving up to MLC. When all of a sudden, the bumper to bumper traffic turned into a standstill. Sister Turley was slowing down just in time when we heard a screech of the tires, and Zebulon ran into our rear, crushing the bikerack into the trunk. Luckily, we had the bike rack-- we gave him a card, and exchanged information adn that was that. I get jumpy every time we're in heavy traffic now though, and remind Sis. Turley to slow down a lot more often :)
 
Next story, Neil L. Andersen: In the surprise mission conference with Elder Andersen, I had a Donald Davis experience. For the first time, I experienced one of those moments when my hands were doing things without my permission. My left hand peeked up to answer a question, and he called on me. :S Then we had a one on one discussion about inviting people to come unto Christ and how we extend commitments to help people change. I have never been more nervous to speak in my entire life. Yet, I have never felt so loved and validated in my entire life either. It was incredible speaking face to face with a prophet of God. It did a lot to strengthen my testimony. His main message to us was how specifically we could share the gospel with those of other Christian faiths. He taught us about the Atonement and the Book of Mormon and how we need to assure people that Christ LIVES. He prophesied that there would come a day in the near future when the majority of American's would not believe in Jesus Christ, and exhorted us to strengthen the faith of all who choose to believe in Him. He was also quite, quite humorous. At one point, we were talking about grace "the enabling power of the atonement," and how Elder Bednar stole that line from the Bible Dictionary (: Then he called on a Sister to share how she had been enabled, and she talked about being able to play the piano. He sheepishly admitted that of the 12, Elder Nelson and he are the only two who can play, but none of the other 12 know that Elder Andersen can play yet. hehe. He emphasized that he is praying for Elder Nelson's continued health. (:
 
Many other stories to come! The Lord is hastening His work. It's great. (Rae, is this a better email? I love tips on how to share these experiences better.) Missionary life is great! It is so hard to stay within this email time this week. I love hearing from you all. Hope your Mothers days were wonderful.
 
xoxo
Sister B

Monday, May 5, 2014

just a quickie

This week has been great! We have had so much success working with the members this week. The best part was that we got a surprise visit from Neal L. Anderson! Our whole mission was driving like crazy to get up to Raleigh on Saturday. I was deeply impressed by his authenticity and kindness. He has a great sense of humor too. I wish I had more time to tell you all about it, but we'll talk on Mothers day, so I can tell you the really great stories (: I love you all! Praying for you, and hoping you are all reading the Book of Mormon daily and studying to deepen your tie to the Savior. I know it works. He is so real, and His love is the best thing to help us through hard times. Thanks for being so supportive and wonderful. I felt your prayers every day this week.

Love, Sister B