Hello again!

This week has been quite interesting. This Friday we had scheduled to attend a temple session, so our regular preparation day (aside from email time) was moved to Friday for last week. This means that we had a week and a half between preparation days, and it was surprisingly trying. We understand a little better why Heavenly Father had a day of rest after 6 days of hard work (: Being at the temple made me think of all of you! I can't wait to be in the temple with you all again.

 

It is great to see how our faith grows through trials. It really can't develop any other way. Realizing that faith is the power by which Heavenly Father created us, and that Jesus created the Earth helps me understand the necessity of our mortal adventure! We need faith, and the only way to get it is to grow it through trials. Pretty neat (:

 

Sister Turley and I are looking for creative ways to find new investigators. There are a lot of christians in the country out here who are "Already Saved," and who "Have Jesus in their hearts." One question we came up with yesterday was to try asking them how they gained a witness that the Bible is true. It is very tempting to bible bash... I love Elder McConkie's talk about an opportunity he had to teach at a christian church in Georgia. He was SO BOLD. It can be kind of overwhelming to prepare to teach so many people we haven't met yet. It is such a blessing when we get to share messages with the members whom we already know. There is a tangible difference between the Spirit in homes where the gospel is taught, and the homes of those who do not live it. I am so blessed to come from a home full of the Holy Ghost! It is worth every sacrifice to have it there, and have it with us always.

 

Family, I love you always. I hope you never doubt the reality of God and Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. They love us truly. Also, a word of advice to any prospective missionary: just memorize scripture mastery. It's worth it. Do personal progress! It prepares you more than you realize. I love hearing all your missionary adventures and especially your experiences lately at home and in Cali! Life is so good. These verses so apply to you all-- Doctrine and Covenants 31:3-5. Our mortal missions are now! Let's open our mouths and do what we came here to do. Our brothers and sisters surround us in need of the light that we have! We have such great reasons to rejoice and to share! Drink in the blessings of the gospel.

 

Love,

Sister B

Because of Him

Easter day. “And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus...[but] behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.” Luke 24:3-6.

It would be kind of creepy if the center of our beliefs was in a man who was raised from the dead... (zombie apocalypse?) BUT. It's not, because He wasn't just a man. He was and is the Son of God. He only died for us. Think about that-- He never would have died if He hadn't chosen to give up His life. What a powerful act of love was the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Savior. I know that my redeemer lives. Because of Him, I can change! I can leave behind my mistakes and become full of faith and hope and light and love. 

I hope you all got or get to see the Easter video "Because of Him" that was up on lds.org and mormon.org. We saw miracles through using that video with people!! One young man we met happened to be on his lunch break for an hour before going back to work. We knocked on his door, to contact his mother, but he was the only one home. After introducing ourselves, we invited him to watch a short Easter video with us. As we watched, we could see his reflection in the tablet. It was miraculous to see his face take in the personal message of Easter. The Spirit bore witness of the resurrection of Christ. We committed him to meet with us again and invited him to learn more and watch more videos on mormon.org. As we walked back to the car, we heard another mormon message starting up on his tablet! It was such a sweet feeling to see him eagerly embracing the light of the gospel.

So so sorry for not sending my usual letter last week! There is a reason, but no excuse. Last week Harnett and Cumberland counties had their Spring Break. Little did we know, this would mean our usual library time was packed! So I got to read your emails and feel totally uplifted (: Then we came back later, and the library was closed, so thank you for giving me all of your love, even though I didn't give anything back last week!

I love Dunn! I also love being a Sister Leader. We had so much fun going on exchanges with the Spanish speaking sisters this week (: Hermana Page joined the church a couple years ago, and brings a completely fresh perspective to the gospel. It was so enlightening! Especially since she used to go to baptist services. Now, let me tell you about Southern Baptists: If ever people don't like us before we've even talked with them, they are usually southern baptists. Naturally, I am racking my brain to figure out what they possibly heard from their Pastor about us. Hermana Page wasn't quite sure,  but she did describe their services-- still somewhat of a mystery why we make them angry. Maybe they're just scared of change. I know I am. I see so many ways I need to change to be a better missionary. It is overwhelming. 

For Easter, we were invited to the Ginn family's home. They have four daughters ages 17, 16, 14, and 8. Same ages as my Caroline and Emma! It was sort of strange, because the Ginn girls are so grown up, and I kept thinking Care and Em can't be that old!? We taught them how to do familysearch indexing (: Those were the days.

I love you all so much! I know I couldn't love you all this much if I hadn't chosen to serve the Lord. It is one of His promises to us that He will fill us with His love as we serve His children. Do it! It's the greatest feeling. Also! Read and study Preach My Gospel. Members have so much more power to create meaningful relationships with those searching for truth! I hope you are all having many wonderful missionary experiences.

Doctrine and Covenants 121:45-46 Also, check out Elder Uchtdorf's talk "the power of a personal testimony"

Love love love, Sister B

Dunn dunn dunn...

Well, here we are. Dunn is... different (: It is the biggest area in our mission and includes a collection of 10 or 11 little towns. One of the best experiences so far was- 

We were trying to contact a referral one morning, and stopped at a gas station to get directions. As we walked into the gas station, a live rooster decided to strut right in front of the doors. It was HUGE. But that wasn't even the best part! Inside, we found Larry and the Hardison brothers drinking their Saturday morning cup of joe, and talking about the farmwork. They were pleased to meet us, and Larry accepted a Book of Mormon. They had farmed in that town their whole lives, and one of the Hardison brothers was in his 90's. He was excited to hear we were preaching "the word." It was just like in the movies!!!

Generally, the folks in Dunn are wonderful, and super southern. Everyone sounds like Donald Davis! Except for the more diverse areas. There are some pretty hard characters on the other side of the tracks... it's literally the other side of the tracks. (: I don't know why some people are sent to have a more difficult life than others. I am so blessed.

Our week started out with my first bible bashing encounter. Not pleasant. We walked away (: It was nice to know that she would get another chance at the gospel later in life... or at least on the other side. We are definitely incompetent to teach those who do not want to listen. I guess the Savior couldn't teach those who didn't want to listen either though, so it makes me feel like we're doing ok. 

Today I was studying about how the Savior taught the pharisees and rabbis and scribes who were so hard-hearted. I was reading in John 8 and 9 and reading from Jesus the Christ, and it was good to hear the Savior's invitation "go and sin no more." HE gives us permission to let go, to change! I love Him with all my heart. He was so patient with the people who rejected and mocked Him and called Him bad names.

Sister Turley and I were both relieved to hear Elder Holland's story about the mashed potatoes to the head. We definitely don't have it that bad. Faith is virtually indefinable. It is believing in things we cannot see, and acting on that belief. I am learning that there are different kinds of faith. Faith to endure, and faith to make things happen, and faith to heal and be healed, and faith to repent and be baptized. All of these are faith in Christ. My biggest focus for the next 6 months is to come to know our Savior. I was impressed by the promises of our prophets that as we are obedient, and believe in Christ and His Atonement, we will receive the gift of faith to make. things. happen. It is a divine attribute if ever there was one. I am grateful to know I can receive faith from Heavenly Father as I pray and study diligently. Through faith we will have the strength to teach and serve the hard-hearted, the down-trodden, the ignorant, and all those who have no idea how good life can be! And then we will be blessed with Charity. I am so grateful these gifts are available to us. We really can't DO anything without the Lord. I found this quote on a chair in Sunday School as we sat down for Relief Society a week ago, and it really struck me:

"[The] ability to turn everything into something good appears to be a godly characteristic. 

Our Heavenly Father always seems able to do this. Everything, no matter how dire, becomes a 

victory to the Lord." - Hartman Rector Jr.

In the words of one of my fellow missionaries: The odds can do their worst, for the Lord of the vineyard labors with us. 

We found 4 new people to teach this week! We aren't teaching as much yet as we were in Fayetteville, but I am determined to never ever ever give up. After all, "there is a way to reach every human heart, and it is [our] duty to find the way to the hearts of those to whom [we] are called." - Lorenzo Snow

I LOVE Sister Turley. She reminds me of Rachel and Caroline and Emma by cracking me up over the silliest things. Laughter is such a healing thing. She has great faith to endure opposition. 

I love you all! What are y'all planning to apply from conference this week? There will definately be many more stories to come! Pray for Sister Turley! 

Happy trials this week!

Sister B