Happy Labor Day errybody! Hope you've all found a fun way to spend
your free day:) Ethan I'm glad to hear you are loving high school!
Isn't Orem high just the greatest? And the teachers are awesome! Tell
Mr Ellingford that I say hello! And then tell him that I said he has
to do one of his awesome magic tricks for you okay? :) haha also, who
is your seminary teacher?
So the weather sounds like it's been pretty crazy! We have had lots
and lots of rain storms here too... It's scary awesome. Thunder and
lightning aren't nearly as bad here as it is in Utah. It's much
quieter here... Which of course I love, because then I am less
scared!;)
So I guess I'll start off this weeks letter by sharing a really neat experience:
Last night, there was a fireside for new converts to the church and
returning members, they were the main speakers, and then missionaries
from the whole mission were encouraged to bring their investigators
and invite less actives they work with. Well, on Thursday the
assistants to the president sent out a text asking for someone willing
to do a musical number... And I thought, "hmmm... What the heck, why
not?" So I volunteered as tribute. We found me a pianist and things
were on their way! I didn't have much time to really prepare anything
so I decided to sing that arrangement of "I know that my Redeemer
Lives".
When it came time to perform, I wasn't nervous like I usually am..
Which kinda weirded me out, but I was grateful for at he same time...
Anyway, before I went up, I sat on the bench and I began to pray to my
Heavenly Father. I told him that I was excited to sing this song. I
also said that I didn't just want to 'sing a beautiful song'. I didn't
want it to be pointless, just a time filler. I said that if I was
going to perform, I was going to do it with purpose. I recognized that
He is the one who blessed me with my talents, and I wanted to show my
gratitude by sharing it with others, In a way that would benefit them,
fulfill my purpose as a missionary, and bring someone closer to
Christ. I felt like there was at least one person who needed to hear
something from the spirit that day through music(because music speaks
where words cannot) and I wanted nothing more than to be an instrument
in the lords hands that day. I asked in faith if he would provide a
way for me to be that instrument and help him reach out to someone. I
didn't care if I didn't sing well, just as long as my testimony
reached someone.
Well... Ask.... And ye shall receive! And receive I did! I have sung
that song a couple times before in a church setting.... But never have
I ever sang it with that much conviction. I was able to bear my
testimony in a way I never had before, not holding anything back. It
was so amazing. And I know it was only possible because God made it
so! And I don't know who it helped or touched or even if it did, but I
know that I did what The Lord expected of me, and that felt good. The
feeling of Gods love and approval is so desirable! I am going to go
through this week, striving to fulfill the fathers will in ALL that he
requires of me, because I want to feel that way all the time! I sort
of understand how Lehi felt when he partook of the fruit of the tree
of life... When we just do what God asks, he showers us with peace,
joy, and blessings! And I want everyone to experience that keep coming
back for more! So my question is, when have you felt Gods love and
approval for you in your life? And what are you willing to sacrifice
in order to feel that way again? How can you help others around you to
feel it too?
So a couple weeks ago we got a new investigator, her name is Erica. She's a married woman from Brazil, and she's probably in her
50's. She is the SWEETEST lady I have ever met! She's so loving and
willing to accept this gospel. She was referred to us by the Chinese
elders here, and turns out she was actually a former investigator! The
first lesson we had with her she told us about a miraculous experience
she had where she knew her prayers were answered. We talked about
prayer a bit more and invites her to church. We were supposed to visit
her at the end of the week and have another lesson and remind her
about church but honestly... We forgot. Things were crazy and we
forgot. But she showed up on Sunday with a bright smile on her face,
ready to hear the gospel! We visited her again this last week and
brought her a Book of Mormon In Portuguese (she can read it faster
than English) and she looked like a child on Christmas. I have never
seen anyone more grateful to receive a copy of the Book of Mormon! We
talked through the restoration, and suddenly in the middle of S.
Osmond talking about Joseph smiths first vision she asks, "so when is
the baptism?"
Both of us were taken aback. I asked, "you mean your baptism?" She was
like "yes!" So sister osmond and I were like... Uhh I think we were
going to out you down for October 18th. Then she said okay! And
started asking questions about what she's supposed to wear! It was
seriously the most wonderful thing!
Then at church on Sunday I was sitting by her and she was looking over
my notes I was writing, and she pointed out the phrase "fast & pray"
and she said, "fasting is where you go without food?" I was a little
shocked at that and said yes and began to explain about fasting, and
how we do it the first Sunday of each month. However that we don't
just not eat, but we approach it in prayer, we pray and ask for
something, fast for a reason... And I gave her a few examples in my
own life and then related it to her... . Then I said, but you don't
have to fast until you are baptized... And she replied with "okay...
I'll fast next week."
So pretty much she is just amazing and has SO much faith. She also has
the gift of discernment. She knows that what we teach and believe is
good, and she desires to seek after it! I really love Erica so dearly
and I am excited for her to continue to accept this gospel!
Oh! So Friday it was our district leader (elder fink) and his
companion (elder Blanchard) birthdays! This is elder finks last
transfer and elder blanchards first, and neither one of them has had
their birthday celebrated while on the mission... So naturally we
sisters decided that was unacceptable and took on the challenge to
make it a day to remember! So we woke up at 6:15 on Friday so that we
could put balloons and signs on their apartment door. Then we wished
them happy birthday at the gym. Then we made them breakfast for
lunch... So basically we spent our lunch time making bacon, pancakes,
eggs, and a smoohie. That food was IHOP-quality! Haha [also, I have
this irrational worry that my future family will starve because I
can't cook anything besides mac&cheese and pastaroni... Well I now
know that I can make breakfast foods so... Yay! We won't starve after
all!] anyway. It was awesome, and they were surprised and well-fed and
happy. We also gave the. Silly gifts from the dollar store later and a
birthday card each. It was seriously the happiest day, and it wasn't
even my birthday! It just felt great to do something for someone else.
Always does:) service is mine and sister osmonds favorite thing! :)
So I know that from the above stories that my week probably sounded
awesome, and at parts it was! But the missionary work aspect of things
this week was ROUGH. We weren't accomplishing ANYTHING. Last night s.
Osmond and I were discussing our frustrations with ourselves the fact
that Our investigators seemed at a stand-still and we ourselves
weren't personally progressing.... But we couldn't pinpoint why his
was happening.......
Well this morning in my personal studies I was reading in Alma
chapter 37. This is Alma's epistle to his son Helaman [[ by the way
mom and dad... Before you die, will you write me an epistle like the
prophets of old did? That would be pretty awesome!!]] and he talks
about how by small and simple means are great things brought to pass.
Then he talks about the liahona in verse 40:
"And it did work for them, ACCORDING to their FAITH in God;
Therefore, IF they had FAITH TO BELIEVE that God could cause that
those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, IT WAS
DONE; Therefore, they had this miracle and also many other miracles
wrought by the Power of God, DAY BY DAY"
When I read that scripture, it was pretty neat, and I realized that I
had in a sense given up on The Lord this week... I had not exercised
my faith in him. I didn't have faith that he would lead us to those
who are prepared to receive the gospel.... Oops. Learned that
lesson... Or so I thought. Then I went on to read the next verse
where it says that they noticed the miracles that were being brought
by small means and they, "...began to be SLOTHFUL and FORGOT to
exercise their Faith and Diligence and those marvelous works ceased,
AND THEY DID NOT PROGRESS IN THEIR JOURNEY."
Yeaaahhh..... That last bit that I capitalized.... Definitely a
spiritual slap in the face! Haha it hit me finally why the week was
such a disappointment. I personally had just gotten lazy. We had
worked so hard the week before, and had seen so many miracles that I
just kinda figured that it couldn't continue. I assumed (which is
dangerous! Don't ever assume!) that God could only give blessings
every once in a while. He helped us fine 3 new investigators the week
before, so there was no way we could find 3 more people this
week....so I kinda expected to get nothing, so I gave nothing and
became 'slothful' ....Well I learned today how wrong I was! I let
doubt overcome my faith this week and ended up wasting the Lord's
time... But the good news is we can all repent, and I have and by
golly this week I am going to give it my all! Work in faith and
diligence!
Don't ever doubt Heavenly Father. Don't give up on him, or yourself.
And never surrender to the natural man or the enticings of the
'cunning one'. Remember you are a blessed child of god, and that even
though you may be faced with trials, that you are NOT alone! And we
can't see God's grander design for us... We are not aware of the
blessings that are soon to follow! "Ye cannot behold with your natural
eyes for the present time, the side sign of your God concerning those
things which shall come hereafter.... For after much tribulation come
the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with
much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand" (d&c 58:3-4)
I testify that those words are true! I've experienced the blessing
that come after trials and I know that they are from God. He is the
source of all truth, love, pure joy. Seek after those promised
blessings continually. Come unto Christ, he is waiting with open arms
for you to run to him so he can be your support and guide and through
him you will never be left wanting. Receive daily the gift of the Holy
Ghost, and you shall never wander astray. On this long hard journey
through life, never forget who you are, where you came from, and where
you are going. We each have a divine destiny. I know that my Redeemer
lives, and through him ALL mankind can be saved if we but accept the
invitation to, "Come Follow Me". I love The Lord and it's In him where
I find peace.
I want to close my letter this week by inviting each of you to choose
one thing in your life that you feel is keeping you from coming closer
to Christ, and the fix it. Try this week to draw nearer to God...Then
I want you to share your testimony on your experience with someone!
Write it down in a letter to a family member, friend, whoever. Post It
on Facebook(and tag me in it if you do). Share it on Instagram or in
an email... Bear testimony in fast and testimony meeting... Or do all
of the above! Doesn't matter how you do it, just as long as you are
trying and share your testimony! I am very serious about this
challenge and I want all of you to do it. I WILL follow up next week
on if you did it! I want to hear back about your experiences! :)
I love you all so very much! :)
Love,
Sister Carly Lewis
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