What?! That's crazy! Can you believe it ? I can't.
So remember how we went to IHOP for breakfast the morning I went to
the MTC? Well, Saturday morning, we had a correlation meeting with the
ward mission leader, and he took us to IHOP for breakfast! So I was in
the same place, eating the same thing at the same time as I was
exactly one month ago!:) soon that's pretty neat.
Now I'm no scientist, but I'm pretty sure there's a law in physics that says:
What goes up.....
Must come down!
That explains my week. This week has been quite rough! All of our
appointments kept falling through, nobody wanted to hear what we had
to say, many a door was shut in our face, and we just were not on top
of our game.... S. Osmond has been sick all week and we have both felt
very "bleh"... And it was just a looong hard week! BUT, the week is
now over, and a new week has begun! I have learned a lot about myself,
and been humbled in afflictions. I've also learned how real the
adversary is.,, he does NOT like missionaries one bit and will do
everything he can to bring us down and discourage us and interfere
with plans... But the great thing is god is just as real as satan is!
And if we exercise our faith in Christ, and pray always, with all the
energy of our hearts, then The Lord WILL deliver his people! So that's
pretty great! :) also, in d&c 121:7-9 we are promised that our
afflictions are but a small moment, and god is with us always! Those
few words of hope are what have kept me up all week! After all, "The
Lord is on my side, then why should I fear?" I have faith that this
week is gonna be much better:)
On Friday night, s. Osmond and I went to this families house in our
ward to do a member lesson, and I played the most BEAUTIFUL Steinway!
Nobody In their house plays, but they have it anyway, so it was a neat
experience for all of us! They had music in their house, and I got to
de-stress through music, and share my testimony through song! It was
really great:)
I haven't had huge missionary moments involving music, but there have
been a few times during lessons that we have sang a hymn together, and
it really brings the spirit strong! In a couple of weeks I have
exchanges with my Sister training leader, (who just happens to be
Sister Herring!) and we decided that we are going to use our musical
talents to the best of our bikinis for the 24 hours we are together to
share the gospel! So I am pretty excited bout that:)
On Saturday, we did something cool to spread the word: we got sidewalk
chalk and chalked the Plan of Salvation in a few different places
here. On bike paths, running paths and a path underneath a freeway
bypass! Elders Payne and McDonald (the elders who serve in the ward
with us) and elders Fink and Blanchard(our district leader and his
companion) came with us and helped! It was lots of fun! :)
unfortunately... It rained later that night.... But the ones under the
freeway stayed! And I guess this just means we will have to do it
again!;)
So there's another investigator that we have that I haven't told you about yet:
Jeff . 44years old. Owns two cats. He's a great guy and has been
meeting with the missionaries for a couple of months now.... Two weeks
ago we asked him to pray about being baptized on August 28th.. He's
going to tell us his answer this week when we meet with him! He used
to be really stubborn, but he's softened up a lot now. S. Osmond said
he used to always be like, "ohh there it is... There's the 'B'
word..." Whenever they would mention baptism... But I've met with him
like three times, and we have mentioned baptism very boldly every time
and he hasn't pushed the trout away or rejected us! So we are making
improvements! I really love Jeff. He's just awesome. He loves
superheroes and sci-Fy stuff.... Believes in aliens. It's great! Haha
he is struggling to recognize how The Lord answers his prayers
though... So if you could keep Jeff in your prayers that would be
great! S. Osmond and I have full faith that he will be baptized by the
end of this month though:) I think Jeff is totally ready!
Last night we were able to attend the baptism of a boy in our ward.
His dad had invited some co-workers, who are non members, and his son
hunter had invited his best friend and his family (a,so non members)
and so brother Olson invited us to attend, to help hasten the work!:)
it was SO beautiful. Baptism means so much more to me now that I'm on
a mission. I now TRULY know the importance of baptism! It IS the
saving ordinance. We cannot be saved, we cannot access the atonement,
we cannot truly come unto Christ and receive eternal life without
baptism! I know is to be true. I felt the Spirit testify of the
truthfulness to me. When hunter was baptized, and his dad immersed him
in the water, I felt Heavenly fathers love and approval SO STRONGLY. I
know that he was so very happy and proud of hunter for his decision to
be baptized. And if that's how he felt for hunter, that's how he feels
for all of his children. He loves each of us immensely. I know that of
a surety now. I cannot deny Gods love for his children. I cannot deny
gods love at all. God IS Love.
The Holy Ghost is such a sacred and wonderful gift! How blessed are we
to have a father in heaven that loves us so much, that although man
has fallen and transgressed, he would not leave us to walk the path of
life alone. We would not leave us comfort less. But he has provided a
means by which we can feel his love, presence, encouragement,
approval, and always be guided in what is right. Although Heavenly
Father and Jesus Christ cannot be with us right at this time, we are
still able to have the third member of the godhead wih us always. As
long as we choose to allow him to be with us. It really is up to us
and how we use our agency....
I don't know about you guys..... But I'm going to do everything I can
to constantly receive this precious gift from my father in heaven, and
I will hold it most sacred and dear. I am glad that I was baptized and
received the Holy Ghost. And I feel so grateful to have the chance to
serve Heavenly Father for 18 months, so that others can know and feel
what I know and feel! They too can receive this precious gift, along
with all the other many blessings that The Lord is just waiting to
pour out upon his children. By talking to everyone I am giving them an
opportunity to accept this blessing, and lighting the way back home.
Being a missionary is a HUGE responsibility. It's HARD. But it's so
REWARDING and fantastic! "How great shall be your joy when you bring
save it be ONE soul to the kingdom of my father" I have yet to bring a
soul all the way to gods kingdom, but, I have started to light the way
for them, and opened their eyes to the truthfulness of this gospel,
and just that much has brought me sooo much joy!:)
Sooo I realize that my thoughts this week are very scattered, nod
don't make much sense, and aren't super spiritual... So I'm sorry. But
I'm writing this on the metro on my way to Washington, D.C.!:) woot!
----- so we went to the holocaust museum. What a humbling experience.
And very so bearing as well.... I'm grateful for my freedom to
practice religion and not only practice it but to proselyte freely!
I'm so grateful for the men and women who have fought, and continue
fighting to keep this country free!:)
I hope all is well at home and that everyone is getting excited and
ready for school to start! I am honestly a little bit jealous, I
really would love to go to school! I love you all and am so grateful
for all your prayers in my behalf. I feel them. And they buoy me up.
Thank you:)
Much love,
Sister Carly Lewis xoxo
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