Called To Serve: I believe in Christ

Can I just start out by saying how much I love being a missionary? :)

This week, I finally started to let go of what I want to do, and what I think is best.... and I just took a step back, allowing the Lord to do HIS work, and use me as an instrument in His hands. THAT'S WHEN THE MIRACLES HAPPEN! :) 'twas a crazy, packed, miraculous week!

Quick Updates/Random things:

Summer STILL HAS POISON IVY. Its gotten worse... I'm pretty sure -_-

The Martinez family has an extension to stay in their home 'til school's out! That's a huge blessing. Also, we visited Bro Martinez, and he introduced us to his chickens and goats:)

Janice Davis went to the doctors finally! All is working out!

I learned this week that President Uchtdorf's son served in this mission! #awesomesauce

Learned that Obama grew up in Hawaii, playing basketball in an LDS stake center with other mormons!

I got the clothes from Grandma Dorothy! Thank you very much Grandma! I love you! :)

Tuesday, we had a MIRACLE lesson with Michi!

The Simmons have been in Utah for the past week and a half, leaving us to our own devices of teaching Michi... well, we decided that she needed to really get to know other women in the ward. She's only a senior in HS but she's very mature. So we had a lesson with her in Bri's home. (I mentioned Bri a couple of times before... she is 21, pretty recently married. just had a baby in October.) And our ward mission leader's wife, Sister Ferons, joined us too!

We all sat down and conversations flowed freely! Michi was happy and it seemed that she felt comfortable and good with this new atmosphere... so we dived head first into the plan of salvation.

I honestly can't remember what we focused on or taught... But I do know that there was a lot of discussion about faith, and that now is the time to prepare to meet God. We really tried to address her issue, of feeling that she needs to know EVERYTHING about this church and gospel before she gets baptized.
We reassured Michi that she's on the right path, she's so amazing and has undergone a HUGE change in the past couple of months. She even admitted she's seen a change in herself.

Then, Sister Ferons piped in and shared a personal experience about how she was a dumb, rebellious teenager once.... but she had an experience at girls camp that turned her around. She said, "Michi, I never served a mission, nor been a teacher... I honestly don't know a whole lot of everything pertaining to the Gospel. But what I DO know, I hold onto. I've learned that everything will come in time, and some things, I just don't need to worry about."

And then. Something crazy happened.

Sister Ferons looked Michi in the eyes and said, "You've been attending church for years, you teach the kids who are preparing for baptism... You have a vast knowledge of things. I think it's time for you to get baptized!"

WHAT.

Yup/.

That just happened.

#GoHolland

haha but Michi didn't shy away from it. So. We shall see where this goes from here! :)

Wednesday, we had Zone training.

It was awesome and focused on the importance of the Book of Mormon! We are really going to flood the mission with the Book of Mormon. I made a personal commitment to do more teaching from the scriptures.... When someone has a question, or wants to learn something, it's so easy for me to just share what I know with them, in my own words... But there is power in the scriptures. I've seen miracles happen on my mission, when I use the scriptures to answer questions!

So i'm working on saying, "Let's see what The Lord/ The prophet Alma/ The scriptures have to say about that!"

At the end of training, we had a mini transfer meeting, because the departing missionaries left this past Friday, but transfers aren't until THIS week, due to spring break occurring last week. So, we were still able to hear some of the departing missionaries advice and testimonies:) That was fun!

Thursday morning we had a really neat experience...

There was an elder in my zone that was here from Maryland, as a 'trial' mission. Just a temporary thing to see how you do with the missionary life.

Well, last week, his REAL mission call arrived, and he opened it in front of the whole zone on Thursday morning!

Lots of nostalgia in the room! haha Memories of opening my own call flooded into my mind. It's insane to me to realize that happened a year ago! I feel like I am a completely different person now. I'm still Me -- crazy, energetic, enthusiastic, random, ridiculous, caring, Carly!

But I'm a better version of me.

I truly feel that over the past year, I have been perfected in Christ.

Today, I am more spiritually sanctified, more confident before the Lord, and happier than I was a year ago.... And that is the joy of the gospel! The beauty of the Atonement! The purpose of life:)

Life is a Process of Refinement. Self-improvement comes to us line upon line, precept upon precept, day by day. The change is so small, that sometimes you may not even realize it... but I promise it is there!

So, if you, on your own personal journey of discipleship, your road of refinement, process of perfection, feel that you are getting discouraged------- STOP! Look up! If TODAY you are just a LITTLE bit better than you were YESTERDAY... then that is ENOUGH.

Angels above, and our Heavenly Father rejoice in every victory of ours -- no matter the size:)

Thursday afternoon, Sue came on exchanges with us... and she BEGGED us to go tracting! So. We did. And it actually was a pleasant experience. The weather was 72* and sunny with a slight breeze, and nobody yelled at us! Woo! We actually did have a cool thing happen--- we tracted into this Islam girl, Aya, and shared "Because He Lives" with her... and she LOVED it.

She asked us some questions about what we believe, and then took a restoration pamphlet.

She said she loves learning about all the religions, and would look into our beliefs!

That was a really unique experience because normally, people who are Islamic are VERY passionate about what they believe.... and they will tell you allll about it! But Aya, was very sweet, and open to listen. :)

Now...

Onto the GOOD stuff:

GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!

Wasn't it just delightful?:)

I received a whooooole lot of revelation!

Last conference, I asked God the question, "What is it that you expect of me? What can I do to become who it is you want me to be?"

So this time I asked the question, "How am I doing?"

So the Spirit was able to answer that question as well as much more. I received revelation on what it is that I need to do right now, in order to be more effective and efficient as a missionary, so that I can actually help hasten the work, and not be a road block!

I also learned a lot about what it is I want/need to do when I return home! Not that I'm thinking about that already. I'm definitely not. :) But it's never too early to prepare!

I loved all of the talks, and was able to apply almost all of them to myself... But I feel that the one I want to focus on in my letter to you, is L. Whitney Clayton's about Believing.. but also i'm gonna throw in thoughts and ideas from a few others!

Something that I've been struggling with a lot lately is Diligence. Missionary work is HARD. And often times frustrating... well, the work part isn't, but the constant opposing force of the adversary IS frustrating. It's so so so easy to slip into the devil's snare of despair and fear.

I admit that I have been caught in that snare a few times.

However, our Savior will NEVER leave us comfortless, guideless, helpless, or on our own. (I really loved Elder Holland's analogy of the two brothers)

When the children of Israel were facing death and pestilences and firey serpents, the Lord -- through his prophet --- provided a way that they might Look to Him and Live.

I love that so much!

LOOK TO OUR SAVIOR. He is the WAY the TRUTH the LIFE. he is the LIGHT of the world. Even in the darkest abyss of despair... His Light and love is always shining. Light will always dispel the dark. All we have to do, is Look to him in faith, and BELIEVE.

It's easy! There is always a reason to hope, and we need the Light of the Savior in our life every day! The key to finding this Hope and light, is as simple as daily scripture study and prayer. Its SO SIMPLE.

Which is why we often fall short!

"O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would LOOK they might LIVE; EVEN SO IT IS WITH US. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live FOREVER." -Alma 37:46

I also love Elder Oaks talk about the parable of the sower (( in fact, the spirit had prompted me that morning to study that parable!! ))

It got me thinking, where am I planting my seeds?

What is my testimony founded on?

How FIRM is my foundation?

Sometimes, we just need to go back to the basics. Go back to primary! Build your foundation, have your testimony be centered on Jesus Christ and the Atonement. Then, everything else will fall into place. You can build off of that, line upon line. So when the devil comes with everything he's got.....

When your closest friends seem to be making decisions against your beliefs.

When someone in church says something that offends you..

When something arises that you don't totally agree with..

When fears and doubts creep into your mind, and get you to question what's truth...

When these things happen..... YOU WILL NOT FALTER NOR FALL. Because your testimony is based on your PERSONAL witness that Jesus IS the Christ, the Savior of the World. Nobody can take that away from you. Even if the church were to fall apart, you would not falter, because your belief is in Christ. Hold firm to what you KNOW.

That's the kind of testimony we need in these latter days.

The way to this kind of testimony is through the simple day-to-day actions of scripture study, prayer, and obedience to the commandments. We need to have spiritual experiences daily!

And like I said earlier, don't worry about perfection.

You won't be perfect at it.

I'm not perfect at it.

We all make mistakes!

But we have the hope and glory of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He will enable you to accomplish what it is you righteously desire to do! And where we fall short, He makes up the difference.

I love my Savior so very much.

I need you all to understand that I AM A SINNER. *gasp* !

It's true!

I've got a lot of spiritual scars from poor use of agency. But I'm no longer ashamed to admit this. The gospel is for sinners and imperfect people!

"I'm no saint---- that is unless you think a saint is a sinner who keeps on trying"

"Twas I, but 'tis not I."

"No failure ever need be final"

"Though we live in a failing world, we were not sent here to fail"

"It matters not how oft you fail, if you fail, and try again. What matters much is if you fail, and fail to try again"

So many good thoughts, feelings and impressions have come to me this Easter weekend. My heart is overflowing with gratitude and joy to have the restored gospel on the earth, and to be a part of the Hastening generation! I love our prophet dear, and know that he is called of God. I believe in Christ. He is my joy, and my song. I know the atonement is all encompassing, and that there is always always always a reason to Hope! If you want to be truly joyful in this life, and in the world to come, then I encourage you to dive into the scriptures, with no reservations, and Come to know your Savior more perfectly. He will grant you rest, and guide you safely home.

Continue to search for truth, goodness, and light! And always help others in their journey. :)

Transfers are this week, and Sister Stewart is probably leaving! Only heaven knows what's in store for me.... In all honesty, I'm really nervous... I feel a big change is coming. But hey, when I'm on the Lord's side, there's no need to fear! :)

Lots and lots and lots of LOVE,

Sister Carly Lewis :) xoxoxo

Pictures:

Leesburg Zone! #killinit

Baby Goat!

Happy Easter!