YOU MUST NOT DO IT ALONE!

G’DAY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY! HOW YA GOING MATES?

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! Trevor, I am having a hard time knowing you are graduating this week and an EVEN HARDER TIME NOT BEING THERE WHEN YOU WERE ORDAINED AN ELDER! I am so proud of you! I witness and am the recipient of Priesthood blessings and miracles daily and I know that it truly is the power to act in the Lord's name. What an absolute precious gift you have received. 

Now for my scattered update:

We were gone the entire week on exchanges. Friday morning we got a call from Sisters K and H that our baptism for Saturday was a no go. We prayed together over the phone and made plans for what to do. The Sisters took a member to see her, but the answer was still no. I know that Satan was really trying to get at all of us that day, and I am so blessed to understand that opposition is to be expected before the greatest miracles come. The rest of the night we continued to receive disappointing news and it seemed like everything was going wrong.

As I prayed to my Heavenly Father that night, I apologized and asked forgiveness for my pride in thinking that I could handle all of this on my own. I promised Him that I would forget myself and get out of the way, as I think that I have been so “busy” and full of pride that I have lost sight of whose work this really is. I went to bed feeling completely at peace and spiritually handed everything over to Heavenly Father.

As I rolled over in bed the next morning, my heart dropped. I grabbed the phone and saw the worst possible thing, 6:44 am.[NOTE: Missionaries are to arise by 6:30 a.m.] I jumped out of bed, turned on the light, woke up the other sisters and went into the other room and fell on my knees. I felt as though my heart would stop I was so upset. Just the night before I had felt completely at peace, and then the next morning, this happened. 

I share this because, although it may seem like a small act of disobedience, it devastated me. However, I know that the Lord forgave me and later blessed us with miracles.

I have studied the passage in Exodus about how Moses was instructed by Jethro to delegate the work. It reads:

 14 And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? Why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

 17 And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

 20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

I am so grateful for the revelation and comfort that I found in these scriptures. I have asked the Lord what I can do to keep working at this pace for the rest of my mission, as I have some days when I feel like I am “surely going to wear away!” I know the answer to my prayers is that I need to learn to banish my pride, delegate responsibility, and let others learn and grow so we can share this together.

We witnessed the miracle of P’s baptism on Saturday afternoon. There is much to say, but I am so grateful that I have traveled on this journey with him. As I watched him be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, I realized that I have been experiencing similar lessons. Learning how to forgive myself, peeling away my natural wo-man, and developing a relationship with my Saviour. I know that before we came to earth, we were supposed to find each other. I know that I came on my mission to meet P, and I know that he has changed my life forever.

I have prayerfully created a vision of what I hope the Lord wants me to become by the end of my mission. Some things include:  

- My countenance will shine like the Saviour.  (3 NE 19:25)

- I will gain greater self-control and self-mastery (1 COR 9:25)

- My soul will delight in the scriptures ( 2 NE 4:15-16)

- I will be calm, patient and long suffering (2 PET 1:6)

- I will be obedient to promptings from the Spirit (ALMA 8:15)

I had a very tender conversation with Sister H last night. She said that it really hit her to see me cry when we were late waking up and she promised that she would try harder. I was again moved to tears by the humility of this Sister who I love with all my heart. She told me that the experience of my father being healed has changed her life and motivated her to work harder. She said that because I am a hard worker and obedient, my family is blessed and we see miracles. She said that she wants to be more like that so that her family will be blessed as well. I was so touched by her words and feel so privileged to work beside her and learn from her example.

There is not enough time to write about all of the miracles I have witnessed this week. However, I am so blessed, and continue to be humbled by the miracles, relationships that have been formed, and the guidance from the Holy Ghost I receive as I submit myself and my mission service, to the Lord. I am so grateful for my companions, for the calling to be a traveling sister and the chance I have to serve in this wonderful area. I am learning what it means to use the Atonement, and that because of the suffering of my Saviour, I can receive power and peace in my life. I know that like Elder Bednar said, it is the weight that gives us traction to reach greater heights. I know that when I am yoked with the Saviour, my burden is easy. I know that being a missionary has blessed my life more than I can ever repay or express adequately. I love my Saviour and my Heavenly Father and I am so grateful for the ability to envision their arms outstretched throughout the day.

I love you to the moon and back.