Here are a few semi-important things we did this week:
1. TEMPLE TRIP and sister Howell and I actually took a picture together!
1. TEMPLE TRIP and sister Howell and I actually took a picture together!
2.
We had to do a zone training because #STLduties. This was incredibly
stressful, but ended up not being that horrible! It's weird for me
training missionaries on how to be missionaries when I've only been out 5
months and don't even know myself how to be a missionary. But oh well.
3.
We had our first exchange with the Conyers sisters! Exchanges are
different now... both companionship's work the same area, rather than
splitting up and it is SO STRESSFUL to plan for. Basically you are
planning for two days in one. Planning has been my biggest weakness but
thankfully the Lord has been blessing me to get things done!
4.
John and Erika are progressing BEAUTIFULLY. Erika loves to read the
Book of Mormon and prays every night! (Reminder: she's 11 and is a
Less-active's foster child). She's also been super interested in temples
lately... we found her a picture of the El Salvador temple (her
homeland!) and she LOVES it--She said she wants to get married there one
day! :) CUTE
5. We saw Sister C and Franklin this week (12
hairless cats lady) and Franklin has A CAT LANGUAGE. Yep, he was
speaking to his cats in this language the other day. Probably the
highlight of my whole mission.
Okay, I'm going
to be brutally honest for a second. This week was HARD. One of the
harder weeks I've had on my mission. Lots of tears shed, but also lots
of answered prayers.
It has been a huge struggle to be
working hard following up with people in an effort to build up the
teaching pool and seeing ZERO results. (You know how I am--I'm a bit of a
perfectionist, and i like to be the best). I know that's how missionary
work goes, but that doesn't make it any easier. The longer this goes
on, the more Satan has been working on me. It's been difficult to feel
like I'm using the Lord's time wisely when the "numbers" are low, and
there aren't any results happening on the surface. I've been having a
lot of negative thoughts about the impact I'm actually making as a
missionary, and at times have questioned my decision to serve (as I'm
sure many past missionaries can relate), so the motivation to go out and
work hard has been extremely low.
One thought that has kept
me going however came from my dear companion Sister Howell and it
literally changed my whole perspective. During a hard, tear filled
companion study we had this week, she shared D&C 123:17 with me
(somehow I've never heard this one), and it's become my new favorite
scripture!
"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still with the utmost assurance to see the salvation of God and for His arm to be revealed."
This
verse has been going through my head all week long. It's hard for me to
put my thoughts into words so I hope this comes out the way I want it
to.
Sometimes in life, we go through really hard things.
Sometimes life doesn't really turn out the way we want it to and we have
to change our game plan. Sometimes what we want isn't always what God
wants. But no matter what, He is always going to do what is best for us,
and our efforts really do matter. As long as we keep pressing forward
with a happy attitude and do everything we possibly can, God will make
up for the rest.
It's really hard to see what's going on
"behind the scenes" when all we can see is our own movie screen, but if
we take a step back, we are able to refocus our perspective and see the
big picture. Heavenly Father truly does have His hand in our lives every
step of the way and He knows what is best for us! This life is short but we are going to succeed! Our
efforts DO matter and we ARE doing a lot of good. I've learned a lot
about gratitude this week and it's really helped me to focus on the
positives of the work we are doing, despite the lack of results we've
seen: The faith of our less-actives is increasing ENORMOUSLY, our
investigators are progressing at a faster rate now that we have more
time to focus on them, and we are definitely planting a lot of seeds. I
know that my efforts matter and that Sister Howell and i are doing a lot
more for this area that we realize.
I'm thankful that God is
mindful of me and my situation, and I know that He's mindful of YOURS
too. Keep your chin up, it's going to all work out in the end. :)
I LOVE YOU ALL and have definitely felt your prayers this week! i appreciate you. Also you were all my Valentines this week.
Song of the week: Never Gone--Colton Dixon. (Lots of head-banging in a spiritual way to this one)
BYE
Sister Lawson
Temple fo daaaayyyzz
Matching. On purpose. (Me and Sister Howell
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