Thank you fam for the wonderful packages!! You are so amazing and I love you so much! We have been listening to the music you sent everyday, and we have been putting up decorations little by little!
This week we had zone conference. It was amazing as always. Oh I got to sing with another sister and some elders it was super fun.
We went to a baptism this week and two or our investigators came to see. It really impressed them and one is excited to be baptized herself!!
Spiritual thought:
I was looking back through my journal and found some notes from a devotional at the MTC. This was a thought from Dallin H. Oaks...
"Being a missionary is more than just doing missionary things. You must have a mighty change of heart."
Alma 5:12-14 talks about the importance of having a mighty change of heart...
"12 And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true.
13 And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved.
14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?"
Can we examine our own lives and ask honestly whether we've experienced this mighty change of heart? Mosiah 5:2 describes how after this change they had no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually. How can we get to this point? How can we have a mighty change of heart?
I believe that it doesn't come all at once. You aren't going to wake up one day, or read one scripture and be changed forever. I do beleive there are moments when we are called to an awakening but it is our job to keep that fire burning and continually nurture it. A mighty change of heart is changing our fallen nature, and that's not easy. It takes time, patience, and the understanding that it will happen line upon line. Too many people sit around waiting for the change to happen to them, but true change takes work and a desire to serve God. True repentance springs from a love of God.
So where to start? Develop your relationships with your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. You do this by spending quality time with them. Sincere prayer and scripture study are the key. Now you may still be waiting for this "awakening" or a lightning flash to start the flame before you begin to nurture it. Just remember there are different ways to start a fire. Some take more work than others but they all bring warmth and light!
OK that's my two cents for the week.
Thanks for the questions fam!
Q. Do you and your companion ever call each other by your first names? Do you even know them???
A. I do know my companions first name, but no we are supposed to call each other by sister.
Q. How often do you cook? What do you make? Does your apartment already have all the kitchen stuff you need?
A. We have a fully functional kitchen (with far too many home canned goods and Tupperware). We cook most lunches at our apartment, unless we are too lazy or it would be too much of a hassle to get home, then we eat out. We usually have a dinner appointment which is so great! Our ward is the best! Breakfast usually consists of yogurt, granola, and a banana (though this morning we had cocoa). Lunch is usually some sort of sandwich, soup, or quesadillas.
Q. Have you done any driving yet?
A. no driving yet. No car either so...
Q. Do you think you'll get transferred soon? (You probably can't know, but will they really do transfers so close to Christmas?)
A. I hope not, but transfers are on the 12th and we find out this Saturday. I kind of feel like I'm going to be transfered and Sister Quinton will be staying in the area.
Q. How many investigators do you have?
A. A good amount. I love all the individuals we work with!
Q. Have you seen any snow in Oregon?
A. No snow, lots of rain.
Q. Who's the strangest person you've met?
A. We met a satanist last night... He really liked to talk about politics.
Q. What's the strangest food you've eaten?
A. It's not super strange but an investigator made us schnitzel...
Q. What is the strangest Oregonian custom you've encountered?
A. True Oregonians don't use umbrellas. They don't even seem to notice the rain. So if you use an umbrella you are immediately marked as an outsider.
Q. Do you still have that kitty?
A. We haven't seen it in a long time. Not since we heard this crazy cat fight one night...
Q. Does anybody else write to you?
A. Occasionally.
Q. What's your favorite clothes to steal from your companion?
A. Anything comfy and warm.
Q. Do you stay in touch with anyone from the MTC?
A. A little. Two of the elders are in my zone.
Q. Did your companion get Christmas presents?
A. Yes, her family sent a 25 days of Christmas thingy.
Q. Does your companion have a boyfriend that she writes to?
A. I'll let her answer this one in her own words... " Yes. Jesus? In my journal..."
Q. What is your favorite scripture?
A. My favorite scripture right now is Alma 36, yes the entire chapter.
Q. What advice would you give to your sisters as they think about / prepare to serve a mission?
A. Study the scriptures. Strive to develop your relationship with the Savior. Don't waste so much time on the internet or watching TV, it's really not worth it and there is so much more you could be doing with that time.
Love you all! Have a wonderful week!!
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