April 28, 2014

Wow... what a week!!

So, a funny side affect of missionary work is found in Ether 12:17 - If you come unto Christ, He will make your weaknesses made known unto you. Consider our purpose.. which is to invite others to come unto Christ, which can't happen unless WE come unto Christ. So, as missionaries, we are constantly having the pleasure of being made aware of every single one of our weaknesses. Sister Patterson calls this "growing pains." I would agree, we experience spiritual growing pains all the time. Also, the most joy in the whole world combined, but stretching and growing pains are there as well.

We have begun teaching a young girl named Bulou (pronounced Below). She is a referral from a member, and is AMAZING!! Wow. We taught her the restoration in our first lesson, and asked her how she felt afterwards. She started talking and said, "I feel so happy, i don't even know what I'm saying right now, i don't even feel like I'm inside my own body." She began to cry, and wiping away big tears off her cheeks she said, "I've never felt this happy before, even if it doesn't look like it," as she examined her tear-stained hands. We set a date for baptism with her right there. After our lesson she texted all her friend who are part of the church about how happy she was. Wow. If you want to feel real, abiding joy, it can be found in the gospel of Jesus Christ, which has been restored in its fullness to the earth!!
We met with her again on Sunday night, and she told us about an experience she had Saturday night; She was invited out with her friends, and she said yes. As soon as she arrived at the house, she just immediately felt "dirty." She was there for maximum 2 minutes, and she then got up and told them she was going home. Her friends asked her, "what are you doing? You JUST got here!" She replied, "Yeah, and i shouldn't have come - i need to go." She left and felt the biggest victory because she felt clean, she knew she was following a prompting of the Spirit of the Lord and did what He asked her to do. SO COOL!

Also, we brought someone back to church after visiting them ONE TIME. What?? How does that even happen? The spirit!!! My companion is the man.

We're teaching another Colombian!! Her name is Diana and she's about my height and rides a bike that's made for a 12-year-old. Now how cute is that??

I know this church is true because I feel so good when I talk about it. It's not easy, but I love it and i am grateful for all of it - the good and the bad.
i love you all!!
Sister Rose