I was about to type this week was really good, and then I realized that I think I start ALL of my emails like that so I am going to switch it up, this week was a learning week (so much better than this week was really good haha). We had dinner with a family at the beginning of the week that taught me a very good lesson. Both the mom and dad are return missionaries and they were talking about their missions and the things they wished they had learned at the beginning of their missions and something the mom said really hit me, she said, "We don't have to be perfect to be good" literally I almost started crying (for those of you who know me well know this is HUGE that I almost cried infront of this family) and I just wanted to sit on that moms lap and have her rock me like a kid or something. As the week went on I forgot that advice from that family and Heavenly Father really wanted that message to sink into me this week because I got a letter a little later that said, "NO ONE expects you to be perfect, especially your Father in Heaven" (Thanks Mike G) It was so easy to get discouraged and focus on our weaknesses and I know that Satan uses that as a HUGE toold for me. He wants all of us to focus on our weaknesses so that we become discouraged and we want to give up because we aren't good enough for our Heavenly Father even though God already had a perfect son and he doesn't expect any of us to be perfect. Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and we can't be happy by constantly thinking about how much we need to imporve or how often we fall short. During my study time I read a talk from the last General Conference called, "Being Accepted of the Lord" and it says, "The ulitmate source of empowerment and lasting acceptance is our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. They know us. They love us. They do not accpet us because of our title or position. They do not look at our status. They look into our hearts. Tehy accept us for who we are and what we are striving to become." I loved that! to often I think we think other people are perfect and they aren't!!! EVERYONE has weaknesses and short coming! Even Moses I am sure struggled at some points. That quote reminded me of an investigator we have, Jacquie and her kids. They have been investigating (why do we call people investigators it is so weird) the church for 1 1/2 years and they don't feel welcome at church. Her daughter Lauren is 13 and no one really sits by her in class or Young Womens and she feels really alienated by the ward, so do her little brother and sister and her mom. So when I read this talk I thought of them and it jus thit me, even though the people at church might not be the most accepting or it might seem that way. IT DOESN'T MATTER. It makes it a little more difficult to go to church and to stay positive and it is hard to feel alone with so many people around BUT God is always aware of us and he ALWAYS accepts us regardless of what weaknesses we have. He loves us so much!! In the talk he gave 3 steps we can use to feel more accepted by god and I encourage you all to get on LDS.org and read it but he ends his talk by saying as we follow the 3 steps, "we will come to know that we are accepted of Him, regardless of our position, status, or mortal limitation. His loving acceptance will motivate us, increase our faith, and help us deal with everything we face in life" It is a great talk and I know that God is so aware of us and he loves us so much and we don't have to be perfect to be good.
We found a new investigator (that really just sounds weird!) this week! Her name is Savannah and she is 14. I guess we didn't find her, I will not take the credit for that, but her friend gave us her contact information and her friend set up a time for us to talk with her. We had a lesson with her this week and it was awesome. She is really great and the spirit was really strong in our lesson. She almost cried I almost cried (I am getting more in touch with my emotions on my mission, its weird) and it was really good. She came to chruch on Sunday and she loved it! She didn't even realize it was three hours long haha but we are teaching her again on Tuesday about the Atonement so we are really excited. Her parents will be the biggest obstacle but right now they have told her they are happy with whatever religion she wants to be, we will see what they think if she wants to get baptized. Levi told us he won't get baptized :( it was a bummer but its cool we are going to keep talking with him.
God is so aware of all of us and He knows us all personaly and I am so grateful for this knowledge. I wish we understood exactly how important this Gospel is and how vital our role is in sharing it. I love you all! D&C 50:40-42
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