Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Week full of service
This is going to be short. Sorry I have been distracted doing other things. This week has been one full of service which I love so that was a blessing. We were able to help this organization called Project Save. They send medical supplies all over the world for people who are poor and live in really awful circumstances. Eleven other missionaries and I helped load a whole semi truck full of medical supplies and it was really rewarding. The coolest part though was the guy who was in charge is from Nigeria and his uncle was the first Nigerian to take the missionary discussions in Nigeria and he helped establish the church there and was the first Bishop and the first Stake President in Nigeria. How cool is that!? It was really awesome to hear how the Gospel has affected his family and all of Nigeria. We were also able to rip out some old linoleum for a part member family. I love service! I love being able to serve others and help them out in some small way. We should all get out and serve this week! I love you all and I know this church is true I know that Jesus Christ is the way to find true happiness and peace. He lives and He loves all of us, even if we aren't perfect. Have a great week!
Two is better than one, three is company
This week was... interesting. We had one of our sisters in the zone go home early because she was sick (my trainer sister stanfield) so we had another sister with us this week, Sister Perkins, she is a great Sister and we had a lot of fun but being with three people all week is somewhat overwhelming. One of us was grumpy almost at all times and needless to say there was some crying that I was of course uncomfortable with. But this week I was really feeling like I just wanted some alone time, and then I was feeling like I just really wanted to be around people who loved me and I loved them. I know my companion loves me, and I love her. The people in the ward are great and I really enjoy them but to them I am just another missionary and I am temporary. So needless to say I was feeling like I just really wanted to be around my family, or someone who isn't forced to be with me 24/7 and learn to love me. So I just prayed a lot this week that I would be able to feel God's love more in my life and rely on that to get me through that week, it didn't work haha I didn't feel ANY extra love all week I was getting desperate so I said a prayer that went something like this, "Heavenly Father I know you are aware of me, I know you love me but I really need something more, I am really struggling right now and I just need one of those moments that helps me know that you are looking out for me." later that day I got on Facebook to do some online proselyting and I had a message from April Baird, who is my favorite person from Rocklin and was my saving grace there and it said. "I am going to be in Chico for work this weekend! Where is church and what time is it? I want to come see you." So yesterday at church on her lunch break she came and said hi to me and gave me a hug and later today I am going to lunch with her. I can't tell you how good it was to see someone who genuinely loves me and wanted to see me. God answers prayers, I could have made it through the rest of my week without getting that physical witness that God is still aware of me, but because He loves me and He cares about me and He wants me to be happy He showed me that He is ultimately in charge and He is always going to take care of me. I am not complaining I really am doing well and I am still loving my mission just in case any of you are starting to worry about me.... don't worry i'm cool.
We officially set a date this week with Tara for December 13th and she told her step dad which is a HUGE step because her family is very against her getting baptized. God is answering her prayers too because her step dad said that he would support her and that he wants her to be happy and if this is what makes her happy he will do everything he can to lessen the family drama. God answers prayers!!!! If there is one thing I have learned on my mission so far it is that God is so aware of me and all those around me. He loves every single one of us because we are His children and He wants us to be successful and happy. That is why He has given us commandments. For example, in the word of wisdom we are told not to drink alcohol, or strong drink this commandment seems very unreasonable for many people but for the person who becomes an alcoholic after drinking one time this commandment is a saving grace, they will never have to battle alcholism if the adhere to that commandment. God is merciful and loving. I know this because I am less than perfect, I have so many different weaknesses and I know that everyday I do something that isn't exactly in line with God and I think to myself, "ah crap not again! Why do I keep messing up? I am so HUMAN" and I know Heavenly Father is thinking, "Wow look at all the good that Melissa did today, everyday she is getting better and she is trying to overcome all of her weaknesses. I am so proud of her, I love her so much." I know that is true for all of you, regardless of where you are at in your life. Heavenly Father is proud of you. Don't give up, keep trying. This video is called Good things to come and its from a conference talk that Elder Jeffery R Holland gave and I love it! I rely on it's message all the time. /video/mormon-messages?v=
Missionary Work in the singles ward is....Awkward ha ha
This week had the wonderful opportunity to teach the law of chastity to our investigator who was supposed to get baptized on Friday but is now moving to Kentucky and that was a bummer but we felt she wasn't ready completely for baptism and this is God's will for her and she needs to really develop more faith in Christ. She is great but teaching her the law of Chastity was definitely a new experience. She kept bringing up movies and television shows that she really likes that reminded her of breaking the law of Chastity. It was really random and all over the place and we had a married couple there with us that were probably thinking, "this girl is nuts" but I love her she is amazing and I am really going to miss her. Teaching her has been so great because it has really showed me how the Gospel of Jesus Christ is fit for ALL people. Regardless of how different we all might be.
We were teaching Jane this week on a park bench near a lake and this guy walked by and asked if we were doing a Bible study and we said, "Book of Mormon study" and he said, "Oh cool" he proceeded to walk and I asked if he wanted to join us. He said he had homework and that he probably shouldn't. We gave him a Book of Mormon, we didn't write our phone number in it or anything, and told him he should read it. He said he didn't want to convert or anything and Jane blurts out, "That's okay I am Jewish" haha it was pretty funny. So he left and then yesterday we got a call from some Elders and said, "This guy said he met a couple of blonde girls who were teaching another girl on a park bench and they gave him a Book of Mormon and he wants to meet with them." The elders number was in the Book of Mormon miraculously and Mark now wants to meet with us. It was a huge blessing and it showed me that you don't need a huge spiritual prompting to bless someone with the Gospel, you just need to do the things that God has asked us to do and open our mouths and talk to everyone!!! I love being a missionary. I love being able to help people feel the love of their Savior. We are really busy here teaching lessons, we struggle a lot with getting members to go to lessons with us though and that is frustrating because these people who are looking for Christ need support and friends. If missionaries ask you to go to a lesson, go! WE NEED MEMBERS HELP, you are vital in the work of salvation, more important than the missionaries MEMBERS are VITAL!
I love you all I miss you all and I can't wait to hear from you
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