Monday, August 12, 2013

Six Month Mark!

It's hard to believe it's been six months since I started my mission!  Now I understand why all the missionary's say it went by fast.  It has been such an amazing experience to be here in Plano. 


When I was Relief Society Pres. I knew of some of the challenges people faced in the ward, but it seems that there are even more now, and here.  My heart aches for the sorrow and pain so many have to bare.  I am so grateful that I can be here to lift their burdens, and do what I can to give them hope and encouragement.  It causes me to reflect back on so many experiences I've had that prepared me for this calling.  Heavenly Father directs our lives far more than any of us realize.  I think I've become more aware of that over the past 12 years than ever before; and here on my mission I have daily experiences that verify that awareness. 


Today we were on our way home from a trip we made to Irving, TX.  When we got closer to home I suggested to Sis. Hulse that we stop and buy a candy bar for a young single adult we were going to visit.  We pulled into a service station.  I went in to get the candy bar and met a sweet girl from India at the counter.  She asked about my name tag.  I told her about my mission, and she said.  "Can you take me to church?  I really want to start going and take my daughter."  Wow,  I was wonderfully surprised!  She gave me her name, address and phone number.  Said she had to work this coming Sunday, but would like to go the next week.  I gave her a "pass-along-card" with the church web page on it, and suggested she read about the church on line.  We will be calling her next week.  Daily miracles!


I have a new companion.  RaNae Hulse from Blackfoot, Idaho and is one of the sisters we met at the MTC.  She and Sis. Shell have been serving in Irving, TX, and we've gotten together with them a few time since we've been here.  Pres. Durrant called last week and decided to switch Sis. Hulse and Sis. Campbell, so we l be getting to know each other even better now.  We've been together for a week, and I love her already!  She's a very sweet sister and I feel like we'll work well together.  I'm very thankful for the blessing of serving with her. She's a retired school teacher and served a Family History Mission a couple of years ago in Salt Lake City.





Deni Schwendiman is a sweet sister in the ward who gave us tickets to a quilt show.  We took Laneeda out to lunch and then took her with us.  I was very surprised at how big it was, and we really enjoyed seeing how amazingly talented people are.  We saw Joyce Richmond, another sweet sister in our ward there.  She has had us in her home for dinner on several occasions.  We saw Joyce Richmond while we were there also.







I've been reading in the Book of Mormon this past few days, about the Savior's appearance to the Nephite people after his crucifixion.  It is one of my favorite scripture stories.  In 3 Nephi 19,  I was touched when the Savior taught his disciples that they should "pray unto the Father in His name".  The disciples prayed that they could have the Holy Ghost to be with them.  The spirit was so strong that angels came down to minister to them.  The Savior then appeared to them again and told the multitude to kneel down and pray.  When they did so, he left them for a moment so that he could pray.  The prayer he offered to Heavenly Father is a beautiful prayer of gratitude for the love that the multitude has for Him and His for the Father.


3 Nephi 19:  20-23
Father, I thank thee that thou hast given the Holy Ghost unto these whom I have chosen, and it is because of their belief in me that I have chosen them out of the world.  Father, I pray thee that thou wilt give the Holy Ghost unto all them that shall believe in their words.  Father, thou hast given them the Holy Ghost because they believe in me, and thou seest that they believe in me because thou hearest them, and they pray unto me; and they pray unto me because I am with them.  And now, Father, I pray unto thee for them, and also for all those who shall believe on their words, that they may believe in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one.


It gives me so much joy to see how the Father and the Son work as one together, and helps me realize how great their love is for each one of us.  How wonderful it is to know that we can speak to them through prayer and we are heard.  We're heard because each of us belong to them both spiritually and as mortals on earth.  They are "in tune" with every need, desire, or concern we may have.  They are drawn to us when we seek help for others of their children.  We can truly be "Instruments in Their Hands" for our own needs as well as for those whom we serve.  Prayer is truly a great miracle in our lives!  Even the Savior felt the need to pray!  What great love they have for one another, and what a testimony to us of the Savior's will to be submissive to His Father. 










No comments:

Post a Comment