Before I get to everything, I'd like to send a shoutout to Thelma from the Ocean Springs Ward, who I had the pleasure of meeting on Saturday at a Women's Conference. You are so sweet and so kind; thank you for reading and keeping up with me! And thanks to those who came up to me at the Women's Conference and told me they read this dinky thing. I don't know why you stick around, but I'm glad that y'all like to read! I hope you find me somewhat entertaining. And maybe uplifting. I don't know. Anyway. Thank you!
Do y'all know that kind of thunder that you hear in movies? the kind that cracks, and sounds like God's playing the slapstick in the sky? I didn't actually think that kind of thunder existed until I came to Miss'ippi. In fact, I heard it for the majority of last night. It was beautifully terrifying. I loved it.
It was a great end to an incredible week, honestly. While writing in my journal and listening to the Gulf Coast do its thing and pour gallons of rain, I felt a calm sense of satisfaction as I reflected on the week. I didn't necessarily accomplish everything I'd planned to, or do all the things I'd imagined myself doing, but I was able to accomplish something that Heavenly Father approved.
What's funny is that I didn't do hardly anything at all. Most of all, this week has been humbling, uplifting, and has made me incredibly aware of how much my Heavenly Father loves, knows, and cares for me and my companion. He understands us and our situation. And, most of all, He knows, loves, and cares for our investigators who are doing their best to truly learn and accept the message we share with them.
Sister Jones and I haven't been able to do much walking or finding since the car accident. Which is fine! Missionary work is completely doable with members, using the Area Book, and mostly driving. We've been doing that for about two and a half weeks now, and it's been one of the hardest, but one of the things that has stretched me the most.
And, I will be honest, a lot of that has been incredibly fruitless! Not because people have rejected us, but because people haven't been home, or we stop by right as they're leaving, or they don't live there anymore. It's all kinds of factors working together, and it's made me sit back and wonder what we could do to improve the area with the limits we have. Heavenly Father gave us this challenge, so He knows we can handle it -- so how can we work with it?
One day, Sister Jones made the announcement that we were going to tract. Okay! Cool! I like that! We hadn't been out of the apartment ten minutes before a girl drove up beside us and asked if we could come by and talk to her. She's really cool, and we love her.
On another day, a couple who'd come to church at their request asked if we could come by and read the Book of Mormon with them. They're super cool, and we love them, too.
Another investigator expressed a want to be baptized. We're working with her, and we are very, very excited.
Blessings. Blessings that we don't deserve.
I am a flawed person. I'm unsure of myself and my teaching; my stumbling blocks are many, not just one; sometimes my pride gets in the way, and other times I doubt; sometimes I am harrowed up in my afflictions, as Nephi would describe it, and things are just hard and I feel like the literal most inadequate servant of the Lord ever.
But then things like this happen. I don't know the grand scheme of things. I don't know anyone's personal Plan of Salvation; I don't even hardly know my own! I am just trying to do what I think is maybe right and hope that I'm listening to the Spirit and doing what Heavenly Father wants me to do.
I've spent a lot of time asking my Heavenly Father for help in prayers. I've told Him that I can't do everything, that I sometimes don't feel like I'm doing all that I need to, that I just need help because I'm lost -- and then it's like He put His hands on my shoulders, smiled at me, and said, "I know. Okay."
I am unworthy of such love. We all are. It reminds me of the scripture in Mosiah 2:21-22, which I'm sure I've shared before, but:
"I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another -- I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.
"And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you."
Now, I added the emphases there, but I wanted to highlight that all He asks is that you do your best and keep the commandments! That's it! Wow! That's seriously nothing compared to what He does for us. It's absolutely insane that He loves us that much that He doesn't even ask us to do hardly anything to receive His love. In fact, no matter what we do, He will love us anyway.
That pains me sometimes. Heavenly Father, my literal Father in Heaven, loves us that much. We don't, won't, and can't understand the depth of His love; His godly love is far more exquisite, pure, and infinite. I can't put it into words. I just know that He loves you. Goodness. If you don't know that, please get on your knees and ask for Him to tell you. Because I know He does. Goodness, I just know He does. Please don't ever doubt that.
If you are discouraged, if you are angry, if you are unsure if your love is not returned, please remember this scripture that has so deeply impressed me over the course of my mission:
"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Don't forget His love for you. Don't you ever do that.
Love y'all.
Have a good week.
Godspeed!
Sincerely,
Sister Rose
P.S. We had a Women's Conference on Saturday that lasted from one o'clock in the afternoon to eight o'clock at night! We had the opportunity to hear from speakers not of the Latter-day Saint faith and we ate a lot of food. It was so awesome! Later that night, we had the opportunity to hear from Sister Linda S. Reeves, second counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency; Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, second counselor in the Primary General Presidency; and Sister Neill F. Marriott, second counselor in the Young Women General Presidency. We also got to hug them. It was awesome. :)
P.P.S. I also got to see some of my homies from the PURVIS WARD! Shoutout to Shari Grover, Krista Grover, and Janna Raber :D Love y'all! Miss y'all!
 |
| I have a problem, you see. I like pumpkins. I have purchased a box of pumpkin spice Life cereal, and pumpkin spice hot chocolate. A member made us pumpkin bread. My aunt also sent me pumpkin lotion, body wash, and body spray. I may or may not be investing in pumpkin spice Oreos in the future. I don't have a problem. Not at all. |
 |
| When a cat starts following you around a neighborhood and all you want to do is pet it and make it not follow you...but it insists on loving you #RealProblems |
 |
| The coast has pretty sunsets...but you can't see them behind a chain-link fence at an apartment complex. |
No comments:
Post a Comment