Hello family and friends!
How has a whole transfer flown by! First off. Do you know how hard it is to take photos of the entire district!! Everyone is always 100% distracted! So hopefully those pictures are good enough 
. (I totally understand the stresses of family photos... it takes a lot of tries to get everyone looking and smiling at the camera. Haha) Miss you fam!!
I guess round 2 of white washing has officially been completed! We have seen many miracles this transfer as we have relied on the lord. This week we have been praying specifically to find people who are prepared to receive the gospel into their lives. As we have done so, we have received multiple referrals (which are rare in this area), and we are beginning to teach people who have really opened up about being interested in strengthening their relationship with god. The people are there, we just have to find them.
As you may know, there was recently a companionship of sisters in Houston, Texas that got stabbed around 4 in the morning sometime last week. The intruder entered the sisters apartment through and unlocked balcony door, and proceeded to stab both sisters. They will recover, but prayers would be appreciated.
On that note, the world is getting progressively more dangerous. Satan has gotten hold of many of god's children, and it is so important that we hold onto what we know to be true, so we don't fall into Satan's grasp.
How do we do that?
What we teach as missionaries is this: Having faith that leads to repentance. Baptism, or partaking of the sacrament to renew our baptismal covenants. Following the holy ghost as we live worthy to have him as a constant companion, and after this is done, doing it over and over again.
I would love to hear any of your thoughts on how you have been able to stay faithful, especially during the trying times.
For me, as a missionary, we have time set aside to study our scriptures. We pray over everything. We are learning and teaching about the gospel of Jesus Christ all day, every day. My life is very different then one who has not been set apart as a full time missionary. But that doesn't mean we don't experience trials and challenges. Satan is still working on us each and every day.
Missionaries still make mistakes. Missionaries still have hard days. They stumble, and sometimes they fall. We are ordinary people, and just like every ordinary person, none of us are perfect.
A way that I have shown faith in my life, is believing that God can take my imperfections, my mistakes and shortcomings, and use me to help others come closer to him. With that faith, I then put in the work necessary to be a witness of the lords work around me.
I used to think faith was more of an action word, but recently it was pointed out to me that faith is followed by action, not the action itself. "Faith without works is dead" it's like saying "Sister Elgaaen without food is dead." I am not the food, I am me. Faith is not the works, it's the trust, the belief in that which is unseen. To strengthen our faith, we must put in work, just as you would eat healthy food to strengthen your body.
My faith is in the savior, that when I do reach out and take his hand, he will lift me up. So I will stretch forth my hand. I will do everything in my power to reach him, because when i do. I have faith that his grace will make up for all I lack.
I hope your faith can be strengthened as you put in the work to come and behold him.
Love you all!!
Pictures:
×lesson with Sister Sidoway and Snitker
×district
×district (notice how tiny we are!! 5'2 and 5'0 against elders who are 6'6.... we are so small!! Haha)
×I made a bay blade stadium for one of the little boys we are teaching who LOVES bay blades!
× sister Stephens and myself.
×shopping to prepare for the hurricane
×sister Stephens first aggressive driving...
×cookies!
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