This week was a pretty good week. We worked our best and saw our results increase; which is always a good thing.
We have a sister in the mission and I had heard pretty bad stories about her. I had heard she's pretty overbearing and just not a nice person at all. I have been dreading being her companion. Well, this Friday Sister Hamilton and I were planning to go on exchanges with this particular sister and her companion. Sister Hamilton was going to go with the sister because she was her MTC companion and knew what to expect. Her companion was coming here to stay with me in Springfield. Well, we got to the exchange spot on Friday night at 9 PM and found out that the Zone Leaders had told the other sister's to switch, so now the dreaded sister was coming with me and the companion was staying in Eugene with Sister Hamilton. I was shocked, but Heavenly Father actually gave me a lot of comfort and I felt like it would be alright. We headed back to our apartment and found out that we actually have the same birthday. That night we swapped mission stories (yay! I actually have mission stories now! Ha!) The next day, we had a VERY full day. We tracted a lot and talked to a lot of people! We picked up 5 new investigators! They are pretty cool people too! We were so busy that we ended up setting up an appointment during our dinner time, so we only got a short dinner. I actually love doing that! We used to do that in Corvallis and it always was nice to know we were working that hard! Anyway... I was pleasantly surprised at how good the exchange was. Sister Hamilton got home and I was completely at ease; I was my old self again. I was being goofy and just having a good time. It was a good change! I LOVED exchanges this week! It felt so good to work so hard!
We're working with Pete this week; his baptism is on Saturday!!!! He is so so so so cool! Sister Hamilton and I think he's going to be a seminary teacher! He just has that personality and his knowledge is absolutely amazing! He bears his testimony to us all the time! He's so grateful for how his testimony has developed. He's come so far. He asked us the other day about the New Jerusalem. We explained that it is in Jackson County, Missouri. He said, "Wow, the Book of Mormon got really specific, huh?" We then explained that, that was revelation received in the Doctrine and Covenants. the old Pete would have said, "Oh, so it's NOT in the Bible?" But, the new Pete said, "Well, I guess I better study up on the Doctrine and Covenants, huh?" It's so cool to see that he now has a testimony of modern day revelation and prophets! I think that's one of the best things about a mission; seeing testimonies grow and seeing people so anxious to share their new-found testimony with us! I LOVE it so much!
So, this week we got bad news about our ward mission leader. We found out a few months ago that he has Pancreatic cancer. He's been undergoing chemotherapy, but found out this week that it's still growing and they gave him 6-8 months to live. He is the coolest guy ever! He has really changed this area. He's helped to really pump the missionary mindedness of the ward. We've been studying about the Spirit World for a while now. In a talk that Elder Turner gave to us, by Brent L. Todd (it's called what's on the other side), he talks about how in the Spirit World everyone is running around busy, because there is so much to do. He says that in every dispensation, there have been things that need to be done to prepare for the Savior's Second Coming, and the other dispensations have had the time to do that, but we still have a lot of work to do and not much time, so it's crucial to hurry about. The Lord has given me comfort in knowing that if it is our mission leader's time to go, it will be because the Spirit World needs his amazing missionary abilities! It's still hard to see though; he's 26 and has 4 beautiful little kids, who may have to grow up without their dad. It's very sad to see. His wife was engaged to another man before they got married and that man was killed in a skiing accident, so she has been through A LOT for only being 27. It's very sad.
My testimony of Forever and of the Spirit World has grown so much on my mission. I never really comprehended Eternity and although I hoped it was true, I never really had faith that it was. And a part of me was a little scared that it was, but in just the last few months I've really come to understand Eternity and to actually look forward to it and have faith that it is real! I KNOW it's real! I get so excited about doing work in the Spirit World and about being with my family and my many close friends that I had before the mission and the ones that I've found during my mission! Oh! I LOVE this work so, so, so, so much! I feel so completely blessed to be here, now! I'm so grateful for the relationships I've built with companions, investigators, leaders, etc! I absolutely LOVE every minute of it! Even the hard times, because they make me appreciate the many miracles we see even more!
So, I don't think I told you, but we have an apostle coming to speak to our mission on September 11th! They won't tell us who it is until next week, but on of the mission presidency let it slip to the someone and they told us. I can't tell you until next week, but I'm very, very excited to meet this person and to be edified by his speaking! It's going to be AWESOME!!!!
So, today we're going to Sahalie Falls with the Elders and with Sister Penhallegon! The elders had some shirts designed for all of us! They're way cute! I'll send a picture next week along with pictures of the falls! We're pretty excited!
Well I better go! Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Losee
P.S. This is a note for Spencer!!! Wow! You're getting married!!!! Thanks for the invite, she is beautiful! Have I met her before, she looks familiar! Congrats bud! I'm very happy for you both!
No comments:
Post a Comment