I asked our Elders what is something a missionary mom could do for their missionary that would help support them. Immediately, both said, "sharing your testimony and spiritual experiences". I took the advice of the Elders and bore my testimony.
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Mom!! I love you too :) Thank you so much for sharing part of your testimony. I kind of needed that. Those are some smart Elders. Have I told you that I have become one of those spiritual criers lol. I think the MTC did that to me. Really I didn't change; I just realized that when I feel the spirit I have always felt like crying but I fought it off before in my life. It was so rare that I would cry. But The Thursday (that's what we've taken to calling it) at the MTC was more than I could hold back. Have you ever felt like something is expanding and growing so rapidly inside of you that you're going to burst from the joy? Talk about a seed growing! Now I have discovered that when I cry, it helps me to not feel overwhelmed; but instead to just feel that joy. So, when I feel the Spirit, I step back and let a redwood tree start growing inside of me! Lol... ok that was prolly a really peculiar analogy :P
They all say I have the greenie fire and that eventually I will be broken in. Lol, I guess that's what they call my extreme desire to work super hard all the time and avoid any type of distraction from that purpose. I really do want to be the best missionary I can be. Really the best missionary that the Lord can make out of me. I want that more than anything. I don't want to forget the experiences I had in the MTC, I want to magnify them by having more and more of them. I don't want to be broken. I want to be on fire for the next 16 months! That's my plan - just so you know :) And if you ever feel like I am falling away from that - call me out on it.
Mom, you're amazing. Everyone should know this, so I am proclaiming it to the world! (In other words, post even this part on the blog. thanks!) I have always admired your optimism. Trial after trial, you never back down. You let every trial make you stronger and it shows in your testimony and in your love towards all people. I'm sure not everyone knows your story so I won't share it in this email - I'll just encourage anyone who wants to know you better to ask. You are a great example to me as a missionary. Missionary work isn't all about teaching lessons and getting baptisms. In fact that is pretty low down on my list. The most important thing about missionary work is LOVING people, and you exemplify that mom. I have always admired how quick you are to listen - and I mean TRULY listen - to other people. How you desire to know them and especially the things of their heart. Many people shy away from getting to know too many people in that way because it can be exhausting to try to shoulder just one other person's burdens on top of your own - let alone many people's! And once you get to know them - weaknesses and all - you love them as Christ would. And you pray for them. Mom, that is missionary work. Loving and caring for another person and helping them feel Heavenly Father's and Christ's love for them. That is what brings people to Christ. Not lessons and baptisms. I pray for you everyday. For the whole family! For the home ward! I love you all :)
Elko is amazing :) I'm quite sure I was meant to come here. But I'm not so sure as to why yet, I will figure that part out. It's beautiful too.... in it's own way lol. For a moment just close your eyes and picture the drive between Florence and Pueblo West. Now take away any trees or bushes taller than a foot, and take away any streams the highway crosses over, and add more tumbleweed and lots of jack rabbits. That's Elko. It's not the beauty that Ashley is seeing in Wales, but Wells Nevada (and Elko which is fairly close but I like using Wells because of the irony :P) is beautiful in it's own way. Plus there are mountains all around, and hills even closer than the mountains. And when the sun comes up (which I now see every morning due to the rigorous missionary schedule :P) it is the most beautiful place in the world. But, aside from the scenery. The people here are even more amazing.
My companion and I were double transferred in. That's the same thing as what Ashley called "whitewashed." We're both new here and we started with just about nothing. But we have this amazing ward. They are so excited to have us. Previously they had a set of missionaries that was trying to cover THREE wards all at once. And I can tell, this ward is going to take every advantage of us! And I couldn't be happier!
We have one progressing investigator right now (meaning someone who has taken at least two lessons AND is keeping commitments) and I want to tell you about him. I NEVER ever, like at all, believed it when people told me that there really are people in this world who are so ready for the gospel. I honestly thought that that just meant that there are good people who will listen. Ha! Lesson number 2 in the field - YES, there are people who are ready in every way! Our investigator is one of them. I have never met a nonmember before who has felt the Spirit so much in his life and has all the right questions as him. He is very christian and loves the bible "but there are gaps in the bible. something is missing" he said. And he hates the idea that the bible has been translated so many times "I want an original" And he is so familiar with the Spirit. Even music - "moves my spirit before a preacher says a word" And he loves his family so much! I'm always happy to bursting when we leave their home. I know that the gospel will change his life for the better. He will be even closer to Christ. And his family can be together forever. :) :) It's the best thing in the world, in all of existence! I have written more about him in my hand written letters which should be coming in a few days. Can I ask a favor mom? He loves music so much, and he loves his language - Tongan - so much too. Do you think you could find the Tongan words to "I am a Child of God"? or any other great song and mail them to us right away? I think that is something that he would really love.
Oh! And Sister missionaries are so spoiled! We've met with the ward only once at church yesterday and they already dote on us so much and would do anything possible for us. We live with family that are members. Our bedroom is the most beautiful room EVER. Sister S. went way out of her way to make our stay in Elko comfortable. We have a blue and brown theme. Vases with pastel flowers all around the room. Matching bed covers. Real wood furniture (I think?). Our own table for study. two HUGE closets. And even our own bathroom... with a shower curtain that matches the bed covers and the rest of the room. Talk about spoiled... :p
This last week and the next are full of inactive and less active contacting. It's so hard because either no one is home, or no one wants to answer the door. Sometimes we do get a door that will open. And I have learned of the disappointment that follows rejection. Lesson number 3 in the field - my heart will always ache for those who once knew the truth and now have fallen away for what ever reason and refuse to come back. They are missing so much in their lives. It's sad. But of all the many doors we knocked we did have two that might lead somewhere :) I hope so for their sake.
With love from Elko,
Sister Alexis :)
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