This whole transfer I have been
praying for and living worthy of miracles. I think I might have already told
you this, but now it has come up again because I really feel like my prayers
are being answered.
Not only has the work picked up her in Elko keeping our schedule always bust, and my headaches mostly subsided, but I'm also seeing the miracles from home.
We have two investigators right now. And both of them came to us! That is nothing short of a miracle. Usually missionaries have to work hard to find their investigators. They have to do something. Whether it is encouraging members about their friends, knocking on random doors, or talking to everyone they meet, missionary work is about work! But at the same time, God is doing all of the work for us and if we can trust in him and just live how He would have us, He will send those who are prepared directly to us. Our new investigator has been going to church for 4 or 5 months now with a member. She has had a strong testimony of prayer for many years and has always had such deep faith, yet she's never really been religious. Before we ever met with her, she had already prayed about the church and the Book of Mormon and she knows without a doubt that they are true. Now she just wants to learn the foundations of the gospel before she is baptized. She is such a sweet girl and I am truly impressed by her deep desire to learn as much as she can and to live her life as best as she can.
We're also teaching another lady. She recently has married someone who grew up in the church and even went on a mission 30 or so years ago. We didn't know anything about her or even him because he has not been on the church records for years. But apparently, despite things he has done in his past, he still has a testimony of this gospel and he shared it with his wife. She then requested via Mormon.org that we would come and visit her. It is not every day that missionaries meet a new person who declares "I like your church. Teach me!" And that is exactly what She did. There have also been successes here and there all along the way that I wouldn't claim any of the glory for. God really does have His hand in this work. It's His mission, not mine; I just have the honor of assisting.
Thank you for sharing your experience about your blessing and the lesson in church. I truly believe that a huge part of why I am the way I am and why I am serving a message is a direct reflection on my mother's faith, courage and determination. I didn't have an extraordinary childhood; I was just a normal child, but I was brought up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Enos 1:1). I didn't learn from you all I know all at once. As I reflect back on it, I truly learned it line upon line and precept upon precept. I know who I can call on in my times of need. I learned that from you because our family persevered through everything under your direction. "[I have] been taught by my mother, that if [I] do not doubt, God [will] deliver [me]... [I] do not doubt [my] mother knew it" (Alma 56:47-48).
I have used your story a few times on my mission to encourage mothers to come to church regardless of how their children act during it. I bore my testimony just this week to an inactive mother that if she brings her children to church, they will come to gain a testimony. They won't remember lessons that they learned while attending, but they will remember that they went and that going was of utmost importance to their mother, because that is what happened with me. I don't remember gaining a testimony in primary... I don't even remember if I had a testimony then! But I remember that is has always been a part of my life and when I left home those few years ago; I had no intention of changing the way I had lived. Gradually I gained my own testimony because I was in the right place all along. I love you lots and lots. Thank you so much for never giving up; for being stubborn in raising us in the ways of the Lord. I hope that I will be a mother just as stubborn in faith, courage, and determination.
I want to write more and more and comment on everything that you wrote to me about this week, but I feel like I need to get off now. I will write Grandma this week however, because I would love to hear those stories from her!
Caleb wrote me 4 pages!? Really? :) Did he send it? That's an important part!
Love you lots and lots! Thanks for writing this week, I loved it!
-Alexis
P.S. I got the package Friday. Thank you thank you thank you!!! :)
Not only has the work picked up her in Elko keeping our schedule always bust, and my headaches mostly subsided, but I'm also seeing the miracles from home.
We have two investigators right now. And both of them came to us! That is nothing short of a miracle. Usually missionaries have to work hard to find their investigators. They have to do something. Whether it is encouraging members about their friends, knocking on random doors, or talking to everyone they meet, missionary work is about work! But at the same time, God is doing all of the work for us and if we can trust in him and just live how He would have us, He will send those who are prepared directly to us. Our new investigator has been going to church for 4 or 5 months now with a member. She has had a strong testimony of prayer for many years and has always had such deep faith, yet she's never really been religious. Before we ever met with her, she had already prayed about the church and the Book of Mormon and she knows without a doubt that they are true. Now she just wants to learn the foundations of the gospel before she is baptized. She is such a sweet girl and I am truly impressed by her deep desire to learn as much as she can and to live her life as best as she can.
We're also teaching another lady. She recently has married someone who grew up in the church and even went on a mission 30 or so years ago. We didn't know anything about her or even him because he has not been on the church records for years. But apparently, despite things he has done in his past, he still has a testimony of this gospel and he shared it with his wife. She then requested via Mormon.org that we would come and visit her. It is not every day that missionaries meet a new person who declares "I like your church. Teach me!" And that is exactly what She did. There have also been successes here and there all along the way that I wouldn't claim any of the glory for. God really does have His hand in this work. It's His mission, not mine; I just have the honor of assisting.
Thank you for sharing your experience about your blessing and the lesson in church. I truly believe that a huge part of why I am the way I am and why I am serving a message is a direct reflection on my mother's faith, courage and determination. I didn't have an extraordinary childhood; I was just a normal child, but I was brought up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Enos 1:1). I didn't learn from you all I know all at once. As I reflect back on it, I truly learned it line upon line and precept upon precept. I know who I can call on in my times of need. I learned that from you because our family persevered through everything under your direction. "[I have] been taught by my mother, that if [I] do not doubt, God [will] deliver [me]... [I] do not doubt [my] mother knew it" (Alma 56:47-48).
I have used your story a few times on my mission to encourage mothers to come to church regardless of how their children act during it. I bore my testimony just this week to an inactive mother that if she brings her children to church, they will come to gain a testimony. They won't remember lessons that they learned while attending, but they will remember that they went and that going was of utmost importance to their mother, because that is what happened with me. I don't remember gaining a testimony in primary... I don't even remember if I had a testimony then! But I remember that is has always been a part of my life and when I left home those few years ago; I had no intention of changing the way I had lived. Gradually I gained my own testimony because I was in the right place all along. I love you lots and lots. Thank you so much for never giving up; for being stubborn in raising us in the ways of the Lord. I hope that I will be a mother just as stubborn in faith, courage, and determination.
I want to write more and more and comment on everything that you wrote to me about this week, but I feel like I need to get off now. I will write Grandma this week however, because I would love to hear those stories from her!
Caleb wrote me 4 pages!? Really? :) Did he send it? That's an important part!
Love you lots and lots! Thanks for writing this week, I loved it!
-Alexis
P.S. I got the package Friday. Thank you thank you thank you!!! :)
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