Hey family and friends!
Happy St. Patrick's day!
Haha the highlight of my morning was when the alarm went off this morning and I
chased my companion around the basement trying to pinch her because she forgot
to wear green to bed! haha! I made sure I didn't remind her last night:) I'm
such a nice companion huh? haha:) So yes, I made sure that I wore lots of green
today:)
You will notice that I am
emailing later than normal again..:) It's been a busy morning:) We went and had
2 visiting teaching appointments this am. (they couldn't do it any other day)
So we sacrificed some of our preparation day:) I was a little bummed but it
will all work out ok:) We went to Jason's Deli for lunch today which was really
good! I got a chicken salad wrap which was really yummy and lots of fruit:) Haha
I am trying to eat healthier overall:)
Thank you for the package
that you sent me this week:) It was great:) I actually just picked it up from
the post office about an hour ago because i wasn't home when they delivered it
on Saturday.:) But i am so thrilled about the banana bread!! It smells so good
and reminds me of home:) haha except i am much luckier now because i have the
whole loaf to myself:) and my companion of course:) but.. i won't have to fight
for it between 10 people now! haha oh the joys of serving a mission:) thank you
for sending my crimper, a cd!, and many other great things!! I loved all of it
so much!! I really do think I have the best family ever:) I'm not biased or
anything:) haha
So some things from my
week:) It has been kind of a crazy week:) Here are a few updates from some of
the people that i am working with. First off, Rebecca!!! (one of my
investigators) She is doing very well! She is going through some very extreme
trials right now. It has been a very messy divorce. On Thursday, we called
her up and apparently, we called at the exact moment that she needed it. She
was crying and really struggling when we called. We talked to her for a little
bit and asked if she would like a priesthood blessing. She obviously hadn't
ever heard of this before so we explained what it was and what would happen and
magically, she agreed to have one!! I was so happy:) So, we began making calls
to set up a time that someone from the ward could come and do that:) Let me
tell you.. Satan did NOT want that happening. This never happens, but we spent
4 hours making calls trying to get someone that was available that night to
give her one. We were almost all the way through the ward list (we only had 3
names left!) and finally a kind brother in the ward said yes! Let me tell you,
it was a very spiritual experience seeing someone get a priesthood blessing for
the first time! The spirit was very strong there and she even said that her
neck stopped hurting during the blessing and after for a while:) I think that
the spirit really touched her and that things are heading in the right
direction:) We bought her some Book of Mormon CDs and stuff to help her with
her reading. She really wants to come to church but is struggling because she
gets really sick being around any type of scents. We have to wash off all of
our deodorant, perfume, etc before we go and visit her because of that...and
she still gets sick most of the time because of the laundry
detergent in our clothes.. so we are trying to figure out how to get
past that one.. So it is a really interesting situation. Pray for a
miracle that Dr's will find something to help her so that she can
come to church:)
On Friday, I had
exchanges with Sister Page:) It was great!! They did exchanges a little
differently than normal which was nice:) Instead of both of them coming and
staying at our place for the night and staying in our area, one comp went
with one of theirs to their area. So I stayed in Papillion over night and
through the next day:) It was really interesting being the new companion again
that didn't know any of the people. It made me really appreciate how long
I have been in Lakeview because I know the people so well:) But we talked
to everyone that we saw and even committed someone to baptism!! We saw so many
miracles that day so it just goes to show that the Lord is preparing
people all over, we just need the courage and faith to open our mouths!!
I want to share a short
miracle that happened this week as well. My wrists have been very painful.
Don't worry tho! I am just fine! Anyways, we got a call on Saturday from the
McM’s to come and do some service for them. They were doing a big spring
cleaning for their house. So we went over and started working. I was in a lot
of pain and so I went to a different room by myself and knelt and prayed to my
Heavenly Father, asking Him if it was His will, if He could take away the pain
for a few hours. Just long enough for me to work hard and serve this family and
then I was ok for it to come back after again. It was a miracle. The pain went
away from my wrists and it didn't hurt me one more time while I was over there.
Haha it came back after but for those couple of hours, it was like there hadn't
ever been a problem with them. It was a miracle! God is truly aware of us and
answers our prayers as we have faith in Him.
We had an
amazing Stake Conference this weekend! The Adult Session was my
favorite!! They had all of the youth come, ages 12 and up, which was really
cool for a change:) President and Sister Weston were both there as well as
the temple president and his wife. It was so good to see them again:) At
the end during President Bartlett's talk (the Stake President) he had
President Weston get up and call up all of the missionary leadership that were
in attendance. (Assistants to the President, Zone Leaders, District
Leaders, Sister Training Leaders) He had them all standing up there on the
stand with him. He then called up all of the Bishops and Ward Mission
Leaders and had them all stand up there as well. He then called up
all of the full time missionaries (Sisters, Elders, and couples) and had
us all standing in front of the stands. So needless to say. between all
of those people, there was a ton of people up on the stand and in front of
it! (when you figure that there are between 4-8 full time missionaries in
each ward) He then shared the account in 2nd Kings chapter 6 vs 15-17.
Paraphrasing it says.."Fear not: for they that be with us are more
than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed and said, Lord, I pray thee,
open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young
man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots
of fire round about Elisha." President Bartlett said, "Look! This is
your army! In numbers larger than we have ever had before! But these
missionaries are not the only ones in this room. There are
powerful missionaries and angels all around us on the other side of the
veil that are standing with us tonight. Fear not: for they that be with us, are
more than they that be with them!" It was so powerful! He then had
all of us missionaries and ward members up there to link arms so that we would
show that we are one! He then had everyone in the Stake center stand and link
arms as well. Demonstrating that we are one, called to the work! He had them
sit down after and he had all of the missionaries remain standing. He had
us sing the first verse of called to serve (which is always so powerful singing
as a missionary!!) and then he had everyone else join in for the 2nd verse! By
the end of the 2nd verse, everyone in the Stake Center was standing up with us
again with tears in most of our eyes:) It was such a powerful thing that i
don't think i will ever forget. When things get tough, just remember, there are
many angels on the other side of the veil that are here to strengthen and
protect us. I feel their presence and strength. I am so thankful! In the Sunday
morning stake conference session, when he spoke he had the whole audience stand
again and link arms. (This time the missionaries and members were all
intermixed) and had us link arms again. Signifying that the members and
missionaries need to work together and that we are one. It was so powerful!! I
hope that all made sense:)
I want to extend the same
commitment I gave you last week. Continue reading the conference ensign and try
to get all of the talks read by the next general conference!! You can do it!!
If you haven't started yet, start today! You have enough time to do it:) I love
you!! I know that by reading and studying the talks from the living prophet and
apostles, and then following their teachings, our lives will be greatly
blessed! I know that this church is true! I can say that because I have read
the Book of Mormon. I have prayed about it to know if it is true. I have also
prayed about many other things. And I have received confirmation from the Holy
Ghost time and time again, that this church is true. And that knowledge has
blessed my life in more ways than I could ever explain. I am so blessed!
I love you all so much!!
Enjoy the rest of your day!
With love,
Sister (Erica)
Christensen:)
No comments:
Post a Comment