It has been a really busy day so I’ll have to email really quickly! It finally snowed this week!! Jean and Mohy came to church on Sunday. The two girls also came to church that I talked about last week. We got to talk to one of them for quite a bit after church about her life and future plans. It was amazing to see how far she’s come in the last few weeks and how much of a difference that’s made in her life. She told us that she’s planning on going weekly to the temple. We were so happy when she said that. It makes me so happy to see others come back to church but even more happier when people come back full force.
Also, Jean wants to get baptized! We’re working on the date. He came to the ward Christmas Party this week and had a blast. He made about a dozen new friends at the party and they all welcomed him to church when they saw him. Jean is literally our best friend and we’re so happy to know him and see him progress in the gospel.
Transfers are this week. Many of the sisters are going home so it was very bittersweet for us as they bore their testimonies. It’s amazing to see how firm their testimonies are of the restored gospel. It builds up my testimony each time.
Last night a 16 year old, anti Mormon, atheist came into the Visitors Center to persuade some of the newer missionaries thats it’s “all a scam”. One of the senior couples told me what was going on and shoved me into the room. The two sisters looked like deer in the headlights as this boy pounded them with question after question. As soon as they saw me they relaxed and it was as if the spirit started speaking through them. Their young testimonies of the Restoration were so firm and strong against the “mighty storm” of the adversary. I simply sat there and listened to these sisters invite this young boy to pray earnestly and to repent. His countenance changed ever so slightly as he exited the room. The sisters looked at me and I’m pretty sure I had the biggest smile plastered across my face because I was so proud of them. I think I was there to witness their fervent testimonies to help build on my own testimony. I grabbed each of them and hugged them. The church truly was restored by Joseph Smith and I know without a doubt all of it is true.
One of my favorite parts of this week was when we got some great advice from our mission presidents wife. She said, “That’s life. If you look back and notice all of the things you could have done better then that means you’re learning and changing. Regrets can be a good thing.” And I’ve repeated that to almost all of the other sister missionaries. When we look back and see all of the things we could have done better that means we’re repenting and improving. Elder Uchtdorf talked about this last General Conference. He said, “Choosing this path of discipleship will lead to untold happiness and fulfillment of your divine nature. It will not be easy. It will require the very best that you have- all your intelligence, creativity, faith, integrity, strength, determination, and love. But one day you will look back upon your efforts, and oh, how grateful you will be.”
How grateful we will be. I am so grateful to be blessed with the gospel in my life and even more grateful for the opportunity to share it with others. We are so blessed! I love you all!
Love Sister Haertling
No comments:
Post a Comment