Dearest Family!
Well...this week
thankfully was not as hectic and crazy as last week...But I have to say that in
some ways this week was super disappointing because of the many many people who canceled on us....like none of
our goals were met and our numbers were really low...ugh...but still.... I just
felt awesome this week...even with all the cancellations... I don't know
why...but I was happy. But that's just missionary work. It's dandy and grand.
And lately life just seems beautiful even in it's craziness... (okay, done with
cheesy-ness)
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| Do you think this is a hint to everyone? Empty mailbox! |
So last Monday we
had we were really tired on p-day so we pretty much just bummed on the couch at
our house and watched Legacy and did nails.... yeah...we were lame but it felt
good. haha. Then Monday night we had a lesson with Dusty...and I read him my
story that I gave to mom for mother’s day and we talked in depth about the
power of the atonement in our lives and how personal it is... I was really
nervous about reading the story and didn't tell them who wrote it...it's pretty
personal and I wasn't too keen on sharing it a whole bunch, but I've known
Dusty for a long time and we've had some stellar lessons and conversations with
him and I felt he needed it at the time. So after I finished the story and we
said "Amen" and everything and prayed Dusty was like "So what
was the name of that story?" so I told him, and he whips out his phone and
starts messing with it. I was like "What are you doing?" and he was
like "I can't find that story anywhere on the internet...where did you
find it? I want to print it off." I was like "It's not online."
And he was like "Everything is on online. I'll find it." and I
was like "No, seriously, you won't find it online." and he was like
"Why not?!" and I was like "Um... cause... uh....this is one of
like two copies in existence...." and then he was like "YOU WROTE
IT???" ........embarrassing......
Tuesday was nuts.
The past two weeks there have been a bajillion lightning storms out here...and
they are a little scarier than ours because they are super close and super loud
and strike the ground a lot more than ours do back at home....Tuesday night it
was so close... I sleep by the window so the lightning would flash and light up
our whole room and then the thunder would be SO loud! It woke me up three or
four times throughout the night and I kept saying..."Sis McMurray.... I
think I'm going to get hit by lightning through the window!" haha. She
offered to switch beds with me but I was fine :) It was crazy loud
though!
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| Painting for service. Love the smiles |
Wednesday night
we went on splits and I went and visited with a woman we've been working with
forever named April. She's in her late 30's I think... I'm not sure... But she's
less active, and moved here after absolutely EVERYTHING was stolen from her in
Arizona and her parents died. Talk about being like Job and starting from
scratch! That night we were going to teach Tithing but
it didn't feel right, so during the opening prayer I prayed really hard to know
what to teach her...and the thought "Just tell her I love her." kept
coming to my mind. So we read in Alma 14 about all the women and children that
were burned after Alma and Amulek taught them and we talked about how sometimes
God lets hard things happen so that we can learn and grow. How sometimes if we
were to receive instant gratification for doing good or instant punishment for
doing bad then everyone would be good and not for the sake of being righteous
but for the sake of being selfish and getting blessings. We talked about how
though sometimes things don't happen the way we think, that doesn't mean that
God doesn’t love us.
April told us that she believed in God but she doesn't have faith that He keeps
His promises because of everything that has happened to her and how so many
promises haven't been met. I asked her if she had received her patriarchal
blessing and she said that that was what she was talking about, the promises in
it hadn't been fulfilled. We had a lengthy talk on how we need to keep up our
end of the bargain and be worthy and also how some promises don't come in this
life. Like Jeffrey R. Holland said "Some blessings come soon, some come
late, and some don't come until heaven, but for those who embrace the gospel of
Jesus Christ, they come." we talked a lot about faith and the song from primary kept popping into my head so
I sang it to her. "Faith is know the sun will rise, lighting each
new day. Faith is knowing the Lord will hear, my prayers each time I pray.
Faith is like a little seed. If planted it will grow. Faith is a swelling
within my heart; when I do right I know." The spirit was so strong as I
looked her in the eyes and promised her, I said "April, I promise
that as you live the gospel of Jesus Christ and push forward with faith
in your Savior, you will receive the blessings you have been
promised."
Sometimes it's
scary to do that... sometimes it's hard to promise them something that you
don't know when or if it will happen...but sometimes the Lord takes over your
mouth and says so pretty powerful specific blessings and you find yourself in
shock from what you have just said. But it works. It always does. I've said so
many times "As you read the scriptures you will receive clarity of
mind and be able to overcome your addictions." or "As you pray you
will build a stronger relationship with your Savior and you will feel more
fully of His love in your life."
Friday was
awesome! We had zone training meeting and it was super spiritual and really
inspired me to be more bold and talk to more random people...(which went really
well later that night! We got to talk to a random agnostic guy smoking pot at
the park...oh missionary adventures...) And Elder Christoffersen and I sang a
duet for the musical number. We sang How Great Thou Art. I wish I had recorded
it! Elder Christoffersen sings like a boss! But yeah, it was really cool. Then we had fun
celebrating Sis Russell’s birthday!
Saturday was
pretty lame...we got canceled on a lot again and then did service canning green
beans and relish. Sunday again we got canceled on a lot....but it was still a
good day. We went to a lot of church (got taught about eternal marriage
again...ew.)
So yeah. Life is
life. It's dandy and great! I love Sis McMurray, and hope we get to stay
together one more transfer! We seriously think so much alike... I think we are
on the same brain-wave...sometimes it's scary, she'll say something that I was
just thinking about and about to say...and it will come out of her mouth and
I'll be like "Witch-craft!!" haha. We have a lot of fun :) Transfer
calls are next Monday, so if you have any mail to send (or Mom the package you
wanted to send) you need to do it this week before Saturday.
I LOVE YOU ALL!!
I hope you have a great week and live the end of the summer to its fullest!!! I
can't believe I turn 20 in two weeks... That's so OLD! ugh... I'm just
hoping I don't get transferred right before.
Miss you and
can't wait to hear from you! :)
Love,
Sister Lenise
Diane Volmer
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