This one's going to be
a short one, folks...
Thanks y'all for your
loving words of kindness and encouragement! They are deeply appreciated. So, I
left my journal at the apartment, but I have my notepad and I wrote a few
things down that help me to remember what I need y'all to know :) :)
Because I've been sick
for the past four weeks, and have been a pendulum of stuffed up, raspy voice,
and clogged Eustachian tubes so I couldn't hear others very well, I've been
pretty quiet during lessons with investigators. I know, right?! A quiet Sierra?
Yeah, way weird. Well, guess who felt better after a week of half a dozen
medicines and remedies? SISTER PEACOCK IS IN THE HOUSE!!! I've learned so much,
and have been able to connect so much more with those whom I am meeting :) I've
also been really blessed with remembrance. Back at home, all through high
school and college, I had a terrible memory. I just didn't retain much, you
know? Well, the Lord has seen fit to expand my memory capacity!!! I remember
details about people, their names and general location. I remember street
names, times, dates, and events happening on those dates!!! IT'S A MIRACLE!
Once I am released as a missionary, I'll probably lose those gifts, but boy oh
boy am I going to enjoy them while they last!!
Fun fact of the week--
here in West Virginia, people give gifts of bottled water. The water here is
undrinkable, and so we must all drink from bottled water purchased at the
store. Well, for Sister Stettler's birthday, a member gave us a whole case of
water. Whenever we do service or leave a lesson, people offer us a couple
bottles of water. It's really cheap here because it's a necessity. The trunk of
our car is full of bottled water!!! :) And everyone always asks us if we have
plenty of water :)
West Virginian Words
of the Week-
You don't say 'purse' here,
it's 'pocketbook'
A grocery shopping
cart is referred to as a 'buggy'
There's been a lot of
push from the Presidency to build up food storage. Not just for this area, but
for everyone world wide. We are counseled to have at least a year worth's supply
of food stored in our homes. I really feel the need to remind everyone to
prepare-- we never know what's in store for us, but we can build up a store for
us :)
I am very grateful for
Thomas S. Monson, the prophet who leads our church today. Just as in times of
old, when Moses and Joseph and Adam were called by God and ordained by His
power to lead the people in the ways of the Lord, just as Elijah and Noah
received revelation and foreknowledge from Heavenly Father, we have a man
called by God and ordained with His power today, who leads us and receives
revelation today. The Lord is on our side, and our Father has not left us
without His guidance. I am called of this modern day prophet to serve the Lord,
just as through Moses was Aaron called to serve and perform mighty miracles. My
miracles may not be mighty, but they are miracles nonetheless. Leading a
thirsting soul to drink from the everlasting waters of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Helping understand how to repent and come unto Christ. Comforting the wounded
souls of God's children through the knowledge and truth that death is not the
end. Are not these miracles? And every single one of them come by faith, which
I am slowly but surely building. :) I believe the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church today, as He established it when He
ministered on the earth 2,000 years ago. It was through Joseph Smith that
Christ's church was restored, and that God's divine power, the priesthood, was
brought back, never to be taken from the earth again. I read the Book of Mormon
every day, and through it I have come to know my Savior, and be saved though
His atoning sacrifice and triumph over death on the third day. I know this
church is true, which is why I am so far from home, not to return for many
months, leaving behind my dance, my books, my education, so serve as the Lord
would have me serve. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have faith in Him and
in this church. I repent daily, because heaven knows I am far, far from
perfect. I was baptized more than a decade ago, but I renew the promises and
covenants I made with God every Sabbath when I partake of the Sacrament, the
bread and water that symbolize the atonement of Christ. Through the influence
and sanctification of the holy Spirit, I can know the truth of all things. I am,
every minute of every day, enduring to the end. It's not easy. I've only been
out in the mission field for a month and I've wanted to give up more times than
I can count. But it is though the love of my Savior and my Father that I get
out of bed every morning, forget myself, and go to work.
No comments:
Post a Comment