Good morning everyone! I hope this email finds all of you safe and well. I pray that you may all see the blessings of the hand of the Lord in your lives, as He is very much involved in even the tiniest details. God knows when I need a cheering up, so he sends me weather that makes my happy :)
I am really proud of the people we are teaching here in Buckhannon. We just received parental consent to teach a 16-year-old girl whom we tracted into a couple weeks ago. He mother is ecstatic to have us a good influences in her daughters life, and Cayla is really interested on building her faith in Jesus Christ and God the Father. We are working with some recent converts on getting them to the Washington DC temple to perform baptisms for the dead on June 24th. We will go over the commandments again this week with them, talk about what temple baptisms are like, work on family history, and schedule interviews with the bishop. As we cannot attend the temple with them (too far out of our mission) some members are helping to plan the trip :) :) :)
We are also teaching an older woman who is so close to baptism!!! She has felt the nudge from the Lord to be baptized, but as her work schedule does not allow her to attend sacrament meeting, we have been fasting and praying with her to find a solution to come to church so she can be baptized. Another lady we are teaching would already be baptized, but as she had a traumatic experience with water in her childhood, she is not ready to be fully immersed in a full tank of water. Please pray for her to overcome her fears and trust in the Lord.
About a month ago, we were walking down a street and met two sweet women, a mother and daughter, and asked if we could stop by and talk with them. Well, now they are both taking the discussions and their faith is growing!! Baptism might be a bit difficult for the daughter, as she has a lot of health issues and cannot be submerged in water at all. But, we will cross that bridge when we come to it :) Another family we are working with is a less-active mother and her nine-year-old daughter. Both come to church here and there, and the mother has some addictions, but the daughter is on her way to baptism soon. For months she has told me she wants to be a missionary when she grows up, so I gave her my Missionary in Training badge I purchased in collage. She lit up like stars, and wears the pin everywhere!
A young mother was scheduled to be baptized several weeks ago, but because of certain road blocks and peer pressure, she has postponed her date. Along with that, she has just had thyroid surgery and radiology. We are working with her and her family, and the congregation is super involved and supportive. There are others with whom we are meeting and teaching, but these are the folks whom I love the most. My heart has grown so much on my mission. I love others so dearly, and I know this is a blessing form the Almighty God, so see the potential that He sees in them. Yes there are rough spots. And rough days. Well, rough weeks, too, but I am learning to leave it in the hands of the Healer. I do my best, and the Lord does the rest. :)
Life is not simple, nor is it easy. That is why we must have faith. Just as Indiana Jones stepped out on the Leap of Faith bridge to save his dying father, we all must trust in the Lord and work hard to save those with dying spirits. We cannot see the bridge, then step out. We must lean not unto our own understanding, and take the first step, then the Lord will scatter stones so we can continue onward. Sorry if this analogy is a bit wonky. Can't you tell I'm missing my cinematography?
Last preparation day, Sister Merrifield and I went to an awesome thrift shop and found some cool treasures, but today we are planning on going back to the apartment and taking naps (very much needed!). I will write a few letters and ship them off to Japan and Brazil and Home. Just for your information, missionaries just about die of extreme happiness every time they check the post and find a letter inside!!!! It's like Christmas :)
I'm sorry this email isn't very long, but I'm afraid I am running out of things to say. Well, it is nigh impossible for me to run out of things to say, as my companions very well know, I am a chatter box, but as to things pertaining to the work of the Lord, I guess the only thing left is to bare my testimony.:) I have found such strength in the scriptures, and such wisdom in the book we missionaries study from, called Preach My Gospel. It is kind of,like a textbook of simplified doctrine so we can explain clearly and plainly the gospel of Jesus Christ. In chapter 6, there are nine Christlike attributes we study from; Faith; Hope; Charity and Love; Virtue; Knowledge; Patience; Humility; Diligence; and Obedience. Bet you can already guess which one I struggle with the most- patience. Being ADHD, my patience-span is unusually short, but I am learning to forebear and trust in the Lords timing. Especially when I want the comfort and relief from pain right away, or when I want others to understand the gospel at the level I understand. This has also been an exercise in my faith. I've enjoyed Alma 17 and Alma 31, chapters found within the Book of Mormon. If others can be patient in their afflictions, then so can I, :D.
I am truly grateful for all your prayers. I feel them, I really do. Whether I am about to give up, or when I am worn out, I am blessed with the remembrance that I am not alone on this mission- I have all of you with me. My church family, my school family, my dance family. You are all with me. God bless you all, and my you see His hand in your life.
~Sister Mary Sierra Peacock
WVCM
"There is beauty within every beast... We must only have the courage to find it." ~Me
No comments:
Post a Comment