Okay first, sorry I didn't email last week- it was our temple trip so
our pday was moved to Thursday, and then there wasn't enough time to
shop and email, so we chose to shop..
Also, sorry if my I forget to
update you on our investigators every week! So much happens every week
and I write it in my journal, but when I get here on Monday I usually
just look at my pics from the week to remember what happened and they're
all just taken on pday, so that's what I write about lol- but, I'll try
to write the spiritual stuff first so you all know that we are actually working hard out here. 😁
Anyways,
we had an appointment this past week with our most progressing
investigator Aaron. He's a youth who wants to be baptized by his
birthday, and so we sat down with him and his family and went through
everything that needs to happen between now and then so that he can be
prepared to make his first covenant, or promise, with his Father in
Heaven. He and his family have been reading the book "Saints" together,
and come to church almost every week, so things are looking good for
them! He is the sweetest kid and it's such a blessing to be a part of
his spiritual journey and helping guide his faith to grow in new ways as
we follow the Spirit in our discussions with him.
We
also had a good lesson with a teenage girl we're teaching, Taylor, who
doesn't even have a relationship with her Savior or her Heavenly Father
yet. We're working on helping her to come to know who she is to Them, so
that she can feel their love more fully in her life and the support
They want to give her in her trials.
That's how They feel
towards all of us. Our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ love
and want to reach out to each one of us and lift us up when we feel down
and defeated, but, just like my favorite picture of Christ knocking on
the door that has no handle, we have to left Them in. Then, once we open
the door to let Them into our lives, the love and blessings they have
waiting for us just on the other side will come flooding in and there
will hardly be room enough to receive them!
We
also had a good lesson with another young boy named Hunter we're
teaching. He and his mom came to church yesterday, which was a big step
for him! And our lesson on prayer went well and yesterday he told us he
prayed by himself for the first time in a long time, and we're going to
follow up more on his experience this next week, but it's just such a
joy to see the people you grow to love, growing in their love for their
Savior and seeing the change He makes in them.
And that is
why we do missionary work. Because we love His children, and we feel
just a part of the love that He feels for them, and so we desire for
them to feel that too. To know that He is there- that there is peace in
Christ. Never be afraid to share that with another one of His children
who needs it.
Also, go to the temple! I
got to take a family name to the temple for the first time (I know, I
was a slacker before my mission- but it's soooo cooollll!) and we were
there all morning doing everything from baptism and confirmation all the
way to being sealed to her parents for her. It was just awesome, and to
understand you'd have to try it for yourself. 😉😊
But I am so grateful for this gospel, and I know that this is Christ's
church established and restored in it's fullness on the earth again
today. I know that that happened through His chosen prophet Joseph
Smith, who was led and guided by Christ Himself in restoring His truths
to the earth, and I know that we still have a living prophet today.
President Russell M. Nelson leads and guides us in the Lord's way, and
is the ultimate example of what a true disciple of Christ looks like. I
am grateful for all of the commandments He has given to us, to help us,
not only to be safe from the craziness of the world, but to give us so
many opportunities to redirect and refocus our thoughts on our Savior
throughout the day so we can lead Christ-centered lives and truly have
His Spirit to be with us in the daily challenges we all face.
Just keep swimming. 😊
Love you all,
Sister Wilcox
Fruitland
Temple Trip
