July 27, 2015 "This could go really good or really bad"

Well, this week was a really great and productive week!! We had a lot to do and it seems like we were able to accomplish everything on our to do list.  I feel like mom when I make a to do list... But there is honestly no other way I can remember all that I have to do.  I have come to realize that mission may not be the hardest thing I ever do but it has the most valuable lessons in it.  I look at all that I have learned on mission and how little I learned in school in 16 years (Probably my fault... but still). Mission is seriously the best University that I could have enrolled into.  Well, just a thought for this week to ponder on. 

I had an experience that really stuck out to me this week.  I was on exchanges in a town called Selcourt and we went to this RM's house to have a lesson with him.  This guy has had a super hard life since he has been back from mission and finally he just broke and has been out of touch for a full month.  Our visit was the first contact that he had with members of the church since he has been gone.  We sat in our car and I said, "Elders, this could go really good or really bad... Lets Pray."  As we prayed we had an overwhelming feeling of peace that this would work out.  Well, we got into the lesson and we shared about how we need to head the call of the spirit always without hesitation.  As the other elders were talking my mind was seriously enlightened by the spirit.  I thought of the scripture where the spirit told Nephi to Kill Laban. We discussed how hard this would have been and how Nephi even questioned it several times then finally Nephi obeyed and killed Laban.  Then I brought up how in the scriptures it doesn't give us an account for how long Nephi questioned this prompting.  As far as we know he could have been standing there for 30 minutes or so pondering this prompting.  I referred it back to this RM and said you are in the same scenario.  You are waiting on the prompting that you have already received.  Then I asked "If Nephi would have denied or questioned the prompting one more time would the spirit have spoke to him again."  The RM responded with a no. I then responded "Soon the same will be for you. There is a fine line between questioning a prompting and then receiving a prompting and knowing it is from God and then not acting on it."  He took it very well and agreed.  But, I still felt prompted to end it on a positive note so I turned to 1 Samuel 16:7 which says "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, Or on the height of his stature; For man looketh on the outward apperance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." I reassured him that the Lord sees him for who he really is and that he knows where his heart is. It was an amazing lesson and the spirit was super strong.  It was funny to me that an old testament scripture came to my mind while teaching.  That really never happens for me but I know that it came from the spirit and that was comforting.  

This week went well and I love you all.  I miss fishing with you all.  Especially you Jimmy. If only I could learn to dry fly fish like you.... haha

July 20, 2015 "20th Birthday"

I had a great birthday that was full of memories and old people!! hahah Sister Dunn put on a huge party for me where we had Cafe Rio burritos and Sister Dunns famous chocolate cake! Sister Dunn invited all of the senior couples and we had a great night.  I would say that it was definitely different than my birthdays back at home but it was extremely memorable.  Sister Dunn said I will probably be engaged by my next birthday but I said no way!  I want to live at home till I am 30 and have my mom be my alarm clock! lol and you think I am joking.... Looks like your stuck with me.  

As far as the side of spiritual events go we had a stellar week!  One of our responsibilities is to cover Johannesburg 1 and 2 wards since it is to dangerous for missionaries to work there full time so we go on saturday and sunday and teach investigators at the church.  It is amazing to see the work that is going on there in Joburg.  We have so many people that we are teaching that the members go during the week and teach our investigators to speed up the process.  These wards are the swift messengers that were prophesied in Isaiah.  The Lords work is moving forward!

Well I committed to write better emails so hopefully this one is a good start!  

Fun fact for the week: 1- Elder Worton and I are pro Kendama(ers) (this implies that I got your amazing birthday package)

2- I am getting fat from all the food and desert that Sister Dunn makes for me.

3- I just got done playing catch with President Dunn.... Made me miss dad a lot.  

July 13, 2015 "Purification Challenge"

Well this week was amazing as usual! I am still learning a lot and trying to figure everything out. I never thought that I would get this into the Lords work but it is seriously all I can think about now.  I have seen greater happiness from it.

I had a really amazing experience this week.  Before studies I saw a paper on a chair and before I could even look at the paper a thought came to my mind "Read that for your personal study."  I then kneeled down still not looking at it and opened my study with a prayer as I always do.  However, this time it felt a little different,  the spirit was more dense than usual.  I then grabbed the paper and the title of it was Purification Challenge. As I read I read about a missionary.  This missionary was doing everything right as far as the outside could see.  He had a testimony of the gospel, he worked hard, and he did what he was supposed to.  He then had a life changing experience when he was in a lesson with an investigator.  They were teaching the restoration.  At the conclusion of the lesson both him and his companion bore testimony of Joseph Smith and the reality of the restoration.  They then turned to a member that they brought with them.  The member bore a simple but powerful testimony.  All he said was "I know that Joseph Smith was and is a true prophet and that he restored The Church of Jesus Christ." As he closed the investigator started to weep from his testimony. 

After that lesson this missionary was wondering why this member's testimony was so different.  It was  driving him crazy to know what he needed to do to bring so much power into his words.  

The missionary then had an opportunity to talk with a leader of the church.  He knew that this leader would tell him what he needed to do to give him this power.  As he asked the leader then started to ask him questions like "Do you wake up at exactly 6:30 every morning? Do you always have virtuous thoughts? Are your motives pure? ect.."  Then he said that he wanted the missionary to write down everything that he struggles with and to do a 40 day fast.  He said to fast at the beginning and the end and in every personal prayer plead with Heavenly Father to help you with all that your struggling with.  So this missionary took on this challenge and he said that all of a sudden all of his weakness and temptations were magnified! However he did not give up and he continued for the 40 days.  When he finished he then received the power to overcome these trials.  He felt the spirit more abundantly and was brought to tears more.  The power in his words were in every lesson and with that he brought forth fruit! He was baptizing and bringing lost members back to church. 

This story hit me so I took on this challenge this week!  To say it has been easy is a lie... I have realized that my testimony is more the way that I live my life then the words that I speak. I know that every one of us can have power in our words if we align all of our actions and words with our Heavenly Fathers. However minute these actions may seem they will bring great power!

Sorry for the ramble this week.  I am sure only mom loves it haha. But we also were able to have a great week and really help young missionaries as we went out on splits with them. I would say that is my favorite part of my role as a missionary is to help others access their full potential! 

Well I am tired of writing and have loads to do!

Oh I turn 20 this week. It is not nice.