Hey everyone! My first email deleted so Im too lazy to rewrite everyones email so this one is for the fam. Wow, now that Im here I realize how hard it is to find things to write about, and how it feels like there is no time to actually write but Ill try my best! Here are my highlights
Wow this week has FLOWN by! Last week was the slowest of my life, and there are some moments here where it is SO hard, learning a new language in 6 weeks, trying to learn the whole gospel, no breaks, no rest, a jam packed schedule, being away from your loved ones but oh my GOODNESS i have felt the mercy and love of our Father SO deeply this past week. I cannot fathom how deeply my testimony has grown in these past two weeks. I cant wait to bring souls unto Christ!
The birthday broaddcast from President Nelson was AMAZING and by FAR the highlight of my week. How blessed are we to have a modern day prophet, God loves us so much he wants us to never be in darkness, but to have someone tell us exacttly how to return to our Father. If you havent watched it, PLEASE do even if its just background noise. Sunday was really hard, I was super sick, and have been sick since I got here but am getting over it now, I was so stressed, exhausted, and I just didnt know how to make it, but I cannot explain how much Joy it brought to me, I was gushing for the whole hour until bedtime after about how blessed we are and how deeply God loves us.
We had a devotional about missionary work and it hit me so hard when Gary E. Stevenson said our call is divine. God specifically chose us to come here to this mission and at this time, and he called me by name, and a memeber of the 12 put me here because I have a special work to do amoung this people, as we all do, particularly Nathan and Levi, our soon to be missionaries. The field is white and ready to harvest.
Yesterday the teacher asked me to give an investigator lesson all in Spanish for the whole class. I did and afterwards the elders all stared at me. They told me I have the gift of tongues, and went on for a long time about their surety I would be a great missionary. It felt amazing that after 2 short weeks, I am able to preach Gods word. I know theyre not my words, they are Gods, and that it is because God promises if we make a sincere effort we will be blessed with the gift of tongues. I made sure to tell the Elders exactly that, that the Spirit was the teacher, not me, and that all of us can do the exact same thing. I wanted to make sure the praise was to God for allowing me to have the inspiracion, but I was so so happy that I am already able to see a glimpse into what I can do with Gods strength and power.
On a funny note, our elders told us the very first day one of their friends got to the MTC all they wrote in their journal was, I will recieve the gift of tongues soon, and that was IT. I dont know why, but it is the FUNNIEST thing to me. I wonder if hes recieved it yet.
I want all of you to know, that I miss you all so deeply, but I have felt the CONSTANT companionship of the holy ghost, one of my favorite things about being a missionary and something I hadnt expereinced before, and he has allowed me to feel SO much peace. Of course I get nervous and it isnt easy at all, but he has helped me to feel joy instead of sorrow when I think of home. I pray fervently eevery night that you all will feel the comfort of the Holy Ghost as well. Gary E. Stevenson said, the biggest blessing you could possibly do for your family, is to serve a mission. I hope you all can feel the blessings. I love you all so crazy much, and I want nothing more than for each of you to feel the complete Joy of the Gospel, it has made all the difference for me. Draw near unto God, and you CANNOT fail.
I love you all,
Hermana Shirley
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