"Testify Before Turned Down" 9/30/19

Hello friends and family!

It has been such an amazing week full of crazy stories and cool experiences. I definitely can't share them all because this email would be WAY too long but here are a few!

We had zone conference this week and they talked all about how important it is to remember your purpose. Teach off your purpose. Don't become stagnant. And to learn how to stand independent. It was such a good refresher and boost for the start of the week. Wednesday we had exchanges so I was out with the Hermanas in Guadalupe all day! I realized very quickly my 5 years of Spanish I understood 60-70% of everything that was said that day but could do little communicating back. So I learned how to pray in Spanish and have started to read the Book of Mormon in Spanish! I've also already memorized the missionary purpose and first vision. Also may have emailed President how much I loved learning and teaching in Spanish... so we will see where that goes! 

Sister Snelgrove and I made a goal this week to be bold. We took a snippet from 1 Thess. 2:2 "we were bold in our God". We also made a goal to testify as quickly as we could, thus came the phrase "testify before turned down". It was silly but hey, we had some amazing conversations this week! We also spent a good few days riding bikes and talking to everyone we saw. Our confidence just skyrocketed and we have found new fire in missionary work. 

The most impactful scripture I found this week is Doctrine and Covenants 15:6, 

         "And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen."

     What POWER that scripture has. The thing that is the most worth is to declare repentance and bring souls to Christ. This is my entire purpose here, to help others come unto Christ. I am truly honored to have the opportunity to be here and fulfill this purpose. I LOVE this work!

Have an amazing week! I love you all! 

_____________

Hello family!!! 

I cant believe I have already been out on a mission for 6 weeks, time has flown and I hear it just gets faster. It makes sense now why we talk about appreciating every single moment of the mission. 

As I mentioned in my main email, exchanges with the Hermanas was AMAZING. I seriously would love to learn Spanish. It was so powerful to teach in Spanish and to be in a completely different environment than Ahwatukee. We spent most of the day in Guadalupe in the ghetto of the ghetto. I mean, it felt like we were in a different country for a while because it was way crazy there! Hermanas cant be in the neighborhood we were in past 8pm because there is apparently a lot of gang violence and shootings... so I won't tell anymore stories for that day, love you Mom! 😊 

This week Sister Snelgrove and I have been reading about Joseph Smith. I have read his account before but the scriptures always have a way of teaching me something new depending on what is happening in my life at that moment. In Joseph Smith - History 1:20 it says, "... I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his (adversary's) kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution against me". 

 

I, and so many others, have the privilege to be a representative of Jesus Christ. To teach repentance and baptize converts, which also qualifies us as a 'disturber' and 'annoyer' in Satan's kingdom, why else are we tempted and tried to such a degree? I know that as we put our full faith and trust in God, He will give us power and gifts of the spirit that will be a shield from the powers of darkness and opposition. I have such a great calling and I know that God will protect me if I remember to include Him in every aspect of my day, continue in my conversion to the gospel, and practice exact obedience. 

I love you all so much!!!