Thursday, January 26, 2017

Car Crashes and the Birth of Sister Hamon!! (Week 33)

'YEP. just as the title says....Sister Jenne crashed a mission car. well. that sounds a little dramatic. I backed into another car and barely scratched it. but...I'm going to call it a crash because that sounds more impressive (in a bad way). Anyone who knows me will understand how it's totally me to crash a car that doesn't even belong to me... I also fell out of my chair onto the floor, met a lot of babushkas with sick husbands, listened to my companion thank Heavenly Father for "his pen in our lives" instead of his hand, and accidentally sent the number of the wrong Pasha to someone who really didn't want to talk to that Pasha, went to the dentist to get a filling fixed, cooked a really yummy chicken and spaghetti squash meal (thanks sister orr..or hope...i guess...), scared Sister Christensen in the dark...it was interesting

We have an awesome new companion! Sister Hamon arrived here, all bright and shiny, fresh from the MTC on Tuesday! She knocked her first door (side-not, it's way more awkward to try and fit three people on a doorstep than two.), and she learned how to sing I am a Child of God, and she experienced weekly planning, and everything has been absolutely wonderful! I am so grateful to have such a sweet and willing to work trainee. Plus, she's wicked smart, and her Russian is absolutely incredible!

This week was a week of many emotions. We had disappointments with our investigator and plans that have been in motion for about a month completely fall through and get postponed. It's hard to understand why the good work that we are doing sometimes doesn't come to much fruition. It's hard to keep the faith. It's hard to expect that there will be countless miracles around the corner. It's hard to even think of one miracle that happened everyday. However, that's the beauty of the gospel. We have these really difficult experiences, and we go through them with pain in our hearts and true sorrow, but we don't do it alone. We don't have to. We don't have to anguish in our trials and think that "it's not fair." The eternal perspective that is provided by the Atonement of Jesus Christ heals every single wound. That's something that I can talk to a person about until I am blue in the face, but they will never feel and understand it for themselves until they experience it for themselves. Watching people change and recognize that is the most beautiful thing I have ever or will ever experience.

I got to thinking about the pressure that we go through in our lives. The things that people tell us to do because they think it would be beneficial. And all of the things that we do just simply because it is expected of us. But, who is it that actually knows what is best for us? Who is it that actually knows the perfect plan that will lead us to joy and happiness? God knows. And, yet, we never even ask. We go around listening to this war of opinions and pros and cons and not knowing which thing to choose and then we get so overwhelmed that we choose what the world or other people are pressuring us to do simply because we want to please them. Why are we always trying to please other people? Our parents, our friends? Is that how we have been created to live our lives? I don't believe so! All you have to do is simply ask. And you shall receive. And it might come over time, and it might take a little effort and studying and coming up with ideas on your half of the deal, but Heavenly Father doesn't just abandon us. I love the story in the Book of Mormon of the Brother of Jared. He didn't know how he could have light in their boats and so he inquired of the Lord. And what did the Lord tell him? Ether 2:23: the Lord told him to think about it... I believe that this is one way that we will know what we should do.

And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared:

What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels? For behold, ye cannot have windows , for they will be dashed in pieces; neither shall ye take fire with you, for ye shall not go by the light of fire.

and the Brother of Jared exercised his faith and thought of a plan in Ether chapter 3:

 4 And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared,that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.

 5 Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.

I believe that this is one way that we will know what we should do. Heavenly Father expects us to think for ourselves and think of a plan! And then have the faith that he will help us execute our plan,.
 I love all you beautiful people! Sorry for the long email.

Sister Jenne"




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