Hey Family!!
What a great week. You all must have some crazy faith in your prayers because I have been blessed SO much. So thank you for all your support. Mom-you'll be very happy to know that I make Sister Lake and I a green smoothie just about every morning and it is delicious. I learned from the best. Except the bland knock-off Wal-Mart brand of frozen fruit is never quite as good as our fruit from the tree. I was way too spoiled at home. We have seen so many miracles this week I wish you could just be here with me to experience them. We stopped by a less active's house in the ward one night just to check up on her, and she had been out on her porch praying for Heavenly Father to send her some comfort. We ended up being able to get the Bishop to come give her a priesthood blessing and she is now coming back to church and wants to come to lessons with us. We had 7 people at church on Sunday that we have been working with- we just about doubled that ward. It was such a great experience. Sister Lake and I were asked to speak in church next Sunday on Father's Day- I'm pretty sure I have spoken on Father's day at least 3 times before now. I guess it has something to do with the fact that I have the world's best dad and I don't mind bragging about him for 10 minutes. My talk though is more centered on our Heavenly Father, but one of the greatest manifestations of His love is the fact that He sent me here in a family so I could learn more about Him. So on that note, HAPPY FATHERS DAY!! Kids- make sure Dad doesn't do ANY dishes or cleaning or anything. And that he can take a nap on the Living Room floor where the sun comes through the window and shines on the carpet. You know his favorite spot. And PLEASE embarrass him at church. That's also his favorite.
We went on back to back exchanges this past week- Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we were on exchanges- it was so hard. You really learn the value in companionship unity and working together, and we didn't notice that until we spent half the week apart. I am really glad we went on them though. I learned so much from the other sisters I served with and really came to appreciate my area and my companion. Oh, and we found out on Saturday that I'M STAYING IN PARADISE! I figured that was going to happen, but it made me SO happy. We have a few baptisms scheduled in the upcoming weeks, so i'm excited to be able to see the fruits of my labors.
Our mission is having a huge push on the Book of Mormon this transfer, and i can't wait. Guys. That book is MAGICAL. I have seen it change lives here on the mission, but it will never change someone's life more than it has changed mine. I can feel the power in it as I read, and as i testify of it and introduce it to everyone i get a chance to, I know they can feel its importance. We taught someone the first lesson then introduced the Book of Mormon this week, and by the end of the lesson she asked us where she could buy one that day because she couldn't wait to read it. The spirit is bound to testify of that book as you do, and it will. Every time you share a passage from the Book of Mormon, the spirit will be in the room. As a mission, we are doing a "refiner's fire" challenge. We are all going to read the Book of Mormon this transfer to help refine us. The fire refers to the blazing heat here in Vegas this summer (we got to 110 this week). I can't wait and I would love for you all to read with us! If you can. It is about 7 or 8 pages a day (it actually ends on Dad's birthday- July 21st) and it is a great way to strengthen your testimony. As i read, I have been highlighting the characteristics of Christ, Heavenly Father, and the Holy Ghost (each in a different color) and i am amazed at what I have learned so far. It is so cool to see how they are all united in purpose, yet they each have different roles in helping us return to live with Heavenly Father.
Over the past month I have gained the greatest appreciation of Sacrament meeting. We have been meeting with someone named Chris who is so awesome. The elders who were in this ward before us had taught him the first lesson, so we picked up from there and taught him the plan of salvation. He was skeptical about it all at first, but by the end of the lesson he told us he knew the plan was God's plan. So naturally we invited him to be baptized. Lo and behold, he told us he had already been baptized in the church, about 10 years ago, but it meant nothing to HIm and he wanted to be baptized again. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way, but we taught him about the blessings of taking the sacrament and he is now progressing towards being worthy to take it. I had never fully comprehended the power that comes in renewing our baptismal covenants each week- Heavenly Father is allowing us to have that baptismal experience every 7 days and it is something so sacred and powerful, there are people who would kill to be able to take it each week. Like Chris. So strive to be worthy to renew those covenants, and each sunday remember what you are promising Heavenly Father. (It is found in D&C 20- I can't remember the exact verses.)
Also, my whole mission is obsessed with Mindy Gledhill (but, who isn't?) so feel free to ask her if she wants to come do a mission conference or something here. I don't even know if that is a real thing, but its worth a shot. It would definitely be well received.
Oh and SHOUT OUT TO ANNA PALAKIKO!!!!! She is hands down the best cook in Vegas and is WAY too good to us. And Anna if you are reading this, you better have read 1 Nephi 3 already. And marked up those scriptures. But really. Anna is my homegirl and Sister Lake and I are always trying to find excuses to go over there. She fed us the world's best tacos and some chile last month. I really did die and go to heaven.
I'm sure you all have heard about the World Wide mission leadership conference thing President Monson is speaking at- I'm so excited! What an amazing opportunity. You all better watch that and get excited about your own missions!
LOVE YOU!!
Sister Stoker (or Stalker- that is what I'm known as to some people here. Whatever. It means i'm persistent)
No comments:
Post a Comment