Don't Take Your Eyes Off Him

Wow, what a week it has been! Full of so many miracles!!!!!

 

We had a super dope lesson with this lady we are teaching. A little back story, my first week here we were going to knock a former (person who was once taught) at this apartment complex. They didn't answer so we started walking back to our car. As we were walking back we saw a lady standing outside a couple doors down. We asked her if she wanted to hear a message and she immediately said no and laughed at us haha. I boldly asked "Why?" She said that she already believes in God and didn't really have much of an explanation. Then she asked what we were doing out here and was interested in why we are missionaries. She then said we could come back. We came back the next week and taught Resto, gave her a book of mormon and invited her to read the introduction and to continue if she wanted to. Came back this week and was talking to her yanno asking her how her week was. And she immediately goes "Okay so I did what y'all asked. I read the intro, the witnesses, and 1 Nephi chapter 1" we were shook cuz no one keeps commitments haha. The miracle in this is that there was SO much chaos going on. Her mom and daughter were fighting right next to us, Harry Potter was playing, etc. she wasn't distracted ONE bit. She was glued to that book. Amidst all the chaos, her focus was on the savior and learning more about him by reading the Book of Mormon.

 

It's not a coincidence she happened to poke her head out her door right as we were walking by. That's all I'm sayin.

 

We are working with one of our people on quitting smoking. We made a deal and shook on it which means one sugar a day for me. Pray for me. We also had a very powerful lesson with him and he thanked us probably 100 times for changing his life and teaching him. He bore his testimony about how much he loves God and how God has saved his life. He kept saying "don't take your eyes off him". I love this. 

 

Saturday we were able to attend winter quarters temple in Omaha, Nebraska with one of our recent converts to do baptisms for the dead!! I never even knew that there would be a possibility for me to attend this temple on my mission! I am SOOOO grateful! It was so special and sacred to watch this recent convert get baptized for some of her own deceased relatives! 

I have such a strong testimony about the temple and I have completely fallen in love with it on my mission. Temple work is sooo important and I can't wait. So please go to the temple!!!!

 

We were also able to go do a tour at the visitor center after and learn more about the saints. I have such a strong testimony of the saints and I felt the spirit so strong getting to learn more about them and all that they went through. My heart is so full. 

 

Sister Waite and I also spoke in church yesterday! We texted a bunch of our people and invited them to come hear us speak and come to church! We finally got one of our people to church that we've been trying to get to come and she LOVED IT!! She stayed for both hours and was crying and taking notes the whole time!!! It was sooo cool! 

 

Roni passed her baptismal interview and is getting baptized on Saturday!! She is sooo awesome and I am soo excited for her to take this next step! It will change her life forever! Keep her in your prayers this week that things can continue to go smoothly!! 

 

Also our tiwi (speed and area tracker and yells at us when we're going over the speed) is broken currently so we are whippin without one. Kinda boujee.

 

We also have a lot of med couples in our ward who are going to medical school here in Des moines. THEY ARE MY FAVORITE PEOPLE EVER!!! All of the husband's are returned missionaries and they take care of us!!! It is SO FUN!!! I love them so much!!!! 

 

My spiritual thought: 

 

We were able to watch the YSA worldwide broadcast by Elder and Sister Holland this week! And I LOVED what they shared!! 

☆go look it up on the church's website and watch it!!! 100% worth your time! 

 

One thing that really stuck out to me was this: 

"Have faith in God, hope that he will help you and receive the charity that enables him to work through you to accomplish what only you can do" 

 

Faith, hope, and charity are 3 of the most important Christlike attributes that I still am working on every single day! 

 

I am gonna share a story. It's kinda personal but I guess it's not anymore since it's now on my weekly, but I promised myself I was always going to say the truth in my emails because let's not sugar coat that missionary work is not always easy!!!! 

 

These past couple weeks have been rough to say the least haha. I had a lot of really hard moments where I have felt like I don't know why I'm here. It's really easy as a missionary to feel like you're not enough. You work so hard and some days only one person opens their door, just to tell you that they aren't interested and don't want to hear your message. It's really easy getting caught up in not feeling like you're a successful missionary even when you feel like you work so hard. It all took a BIG toll on me. 

 

But I realized at the end of the day pride was getting in the way. 

 

I was choosing to be sad about missing things at home, and wanting to drive around and jam to Chris Brown and Drake. I was thinking about worldly things, things that will STILL BE THERE in a year when I get home. I wasn't letting God prevail in my life! I think a lot of that even had to do with fear. Fear that one day I'll forget all those things. 

 

I'm embarrassed to admit all this, but it's true. 

 

And let me just say I have never felt more unhappy in my life. 

 

Someone told me to focus on joy. I started focusing on the little things that brought me joy like when Sister Waite gets her driving privileges taken away and I am now the designated driver.

 

 

I have started to let God prevail in my life!! 

 

I have increased my FAITH in God, I HOPE that he will help me receive charity that enables him to work through me to accomplish what only I can do!!! 

 

And I HAVE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER!!!!

 

Have things become easier? Yes!! Are my trials taken away completely? No! I still have people tell me no every single day. But guess what! It doesn't affect me like it used to!! 

 

I have seen how God is using me as an instrument in his hands to be led to those people that need me!! 

 

I thank my heavenly father every single day for the opportunity he has given me to be his servant and to bring his precious children home. 

 

I pray that we all don't let pride get in the way of becoming who God needs us to become! 

 

My heart is so full. 

 

God is soooo good. 

 

Don't take your eyes off him. He will help you! 

 

Love, Sister Liljenquist

 

Also have to add that my dad informed me that round 1 of March madness is in Des Moines. 5 minutes away from me. I will definitely be driving by. Period 

 

 

Pics: 

1. med couples 

2. I love this so much

3. you can't tell me this dog ain't a wolf

4. super safe 

5. matching 

6. parents live on zoom 

7. temple with Melissa <3

8. game night!!!