Quit Worrying About It

Yooo!!! Happy Monday to all my favorite people!!! Wow, this week was good!! Some crazy stories and highlights of a wild week so buckle up!!! 

 

We had zone conference this week which was really good!! It was focused on Elder Bednar's talk "Quit worrying about it: Is it the Holy Ghost or me?" which I loved. I have struggled sometimes knowing if it's the Holy ghost or just me! And ever since this conference I have realized we really do need to quit worrying about it. Sometimes we're following the spirit and we don't even realize it. Here's just one out of MANY examples I have had this week.

 

 

We had a lesson with our friend Michael. I haven't really shared his back story but let me share because it's crazy. Never in my life have I met someone with a harder life. His mom always dated horrible guys so he was always fighting guys off at 14. He got into hard drugs and has been addicted most of his life. He's almost been killed 10 times. He had been homeless for years until now and just found out they were being evicted and had to go back to living in tents, homeless. He's a full time caretaker for his 70 year old mom who was hit by a car and it caused her to have the brain of a 5 year old. This isn't even half of his story. But he is the most humble person I have ever met in my whole life. He has never once thought God abandoned him or was punishing him or hates him. Instead he thanks God for being alive. 

 

I can't even imagine. 

 

We invited a member to our lesson with him this week. It was POUNDING snow this night and the roads were crazy. We got there a little early so we wanted to make sure we could get in and that he was home. The apt building was unlocked and we knocked and he didn't answer. Which is crazy because he always does. We called our member and told him he could turn around. We went downstairs to check the laundry room since we've had a lesson with him before but he wasn't there. We walked back upstairs to walk to our car and he was standing at the door. He told us to come inside, so we did. We had an amazing lesson with him. We left and saw we had a missed call from our member who was supposed to be a part of our lesson. we called him back and he said "sisters I have to tell you a story. 2 minutes after you told me to turn around I did and was driving and noticed a car swerved off the road so I pulled up to make sure everything was okay. The car was still in drive and the front wheels were spinning and the driver was knocked out against the steering wheel. I called 911 and they came and had to resuscitate him" he also said that no one was stopping because the car just looked abandoned. He saved this man's life. 

 

So many miracles in this story. we all were following the spirit and we didn't even realize it! 

 

Knocked a door this week. the dude answered and this is how the convo went. "You should be careful because one day you might meet God. you have the privilege of meeting me. you can feel it, I know you can" then shut the door. I wasn't gonna break it to him that he is in fact not God and that no we didn't feel anything hahaha. 

 

Roni got baptized!!!! her dad flew in from North Carolina for it! He is a recent convert and was baptized 3 years ago. His bishop flew him out to witness his daughter being baptized on Thursday, we pulled up to our lesson with them. He was already standing on the porch waiting for us before we even got out of our car. It was like I was walking up to see a family member I hadn't seen in years. He shared his conversion story and let me just tell you. Roni and Gary (her dad) are 2 of the most electable people I have ever met! some lady knocked on his door trying to sell him solar who happened to be a member and referred him to the missionaries. The sisters showed up and he was baptized 2 months later. He had never heard of the Book of Mormon and he told me the second he started reading it, he couldn't put it down and he knew it was true. I asked Roni how she felt after her first lesson and she said "i knew everything i was being taught was true." I can't even explain how it felt sitting in a room with 2 incredible people who completely flipped their lives around because they know without a doubt in their hearts that this is the true church and the gospel is true. I wish every single person could feel what I felt during that moment. It's a moment I will truly never forget. in Gary's words "there is nothing like this church. it has brought me more happiness than I have ever felt before." I 100% agree! 

 

Ronis' water was freezing cold and she did not complain once. She had a smile on her face the whole day. She was truly glowing. This is what the gospel does. it CHANGES lives. she has never been happier and it is showing. It makes me sooo happy. 

 

I forgot to add but I am a part of a ward share. we share with the Swahili sisters. We have about 3 active swahili members come to church! Yesterday Akili was baptized and I was able to attend! one of the coolest baptisms ever!!!! They had a "party" after and we got invited!! Luckily some of them speak a tiny bit of English but I get by with just saying "jambo" (hi in swahili) and just nodding, every once in a while I add in "Sí" and everyone just laughs haha. but they fed us some fufu, goat, and some types of fish but it looked like they just fished that thing straight from the ocean and beans and rice of course!! 

I have to admit, it's not that bad!!! 

 

 

Spiritual thought: 

This is the scripture I picked for my mission plaque and I love it!!!

 

Mosiah 23:10

Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of his truth.

  

I know the lord has heard my cries and has answered so many of my prayers! 

 

 

It's crazy to me that the lord trusts 18-19 year olds with people's lives. literally these people's SALVATION is in my hands. I get to walk the streets every single day and testify that Jesus Christ lives and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church. I am literally an instrument in HIS hands. It's HIS work that I am lucky enough to be a part of!! 

 

Literally nothing makes me prouder than wearing Jesus Christ across my chest every single day 

 

I am so grateful. There is SO much to be grateful for.

 

I love this gospel. I don't know where I would be without it. people are ready and SEARCHING. Roni and Gary are a testament that that is true. 

 

 

If you feel lost, turn towards him. He will always guide you home. you need him. we CANNOT do anything without his gospel or him. 

 

I promise you all this. I know this to be true!!!!

 

I love you all!!!!  especially if you made it this far! sorry for the novel!! my heart is just sooo full!!!!!!!!

 

Also, I pushed a car out of the snow this week!! i guess my weightlifting class in high school with Coach Eure and Whitney Lunt making us lift at 6 am in the summer paid off 

 

 

AND happy birthday to my favorite 10 year old Brielle!!! I love and miss her so much!!! She's like a little sister to me so of course I have to give her a shoutout!!! 

 

 

Pics: 

1. roni

2. roni and gary <3 

3. me pushing the car yuh

4. me and sister waite!! 

5. snow storm 

6. lit 

7. me and brielle

8. ronis baptism set-up!!