Don't worry, we don't have bedbugs.
There are some sisters in the
mission who do, unfortunately, and even more "unfortunately" is we
were supposed to go on exchange with them this past week...Which would mean
Sister Wilson and I would've been entering the war zone...Needless to say, we
didn't exchange--instead, we "blitzed" the area! All five of us
sisters served up in the area for a day. We split up into two companionships
and worked hard, and it was a great experience! I'm remembering a
word...blitzkrieg? I don't remember what it refers to other than something to
do with one of the World Wars. Anyway, the sister I served with and I went to
an area by the Thousand Islands (yes, the dressing was invented up
there--AWESOME) and met some really great people and were able to see the Spirit
of God work on the hearts of those we met as we talked to them, bore testimony
of our Savior's love and plan and gospel, and prayed with them. The power of
prayer is real. It really is communication with our Father in Heaven! And He
really does listen and answer! It was incredible to share that with people, not
just by telling them, but by praying with them and helping them to experience
it for themselves. We ought not be stingy with our knowledge, especially not
about the importance and availability of prayer. Anyway, anyway, anyway, it was
wonderful. We all met some savory people and have some good stories, but I'm
running short on time. Again....Sorry!
There have been so many miracles
over the past week! Many miracles yesterday in TIMING. We got to church and
were able to set up a time that day to go and meet a member family that I've
never visited before, and the plans got kind of thrown off, but we were able to
save travel time and miles on the car, and be where we needed to be at all the
remaining hours of the day! Oh goodness, it was just so humbling to see the
Lord mold our day and our efforts into what they needed to be.
I just have to express how thankful
I am that our companionship is unified! We are working TOGETHER. We have the
same goals--even if they didn't start out the same when we were milling ideas
around in our minds, they have BECOME the same goals. It just hit me that we're
having success in seeing the Lord's hand in our work, our lives, our efforts,
our friends' lives, because we are on the same page and all working together to
keep the Spirit and be instruments. When we aren't all actively trying to
accomplish that instrumentality in the Lord's hands, then it doesn't quite
groove the same way. The progress doesn't move "onward and upward"
without that unity and the Spirit that comes with being unified. What's
incredible, too, is that the unity and progression, the miracles and the Spirit
can be in every relationship, not just missionary companionships. It takes
communication and CHARITY and humility and work, work, work...but those
blessings come if we do those things. Hm. That's a really neat inspiration.
I keep getting kind of depressed
whenever a thought comes about leaving missionary life and this calling, this
place, these people. I don't understand a lot of things--specifically,
recently, I haven't understood these things: why I can't serve as a full-time
missionary for 2 years and why I'll have to leave. I don't know why. I don't
know. But I trust Heavenly Father's plan. His plan is revealed, always, by His
AUTHORIZED servants. They have told me that I'll be serving for 18 months, and
I trust Heavenly Father's plan. I don't need to know why, not yet. I'm sure one
day I'll learn why, but I don't need that right now. What the Holy Ghost
has told me I need to know now is that I am a full-time missionary. I am
a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, representing Him in this area. I have been
called to invite others to come to Him by HELPING them RECEIVE the restored
gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism,
receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. I am here now.
I think patience includes being happy with the Lord's will and accepting it, now.
I'm so thankful to be an instrument in my Savior's hands. I'm so thankful that
I can be guided by the Spirit of God all day, every day, so long as I live the
gospel of Jesus Christ. And I'm so thankful for the time He's given me to
gather Israel in His Vineyard TODAY.
I love you so so much! I hope this
week will be a really great one, filled with Spirit-seeking. Life is so good
and rich with the Spirit. And so it is so good and rich while we live the
restored teachings of Jesus Christ.
I love you for always!!
Sister Smith
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