This week started out with a miracle! As we were heading to a less active member's house to see if she was home, we felt impressed to stop by Gladys's house (a non member who we helped do some service for a couple weeks ago). When we knocked on her door she opened it and came out to give us big hugs and said "Oh it's the cute sister missionaries with the Mormon church. Come on in I have a lot to tell you both!" We spent a good 45 minutes getting to know her and she told us that her daughter in North Carolina joined the church a couple months ago and has been telling her mom about it, so now she wants to learn more! We taught her the restoration, and then fast forwarding a couple of days, we taught her again and she has been reading the Book of Mormon! She is amazing and we love seeing her light up when she understands things! I'm grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and for acting on the prompting that we were given to go by her house Monday night.
We did some service this week for a new family that just moved in to the Lake Travis Ward! It was great getting to know them better, and after we shared a message with their family, and they said it was what they needed to hear that day, that we were an answer to their prayers! (That made me feel good) It's amazing how the Lord works.
On Wednesday we had Zone Conference from 8AM-3PM. I learned a lot! Great trainings were given by our Mission President Polley and his wife. They talked to us and gave some trainings as well. They both recently participated in the Mission President Seminar this past week. The seminar focused on “Teaching Repentance and Baptizing Converts”. We have heard many times the true saying, “The gospel is simply beautiful and beautifully simple”. That thought came to our Mission President time and time again during the seminar. He said for example, "how does one become converted to the Lord – through a beautifully simple process of prayer, reading and pondering the Book of Mormon, and attending church."
I am so grateful to our loving Heavenly Father and the Savior that way, to gain a testimony is available to all of his children. No one is excluded, for all can pray, all can read and ponder the Book of Mormon, all can attend church. For our part as missionaries we must not be distracted from these core principles that will change the lives of those we teach. We must be effective in our invitations to pray, read and ponder the Book of Mormon, and attend church. Without these there cannot be true conversion.
We had a fun, spiritual Sunday this week! Priscila came an loved the talks that were given in Sacrament meeting. The Spirit was very strong and the things talked about were what she felt like she needed to hear (miracle). During the week I was asked by our Primary Presidency to come pretend to be Abish and act out her story from the scriptures in front of the kids! It was a lot of fun, it made me miss my primary kids back home (I sure do love them)!
This week I came across a talk that was given by Dieter F. Uchtdorf and I thought I would share some of it with y'all!
You Matter to Him
By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"My dear brothers and sisters, it may be true that man is nothing in comparison to the greatness of the universe. At times we may even feel insignificant, invisible, alone, or forgotten. But always remember--you matter to Him! If you ever doubt that, consider these four divine principles:
First, God loves the humble and meek, for they are “greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Second, the Lord entrusts “the fulness of [His] gospel [to] be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world.” He has chosen “the weak things of the world [to] come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones” and to put to shame “the things which are mighty.” Third, no matter where you live, no matter how humble your circumstances, how meager your employment, how limited your abilities, how ordinary your appearance, or how little your calling in the Church may appear to you, you are not invisible to your Heavenly Father. He loves you. He knows your humble heart and your acts of love and kindness. Together, they form a lasting testimony of your fidelity and faith. Fourth and finally, please understand that what you see and experience now is not what forever will be. You will not feel loneliness, sorrow, pain, or discouragement forever. We have the faithful promise of God that He will neither forget nor forsake those who incline their hearts to Him. Have hope and faith in that promise. Learn to love your Heavenly Father and become His disciple in word and in deed. Be assured that if you but hold on, believe in Him, and remain faithful in keeping the commandments, one day you will experience for yourselves the promises revealed to the Apostle Paul: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” Brothers and sisters, the most powerful Being in the universe is the Father of your spirit. He knows you. He loves you with a perfect love. God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season--He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him. May we ever believe, trust, and align our lives so that we will understand our true eternal worth and potential. May we be worthy of the precious blessings our Heavenly Father has in store for us is my prayer in the name of His Son, even Jesus Christ, amen."
In closing of this email I would like to share my feeling on this talk that was given. You matter to him! Each and every one of you! I've seen many people on my mission who feel worthless, inadequate, and who feel like there is no one who cares about them! I KNOW God loves each and every one of them and you! He cares about you and he is very mindful of you! He believes in you and trusts you! I love all of you as well! I hope y'all have a good week!
Con Amor,
Hermana Mann
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