FAMILY!
As always,
it's been a wonderful week! :) We had interviews which were so great (Mom, did
I ever tell you that sister Felix is your twin? She sounds exactly like you and
it freaks me out... but at the same time, it's a blessing) Haha any way, we had
the opportunity to watch "Meet the Mormons!" It's so good. Every one,
go see it and invite your friends! It's a perfect tool to use for missionary
work. The members here are so AWESOME.
Sister Brown and I have been thinking about ways we can get member-missionary
work rolling here because the members really are so great and have that desire.
We have been setting up appointments with them (Starting with ward council) to
teach them and extend an invitation to invite a friend to see "Meet the
Mormons." We're hoping and praying that this will open up a lot of
opportunities! We met with the Gomez family this week and Sister Gomez truly is
softening her heart! We helped them prepare for conference and talked about how
we can make it a revelatory experience. Brother Gomez bore a powerful testimony
on how he wants his girls to be involved in the church and wants this for his
family. The spirit was so strong and I know Sister Gomez felt that. She has
taken the lessons before... but, felt very pushed and pressured, so we hope
that we can help her feel loved, rather than pushed. We're meeting with them
again on Saturday and we are going to invite her to take the lessons!
Enrique is
doing well! We invited him to be baptized on a specific date, but he expressed
to us that he didn't feel quite ready. We went over the interview questions and
found out that he struggles with coffee and that he's had a hard time giving it
up. We testified of the blessings that will come with living this commandment
and he committed to quit completely!! He's receiving a blessing this week from
our ward mission leader and he came to conference yesterday and really enjoyed
it. Judy also came to conference... she took notes and everything! It was such
a blessing and they both had a great experience.
General
conference was INCREDIBLE and I learned so much. I didn't have a specific talk
that touched me more than others, but each of them had something that really
touched me! I learned three things especially..
1. How
important it is to nourish our testimony of the restored gospel and the
atonement of Jesus Christ... center our lives on Christ, use the atonement and
repent daily. I especially realized that I need to be repenting daily and using
the atonement as a missionary. And as Elder Ballard said, "Study, live,
and love the doctrine of Christ." Once we have that firm testimony, we
then can help others along the path. We also must pattern our lives after our
savior.. Christ-like love will change the world!
2. We have
the ability to have confirming, personal revelation. We can receive TRUTH and
light... we can receive truth if we ask in sincerity and act. The lord will
always answer if we are seeking.
3. This is
the restored church of Jesus Christ. We have a living prophet.. Thomas S. Monson.
We must sustain him and our leaders.. The church will never be led astray!
There is so much power and comfort in that.
I look
forward to applying what I learned this weekend to the work and improving
myself as a representative of Jesus Christ.
This is the Lord's church and this is his work. God loves us.. no matter
where we are on the path...no matter the depth of our testimony, but he has
provided us with the guidance and the tools to strengthen our personal
testimonies. We can always become more converted and he will help us as we turn
to him, I'm so grateful for this gospel... I love my savior. HE LIVES.
I love you
alll!! Thanks for the prayers!!
Sister James
