 |
| (back row from left to right) Me, Ashley, Elder Bracken, Gabby, Sister Faulk (front row) Elder Jones |
Each day we get up and go biking down the bayou at 6:30 a.m. I always hope to see alligators but it's still too cold so I will have to wait for a couple of months. Then we come back and get ready for the day and proceed into our personal and companionship studies. I really hope that I keep up with my studies everyday after my mission because they are so helpful and such a good time for personal revelation. The scriptures are so awesome! Then we head out and go to any appointments that we may have. If we don't have too many appointments we go and visit less active members and just see how they are doing. We also go visit sick people or people who have any needs at the time. That is usually what we do for the whole day. I have not been tracting yet. This mission is more focused on building up the branch and member missionary work which has been very successful. I really want to go tracting though so Sister Faulk promised me that we can do it one day soon.
On P day we do the same except we come here to the library to email and then we go to an activity with our zone. Usually we play dodge ball which is what we did last week. Dodge ball was fine but I am just not entertained by that type of leisure. Well, I am but only if I know the people. I don't like to throw balls at people I do not know. Today we're having a Nerf gun war and it will be fun because I know people now so I won't mind shooting them. But I would still rather be able to write letters to friends and family. Please apologize to everyone for me because I have a feeling I will never get a few hours where I can just sit down and write!
I am really loving it here. I love the people, the scenery, the southern hospitality, and everything. I love how we can drive down the road and see cute little old men just sitting on their front porch, watching the world. I feel like dad is going to do that when he is old.
Ok Jeremy listen up! You're going to like this. Last night we went over to the Nations house for Family Home Evening and they ordered pizza. Well, in Louisiana they put shrimp on their pizza and even though I have never liked shrimp, I actually ate it! It was sooo good. I have become so cultural on my mission, its insane. First Asian food and now Cajun food. What's next?
Oh, I know what's next! I have very exciting news. I AM GOING TO BE HERE FOR MARDI GRAS! Ok so mom... remember when we used to go to Mimi's Cafe and I would tell you it was my dream to go to Louisiana for Mardi Gras? Well, my dream came true! And we usually get permission to go to the parades. Don't worry I won't flash anyone for beads, hahaha!
Meeting in person with my investigators is an amazing experience that I didn't get very often at Temple Square. It is really cool to actually be face to face with these people and to be able to feel the spirit so strong during lessons. We have been able to teach some amazing people. So last week we got a call from the elders in Jennings, Texas. They were calling to give us a referral. The referral was for an awesome 19 year old girl who is interested in the church and she just moved into our boundaries.
They had already taught her the restoration so we just needed to meet with her and start teaching her the rest of the lessons. We met up with her (I will call her H) on Saturday! She is such a sweetheart and we have a lot in common with her! We asked H why she was interested in the church and she said it was because of our emphasis on having the proper authority. Wow! That isn't an answer we get very often but it shows she truly wants to find the truth. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and the spirit was there so strong. So at the end we felt prompted to ask her if she would be baptized and she accepted! She has a baptismal date set for the 16th of February. This is such a miracle because things like this just don't happen all the time- especially here in Louisiana! She came to church the next day and really enjoyed it. She was also able to attend Gabby & Ashley's baptism right after church. I am so excited to continue meeting with her and watch her progression.
Gabby & Ashley were investigators that Sister Faulk had for about four months before I got here. They are really good friends and are amazing. I have grown to love the two of them so much and I have only been here for 2 weeks. About an hour before church on Sunday, Gabby called us and said that Ashley was very sick and would not be able to make it to their baptism. She had been throwing up all night and was in a lot of pain. It just came out of the blue and Sister Faulk and I were so sad. We called the elders and asked them if they would go over there and give her a blessing. So Brother Prescott took us and the elders to their house so they could give her a blessing. In the blessing, Elder Bracken told her that she would be healed. We all had so much faith because we knew that she could get better, and she did!
They ended up coming to church and she felt a million times better by the time she got there. It was amazing and the spirit was so strong. I have such a testimony of the priesthood. I am so thankful that Heavenly Father has provided us with that gift here on earth. Before my mission I never really thought too much about people getting baptized but now I look at it a whole new way. It is such a blessing that our church has the proper authority to baptize in the name of Jesus Christ. And the faith that these people have to take this step and make this covenant with Heavenly Father absolutely amazes me. I have such an appreciation for the gospel and the fact that I get to be here at this time to serve. I used to be mad at myself for wasting time and postponing serving a mission until July rather than when I had originally planned to go but I have come to realize that this is the right time for me to be out here serving the Lord; and Temple Square/Baton Rouge are exactly where I am supposed to be!
Since coming to Louisiana, I have learned so much about the gospel and my testimony is becoming even stronger. Spending so much time with investigators and new converts has taught me a lot about repentance and conversion. Conversion and Testimony are completely different and I finally am starting to see the importance of it all- the temple, scriptures, prayer, serving others, priesthood, and family...but most of all repentance. I used to only associate repentance with committing really bad sins. I never realized how close repentance can bring us to Heavenly Father.
I am kind of prideful and I do not like to admit when I have done something wrong so it is so hard for me to get down on my knees and say sorry and ask for forgiveness. Well, in my third transfer Heavenly Father really hit me hard and let me know that I need to change! Missions are so hard. Kendall, I hope you understand this. They are so incredibly hard. Most missionaries enter the field with a lot of pride. We don't even realize it until we get here. Heavenly Father knows that he needs to break us in order to make us stronger. That goes for all of his children, not just missionaries.
In Ether 12:27 it says, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
He shows us our weaknesses to make us better. He knows who we can become but sometimes we have to go through it the hard way. Well, after a ton of praying I finally realized something I have been leaving out of my prayers. I have always repented but its never been very sincere. Because of this mission I realize now that repentance is essential to growth and I consider it a blessing that I have the opportunity to repent every single day. That is part of what the atonement does for us. It doesn't just redeem us from large sins but it brings us closer to God as we strive each and every day to repent and become more like Him.
Repentance can do so much for us! It brings us hope and reminds us of the bigger picture. Repentance is such an essential part to Heavenly Father's plan for us. As missionaries we are here to help others to 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 finally starting to better understand my purpose; and the only way I can help others understand their purpose is if I do all of these things as well.
I love you friends and family and I know that if you put your faith in God and allow yourselves to fully repent and come unto Christ, he will bless your lives immensely! Have a good week.
Sister Park
No comments:
Post a Comment