 |
| We can't hold kids, but we can hold puppies. :) |
Dear Family,
Miracles happen
every day here in Middleton. I am constantly praying for and seeing them in our
work. I have never felt so strongly that the Lord is indeed helping and
strengthening me.
The most exciting
news is that one of our investigators was baptized! Everything went really
well, President Sorensen even attended the baptism. I am always so stressed out
on baptisms days that I have a hard time being excited and happy about it
throughout the day. I was think about this and was a little disappointed in
myself for not having more joy. Because it is when I am at a baptism that I
just feel the Spirit so strongly and get this feeling of wonder that what is
taking place is more important than we know. All of the sisters that have been
teaching this investigator for the past couple of months attended the baptism. Best of all, one of them is a companion to
Sister Shurtleff, my trainer! It was so good to see her. She is going home at
the end of this transfer. At the end of the mission the president lets the
missionaries go back and visit all of the areas where they served. Because Sister Shurtleff was trained here, we
are going to try and set up a dinner with a family that she was close to. Also,
I have cool story with the baptism. The investigator was giving us the name for
the couple that was giving both of the talks. The last name sounded super
familiar to me, but I just shrugged it off and assumed that there was no
connection. Well, baptism day comes and this older couple, from one of my wards
in Meridian where I served, show up! They had met our investigator at Wendy’s
(where she works) and just became good friends. I loved seeing them there and
learning of the connection that they have to M. And it makes me think of
something that a general authority said at Stake Conference in La Grande:
“Coincidence is God’s way of staying anonymous.”
 |
| A generation photo! daughter, mom, and grandma |
Tuesday was a
harder day for me. We didn’t have any appointments, besides dinner. Most of the
day was driving around trying to visit members of our congregation. We weren’t
getting very many good responses, and I was feeling a little sorry for myself.
It was around 8:40 at night and I was exhausted. Lastly we went out to
this home in a more country part of the ward. I wasn’t very hopeful as we
knocked on the door, expecting no response. But instead, a middle-aged couple
answered the door, and Sister Tukumoeatu asked to use their bathroom. The wife,
who is not a member, invited us in right away and was so kind to us. She filled
up cups of ice and well water for us and gave us an open invite to come get
eggs from their chickens and tomatoes later in the summer. When we mentioned
religion, they gave off the impression that they too were not interested, but
this woman’s kindness was really a tender mercy from Heavenly Father. There has
not been a time when I have been feeling down or sorry for myself and I have
not received some little miracle or blessing. It always happens, every single
time. And I love it.
On Thursday, we
found more people to teach! First, a lady that the sisters used to teach called
us. She moved to Caldwell, and lost contact for a while. But she has moved back
and wants to be baptized! I am excited to teach her! Later that day, we visited
with a family that we are going to start teaching. Some of the members of the
family have already been baptized and some have not. They have a super awesome home teacher, that
has really helped the family out. At the end of the visit, when we shared the
message, we talked about how their faith helped them through difficult times.
On Sunday we
had a lesson with a very special family. They have a goal to be sealed in the
temple. We talked about how the marriage in the temple is performed by God’s
power, the priesthood. We encouraged
them to study and pray about it. They were asking lots of different questions
about how the sealing works, and then the husband, asked, “Wait, can I be
sealed to my mom?” When we told him that he could, he started bawling. The
Spirit was so strong in that room. We are going to continue to have weekly
family home evenings with them to help them reach their goal. I hope that they
will be sealed in the Meridian Temple after it is dedicated.
This work is so
hard, and I think I am the most tired I have ever been on my mission. But these
hard times are the best, because this is when we see the most miracles and
experience those most tender mercies from Heavenly Father. I especially felt
that this week.
Love,
Sister
Jensen
No comments:
Post a Comment