This last week was full of challenges. But it was great to see how we were able to bounce back and not let this get us down. We prayed a lot. And we went and instead of moping over the plans that fell through we went and taught the doctrine to any one that would listen to us, even if the only people were the members. It helped us stay strong and keep going. I have nothing but HIGH hopes for this next transfer.
I think the lessons that have stood out the most in my mind this last week have been with our less active we are working with, Sandra. She's AMAZING! Seriously I have not ever met someone who is so ready the change and repent. We went and we talked about when we do repent to not look back on our old life, wishing for what was, or for how we used to be, but to move forward and to allow ourselves to be changed and become something new through Jesus Christ.
It made me think a lot about my own life, and reflect on who I have become over the past few years. I'm not the same girl who went to retreat for girls at age 13 from wyoming and for the first time felt and knew that the Savior does live. I've evolved several times since then. I'm not the same angry girl that moved to Bountiful years ago, and I'm not the same cocky girl that went to BYU way back in 2010. Besides making myself feel really old, as I've refected on this I've realized who Heavenly Father is making me, and I've realized that there is a reason for all the challenges. There really is a plan, a plan of HAPPINESS, that requires a little bit of effort on my part, but mostly it just requires my trust and my faith. Faith, not in the results, but faith that Jesus Christ will not lie. The plan isn't false, it's true. I know it. I feel it. The spirit has testified of it to me.
I've been reading the book of mormon again, trying to get through it before a certain day in september. I was reading in the book of mosiah, and I came across a verse that I'd never thought of before it says
"And it came to pass that those who were the children of Amulon and his brethren, who had taken to wife the daughters of the Lamanites, were displeased with the conduct of their fathers, and they would no longer be called by the names of their fathers, therefore they took upon themselves the name of Nephi, that they might be called the children of Nephi and be numbered among those who were called Nephites." (mosiah 25:12)
Now I wasn't there with those children of the wicked priests but I can imagine that if I had vast wealth and then had just gone through a war, and been put in bondage, and was learning how to deal with living under a new government, I'd probably be a little bit homesick for what was. But it struck me that when those children of the priests heard about their fathers, they let go of the past and moved forward into a better and much happier life.
This is the miricle of missionary work. This is what I see every day. The doctrines CHANGE people. When the spirit testifies to them that this is Jesus Christ's church and that only through repentance, baptism, and continued faithfulness can we recieve a fullness of joy, THEY CHANGE!
Because of the plan of salvation, because it gives me the hope to REPENT, I can become new. The future is much better than what I've been in the past. As I've served my mission, I've heard about areas changing, people at home moving forward, the world moving forward, and I've had to ask myself have I moved forward? Because of Jesus Christ, all hurt, all pain, all fears will be made right.
So my commitment to everyone who reads this email is to watch this mormon message. This really is the first day of a NEW year! We can change any time we would like. Set some spiritual goals, and then work towards them.
I love you! Thank you for your continued support. Be strong, and don't give up! Satan won't win and that's a promise.
xoxo
Sister Wyatt
ps we got a new bishop yesterday in the ward, wild, wild stuff!
pps here's some more pictures :)
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