Asians (Sept 1 2014)

Fairdinkum!!!! What a week it's been! We've had moments of some of the deepest despair that I've felt on my mission, but that's just opened up opportunities for us to feel some of the greatest joy.  One of those moments came as we were teaching Jacky the 10 commandments and about the sabbath day. We were talking about the 3rd commandment not to take the Lord's name in vain.  Jacky is from China and has learned English here on the mine sites.  When we taught this to him he said "wow, I think this is Australians problem" We told him that he should just substitute better words for that one.  He asked for some examples and this is what came out of my mouth (i kid you not I didn't even think when I said this) "darn it... oh my goodness.... golly wolly...." OH MY GOSH I felt SOOOOO dumb! Jacky was like "what is golly wolly..." every one was laughing so hard! 

Jacky says so many cute and funny things. We were eating dinner with his mother and his member fellowship Joe.  Joe was telling a story about how when he was jumping off the fork lift at work he smashed his elbow and how it was aching.  Jacky was so great he turned to Joe and said "Joe, I think next time you pray before you jump off.  Then Heavenly Father will protect you!" oh it was so cute and so innocent I'm so grateful to be apart of Jacky's conversion. 

As I'm getting closer to the end I've been reflecting quite a bit on how Heavenly Father feels about our service. I want to make sure that I finish strong! I feel like my mission is kind of like when I was running hurdles in 9th grade.  I'm not the strongest missionary or the most powerful, just like in 9th grade I wasn't the best runner but that's not what's important to Heavenly Father. I've done my best, and I know that he's happy about that.  I remember my first race, the gun sounded and I started running I got to the first hurdle and I cleared it but the next hurdle came so much faster than I expected and a few of them I tripped over and at one point I even  fell down and scrapped my knee.  After I cleared.... errr knocked over the last hurdle I walked off the field... I FORGOT TO FINISH THE RACE!!!!! I feel like I've just cleared that last hurdle in my mission, my final challenge is to FINISH the race. I'm so glad that Heavenly Father has helped me to become better than I was when I was in 9th grade, I know that as I rely upon his power and the grace of the atonement I will be able to finish strong! We still have 3 weeks left, we have a baptism to plan, more people to find and teach, and so many more opportunities to testify of the Savior.  I love him and I love this gospel! 

Love,

Sister Wyatt

ps a member gave me a jones root beer ... wow i forgot how yummy jones soda is!