C to Bonjour tout le monde! Comment ça va?
Well, today begins the first day of my last transfer. Woah. I can't believe that time is actually here. I am so grateful to have these next 6 weeks to continue to work here in Lyon with Sister Kimber, putting everything I've learned to use to serve my Savior with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. Yes, I've never been so physically and mentally exhausted in my entire life. But, I know that Christ isn't just at my side helping me sprint to the finish line. When I've done my very best, and think I can't go on anymore, He actually picks me up and carries me. There is simply no other explanation for being able to do what we do as missionaries.
This past week was pretty awesome! As usual, we visited with a lot of less actives and recent converts. These are the most fragile and important people to take care of, in my opinion. It is they who have made covenants with God, therefore binding them to a higher plane of promises and blessings that must be upheld. We are working very closely with several sisters (both less-active and recent converts) and they're making tremendous progress. It has come by including in their lives a pattern of habits like reading their scriptures and words of our prophets, praying, and coming to church. Does that sound like the primary answers? Well, they are. They're also the most important things that any one of us could be doing. I know with all the surety of my heart that it is through these simple, sincere acts that we feel true joy in our lives. I have seen this truth manifested too many times to ever be able to deny it. These sisters all were able to watch General Conference, and every single one of them has said the same thing: "They said exactly what I needed to hear." That's because the spirit will tell us exactly what Heavenly Father wants us to know! We must engage in daily study and habits that bring us closer to Christ if we expect to feel true happiness. And now we have 6 sessions (or 6 new chapters as I like to call it) added to our scriptures to study.
Each of these sisters has also become so enlivened by the gospel that their greatest desires are for their family members to have it also. Two of them invited us over with their children, so they would be able to learn as well. I have high hopes for all of them! They were all very receptive. One other thing that is helping these sisters stay true to their covenants is the fact that we simply just go and show them that we love them and care about them! Every recent convert and every less-active needs to feel that they have a friend at church. Someone they can rely on, turn to, and talk to. Can I ask you when was the last time you reached out to a recent convert or less-active? They need to feel the love of their home and visiting teachers, but more than that, they need to feel the love of their friends.
Lastly, I'll just tell you about a cool lesson we had with one of our amis, Veronique. She is from the Congo and has a strong Christian background. She loves her Bible, and she loves her Lord. It's wonderful! However, she doesn't see any need for additional scripture. We have explained to her how precious truths found in the Book of Mormon are not found in the Bible. She asked us for some examples, and the first one that came to my mind is described in 3 Nephi 11, as Christ teaches about the ordinance of baptism. He tells us how it should be done, and how one must have authority given to them to perform it. Then He gives that authority to Nephi. The cool part is that on Saturday, the elders in our district had a baptism, in which we were able to attend. As I heard the elder say the words exactly as they're described in 3 Nephi 11, I had an undeniable confirmation come over me that the authority found in this Church is indeed that which Christ gave. This authority, given to act in the name of Christ to perform saving ordinances, is what makes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the only true church. Veronique is slowly but surely coming to understand that and feel that this is the way, the only way. I know it is!
Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Love,
Soeur Shields
edit.
Well, today begins the first day of my last transfer. Woah. I can't believe that time is actually here. I am so grateful to have these next 6 weeks to continue to work here in Lyon with Sister Kimber, putting everything I've learned to use to serve my Savior with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. Yes, I've never been so physically and mentally exhausted in my entire life. But, I know that Christ isn't just at my side helping me sprint to the finish line. When I've done my very best, and think I can't go on anymore, He actually picks me up and carries me. There is simply no other explanation for being able to do what we do as missionaries.
This past week was pretty awesome! As usual, we visited with a lot of less actives and recent converts. These are the most fragile and important people to take care of, in my opinion. It is they who have made covenants with God, therefore binding them to a higher plane of promises and blessings that must be upheld. We are working very closely with several sisters (both less-active and recent converts) and they're making tremendous progress. It has come by including in their lives a pattern of habits like reading their scriptures and words of our prophets, praying, and coming to church. Does that sound like the primary answers? Well, they are. They're also the most important things that any one of us could be doing. I know with all the surety of my heart that it is through these simple, sincere acts that we feel true joy in our lives. I have seen this truth manifested too many times to ever be able to deny it. These sisters all were able to watch General Conference, and every single one of them has said the same thing: "They said exactly what I needed to hear." That's because the spirit will tell us exactly what Heavenly Father wants us to know! We must engage in daily study and habits that bring us closer to Christ if we expect to feel true happiness. And now we have 6 sessions (or 6 new chapters as I like to call it) added to our scriptures to study.
Each of these sisters has also become so enlivened by the gospel that their greatest desires are for their family members to have it also. Two of them invited us over with their children, so they would be able to learn as well. I have high hopes for all of them! They were all very receptive. One other thing that is helping these sisters stay true to their covenants is the fact that we simply just go and show them that we love them and care about them! Every recent convert and every less-active needs to feel that they have a friend at church. Someone they can rely on, turn to, and talk to. Can I ask you when was the last time you reached out to a recent convert or less-active? They need to feel the love of their home and visiting teachers, but more than that, they need to feel the love of their friends.
Lastly, I'll just tell you about a cool lesson we had with one of our amis, Veronique. She is from the Congo and has a strong Christian background. She loves her Bible, and she loves her Lord. It's wonderful! However, she doesn't see any need for additional scripture. We have explained to her how precious truths found in the Book of Mormon are not found in the Bible. She asked us for some examples, and the first one that came to my mind is described in 3 Nephi 11, as Christ teaches about the ordinance of baptism. He tells us how it should be done, and how one must have authority given to them to perform it. Then He gives that authority to Nephi. The cool part is that on Saturday, the elders in our district had a baptism, in which we were able to attend. As I heard the elder say the words exactly as they're described in 3 Nephi 11, I had an undeniable confirmation come over me that the authority found in this Church is indeed that which Christ gave. This authority, given to act in the name of Christ to perform saving ordinances, is what makes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the only true church. Veronique is slowly but surely coming to understand that and feel that this is the way, the only way. I know it is!
Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Love,
Soeur Shields
edit.