My mission has just seem to
flown by so far. I can't believe I'm already almost halfway done. And I love
every second of it!
It has been a very good
transfer and it's ending this week.. We'll see what the Lord has in store for
me next week! Change- it's not fun, but it's necessary and it is actually
pretty exciting. I will never be ready to leave The Colony, but I do realize
I'm going to have to leave sometime!
Mon- Top Golf was so much fun! If they have one in Oregon,
it's totally worth it. It's like a bowling alley for golfing. That night we
also had a really good lesson. We are teaching 7 year olds and 15 year olds in
the ward the discussions. We taught The Restoration to this one family who has a 15 year old son. It's amazing to me that no matter how many times I
teach this lesson, I never cease to be overcome with the Spirit especially as
Joseph's First Vision is recited. The mother commented after the lesson
that that had been the most spiritual lesson her family has ever experienced in
their home- and they are a super spiritual family to begin with! So that meant
a lot.
Wed- We found a new investigator through service! We were
driving down a street and saw a lady raking leaves in her yard. We pulled over
and started helping her pile leaves in bags even though she said we didn't have
to. Because of that, she invited us in to listen to our message. We have taught
her three times now! She is wonderful. Her son works with a couple of boys in
the ward, too, at Chikfila. Later that night we had a lesson with a less active couple. We met them New Year's Eve actually. They
are really nice. The father struggles a lot because he thinks too much
about everything. It's not that he doesn't have faith, I'm convinced he does.
He just mixes up absolute, sure knowledge because of evidence with faith,
therefore he thinks he doesn't have faith in anything. But we know faith is
something hoped for and not seen, the evidence is faith. I absolutely love them and I just want to help him realize there is so much to hope for and
have faith in! He is in a few bands and they both live on a little farm they
built. They make their own cheese and eat mostly organic, he plays guitar and
sings, so yes we get along quite well! He got baptized 10 years ago, but sadly
it seems he only did it for his wife. It's never too late to find faith
though!! So we challenged him to study the scriptures and come to church and
focus on things that he can hope are true, since he has a problem with soo many
basic principles of the gospel. Faith can start with the smallest of desires.
Thurs- We taught a 7 year old a discussion. We came up with
a really fun way of teaching it and afterward he said "Wow, I had no idea
learning about the gospel could be so fun!". I LOVE teaching people, not
lessons. Meaning, teaching to their understanding and using the inspiration we
receive for our lessons. It's amazing.
Saturday- We are teaching this one family and they are
good friends with several families in the ward. I tracted into them way back on
Thanksgiving and discovered all their friends quickly after. The mother
has 5 kids and they have such a great family! They are super strong Christians,
amazing family. They would make absolutely great Mormons! She is super
skeptical of Joseph Smith though. It's really hard to explain to her that there
is more we can add to her faith. She is having the hardest time with The
Restoration. It's taking us a lot of study time with the Bible, history, and
Joseph Smith. It's exhausting, and I wish I had more resources, but it will so
be worth it when it finally clicks with her!
Sunday- We taught an Indian man that we met a few weeks back while tracting. He even invited his
friend from work to come over as well. He has a Hindu backround, but seems very
open to Christianity. It's really strange starting from square 1, God. He
doesn't even know much of anything about the Bible, but he's really close to
the Spirit and I know he felt it as we taught him about God and Christ, our
Savior.
I am going to have the hardest
time leaving this area. This is my home right now. I practically know the whole
ward, which is quite a feat. I love everyone so much. I will need a lot of
prayers. Especially because of John and Shirlene, I know I'll be able to see
everyone else again, but I'm not sure how much longer those two are going to
last. Their health is declining quickly. I feel John isn't telling me something
about his health. It's heartbreaking thinking about leaving him. Especially
because I know he needs my love, he gets so lonely! I'm going to need all the
prayers y'all can muster. Luckily, I'm going to the temple on Wednesday, I'm
sure that will help a lot.
Now is my time to exercise my
faith and trust in the Lord.
Grace has really been on my mind this past week. I read a
talk by Brad Wilcox that was excellent. It's titled "His Grace is
Sufficient".
"Grace is not about filling gaps. It is about filling
us."
"Grace is not the finishing touch, it is the Finisher's
touch."
"Christ is not waiting at
the finish line once we have done 'all we can do'. He is with us every step of
the way"
I may not have all the answers
I'd like to have "but this much I do know, that the Lord God hath power to
do all things which are according to His word." Alma 7:8
"I know not by what
methods rare, But this I know, God answers prayer. I know that He has given His
word, which tells me prayer is always heard, And will be answered soon or late.
And so I pray and calmly wait. I know not if the blessing sought will come in
just the way I thought; But leave my prayers with Him alone, whose will is
wiser than my own, Assured that He will grant my quest, or send some answer far
more blest." Eliza Hickok
Love Always,
Sister Dalling
