May 13th, 2013
Hey family,
This is wired. I talked to you
yesterday about everything so this may be a little shorter letter. We moved
back into the house of the other two sisters. I was calling like 5 times to
talk to the owner of the other house we found but he never answered. Then early
this morning the ZL called and told us the assistance told him we didn’t need
another house. Well that got me a little scared. I don’t know what is going to
happen this Wednesday whether I will
have changes, if I will stay in a trio, or if I will get a new companion and
stay in the house with the other sisters. Everything is up in the air. It’s the
life of the mission but still crazy, hah.
Here is the letter I wrote to president this week.
Well
this week has been crazy I am not going to lie. I feel like the last three days
have felt like a week with all the changes, moving houses, and talking to
parents. But, the work is still progressing and I am looking forward to working
in this area. We have really high goals to help this area have a new chapel by
the end of the year and I am excited to get lost in the work and try to bring
these goals into reality.
I am realizing that all my mission I have had a hard time putting good ideas or good plans into action. I was reading in the Book of Mormon and I was reading in Moroni 7 and wow it’s a lot about faith and action. I am understanding myself and what I need to do to become and not just know and understand. Knowledge is good and helps increase our faith but it’s when we put that knowledge into action when our testimonies really increase and we begin to become what the Lord wants. I have always had a hard time acting. I don’t know why. I think for fear of failure but that is silly and I am working on putting more principles into action. This is a gospel of action. We must live what we know and when we do our power to help others do the same becomes much greater.
I am realizing that all my mission I have had a hard time putting good ideas or good plans into action. I was reading in the Book of Mormon and I was reading in Moroni 7 and wow it’s a lot about faith and action. I am understanding myself and what I need to do to become and not just know and understand. Knowledge is good and helps increase our faith but it’s when we put that knowledge into action when our testimonies really increase and we begin to become what the Lord wants. I have always had a hard time acting. I don’t know why. I think for fear of failure but that is silly and I am working on putting more principles into action. This is a gospel of action. We must live what we know and when we do our power to help others do the same becomes much greater.
(Commentary on
that thought I have been thinking a lot about how I am acting on the words of Christ.
How I am acting to put the gospel into my life more? I will ask you all the
same to act and to experiment. That is when growth comes and so if we want to
come closer to the Lord and get to know him like Maren said we must have the
faith to put in practice what we know to be true. I am thinking about what Maren’s
mission president wrote about the doctrine of Christ and how that creates
changes and how if we have these changes obedience is the outcome I love that. True
doctrine understood brings changes and we live it!!! I understand this with my
investigators more and more. I explain a principle and invite them to act. When
we come back and they didn’t complete what we left them.....what does that tell
you about how well they understood the doctrine. .....we need to go back and reteach
them that point because if not they will not understand and act on what they
know.)
I don’t know if that made any sense to be
honest but I hope so, amah.
This is a letter I wrote to Jake I thought it could help some of the younger
boys get ready for a mission. Jake asked
for advice of how to find new investigators and how to stay happy. Oh Jake, you
are already way ahead of where I was at your time in the mission. I read your letter and I realize I have to be
better. You are such an example to me. Pointers.....woo well like you, we are
in the process of finding investigators. Our plans ....1) talk to EVERYONE.....
I am horrible at this and I am working on it. It’s hard for me to just start up
a conversation on a whim but you could always do it ....use that talent and
have faith that God will lead you and your words. Don’t get discouraged if the first 2 days are
well horrible and no one wants to talk to you. Stay consistent and God will
place the people that are prepared in your path. I am realizing there are so many
people ready to hear the gospel in every part of the world. Many times God is
waiting for us to be ready in order to teach his children. Do everything you
can to be ready and show God that he can trust you with his children. Be obedient number
one key, fasting not a bad idea either. 2) We are planning on visiting
all the inactive and many members and give a really good lesson and then ask
for referrals. Have them pray, read, study and work to help you find people. They
are the power house of the ward. We need them to contact and then we come in
and teach. .....I don’t know if that will help but just something we are going
to be trying in the next few weeks. Jake I love you bud and am so stinken proud
of you. Don’t get discouraged. Faith I am learning is a decision and we make it
every morning when the alarm goes off. What are we thinking? Oh man, I want to
sleep or are we thinking sweet I can feel it a miracle is going to happen today.....I
am nowhere near the last part. I am working on it, but I realize that our
attitude reflects our desires and our faith.
Well I don’t have anything else today other than I love you
all. It was soooooo but soooo much fun to hear from you guys. It’s amazing what
memories come just from hearing voices. I told you all that I was thinking of
you and our family this Sunday in Soc soc.... They were talking about family relations
and I remembered a moment with our family that I will always remember. We were
all down in Circleville and all of Mom’s family was there and Grandpa and Grandma
gathered us all around and Grandpa talked to his posterity like King Benjamin
talked to his people, like Alma talked to his children or Helaman to his
children. I hold dear to me the words of my grandparents as much as I hold dear
to me the words of the prophets. I remember the spirit that was there and the
love I felt. My feelings were so great as I remembered this moment. I almost
started to cry. I remember Grandpa and Grandma always saying.....no empty seats
in heaven not one.... I hope they are reading cause this is my promise to them
that I will be there, no matter the cost, no matter the trials or problems. My faith is strong and I will be there with
all my family. They have left a great legacy, both sets of grandparents, and their
faith help me in the times when it’s hard to find my own. I love them for all they have sacrificed to
give me this opportunity to serve the Lord and grow in my testimony and help
others and really, truly, become converted to the Lord. It is incredible what
one good person can do in this life and the influence for good they can
have on thousands of people. Thank you Grandpa and Grandma on both sides,
Daltons and Hales. Thank you Mom and Dad. Thank you my brothers and sisters
your faith and trust in the Lord has helped me so much in my life. I love you
all so much and that love will last for eternity. Never forget it. And it’s all
possible through our Savoir Jesus Christ. I know he lives and loves each and
every one of us. His power to save, to heal, to comfort, to increase ability’s
is real. This gospel is true I have felt it I know it.
Love you,
Hermana Stephanie Hale
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