Hi!
First
of all thank you for all your support today. Believe it or not (so far)
last Monday was harder than today. Thank you Mom and Tania for taking
care of the flowers. It means more than you will ever know.
This
week. O man... what happened this week. SO MUCH! The weeks fly by so
fast and yet when I get to the computer it feels so long ago.
Things
are getting better. Bit by bit, we were out trying to look up some
former's one night and were having no luck. Finally we decided to knock
on just one door and then head home. So we knocked... and this really
awesome lady came to the door. Her name is Cindy. We were able to talk
to her for a good 15 minutes and touch on topics ranging from the
restoration and prophets to the plan of salvation. The spirit was very
strong. We said a prayer with her and made a return appointment for
yesterday. Unfortunately she wasn't there when we went but I am inclined
to believe that she forgot and didn't do it intentionally.
We
also did a street sweep with our district this week. Basically we set
up a table and held up signs along one of our busy streets. We talked to
a lot of awesome people and gave out some Book of Mormons. No
investigators out of it yet but we planted a lot of seeds. If nothings
else we sure made a lot of people smile as we waved at them on their way
home from work. A few people even stopped by to take their picture with
the Elders. They had seen the musical on Broadway and thought it was so
cool to see 2 "real" Mormon missionaries.
Last
night we had a genealogy class for the Spanish in the branch just to
help them get started. (Dad, you work for familysearch right? good work!
I like the new look and interface) There is a lot more available online
than I thought. We only had one sister show up though... Mirna, man she
is our continual ray of light. She has changed so much since the first
time we talked to her and she came back to church and she is moving
forward without a glance backward. She was the one we went to the temple
with a few weeks ago. Even though we didn't find anything she said "Now
I have a place to start though, and I will find them." Wow. It was
really cool for me too because since our family history is mostly
completed back who knows how far, it was cool to see someone starting
from scratch. Family History always confused me because I never knew
where to start, I might have to pick up a new hobby when I get home.
We
stopped by to see Elizabeth this week, she hadn't been at church in a
while and even though we aren't teaching her anymore we wanted to make
sure she was okay. We stopped by and her and her two kids were playing
in the yard and her father in law was sitting enjoying the nice weather
(it cools off at night and actually becomes quite pleasant, during the
day the humidity is killer). We went to talk to her and the first thing
she said was "I am coming to church tomorrow!"
We laughed and just asked her how she'd been. She said her
Father-in-law had had a stroke and he just barely got out of the
hospital. We talked to her a little more and then I walked over to talk
to him. It was cool to talk to him. He's been a little confrontational
before but that night we just talked. I even asked him to tell me a
little more about what they believed and how he arranged Elizabeth's
marriage to his son. While I was talking to him my companions were
sitting on the front steps teaching Elizabeth. They told me later that
she said she wanted to come back because she was happier when she was at
church. *DING* *DING* *DING* *DING* Finally!!!! She hasn't hardly ever
told us that she has feelings. My companions were able to testify to her
that that was the Holy Ghost. She laughed because that is the one thing
she never understood, what it would feel like, how to recognize it.
They challenged her to pay attention to how she felt while she was there
and before and after. I don't know if we'll start teaching her again,
but we're just tending the seedling a little. Someday she will make it.
I've still never had anyone else read and understand as much as she
does.
Hmmm..
what else? We are going to the beach in a little bit, that is where
sister Chipman is meeting us. Not really sure what we're gonna do but I
am excited to go. My companions were really good yesterday, I haven't
been to vocal about all the emotion I feel everyday as I remember what
happened a year ago. Sister Peacock just kinda knew though. They started
asking questions yesterday while we were eating dinner and they just
let me talk. That is the best therapy out there. Just talk. Remember.
Tell someone how amazing he is, all the miracles we/I experienced. All
about it. It just helps to talk about it, about him.
More
than anything I keep feeling that I don't need to be sad. its so
similar to how I felt a year ago. I wanted to be sad (angry even), but I
was okay. I knew that everything was okay. I keep feeling that its
okay. Its time to be happy. Its time to move forward. Its okay to move
forward.
Whenever
I hear this song I think of David. We would blast the vocal point
version in his car as we drove around the city doing the most random
things. I've come to love the 2nd and last verses.
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me;
Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
There let the way appear steps unto heav'n;
All that Thou sendest me in mercy giv'n;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Then with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upwards I fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Family.
I need you to know, to really know that there is a plan. It was created
by our loving father in heaven because he knew the pain that this life
would bring. He knew the pain that I would feel, the sorrow, he knew,
and he prepared a way so that I wouldn't have to do it alone. I have
never been alone. He knew that I would feel this pain but he still sent
David to me to be the friend that I needed. He taught me so much, I
gained so much from his friendship, He knew that I would gain so much
more than I have lost. I haven't lost anything. I have gained an eternal
perspective, the knowledge that my Father in Heaven is in control, that
there is a life after this one and its much closer than we could ever
imagine. I learned that I am in charge of my mood and to choose to be
happier, it makes life so much easier. "Let yourself be happy" are the
words that have been echoing through my head all week. I am still
learning from him as I begin to understand more and more why he was the
way that he was. He could see the big picture. he knew that at the end
of the day the only thing that matters is the lives we touch. He touched
so many I am just so grateful that I got to be one of them. I know that
I will see him again and I can't wait to be swept up into that hug. I
have been so blessed.
As
I talked to my companions about it yesterday they said that I have been
through so much. It doesn't feel that way. There is a quote by one of
the apostles that says somthing like "moments are the molecules that
make up eternity." There are so many more moments than events in our
lives. This was just a collection of moments... a part of my story, and I
am grateful for those chapters.
I love you family!
-Sister Maren Hale
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