Wow, What a week!
First things first. TRANSFERS! Um I don't think people understand
how much anxiety comes along with transfer week; you're just waiting for a phone
call that is going to determine your fate for the next six weeks....terrifying
to say the least! And of course our zone leaders decided to sit on our
voicemail until the end of the night on Tuesday, so we were kept impatiently
waiting.
We had just gone with an investigator and her daughter to
Independence Visitors' Center with Sister Furrow (a ward missionary) and had
decided to get some "celebratory" ice cream on the way home...because
there's always a reason for ice cream :)
Anyway we were all in the car when we got the voicemail.
They dragged it out as long as possible...but the car erupted in screams when
they said we were both staying!!! And it took us a few minutes to realize that
they said our ward was getting Elders as well. So when we got home we realized
that hey now we have to share the ward. Not okay with that. *Joking* I was
actually really excited, because this Ward is amazing and I think Elders are
really going to help the work pick up even more. So on Thursday we meet them. Elder Tippets has been out for over a year and
Elder Griffiths was straight off the plane...yeah that's right Elders Griffiths
and Tippets haha quite a mouthful. But they're awesome, as long as the ward
realizes who the "original" missionaries are ;)
Sis Olsen, Sweet Friend, Sister Williams
"Pure Joy"
Okay friends well God really has a sense of humor, as he
answered my prayers to not get super fat on my mission, by making it so we have
to share our car with the Elders and only have it every other week....um maybe
I shouldn't try and tell him my plans, because he always seems to have
different ones. ;)
Alright well now for the subject line...Well this week
was exactly that. A roller coaster of emotions, when President calls you, it's usually
something pretty serious. So when he asked if he could talk to me alone....a
million thoughts went through my head, and I was almost in tears before
anything came out of his mouth. My heart went out to my family as he told me
that one of my uncles had passed away. It was a testament to me of why I'm out
here in a mission. Because a lot of people don't know what we know about God's
plan. That plan mostly referred to as the plan of salvation, has taken on its
less common name in my missionary work, as the plan of happiness, because that
is what the gospel brings. HAPPINESS!
Uncle Jason
Right after that phone call I had the opportunity to go
and teach this 13 year old boy about the plan of salvation. I was able to truly
feel the spirit as I testified of this merciful plan, and couldn't help but smile
ear to ear when this young man decided to be baptized on November 21!
That tender mercy showed me how mindful God is of each of
his children, as that lesson was not only for him, but for me as well, as I was
comforted by the spirit and knew that what I was teaching was true. In this
life we probably won't ever understand why some things happen, but all we need
to do is hang onto what we do know, and continue to nourish that. All we need
is the basics, the things we're been taught since the very beginning. Studying,
praying and attending church. I don't know everything and in fact my testimony
is very simple. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and redeemer of the world,
that he lives, and through him and only him are we able to receive salvation. I
know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that it is central to returning home
again someday. We don't need to know everything in order to continue in faith.
There is a talk titled "the Candle of the Lord"
where it says something along the lines of "a testimony is often found in
the baring of it" and I can testify that, that is true.
So I challenge everyone this week to share what you
believe with someone else. The Lord is preparing people all around us, and his
work is hastening. What a great work we ALL get to be involved in! Love you
all, and thank you so much for all the prayers and support!
-Love Sister Williams-
Haha and if there are new rules about missionaries having
races on blow up
obstacle courses...blame it on me and Sister Olsen. And
while at the members
house who has the
squirrels s)...I may have gotten quite competitive on
this obstacle
course...and there's definitely a picture of the evidence.
Long story short if that rule pops up...you can blame it
on us. :)
Squirrels that a member family has as pets,
Sister Olsen
loved them....
Me, obviously not so much haha.
