I'm a Patient Woman
January 28, 2013
Sister Soneghet is training back-to-back, I lately found out. Sister Cidade is, too. I wouldn’t mind doing that, but I need to “hike up my socks to my chin and get to work.” --Jeffrey R. Holland.
Sister Soneghet is training back-to-back, I lately found out. Sister Cidade is, too. I wouldn’t mind doing that, but I need to “hike up my socks to my chin and get to work.” --Jeffrey R. Holland.
We have had quite some rainfalls. Silvia, wife of José Batista, was supposed to send you the footage of a crazy storm rolling in. I’ll get on that. So, it’s either hot or rainy or hot and rainy or cold and overcast or hot and overcast or windy. Actually, I take that back. It’s usually always windy without exception. |
There come moments on the mission when you can feel Satan catching a ride on your back and just won’t let you go. That’s when you know you are on to something. Something big. The only problem is... our investigators aren’t seeing the rush or need to see us daily or even weekly, which is frustrating the constipation out of me. “All is well in Zion, yea Zion prospereth, all is well.” I’ve been teaching our investigators that their commitments are with God; and if they choose not to complete their commitments, they are choosing to serve Satan. Matthew 6:24. It’s a sad but true story. When we don’t do what we have been commanded to do (read scriptures, write in journal, family history, personal and family prayer, FHE), we leave the door wide open for Satan to deactivate our energy and hide doubts in the nooks and crannies of our testimonies. If Satan is trying to tempt ME as a missionary, imagine our investigators. Good heavens. I’m okay. I just need some miracles.
“Gooooooo faaaaasterrrrrrrr phone.” [Haha, inside joke.] If there’s one thing I’ve learned about myself, it’s that I’m a patient woman. Poor Sister Noteware [mission secretary] told me two weeks ago that my Christmas box has been sitting at the mission office for many weeks and that on Saturday (which is her p-day) she wanted to deliver it to us because she felt so guilty. It didn’t work out, which I was okay with because Saturdays are important get-your-investigators-and-less-actives-to-prep-for-Sunday days; and I wasn’t really willing to give up any minute for it… even for my Chacos. I taught a lesson to one of our new converts (when she permitted us to talk). She has had the worst time being integrated into the ward because she hasn’t been coming to church. She feels hurt because she feels like it’s the ward’s responsibility to offer rides for her and her family because they are poor, and she’s getting offended over the littlest things. She doesn’t realize just how |
much this is hindering her spiritual progress because she isn’t talking to hear solutions or to even explain how she can be alleviated and healed. We talked about testimonies and how we need to save the flecks of gold and let go of the rocks. I thought a lot about the fact that I loved collecting rocks when I was younger and how much space it takes up. Collecting “spiritual rocks” is good because you remember when and where you picked
it up, but the memory fades with time. What we need to be doing is finding our “flecks of gold” and keep a journal of them; so when the tough times come, our large spiritual collection won’t just weigh us down with memories. We can live off of the gold we picked up and saved.
I’m having a tough time because I have been finding beautiful rocks with gold flecks, but I don’t take the time to carefully pick the flecks out and save them. I know that if we write down our spiritual experiences, we will more easily be able to bear with patience our afflictions and pass through our challenges with more diligence and hope. I know that when we speak AND RECORD when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, it is scripture. D&C 68:4 Tender Mercies One of our ward members gave a talk the other Sunday that rocked. It had half the ward with eyes sweating. He said he had a tiny bit of time to prepare. It was on the family and parenthood. His daughter is 14 and, well, a teenager. We had a quick dinner with his wife the other night, and my heart broke for her and almost died of a heart attack because she was never rebellious and doesn’t know what to do with her daughter. GULP! I sure hope that’s not so with my future children because heaven knows that I sure wasn’t rebellious. He started his talk by talking about the hymn #189, which reminded me that I was thinking about how Roberto will receive an answer to his prayers. I thought it would be cool if he received an answer like our “Investigator” Trevor in the Provo MTC. I almost wished I had an answer like Trevor; and—what do you know it—God answered my prayer without me even really pleading. Hymn #189 is a special number of mine, has been for a while, but few know about it. God, however, knows everything. I am so grateful and unworthy for such tender mercies that remind me that God is there. He loves His children personally. He wants us SO MUCH to be like Him and return to live with Him again, but He opens no exceptions for anyone. We MUST follow the example of Jesus Christ: Follow His teachings (and HIS church) and repent of our sins. The Take-Home Please post the Mormon Message about a man selling all he had to strike it rich in gold mining in CA. It’s 3:15 minutes long. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEfg-Z-TOc8 |
“Being obedient isn’t convenient, but being worthy is worth it.”
Love,
Sister Nelson
Sister Nelson
P.S. Mom, sometimes I forget to reply to your email, haha. I reply in my mind, but I forgot that motherly telepathical abilities are limited when it’s only an email once a week. I have a letter I’ve been adding to and adding to and adding to and hasn’t quite made it to the mail.
Tell Davi I thought of her and wish I could send to her some of this Sister Missionary clothing that belonged to Sister Diller. Tell her I’ll miss her bunches. Tell Dalton that he was in my dream last night. Don’t remember what it was about.
Tell Davi I thought of her and wish I could send to her some of this Sister Missionary clothing that belonged to Sister Diller. Tell her I’ll miss her bunches. Tell Dalton that he was in my dream last night. Don’t remember what it was about.
Tell Aunt Mindy to get in touch with the Sister Diller. She planned pretty darn well and has lots of info about how the sightseeing was and what it costs for Cristo Redentor and Pão de Açúcar [Sugarloaf Mountain]. It changes, depending on the month, unfortunately; and March will be expensive because it’s just after Carnaval, etc. Actually, other than Copacabana and the other touristy things, Cabo Frio is the most tourist attractive place. I think I’ll stay here, but that’s what I thought about Jacarepaguá. I wanna train and get more sisters here. Not sure. |