Dear Family!
Well another great week in Clinton and Meridian Mississippi. We
were able to go on exchanges this past week with the Meridian Sisters.
It was a great experience and It was great to get out of the area and
come back with a fresh view of missionary work.
This week we had some great missionary experiences. Some
tracting..some 'AI'ing..some while visiting with members. I know that I
am where the Lord needs me to be at this time.
We stopped and visited our investigator Saturday afternoon..His
daughter ( who is 7 was there) and she said she really wanted to go to
church on Sunday and he said they didn't need a call Sunday morning.
Well.. They did not come..this week. I just have such a good feeling
about this family and I know , if its not with us this transfer or next,
that they will join the church one day. We are meeting with him and his
wife this Tuesday afternoon. I am really excited! I just know that if
we teach with power and authority..by the spirit, they will give place
in there hearts for this the message of the restoration.
So exchanges this week.. They were great but short.. It was weird
because the Meridian sisters were getting a new car and so we had to
take an hour and a half to and from the mission office in Ridgeland both
days of the exchange. It worked out..just less time to find and teach.
Ended up restringing someones fiddle while we were on exchanges too..
good times. I learned so much serving with Sister Chai. She is one of
the only members of her family and she has such a strong testimony, you
can tell she knows well her purpose and lives it daily. I admire her.
One thing I am coming to learn is to be more consistent. Elder Bednar said "Consistency
is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our
individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own
homes." (more diligent and concerned at home, Oct 2009) The more we
visit with young families and ask how there scripture study has been or
how there family prayer has been. The kids never say oh we read 10
chapters the other night! or anything to that effect..it is always we
read or did not read..we prayed..or did not pray. It is not about the
how much..but how often. Consistency builds eternal habits, while the
opposite, inconsistency does little and does not produce, in the long
run, desired results. Elder Bednar is another talk said..
“In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. …Just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. ‘Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great’ (D&C 64:33).”
“In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. …Just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. ‘Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great’ (D&C 64:33).”
Repentance is a "step-by-step" process that must be taken one day at a time. Self Mastery.
http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2011/01/give-us-this-day-our-daily-bread?lang=eng ( Here is a talk i read this week that I really enjoyed.)
Also this week we had the opportunity to go into Jackson.. and you
know it was one of our most productive Jackson trips yet! ..yes we were
safe.. and yes we brought our pepper spray with us. While in Jackson we
had an appointment with some members of the ward to teach them the
restoration and invite them to give a copy of the Book of Mormon to a
non-member friend. It went really well. I love the spirit that is
present as the first vision is quoted. It is true. Joseph really did
see God the Father and Jesus Christ in that grove of trees that spring
day in 1820.
Following our teaching appointment we went to see a less active that we found a few months ago. She came to church last we and we are working on having her records moved into our ward from the ward she was baptized in in Arizona. We visited with her for a while, she said she was going to do everything she could to make it to church yesterday ( She did not make it.) The week before she had come but ended up leaving halfway through sacrament meeting because her kids were hungry..she said once they got home they didn't even want to eat. She was so sweet and said she knew it had to be Satan trying to get them away from church. Her kids beg her every week to take them to church. We have an appointment with her this coming Saturday and I know that she will start coming back to church soon.
Following our teaching appointment we went to see a less active that we found a few months ago. She came to church last we and we are working on having her records moved into our ward from the ward she was baptized in in Arizona. We visited with her for a while, she said she was going to do everything she could to make it to church yesterday ( She did not make it.) The week before she had come but ended up leaving halfway through sacrament meeting because her kids were hungry..she said once they got home they didn't even want to eat. She was so sweet and said she knew it had to be Satan trying to get them away from church. Her kids beg her every week to take them to church. We have an appointment with her this coming Saturday and I know that she will start coming back to church soon.
Our effort in Clinton this past week has been in large measure
focused on helping a couple families become active again. This is part
of what I was talking about with consistency. You can tell the
difference that daily consistent family scripture study and pray make in
there attitudes and in there home and the spirit that is there.
Clinton is great, life is great, things are great! I appreciate
y'alls support and prayers. Life is not easy but this work is so worth
it. I pray we do not let anything distract us or try to tear us away
from the work..and we can say as Nehemiah.." I am doing a great work, so
that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it,
and come down to you?" ( Nehhemiah 6:2-3)
This work is true and it will not be stopped! I love being a
missionary and hope that things are going well for yall. I pray they
do..
I love y'all and hope you have a great week!
Love,
Sister Urie
Tracting Tips: 4 cents found just this week! were getting rich!
Southernism: Carmel..is pronounced Caramel..with a long a ( i
guess you could say..) Instead of car mel..its car a mel.. Gotta love
the south :)
Scripture: Doctrine and covenants 4:3 " Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work."
Bring on another great week. :)
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