Warm Fuzzies

Writte 9/21/14

Dearest Children-

My companion is wonderful. Sister Reid and I have had a wonderful week, and I've spent the time asking Sister Reid every question in the book and gleaning from her long time wisdom from the mission. We've had a great week.

C. and N. were baptized on Saturday at a really special service. I love baptisms!! I've never seen N. so serious when he bore his testimony, describing his feelings like "he was in the kingdom of God." Looking out at the congregation as I was leading the song "Beautiful Zion Built Above" and seeing recent converts, investigators, and my beloved members of Manapla ward, I really felt like I was in my personal Zion. That's probably what the Celestial kingdom will be like, right? With all of my recent converts and I living next door to each other.

Sunday was the best Sunday I've ever had here. I couldn't help the tears as I watched our recent convert J. up at the sacrament table in his white shirt and tie bless the emblems of the sacrament. After everything we've watched these recent converts go through, it was a miraculous moment to see the physical result of the Atonement of Christ taking effect on that amazing young man. Almost all of our recent convert young men came to church, and I know they are being watched over by the Lord.

Another amazing part of Sunday was the 2 less active families we've been working really hard with finally came to church. Our young women president actually jumped for joy with tears in her eyes as they entered the church. It's wonderful to see the ward welcome them so warmly. The Spirit works wonders and really makes up for our weaknesses. It's the best to feel like you've been able to help others exercise agency for righteousness.

We found a new family this week we've started teaching and they are just golden. The spirit is so tangible in the lessons and the Dad is the most receptive, which I've normally found to be a rare case. It's a different feeling teaching individuals, and getting to teach families the blessings they can receive as a whole. This gospel is really for families.

Our funny moments from this week were getting absolutely SOAKED in the storm on Tuesday, finding a HUGE spider in Sister Reid's shoes, and Sister Reid explaining to me that, "God loves us. So he makes the Elders go bald and the Sisters fat so we don't want each other." Ahaha.

I got told this week by a less active that he has an allergy to all foods and gets rashes when he eats, but when he drinks gin it all goes away. Ahaha. Don't try that at home.

Other than that it was a wonderful week. I bet the re dedication of the Ogden temple was amazing, I loved hearing all the details from your letters. I was reminded this week how great the book of Daniel is. A favorite scripture from there:

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods."

Don't give into the adversary. He only has as much power as we give him. Think of 2 Nephi 25 and remember, when we see the Devil:
 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and shall consider thee,and shall say: Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms?

Our God is infinitely more powerful than he. I've seen it. I love the Lord, and I love being in His service. Have a wonderful week, tots.

Love,
Sister Luke

 

1. The Baptism