Dear Family,
As I have been out knocking doors this Christmas Season I have been excited to share the message of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. But time and time again I am saddened to see what is happening to the world. Not many rejoice during this season of our dear Savior's birth. Instead they don't have TIME to talk of or reflect of Him who is our advocate with the Father. They are to busy buying this or getting that, or going to this party. Now I am not saying that these things aren't awesome and part of the season, but its not the point. This season is a time for all of us to remember our Savior's birth. "Christ is the reason for the season!" This year you all should read Luke 2. My favorite verse is Luke 2:19 "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." I love it because I just think how she must have felt. To know that her perfect child would suffer and die for all mankind, that He would be rejected, spit on, and crucified. But that night she was able to hold Him in her arms and He was all hers. Now I am no mother, but as I read that scripture I just imagine what it will be like. To be honest I kind of feel like a mom here. I sometimes think as my investigators as my little children. I laugh with them, I cry with them, I pray for them, I worry about them all the time!. And most of all I love them so much! Life is weird.
As you all know I work with Students here in Halifax and I love it! But at the moment its not the greatest time to be a missionary because everyone has gone home for Christmas so the work is pretty slow. It has been frustrating, but there needs be an opposition in all things. Lately I have just felt like a real piece of work. I don't feel that I am doing my best an that is what really hurts the most, to know that I could be doing so much more. So lets just say I have felt a little down. I am not trying to complain or say whoa is me, I just need to tell someone. So I have been really trying hard to put my trust in the Savior and be HUMBLE! This morning I was reading an conference talk called, The Transforming Power of Character and toward the end it said:
May I share four principles which have brought the deepest feelings of peace and happiness into my own life? The Lord has established these cornerstones in His eternal plan, and each one is essential. All work together in harmony and reinforce one another. When they are applied with diligence and consistency, they produce strength of character, increasing ability to convert the challenges of life into stepping-stones of happiness now and forever. They are:
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Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His program to acquire the power to achieve.
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Repentance to rectify the consequences of mistakes of omission or commission.
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Obedience to the commandments of the Lord to provide strength and direction in our lives.
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Selfless service to enrich the lives of others.
If you have determined to live righteously, don’t become discouraged. Life may seem difficult now, but hold on tightly to that iron rod of truth. You are making better progress than you realize. Your struggles are defining character, discipline, and confidence in the promises of your Father in Heaven and the Savior as you consistently obey Their commandments.
This morning as I read these words the spirit testified to me the truth of these four principles I knelt down a thanked my Heavenly Father for the simplicity of the gospel. Also to know no matter how imperfect I really am that my Heavenly Father will always be there beside me cheering me on. If you ever feel like this just remember like it says in D&C 112:10 "Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answers to thy prayers." Sorry that I am so full of scripture and stuff today its just the way I feel. The gospel makes me happy! Plus the weather today doesn't make me happy cause its wet and cold.
Last Wednesday we had an appointment fall through so we decided to go see Terry Evans one of our Recent converts who at the moment is less active. We had a really powerful lesson with him about Jesus Christ. The spirit was so strong and it was awesome. He bore his testimony to us and I know that it really lifted his spirits. I loved that night. We got a new investigators last night his name is Mark he is from Lebanon. He is really cool! He is looking for truth and I am excited to share more with him. to be honest family nothing really cool has happened lately sorry....but hopefully by Saturday I will be full of good stories.
Okay now the moment you have all been waiting for....Christmas day will you call me at 9 A.M. Utah time. And Jordan you thought you were going to sleep in on Christmas for once :) and again for the # ########## HAPPY DAYS!!! Hey guess what I will talk to you SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Sister crofts
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Sister,
ReplyDeleteYou do not know me Sister, and I just happened to stumble upon your entry while performing a google search. I was touched by your words.
Keep up the good work. It can be hard sometimes, but I can feel the sincerity with which you are working and testifying. The work in which you are engaged is the most important and powerful work on the face of the earth. It is true.
Forgive the unsolicited comment here from a perfect stranger who has been off his mission for nearly 20 years. I am glad I "randomly" stumbled across your comments. They made me nostalgic, filled me with testimony, and motivated me to want to prepare even more diligently for future missionary service with my spouse.
Thank You!