I am going to try to write this big honking email first before I reply to personal emails to try to be more efficient...we will see how it goes. :)
My oh my. I can't even put into words the joy that I feel being a missionary. I love every second of it, even though a lot of those seconds are hard and painful and full of trial. That is the only way we grow though, right. One elder in my district told us about something his football coach always said and I love it. "If you're green you're growing. If you're ripe, you're rotten" This is so inspired! We all have things we can improve in ourselves and in our routines that will bring us closer to the Savior and help us to grow but if we think we are great and we don't work on those things, we digress and become disconnected. I truly have been humbled each and every day as a missionary but every time I am, I turn to my Savior and end up growing stronger and closer to Him every time. This work is guided by Jesus Christ. We are His servants who have been given a sacred opportunity to bring His word to His children. He needs them home, and I can't even wait to go and be His vessel in bringing this gospel to them.
This week was missionary heaven. On Sunday night during devotional, the counselor conducting the mission stood up and announced that instead of a speaker, we would be watching the Character of Christ by Bednar. I was so excited since we watched it last week and I loved it!! Afterwards, we stood up and I assumed we were singing the closing song. Nope! Elder Bednar himself walked in!! He just walked in!!!!!!!! All of us were so surprised and excited. He walked up to the pulpit and explained that him and his wife only do this surprise visit about twice a year and we were there when they came! Such a tender mercy. He proceeded to conduct a Q&A with us and every time he would answer, he would demonstrate how we should be responding to questions from our investigators. I was taught by the Holy Ghost as he talked and the Spirit testified to me that he truly is an apostle of the Lord, called to be a special witness of Christ and do His work among the children of men. I was probably in the top 5 of favorite MTC experiences for sure :)
Another amazing speaker came last night. His name is Don Clark and he is an emeritus general authority. He taught us all so many wonderful things about obedience, revelation, and diligence. Some highlights from his talk are that diligence is much more important than intelligence, happy always but content never, become answers to the countless prayers offered on your behalf, and this mission is about them not you. I wish I could tell you all of the things that struck me but I can't seem to type fast enough :(
We committed our investigator Jose to be baptized this week!! How awesome is that?? He was such a sweetheart and I was able to learn so much teaching him about charity and teaching by the Spirit. Our investigators this week have been hard to come by cause they keep being gone or forgetting about our lessons but we have faith that everything will work out :) Teaching is so amazing! I can honestly feel the Savior teaching these people through me if I am relying on the Holy Ghost and really studying the doctrine prior to the lesson. The Holy Ghost is able to call on that knowledge and help me say what they need to hear. I love it! This mission honestly has nothing to do with me. As long as I am doing my very best, being obedient to mission rules, and following the Spirit, I am just a vessel acting as a representative of Christ so that He can teach them through me. Such an amazing role we have :)
One last thing to leave you with. Bednar said this in his talk and his Q&A and it was also taught in class and it always struck me so it must be important. Charity is not something we do, it is something we become. As we let Christ's love flow through us to bless the lives of others, our hearts will change and our character will begin to emulate Christ's. Bednar said that we don't receive spiritual gifts when we want them for ourselves. God only gives us spiritual gifts when He trusts us to use them for the benefit of others instead of ourselves, just as Christ did. If we are submissive and yearning to come closer to Christ, that is when we can truly bless others.
I know that this church is true. I know that if we all strive to come closer to Christ, we will feel His hand reaching out to us to bring us just a little higher spiritually than we were before. I love this work and I love my Savior. Never in my life have I felt closer to Him then at this moment as a representative of Him. I know that He loves each and every one of you. Trust His grace and it will change your heart for the better.
Hurrah for Israel! Thank you for all your love and prayers. I love you all!
Love always,
Sister Dorian
1 Nephi 3:7-Favorite scripture of the week! Nephi is the best :)
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