Week 19, Dec 15, 2015

'Ello 'ello 'ello!

I was feeling silly =)

So, I promised follow up on the Sister Training Leader (STL) thing so I'll do that but I will also explain a bit about transfers. As you know, I now have a new companion whose name is Hermana Pecjak. The first day was fairly difficult not because I didn't get along with Hna Pecjak but just because there are challenges that come with changes. For example, while she's nice and I think we get along, the dynamic is different than with Hna Lewis. Also, because she is new to my area, it's my responsibility to plan and show her around. It is difficult to plan by yourself because you could forget someone or something and it's nice to be able to bounce ideas off of someone else which you can't do by yourself. Just like any change, the little stresses of each day are what wipe you. Everything takes just an extra bit of energy which drains you a little bit faster.
The first day felt like we were just on exchanges (that's when 2 companionships exchange companions for 24 hours. For example, I would go to Ogden to be with Hna Pecjak while her companion, Hna Woodhouse, would come to Layton to be with my companion, Hna Lewis. (This being before the transfer)); I felt like the next day she would go back to Ogden and I would have Hna Lewis back. But that didn't happen, which I knew logically but I think my body still had a reaction to. Transfers are part of mission life, and they're good practices for similar stresses after a mission, so I'm tying to learn all I can now.
For example, I've learned that you do better as you pray for your companion. As you have an increase in love for your comoanion, it becomes easier to deal with the idiosyncrasies. Heavenly Father loves me, and He loves Hna Pecjak, and He put us together so I know that He'll help me come to love Hna Pecjak. I have already felt an increase of love for her.

I have also felt like I have more love now for the sisters in my mission. My mom and dad have said that when they have been called to leadership positions, they loved all in their care. At the time I wasn't sure if I believed them because they were over lots of people and I wondered how they could love each person. Now, I get it. The Lord has called me to serve the sisters in this mission. He wants them to be happy and to succeed and so He has given me a great blessing so as to do what He asked. He has blessed me to love each of these sisters even though I don't know all of them very well. I know each of them are daughters of Heavenly Father. They have each been called and set apart to serve in this mission. I love them; they are amazing.
I don't have as many worries any more. I still don't know 100% how to fulfill my calling but I know that the Lord is there guiding me. My companion and I have already started to have ideas on how to serve these women and I am super excited! I'm grateful the Lord helped me through the first few tough spots because now I feel ready to do this. I'll make mistakes, things won't go perfectly, but when in life hasn't that happened? This is going to be glorious and I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for me.

I know that the Lord directs this work; He is intimately involved in missionary work because these are His children. He gives His missionaries promptings so that we may help as many of them as possible and in the best way. I want to share one more experience with you. This past Friday night, we were visiting potentials in one trailer park. As we were leaving it, I had a name of someone pop into my head, "Laura". She lives in the trailer park across from where we were so instead of going to where we had planned to go, I went to Laura. It is difficult to find her at home and available, so I wasn't sure if we should go, but I did anyway.
When we knocked on her door, she answered it (this in of itself can be a miracle at times =) ). We went in and started talking; she was very tired but let us share a message with her. At the end of it, she said that we always come when she needs us, not when she calls. She has never called us before, but there have been nights when she had been praying to God, asking her Heavenly Father for help, when we knocked. The same had happened that Friday night.

Heavenly Father knows YOU and loves YOU beyond imagination. YOU are His child. He hears your prayers and He answers them.

After we left her, we went to the family we had planned to visit earlier. We had been in the house for about 5 minutes when another family came in. Apparently, this two families meet together often, but usually late at night. We were able to share a message with them and leave an invitation. We then asked if they knew any Spanish speakers in the area who are not members. The family we had come to see told us of one family, and the other family who was visiting told us of 3 others. We thanked them and then headed on our way.
Had we not stopped at Laura's house, we would've missed the second family and 3 referrals (a referral is when someone tells us about someone else who we could go visit and teach). The Lord was reaching out to us that night. He was showing us where to go when, even though we had made plans earlier.
If there is nothing else I could get permanently stuck in your hearts, it would be that the Lord loves you and that He talks to us through revelation, through the Holy Ghost. He will answer your prayers and help you because He loves you! I don't know what simpler truth I could share.

I love you all. I am so grateful for your support, in any way that you give it. I hope that you're all happy and having a great Christmas season! Be good and remember who you are!

Love,
Hermana Lindh