I honestly couldnt be more happy with the things that are happing with the family and Jess preparing for a mission. This morning i was reading a couple stories from my geneology about Mary Lambert and the Leavitt family and i felt such a connection with them and their heartful stories.... In one of them a man was working in the barnyard and his brother was horsing around, playing with gun powder and so grandpa Leavitt i think... picked up the powder as it exploded in his hands burning his whole body but he kept cleaning it so that the barn wouldnt catch fire with all the animals inside and his brother... Later as he was being treated after 35 skin implants and a blessing from the priesthood he was able to recover with a promise that the parts of his body that werent touching temple garments would be repaired completely without scars, and God completed this promise. In every part that wasnt touched by the temple was completely repaired because of the power and authority of God and because of his remarkable faith.
As i read this story this morning i couldnt help but think of the many changing moments of my personal life and that of my family. But i think the greatest changes that have happened are those spiritual ones. Many times we suffer trials trying to prepare for the spiritual blessings and we doubt in God and say "why me? why do i have these trials if im doing good?" and we cant see the need of sacrifice and trust in Him to continue strong with obedience and we loose sight of the important things that we have. However, if there is one thing i can testify of... its that He lives. That He loves us, and He like us is suffering while we are, He like us wants the spiritual blessings in our lives, and He like us is making sacrifices to obtain them.
I have learned more about faith through an investigator named Olivia. This woman has literally put everything on the altar of sacrifice to be baptised because she knows this church is true and that its the path that God wants for her. Her husband doesnt support her and has threatened to divorce her, kick her and her daughter out of the house, cut her work so she doesnt have money to help her family, and yet she continues with faith. Never in my life have i seen someone so prepared and willing to follow God like her. May we all be a little more like Olivia.
If you have read the 20th chapter of Matthew it talks about workers of the vineyard, and it says that many are called but only few are truely chosen. This made me think "which am i?" and if im one that is called then what will i do to be part of the chosen? The difference between the 2 is small but makes all the difference... and its the work that the chosen put forth that the called will say "its to hard, He asks to much of me" the chosen are those willing to say "how? what more? who?" Who needs me, what more do i lack and what more can i do and how will i do it. This concept is one i am learning now but i can testify that i am seeing the results.
This week in the church truely helped me to see the importances of hard work and faith in the Lord. My companion and i have been told many times from our leaders that we are crazy to put such high numbers with vacations coming up, they told us they didnt think we could do it... And we said WHY NOT!? BRING IT ON! and we went to work. We had member cancel appointments we had days were we knocked doors all day and contacted people in the street, but every time we entered a house we gave all we had so they could feel the spirit. In church we recieved the fruit of our labors....we had 6 or more investigators in the church, and our ward attendance went up from 66 to 98 poeple in one week.
I know without a doubt that when we are faithful and work dilligent God blesses us. Like my great grandpa sometimes we will get blown up with the trails of life, but if we have faith and trust in the blessing we have we will recieve the fruits of our labors. I love you all so much i am so proud of you Jessica i know you will be an incredible missionary of God.
With all my love
Kayla
As i read this story this morning i couldnt help but think of the many changing moments of my personal life and that of my family. But i think the greatest changes that have happened are those spiritual ones. Many times we suffer trials trying to prepare for the spiritual blessings and we doubt in God and say "why me? why do i have these trials if im doing good?" and we cant see the need of sacrifice and trust in Him to continue strong with obedience and we loose sight of the important things that we have. However, if there is one thing i can testify of... its that He lives. That He loves us, and He like us is suffering while we are, He like us wants the spiritual blessings in our lives, and He like us is making sacrifices to obtain them.
I have learned more about faith through an investigator named Olivia. This woman has literally put everything on the altar of sacrifice to be baptised because she knows this church is true and that its the path that God wants for her. Her husband doesnt support her and has threatened to divorce her, kick her and her daughter out of the house, cut her work so she doesnt have money to help her family, and yet she continues with faith. Never in my life have i seen someone so prepared and willing to follow God like her. May we all be a little more like Olivia.
If you have read the 20th chapter of Matthew it talks about workers of the vineyard, and it says that many are called but only few are truely chosen. This made me think "which am i?" and if im one that is called then what will i do to be part of the chosen? The difference between the 2 is small but makes all the difference... and its the work that the chosen put forth that the called will say "its to hard, He asks to much of me" the chosen are those willing to say "how? what more? who?" Who needs me, what more do i lack and what more can i do and how will i do it. This concept is one i am learning now but i can testify that i am seeing the results.
This week in the church truely helped me to see the importances of hard work and faith in the Lord. My companion and i have been told many times from our leaders that we are crazy to put such high numbers with vacations coming up, they told us they didnt think we could do it... And we said WHY NOT!? BRING IT ON! and we went to work. We had member cancel appointments we had days were we knocked doors all day and contacted people in the street, but every time we entered a house we gave all we had so they could feel the spirit. In church we recieved the fruit of our labors....we had 6 or more investigators in the church, and our ward attendance went up from 66 to 98 poeple in one week.
I know without a doubt that when we are faithful and work dilligent God blesses us. Like my great grandpa sometimes we will get blown up with the trails of life, but if we have faith and trust in the blessing we have we will recieve the fruits of our labors. I love you all so much i am so proud of you Jessica i know you will be an incredible missionary of God.
With all my love
Kayla