week 64

Two Sundays ago we received a call from our Bishop. He expressed his concern as there are five priests graduating from high school this year and not one of them currently has plans to serve a mission within the next year. He had been praying about it and told us that he needed our help. For the next 6 to 10 to however many weeks it will take, he wants us teaching priests quorum every Sunday. The biggest worry is that none of these boys have testimonies for themselves. We are to teach them like they are investigators and help each one of these boys figure it out. 

Yesterday was the first time we taught them. There is a couple that sneak out each week, so we grabbed as many as we could and took them in Bishop's office. 10 boys in total, plus Bishop and the Young Men's President. 

They were dead. Literally, half way through the lesson I made them all stand up and jump up and down. They had no energy and really not much of an interest in what we had to say. We straight up told them from the beginning that they would be stuck with us until we get through it all, and if there is no participation, then we would be in there for the next year with them.

Of the 10, we got two of them to open up a little. They didn't give the Sunday School answers that get you by, but real questions and answers that they are clearly trying to figure out. Two out of ten. We'll take it.

Nearing the end of the lesson, I had a thought hit me, that I have had come to mind MANY times on my mission. So I shared it with these priests and I feel like it sums up what we want each one of these boys to do, what each of us need to do! It went a little like this:

Think of Joseph Smith. He was 14 years old. At 14 years old, he didn't know what in the world to do. His parents were trying to lead him one way, and everyone around him was trying to convince him to join with them, but he had no idea what to believe. He wasn't going to take anyone's word for it, and we don't want you to take anyone's word for the church, either. So Joseph prayed and asked. He posed a question to God. Think about it. This ENTIRE church is based off a question. If Joseph had not asked, you and I and everyone else in this church building would not be sitting here today. But the fact of the matter is that he did, and we are here today, but that doesn't mean you have to take everyone else's word for it. We want you to do the exact same thing that Joseph Smith did, ask a question and figure it out for yourself. If you really want to know, God WILL give you an answer. 

We then had each one of them text us how often they were going to read from the Book of Mormon every week, while we are teaching them. We let them pick whatever amount of time they wanted, but they were told that they HAVE to keep their commitment and we will be following up with each of them. Their answers ranged from, attempt to read a verse a week to 10 minutes a day. We'll take anything we can get. 

For the next 6 to 10 to however many weeks I still have, I'm going to send a little update each week as to what happens with these priests. One of my favorite things that I do when I teach investigators, I try and picture them in white in the temple. It helps give me a greater perspective on the end goal we have in mind. Yesterday, I imagined all these young men in white, a little more lively, and with THEIR OWN testimonies of the truthfulness of this gospel. Dad- I'm beginning to see what you're trying to do with all the young men at home. You can't force anyone, you can only invite and encourage them to ask the question for themself. I'm excited for what the upcoming Sundays have in store! Now we have to pray that we didn't scare them all, and that they will still come back next week.... 

Love you all

Sister Mal

week 63

this letter will be in three and a half pieces:

transfers: STAY, both Sister Huber and I, we figured that would happen. We have a ward to build and an area to crush. We are pumped for another 6 weeks here.

testimony request: family, I am requesting that each of you send me a little letter of your testimony on one of the commandments. What I was studying in Preach My Gospel this morning told me to ask my family for testimonies, so here we are. If anyone else wants to join in- feel free. I want to know how you have been blessed for living a specific commandment (ie: tithing, word of wisdom, scripture study, the 10 commandments, pick a commandment, any commandment works) thanks :)

the holy ghost: Madison told me a couple weeks ago that when I listen to General Conference I have to mentally think, "How does this apply to me, come August?" Let me just tell you. It was a struggle to do so, which I guess is a good sign. But this is basically what I learned: I received the gift of the Holy Ghost when I was 8 years old. I had it before I came on a mission. As I have been on my mission, I have gained a whole new appreciation and understanding for it. I have learned how the Holy Ghost works in my life and I have learned the blessings that come from really listening to the promptings I receive. I know where to go for comfort and I know when I am being warned. I know how the spirit speaks to me. But do you know what's so great? I don't have to leave it behind in Florida. I get to take it with me, wherever I go, as long as I do my part. And that's the best thing ever.

As a missionary, you try and help others have this same gift. I think the longer I serve the greater desire I have to make sure others have this guidance in their life as well. When we were teaching Priscilla and Mariah this last week, we went over the baptismal interview questions with them. I was absolutely amazed with their answers and the testimonies they have gained as we have worked with them. It's been incredible to see how their lives have been influenced by the power of the Holy Ghost and after hearing what they know to be true - I can only imagine what the gift of the Holy Ghost will do for them. We are praying that their mom will allow them to make this step! Receiving the Holy Ghost is literally the greatest gift you could ever receive. 

If you didn't watch General Conference- go watch it. The end.

Love you!

Sister Mal

week 62

I feel like every week I have no idea to say, but this week especially, I seem to be drawing a blank.

To start: Sister Huber was sick from Thursday to Sunday. So we were inside a lot. Let's just say there was a lot of cleaning and a lot of reading Jesus the Christ. I love that book! I learned a lot and I especially learned, that I am NOT an inside body. 

We spoke in church on Easter Sunday, which actually went super well. I talked about the atonement and the story of Easter. I can't even explain how much I learned this week. Every single day I was saying to Sister Huber, "Did you know this........?" I have been amazed as to how little I knew regarding those three days in the Savior's life.

One of the days while I was cleaning, I relistened to the most recent Face to Face event for YSAs. If you haven't seen it, you should go watch it! But there is a quote from Sister Carole M. Stephens that says, "Study the life of the Savior long enough to love Him". As I listened to this devotional again, it struck me, as all week long I had been seriously studying the last moments of his life. I was able to recognize that my own testimony of the resurrection has grown and of the reality of His life. I'm not sure if there will ever come a time where I love the Savior "enough" to stop studying his teachings and his life. There is so much to be learned.

While we were sitting on the stand yesterday, two of our investigators, who are sisters, ran up to us to give us Easter cards. I don't think I have talked about them very much. Their names are Priscilla and Mariah and they are super good friends with some girls in the ward. They have come to church and activities for over a year. They attended a baptism last Sunday and at our lesson this last week Priscilla said, "I just want to be baptized already!" Their mom wants them to be able to fully understand and know for themselves before they make the decision. We are hoping that she will give consent sooner, rather then later. They are amazing little girls. I'll send pictures next week.

Anyways- back to these easter cards. They were literally the sweetest things I have ever received. It was basically them bearing their testimony to us about how grateful they were that we have been able to help them learn about God and prophets and the Book of Mormon. One of them talked about how grateful she is that we taught her how to repent and helped her to truly be able to feel of God's love. Sister Huber and I both teared up. It was the perfect little card to get on Easter and helped me to better understand MY purpose as a missionary. Christ lived and died and was resurrected for each one of us, but unless we know how to access the atonement, we aren't taking full advantage of it. The restored gospel is people's access to the atonement. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. I am especially looking forward to conference next weekend and I hope you are too!

Love 

Sister Mal

p.s. sending extra prayers to mom this week! LOVE YOU!

week 61

I held a gator and I ate a gator this week. I feel like I have officially truly experienced Florida now!

Now on a completely unrelated note... here's my little spiritual insight for the week that is going to be all over the place.

It's March. A year ago, I had the privilege of going to the temple, just 5 weeks into my misison. Most missionaries at the time, didn't get to go until their last transfer. I felt like the luckiest lucky duck around. Well, they've changed things around and now missionaries go at their half way point, but you only get to go once, and since I went at 5 weeks, I don't get to go until I'm back home. 

Over the past couple weeks I have REALLY wished that I could just go to the temple. It's been a full year since I got to feel the peace that comes upon walking in those doors. So I've been praying lately that either a miracle could happen and President would let me go again :) OR I would find that peace in another way.

As a missionary, you feel the spirit, A LOT. It comes in a lot of different forms and manifests itself at different times of the day all day long. It's wonderful, but honestly in the past year I have not had the joy of feeling the spirit through that overwhelming peace that normally comes with a temple. We were in a woman's home this week and we shared the new easter video with her. I can't even tell you how many times I've watched that video this past week. We have been sharing with members, investigators and people on the street- anyone and everyone.

But something was different this time. We sat in her family room and the spirit came in SO strong. I literally looked around the room, because for a second I thought I was in the temple. The peace that I have been searching for, for the last year, came. It came at the most unexpected time and not in the way that I thought it would. From that moment on, every time we have shared the video since then, I feel that same sense of peace come over me. 

If you haven't seen it, you need to go watch it right now! (www.mormon.org/easter). I feel like one of the biggest reasons that I feel the spirit so strongly through this little 2 minute clip is because it reminds me of where my testimony all began. I just read Log's blog letter and it made me think of when I gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon. 

When I was 14, I read this scripture. Alma 24:14, "And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as well as unto future generations. Oh, how merciful is our God!"

I have NEVER felt greater peace in my life then when I read that scripture. I think it was in that moment that I knew this book had to be from God. God loves every single one of us and didn't want to leave us alone, so he gave us the Plan of Happiness. He helped us to see that this life really isn't the end but there is just so much more to come. This is truly only a blink of an eye. He will never leave us comfortless. I love this Easter season because it helps me to remember where my testimony all began and it reminds me that what brings me the most joy is knowing that we can be with our loved ones forever. It's not too good to be true. It's true, and I know it with all my heart. I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!

love you

sister mal

p.s. prayers for mariah and priscilla- that their mom will let them be baptized! 

week 60

So two little miracles for this week: notice they are not coincidences. These are miracles straight from the Lord. There are no such things as coincidences, God doesn't work like that!

Miracle #1: Sister Huber and I were out working in a neighborhood and decided to go and contact some of the formers that neither of us have ever even heard of before. We found this one lady in the area that was a Headquarter referral (meaning she requested something from mormon.org), but she had never been contacted. It was from back in 2010 and we had no clue what she requested.

We knock on her door and she tells us that she requested a Book of Mormon 6 years ago and it never came!! We aren't sure what happened, but she was super curious about it and has wanted to know for the last six years, more about the church. She's also super big into family history and was amazed when we told her about everything the church has access to. It was a little miracle straight from heaven. We are going to meet with her next week.

Miracle #2:Back in October, they took the missionaries out of the area that we now cover. We were given instructions to cover any solid work that the elders left behind. They told us of a Samoan man named Peter who had a date set for baptism, but moved to Alaska a week before his baptism. Well the week the elders moved, Peter moved back to Florida. We tried getting in contact with him, but had no address and no such luck. It was sad, but we prayed that missionaries would find him one day. 

Flashforward to last night: We were in a neighborhood knocking on doors around a less active and about three doors down, this woman answers the door and starts talking to us all about the church. Turns out her dad was a bishop in Samoa and she was raised in the church. Since she was married, her husband often reminds her that she "is no longer mormon" but she loves the church and still has faith. It was really sad. We continued talking with her and she told us that the elders use to come by all the time. We were confused because we had no record of any members living at this house.  We keep talking to her and she tells us that her cousin use to meet with the elders. We ask for her cousins name and she says, "Peter". I felt like everything flashed before my eyes. We compared notes and turns out it was the same Peter. You better believe we're going back this week to get him back on board. We aren't sure what happened, but we're going to find out. And hopefully get the husband of the Samoan lady as well :)

Don't let a miracle pass you by and just think it was a coincidence. God is working wonders in each of our lives, make sure you thank Him for all that He is doing for you. 

Love you!

Sister Mal

week 59

Well family. Things changed... A LOT this week. I am blaming Dad because he told me that I needed to be transferred. Well dad, your wish was granted (kind of).

Sister Huber and I were on an exchange out in Clearwater on Tuesday this week when we got a call from the assistants. We are now companions. I am sad to leave Sister Felt, but the whole situation is better for all involved. She's off to great things and I am so proud of her.

But wait, the excitement doesn't stop there! We've known for weeks, but on Sunday our ward officially split. I really can't even begin to explain the roller coaster of emotions that I have felt over the last week. Sister Huber and I have officially been "transferred" to the Land O Lakes ward, a brand new ward that is completely starting from scratch. The only people that have callings are the bishopric. We have a meeting with the bishop tonight, and I am actually really excited about it.

Monday marked 10 months since I have been in the Tampa 2nd ward. It's one ward, but there are kind of two sides to the ward because of how it is geographically laid out. For the last 10 months I have lived in Wesley Chapel and that place has literally become home. Anytime we leave area, I always feel a sense of relief when we get off the freeway and drive back to our little apartment. I am so sad to leave that area, the people, the members, and everything else that is so wonderful over there. I feel very blessed to be keeping a portion of the ward the same, but I don't think I'll ever be able to fully describe how much I love that ward. 

A lot of things have changed since I got here 10 months ago and I think a little bit of my heart will always be there. I can't decide if this is better than or worse than an actual transfer. This is honestly the first time I've actually thought about it. This ward is home. I will miss it so much.

For happy things-- we are pumped to start working in the Land O Lakes ward. The Bishop and his family are incredible and we are expecting big things to come over the next couple weeks. The Lord has a plan, like always, and I know it's time for a bit of a change. 

This quote has been the back screen on my ipad for the last week and I am really believing that it's true. It's from President Gordon B. Hinckley,  "Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people... Stand higher, lift those with feeble kneeds, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Sending love from the land with lots of lakes,

Sister Mal

P.S. A ward member told us that Land O Lakes is the nudest capital of the world. Cheers!

P.P.S. My new address is 23410 White Magnolia Place #104 Lutz, FL 33549

week 59 my pillow is my only constant in my life

the subject line basically sums this transfer up completely. I have no idea who my companion is or where my area is anymore. Insanity at it's finest.

Here's my story for the week, but lets start with the moral: Sister Training Leaders need Sister Training Leaders.

At MLC this week Sister Huber and I were approached by another set of sisters about having us do an exchange with them. President told us after the meeting that it would probably be a good idea if we did so since they are both newer to the mission. Luckily, we are always packed up ready to go because we basically live out of our car from Tuesday to Saturday. Have no fear! 

It was actually pretty crazy because we were planning on an exchange with some of our other sisters but it didn't feel right. The second we decided to go down, I felt like it was EXACTLY what we needed to do. We got down there late in the afternoon and answered some questions about being an STL, before we split and headed out to work.

When I got in the car with this sister, I had the DISTINCT impression to "listen to her". So I did. As we drove to the area we were going to be working in, I had another thought come to mind to forget the plans that we had for the night and help this sister. She expressed to me a lot of things that she had been faced with lately and just how much she had been bottling up.

It was a humbling experience as I talked with her. Every time I tried to think logically, I failed in trying to help her. Whenever it was Sister Sackley talking, we ended up running around in circles. But when I listened to the spirit, everything became very clear. What it came down to was she felt worthless, absolutely worthless and wanted to go home. In fact, she had been wanting to go home for a couple months.

Once again, another impression came to have her pray and seek her potential from the Lord. At this point we had ended up in Burger King parking lot. So I told her that she was going to stay in the car and pray and write down EVERYTHING that came to mind. The spirit was thick in the car and I knew this is what the Lord needed her to do. She looked at me and said, "Would if he doesn't answer?" For a second I doubted. I had the thought come, "Well would if he doesn't? Then what?"

Almost immediately the spirit overwhelmed me I knew that the Lord wouldn't have been prompting me if he wasn't going to answer her. I reassured her and told her that I had received multiple promptings to have her do this. It seemed to up her faith a bit. I stepped outside of the car and sat on the curb for a good 40 minutes.

When I got back in she said, "I've received multiple blessings on my mission, but as I just prayed, I felt that He was talking to me more than He ever has before". Tears came to my eyes, as I knew this sisters prayers had been answered. As we drove home that night she said, "I'm not the same person I was when I got into this car tonight". I was so touched. 

Sometimes I dream of being a normal missionary again, where I am in my area 7 days a week. But I am finding the joy in these incredibly unique experiences that I am having with these sisters. I love the sisters I get to work with. It's still the Lord's work, just a little different than normal. 

Love you!

Sister Mal

Marlitza