Tranferssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (week 7)

 

Holy canlolie! Tranfers are this week and I am literally freaking out. Can I just say that I ADORE my companions. We love each other so much it's kind of ridiculous haha. The thought of not serving with them this coming transfer is making me really sad. It's not for sure that the three of us won't be together, but because we are in a trio, it is highly unlikely. But I had a thought today that made me feel a little better about the whole thing. I have been so anxious to hear what's going to happen with transfers, we find out tomorrow by the way, that I've forgotten what the Lord has done for me in my life thus far. 

 

When I was in the MTC he gave me a zone/district that I was able to not only get along with, but truly grew to love by the time we went our separate ways. He also gave me not one, but two companions who are some of my favorite people in this world. Heavenly Father wants us to be happy in this life, and while that may not mean that things are going to be easy all of the time and he is going to give us everything that we want, that does mean that he will always be working on our side so that things will turn out for our good. Meaning: whatever happens tomorrow I am grateful that I was given companions that I was able to love so easily, and that I trust the Lord completely and I know that whatever he chooses will make me happy as well. Anyways, with that being said I am going to move on with my week. 

 

Literally, I think we have angels working with us out here in The Woodlands. This past week we have been able to accomplish ALL of our goals. That means we have been able to find at least one new investigator every. single. day. That is so crazy! Every time President Pingree sees us he tells us that we are an example of what missionaries should be. I wish you knew how much that means to me. Based on how discouraged I have felt at times during this transfer, hearing that our mission president is proud of us, feeling good about the work I am doing, and knowing that my Heavenly Father is proud of me makes me feel like I am on cloud nine. Ahhhhh missionary work is seriously the best thing in this whole world!

 

So a few little fun things that have been happening: last week.  Sister Sheldon's parents sent her a disney CD and we have been wearing it out! We seriously listen to it every single day. I know all of the words to every song haha. I feel like such a nerd sometimes. This morning at the gym, we made a music video to "Be a Man" from Mulan. Super goofy, but so funny. Also, while I was in the MTC, one of my Sister Training Leaders was from Taiwan and she taught me how to say "Hello my name is Sister Williams" and "thank you" in mandarin. I would go around saying it all the time. Since I've been out in the field, I have used that line so many times and it has helped us be able to soften the hearts of the Chinese people that we randomly tract into and make it so they allow us to share a message with them. The first time it happened I was so stoked! Now all I need to do is tract into an Albanian family, because I learned a few phrases in Albanian as well!

 

Lastly I would like to share a little something I learned this past week that I thought was cool. So there is this talk called the fourth missionary by.... someone that I can't remember the name of. You should all read it, because it is really good. Anyways, the basic jist of the talk is about missionaries that are committed to the work, and the results of that, and missionaries who aren't committed, and the results of that. But, one thing that he said really stuck out to me. To preface, sometimes when I think about it enough, I get really sad because I feel bad for Heavenly Father. I feel bad for the sorrow we cause Him when we are disobedient or don't live up to our potential, or even just because we are feeling sad and in turn that makes Him sad because He loves us. And because of this, I've tried to think of ways that I can repay Him and make His burden a little less. The conclusion that I would come to again and again though, is that there is nothing I can do that will repay Him for all that He has done for me. Anything that I "sacrifice", be it time, money, energy, whatever, all has its origin in Him and therefore I am not giving Him something that He didn't already give me first. It was super frusturating. But when I read this talk it made it clear that there was something that I could give Him that He never had to begin with. "In the end, your heart and your will is all that you have to give that the Lord does not already have. If you give your time, two years, and your strength, you give only that which He grants to you with each beat of your heart and each breath that you draw. If you dedicate your gifts and talents, you only return to Him what He already has given to you. If you pay tithing you only return to Him a tenth of what He has already given to you. Everything that you have to give to the Lord, has its origin in Him, except one thing: your will. He does not have your heart, nor your mind, unless you give them to Him. It is the only gift you have to offer that He does not already have. And so when you give yourself, you truly give everything to Him."  My will is the one thing that my Heavenly Father did not give to me, and  the one thing that he cannot take unless I give it to Him willingly. The interesting thing about this is, that even though  this means sacrificing everything I have, I am still receving everything in return. When the will of the Father and the will of the child are aligned, that is when we receive the most blessings, and experience the most joy. As we are obedient, and willingly so, He can bless us with blessings the "we have room not enough to receive". This is such a cool concept in my mind.

 

Anyways, I must go now because we are going bowling as a district. See ya soon!

 

-Sister Williams