Ventura is great!!! I am training Sis Draney. So think WATER. Snow. Draney.
She is from bountiful Utah and turned 19 in October. This is her first area. So I am almost 5 years older. BUT I learn from her every day. She is sooooooo prepared to be out here is blows my mind. Except for the fact that the Lord said he is hastening his work. She knows the scriptures so well, she is willing to go and do. She is a wonderful missionary. and she likes to give shoulder rubs, so I’m not complaining ;)
Cold. ok not as cold as Utah- but I AM cold. We go to a care center to meet with an elderly lady named Jessie. she wants to get baptized, has almost had all the lessons but needs to come to church, which logistically is a challenge. But you're talking to the girl who at 8 years old called and invited all her recitatives to her baptism and had a chart to say if I reached them ,left a message, got confirmation they could come, while giving date, time and place info etc. So.... IT WILL HAPPEN. please pray for Jessie that she can come to church.
We also started talking with her friend at the care center named Caroline. She is quite the character. She just has this sly look like she's played a practical joke and knows something you don’t. Though she is totally harmless. We went to see Jessie who wasn’t in her room, so we went to the dining room to catch her there. Instead we ran into Caroline. She told us she isn't happy and, "You know what? I've been thinking about this for a while now, and today I'm going to commit suicide." We told her no!!! that god loves her, she's not alone, "I feel alone, he's left me alone." " No he hasn't, we're here! we came to see Jessie and she was gone so we came in here and god led us to you." we started talking about the book of mormon, and at first she was hesitant saying she probably wouldn't read it. We kept talking to her. Sis Draney was very personable and sweet and told her she loves her smile, that she lights up a room, and Caroline really does. She pulled out a pack or note-card sized pictures from her purse, all of Christ and told her to pick one out. We told her she can turn to the book of mormon and pray when she feels sad or lonely. she asked us to take her home. We we're confused until we realized she meant wheel her to her room. As we went she was saying hi to all the workers and nurses. One man stopped to talk to her and she said, "I'm going to study the Book of Mormon with these two girls!" We are going back Wednesday. :) I feel sad at the care center and happy at the same time. there is so much suffering, but so much love. I wish all of them knew the plan that their father in heaven has for them. Two elderly ladies will have to do for now :)
We talked to a mom on a balcony, a grandma in front of her house, a mom and son getting home from school. a man walking his dog, a lady in Michael, a man at the gas station. so many experiences and interactions can happen. Each time I feel joy for having opened my mouth. But one declaration to a brother or sister doesn’t excuse me from my responsibility to open my mouth again. It doesn’t matter so much where we've been but where we are willing to go. If we are willing to GO to the celestial kingdom, we will get there. It’s only the stubborn and proudful that damn themselves. the first door Sis Draney knocked in here entire mission was the meanest person I've ever talked to IN MY LIFE. He lived in a nice house, was about 55 and had a button up shirt with slacks on. He said, "Oh you girls come to the wrong house. I will grab that (pointing to sister Draney's new scriptures) and tear it in half, by the time I get done with you, you will both run away crying." "ok," I said cheerfully, "You have an accent, where are you from?" "No, no. undermined that." and the door closes. wow. normally it probably would have bothered me but I had to keep face for my companion. I told her "that that's the worst it can get, everything else will be smooth sailing." And put my arm around her. later she said she just felt sad for him. HE didn't make her sad, but here he was yelling at us and we loved him. she loved him, and she was sad he was not going to open his heart to listen. It’s amazing how rude some people are.
On the flip side there is much good too. and it’s contagious/addictive. Charity is amazing. I was it to be the driving force behind all my actions. It may be selfish but it makes life easier. It's SOOOOO much easier when you don't think of myself, and I'm starting to realize how often my actions were driven purely by self-interest. But, we have the atonement. and it has incredible power to change us. to transform us, and to make us who we are SUPPOSE TO BE
ALMA 5: 38
"Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not harken unto the voice of the good Sheppard, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good Sheppard."
Alma continues, "I know Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the son the only begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name."
May we all give our hearts back to god this Christmas season, and always have our thoughts directed to our savior and Lord, Jesus Christ the anointed one to save man-kind. I testify that his church is once again on the earth. that he directs a living prophet. That by his power and through his servants the book of mormon was written, translated and published. I know because I have asked god and I have exercised faith. He has answered me with confirmation by his holy spirit. I KNOW that we can return to live with him as we follow his gospel which includes and necessitates baptism. Read the book of mormon with a sincere heart, follow Christ and he will reward you with his peace, his love and assurance that you are a beloved child of god with measure beyond price.
This I say in the name of the only begotten, our guide to heaven , even , Jesus Christ
Amen.
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