Hello Family!! I know you all heard about Super Typhoon Ruby that scared us all but ended up just being sprinkles and wind with serious overcast for like 3 days here. Many prayers have been answered!! So hope you all didn't worry your brains out. Glad that Thanksgiving was a success for all!!
This week was kind of weird because of the mission lock down- not being able to proselyte/go out of the house for more than 24 hours... I got caught up on my journal finally!! I think I wrote more nearly 50 pages no joke. haha Who do I think I am an author?? haha
The baptism that we were supposed to have on Sunday (yesterday) was canceled but I am excited to tell you all about next week! :)
I am waiting for my new companion right now... it's sometimes so nerve-racking to have transfers! We really weren't expecting it! Sister Rey only had about one hour to pack this morning. I learned a lot this last transfer and have really been stretched. But I know ever companion that I have is inspired and I am really applying the things that I have learned!!
Next week I will be telling you who my new companion is and the adjusting starts all over again :)
But transfers are good for a lot of things. They aren't easy! But it gives me the opportunity to reflect and ask myself "what kind of a missionary am I?" "what kind of a missionary and companion will my new companion see me as?" and I can reflect and virtually start all over again! Transfers should be about recommitting to be the best missionary that we can be. All change that we encounter in our life gives us this opportunity to continually strive to be better and progress in this path of conversion and discipleship!
I am now 1 year as a missionary! I am in my 3rd are and will receive my 7th companion today (9th including the MTC). I have a lot of goals for myself this remaining 6 months and am really looking forward to enjoying the rest of my time here in beautiful Negros :) I love being a missionary! I know you all know that but I can't say it enough.
So something that I am so grateful for is Home and Visiting Teaching! Do we realize how great of a blessing this is to serve one another and allow others to serve us. To make friends, and keep our covenant that we made at baptism to "bear one another's burdens that they may be light". We had an experience teaching a member this week that could really really benefit from having visiting teachers. She has struggled with her testimony since her husband suddenly passed away 2 years ago and she says that sometimes the greatest comfort that she receives to continue with the trials in her life is to sit down, and sing hymns to herself. She was so touched by our visit and for the opportunity to open up and let out the way she feels, the hard things she is experiencing and receive a little bit of encouragement to just continue in her faith! I know that this life sometimes feels more difficult than we feel that we can bear and that when tragedies or hard things happen to us we feel like it's the end of everything. But what we sometimes forget is this life is so short! These experiences that we are having are shaping our eternity and the decisions that we make (no matter how hard it seems at times) shape our eternal character and state of happiness in the life to come! Of course we want this eternal happiness with our families! A rest from all of our cares! How can we achieve that great blessing?! Through keeping our covenants and baptism and through making and keeping sacred covenants in the temple. The scriptures and prayer and church attendance guide us on this path to achieve that goal that we are all seeking. And we all have the responsibility to help each other on the way. Visiting Teaching and Home Teaching is such a great responsibility. Oh how Sister Besa could use Visiting Teachers.. this ward hasn't gotten that far yet but I know at home we all (you all) have that great blessing! Please don't take it for granted and for the meantime.. while I'm still here in Calumangan. I am determined to do all that I can to help them fulfill this responsibility that we all have to help each other and serve one another through Home and Visiting Teaching. The way that I felt and the experience that I had teaching and visiting Sister Besa gave me this determination and drive and I will so my best to get her (and the many many others in her situation) Visiting Teachers! :)
This work is more than baptisms. It reaches way further than full-time missionaries with black name-tags. It's about individual members with strong faith and the desire to build up God's kingdom here on the earth. One day we will rest from all our labors and will rejoice when we see on the other side all the people that we reached out to help and also all those people that reached out to help us. Service is the key to a happy life! :)
I love you all!! As in. I am so blessed to have the best family and friends in the world! Keep the faith and let's all find ways to serve others this week and in the weeks to come :)
Sister Judd
No comments:
Post a Comment