I
can't even believe everything that happened in just this one week... Starting
with hitting my 16 month mark!
I
had an interview this week with President Andersen, where he asked me what I've
become on my mission. I was a little lost for words. Certainly not all I hope
to be, but definitely at least more than I had known I could hope for. I've
been blessed with perspective, and a greater understanding of who I am.
I
gave a training in this transfers Zone Meeting based off of Elder D Todd
Christofferson's talk "A Sense of the Sacred". My purpose was to
remind the Elders and Sisters what they do in the name of Christ, how they wear
His name, and what we say under His name.
Think
of the greatest creation Heavenly Father has ever made. It's not the earth, or
the solar system, or any sort of Galaxy... It's YOU! Because you were created
after His manner in His likeness. You have the potential far beyond that of a
Milky Way. You have the potential of Gods.
It
was this week that I began to experiment with teaching this concept to
people.
While
walking to someones house, we ran across a guy washing his motorcycle outside.
He was shirtless, so I attempted to pretend I just didn't see him, but my
awesome companion didn't let the act go for long before she was in his driveway
talking to him. His name was Matt, a motorcyclist, a mathematician, and a
musician. Matt didn't believe in God, in fact, about the only thing he really
believed in was himself. He expressed his feelings that he didn't need any sort
of higher power to bring him happiness or success, he was doing it just fine on
his own. The thought occurred to me that Matt just didn't understand his
potential. All he saw was a few decades in front of him. I was looking at light
years.
A
few days later we went to dinner with a less active. I'm sure I mentioned him before.
I'll just call him Tony. Tony took us out to one of the nicest Japanese Steak
Houses in town. We had the whole fire show with the Filet Mignon and scallops
and shrimp being cooked in front of us. It was a lot of fun. Tony has tons of
money, and all the fine restaurants know him. While talking to him about his
goals, we learned that Tony really doesn't have any. He loves his daughter, but
that's about it. He spends his time drinking and partying and doing dangerous
things that bring him elation. He isn't sure really what he wants out of life,
in fact, he doesn't care. It concerns him. I remembered Matt the musician, and
identified that all Tony is really missing is an understanding of what it means
to be a child of God. A sense of the sacred. We helped Tony to offer his first
out loud prayer in probably 20 years, and he promised to pray everyday until
our next meeting. On Sunday, Tony came to church with his daughter. I know that
as soon as he understands his divine nature, he will become everything he never
realized he could become.
This
Sunday was the grand opening of our new building! It's so gorgeous! :) here are
the flyers we've been passing out.
Since
the stake boundary changes, our Ward has grown quite a bit. We have a lot more
area to cover and it's been fantastic! I am blown away by the softening hearts
here in Nolensville. We found 7 new investigators this week... That's like a
record high for this area! I think one thing that's helped is just the way I've
taken to talking with people. I've realized that no one cares what your
similarities are with them, they want to know what's different. And as soon as
they learn some new principle (be it the Book of Mormon, the spirit world, or
eternal families) we tie it back to the restoration and they are able to feel
the truth of it resonate within them. You see, we aren't planting anything
foreign, the things we teach have a familiar ring to them. They've heard this
before. And as we couple new information with testimony, the Holy Ghost is able
to bear witness to them of the validly of our teachings.
I've
learned that there is power in my words. For with them, I can create. I can
create negativity, I can create fear, I can create contention. I can also
create positivity, I can create love and light. And as a missionary, I do all
in the name of Christ. I have been given the authority to speak in His name and
have covenanted to take it upon me for 18 months.
60
Behold, I am Alpha and Omega, even Jesus Christ.
61
Wherefore, let all men beware how they take my name in their lips--
64
Remember that that which cometh from above is sacred, and must be spoken with
care, and by constraint of the Spirit...
(Doctrine
and Covenants 63)
When
we pray before and after lessons, we are opening and closing in his name.
Therefore, everything that is said in between is what we are telling others in
the name of Christ, as if he were here saying it.
My
exchange this week with Sister Dillon was a great reminder of this. She is only
2 weeks out and from Iowa. Cutest thing ever. We had lots of experiences
opening our mouths, and not opening our mouths, and together we learned a lot
about the importance of our calling.
We've
been teaching a few Muslims and Hindus, this is the Book of Mormon in Arabic!
Speaking
the words of Christ, reading the word of God, and praying are all powerful
recourses. We met a lady who said she felt uncomfortable praying out loud, so
she would actually just text God at the number 777-7777 for her
prayers....
Take
of that what you will.
The
other part of my training I forgot to mention is the part about how we wear the
name of Christ. I was assigned to talk about the dress and grooming standards
and call a lot of missionaries out. I was seriously dreading it... But God is
good and the spirit completely took over. The correction was taken very humbly
and the mood was light as I trained on what we as missionaries should and
should not be wearing.
I compared it to Gold. Gold is pure, it's smooth, it's beautiful, its malleable, it's the perfect conduit of electricity.
Similarly,
if we want to be conduits for the spirit than we need to be shiny like Gold.
How we look, if we're smooth pure and shiny, has a direct affect on how we
perform. We must dress our best not because we think we're important, but
because the message we bring it.
"Some say dress and hair don’t matter—it’s what’s inside that
counts. I believe that truly it is what’s inside a person that counts, but
that’s what worries me. Casual dress at holy places and events is a message
about what is inside a person. It may be pride or rebellion or something else,
but at a minimum it says, “I don’t get it. I don’t understand the difference
between the sacred and the profane... "
(A Sense of the Sacred)
This
message inspired the zone. This pday we went out to lunch with several of the
sisters and then went to Goodwill in Brentwood (the fancy area) to find modest
appropriate clothing to represent the Savior in. It was lots of fun and there
was a great spirit.
One
of my favorite talks is one Sister Rawlings shared with me last transfer. I
think it's called "Our Refined Heavenly Home". My favorite part says:
"Woman
ought to be praised for all the gifts they possess- including their attentiveness
to their personal appearance- that so unselfishly add to the richness of the
lives of others. We must not become so casual- even sloppy - in our appearance
that we distance ourselves from the beauty heaven has given us"
I
testify that we are of the race of Gods, children of the most high. And true
happiness comes when we understand that truth and let it shape us to be more
like Christ. (psalms 82:6)
Well,
it was a great week. Miracles happened, the weather was humid, and sister
Miller tried sushi for the first time :)
Make
it a great week!
Write to me!!
Tennessee Nashville Mission
1646 Sunset Road
Brentwood, TN 37027
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