Called to Serve

Hey y'all! I hope yall are doing well. This week has been a great one. Bonifay is a wonderful place, with even more wonderful people.

This week was busy. We had a farewell zone conference with President and Sister Smith, since they are going home this transfer. That was really fun. I am so grateful to them and for their service. I have learned so many things from them. They are prime examples of daily discipleship. As we strive to be disciples of Christ daily, our lives will be greatly blessed. President Smith gave us one last bit of instruction and advice. He told us that if we want to have lasting happiness in our lives, we must keep the commandments, and follow the prophet. I could not agree more. Doing both of those things will allow Heavenly Father to bless us more that we can comprehend.

After the Zone conference, Sister Richins and I had exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders. I headed out to Callaway with sister graham, and sister Richins when back to Bonifay with sister Kinghorn. We always have a purpose for the exchange. My purpose this time around, was to gain greater faith and trust in the Savior. I didn't gain it right off, but I learned over the exchange and the remainder of the week how we can gain greater faith and trust in the savior. That is through prayer.

There have been times on my mission where I have felt completely alone. I have had absolutely no one to talk to. Yes, I have companions, and mission leaders, but that is completely different than being able to talk to a parent, sibling, or close friend. So in these times of great desperation, loneliness, and fear, I have been able to experience what true, sincere prayer is. Having a moment to speak with our Father in Heaven, is the greatest thing we could ever do. It is something I definitely take for granted. I find myself saying rote, and insincere prayers. It becomes a habit, rather than an opportunity. "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings." (Bible Dictionary) It is through sincere, devoted prayer that we are blessed. How wonderful it is to know that we can commune with our creator, even our Father in Heaven.

This week we were able to teach our investigator, Robert, the plan of salvation. We talked about how God's entire plan is centered on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This plan is a plan of perfection. One that makes it possible to be linked to our families throughout all eternity. When I teach the plan of salvation, or study it, I am overwhelmed with gratitude to our Heavenly Father for creating such a beautiful plan. All he wants for us is to be happy. How happy we will be when we are able to have immortality and eternal life with our Heavenly Father , and Savior. Heavenly Father expects us to do our best in keeping the commandments, and preparing ourselves to live with him again someday. But it is only possible through the Son of God.

Something my mission has taught me is that my best is not the best if I don't have the lord. So therefore, I cant do anything without the lords help. That goes for all of us. We all need the strengthening and enabling power of the atonement in our daily lives. Without it, life would seem hopeless, we would be helpless, and everyone would be lost.

But I know that we don't have to be lost. Christ has his arms outstretched towards us. All we have to do is come unto him. He will strengthen us, help us, and cause us to stand, for we can be held up by his omnipotent hand.

My testimony is simple. I know that Christ lives. I know that he loves us. I know he knows our trials, for he suffered them before we have. We don't have to care for the scars of sin, because the atonement of Christ bears no scars. It is infinite. What a wonderful thing it is to know that we have a savior who has taken upon himself the sicknesses and the pains of the world. He suffered willingly and did so one by one, person by person. Our faith and trust in Jesus Christ can be strengthened as we lean of him, listen to his words, and walk in his ways.

As a missionary, I have had the opportunity to see people change their lives as they have come unto Christ. Its amazing to see the light within them grow brighter and brighter. Sunday we had seven of the people we are working with attend church. My heart was so full. I saw one of them pay her tithing. The joy I felt was so great. I have loved seeing the people in Bonifay change and become changed through Christ. It is truly amazing.

I hope yall have a great week! Know that yall are in my thoughts and prayers. :)

Have a blessed week!

Sister Wood

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