Called to Serve

Hey Y'all!

Sure hope yall had a great week! Mine was very great! Loaded with lows, highs, funnies, and tons of tender mercies. Its been pretty dag-gone awesome! It has been pretty stormy here lately. It was super hot at the beginning of the week, then it just started to storm. Apparently, we have a tropical storm headed our way today. So that will be all sorts of fun. Missionaries know nothing about the weather because we can't watch the news lol. Any who, all is well here in Bonifay.

I have decided to switch up my weekly emails for the time being. Hope yall enjoy :)

Low: Every night, Sister Richins and I talk about our High and Low of the day. I always like to start off with the low, because then you can end on a positive note :) My low for the week is that we have not been able to get in contact with Tina. We were told by one of her neighbors that she is just using the church to get financial assistance. So that just made me sad to hear that people have full intention of doing that. It also made me sad that people are just so open to air out someone else's dirty laundry. Oh small towns... gotta love them. Also, none of our investigators came to church. Sometimes I just wish I could help people use their agency better... :) but that wouldn't do much good haha.

High: This week we had a great lesson with our investigator Lauren. She just needs to be baptized... :) But we taught her about the role of the Holy Ghost. We talked about the difference between the power of the Holy Ghost and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. She is very in tune with the spirit, and it is always there in our lessons with her. The only thing that is different for her is the priesthood authority, and living prophets and apostles. So we committed her to pray to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet. If we know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, then we know that it is by the authority and power of God that he translated the Book of Mormon. Then we come to know that the Book of Mormon is a book of holy scripture that simply testifies of Christ. I love how everything in the Gospel just connects and flows so smoothly. It is PERFECT! It just makes me so happy! :)

Another high of the week was being in two places at once! Tammy took us to the Florida/Alabama Line on P-Day. It was awesome! :) America is BEAUTIFUL!

Funnies: I can't even type this without literally laughing out loud! hahaha So, Saturday we were back at the apartment for lunch. I was upstairs in the office, and Sister Richins was downstairs in the kitchen making her lunch. I had this brilliant idea to crouch behind the half wall we have by the stairs and scare Sister Richins. So my idea becomes a reality. I hurry over to the wall and get on my hands and knees to remain out of sight. Sister Richins totally thinks I'm in the office at my desk at this point. She starts coming up the stairs with her PB&J and her glass of chocolate milk. Ready to make herself comfortable at her desk to have a peaceful lunch. Well, when she reached the top of the stairs, I smacked my hand down on the floor, and screamed. Well lets just say the chocolate milk all over the floor proves a successful scare tactic! :) I about died of laughter! I was literally rolling on the floor. It was great! Sister Richins didn't speak a word to me for about ten minutes. Haha that poor child has to put up with me :) I cleaned up the spilled milk, still about ready to die from laughing!

Tender Mercies: Sister Richins and I had an experience that just made us really appreciate the power of the priesthood and the gift of the holy ghost SO MUCH! I know without a doubt that our Heavenly Father is aware of all of His children. He loves each of us so much that he has provided a way that a portion of his power can be on the earth today. I am so grateful to those men who hold the priesthood and take on the responsibilities that come along with it. It is through that priesthood power that we are able to receive saving ordinances such as baptism, and the gift of the holy ghost. I am so grateful for the gift of the holy ghost and that it can be our constant companion. It not only comforts and guides us, but it keeps us safe. The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest gifts our Heavenly Father has given us. I am just feeling so so grateful.

Ponderize: Recently, I have felt impressed to begin my ponderizing efforts each week. When Devin G. Durrant gave the conference address, "My Heart Pondereth Them Continually" last October, I picked a verse to Ponderize each week. Somehow, I just stopped doing it, but I'm back at it! So I was pondering over some things during the passing of the sacrament on Sunday. The spirit kept whispering the word "trust" to me. So I began to look in the scriptures for verses that talked about trusting in the Lord. This morning in my studies, I came across Mosiah 4:6-7 "I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world."

I just loved those verses so much. It is so true that when we come to know how great God truly is to His children, we are able to put our full trust in him. Our will becomes His will, which brings salvation; Salvation that is only made possible through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.

I am so grateful to know that we have a loving father in heaven. I know he loves all of His children. I have felt small amounts of that love as I have taught people about his perfect plan of happiness that is centered on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that Christ lives. I know that we can do all things through Him.

I hope yall have a great week and make the time to pray and ponder about the scriptures. We commune with Heaven through prayer, and Heaven communes with us through holy scripture.

Have a blessed week! :)

Love,

Sister Melissa Jean Wood

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