Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people:yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.

Hey Y'all!

Man, was this a week!  It went by pretty quickly, but still was quite the week.  I will just share some highlights, and low points, and tender mercies of the Lord.  

Highlights:

We had to opportunity to go on some exchanges with the Troy Sisters, and the Mariana Sisters.  Both of those exchanges were a lot of fun, and very much needed.  I learned a lot from the spirit, and from these amazing sisters!!  I am so grateful to be serving around such incredible people who want nothing more than to serve the lord with all their heart might mind and strength.  For exchanges we have the sisters pray about a purpose to have during the exchange.  It can be about anything they want to improve on or learn.  Both the exchanges this week seemed to be helping me more than the sisters.  Funny how that works.  Heavenly Father knew that I needed to learn more about Joy, and recognizing and relying on the spirit.  

Sunday was awesome.  I have really grown such a special love for the Sabbath day.  From the outside looking in, Sundays don't seem like they would be any different for missionaries.  But they are.  I absolutely love partaking of the sacrament.  That is a sacred time that we are given each week to connect with heaven in a way we cannot during the rest of the week.  The speakers spoke a lot about faith and patience. Which were the two very things that were being tried this week.  How grateful I am to know that our Heavenly Father knows and loves me personally.  He knows exactly what I am feeling and going through.  He has an intricate plan set out for each of us.  How wondrous and great! 

Lows:

This week, Sister Jensen and I were realizing that all of our investigators either aren't progressing, wont meet with us, or wont set appointments.  So we got discouraged there for a hot second.  We are realizing that a transfer has come and almost gone and we arent seeing a whole lot of success.  We have both felt very detached from our emotions, and just heavy loads of stress and discouragement.  

Tender Mercies:

However, the Lord knows and loves Sister Jensen and I and blessed us with a lot of tender mercies this week.  

While we were on exchanges, i got a random phone call from a number i didn't know.  I answered and the man on the other end asked if we were the sister missionaries.  I was so excited to say yes!!  He expressed that he has met with missionaries before.  He is currently going through a rough time and wanted to meet with us so he could get closer to god!  We will be meeting with ErvIn this week!  We are so excited!!! 

Another tender mercy is that of when I had the chance to receive a priesthood blessing.  I am so grateful to the spirit and the power of the priesthood that allows us to receive such powerful blessings.  I know without a doubt that heavenly father knows me and has a plan for me.  As he does for all of his children.  

We had the impression to go and visit one of our former investigators, Joe.  We got there and began talking with him and told us that he is afraid he is going to die soon.  I think that explains the feelings of urgency we had to go and see him.  He expressed to us that just feels like he has unfinished business here.  He wants to do everything he was meant to before he passes on.  All that I could think about was that he needs to get baptized soon.  That is what is missing in his life, the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

While we were sitting on his porch, trying to have a discussion with Joe, his son in law and daughter came.  His son in law, Darius, joined in on our conversation.  He had a lot of questions as to how we can get closer to God and feel like we are accomplishing all that we need to.  So we set up a return appointment with him for today.  We will be teaching him about the restoration!  I seriously cannot wait!  Brother Darius is just one of my favorite people already.  

Heavenly Father didn't just send us to Joe's for Joe, but for Darius as well.  Sister Jensen and I are just feeling so blessed to be part of such a great work!!  

Sorry i dont have a ton of pictures for the week.  Like i said... it was a week. :) 

Be blessed y'all! 

Sister Wood