Zone meeting this week was awesome! I was so nervous for my training (mostly because I was doing it alone. I've realized how used to teaching with another person I have become). The assistants to the president were also there, so that was especially nerve wracking. I think it went really well though. I could feel the spirit working through me and I think that is all that really matters. As long as people were able to feel the spirit and to feel it testify to them, that is what is most important. I heard a quote somewhere that says something along the lines of "your testimony grows each time you share it". Well, as I was bearing my testimony of the power of the Atonement, I could feel it ringing true and I could feel my testimony get stronger. I was reading in the book mom sent me for Christmas, "Filled with Mercy", and it explains that the Arabic translation of atone means "to embrace". Christ has made it possible for us to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father and embrace him again. He also embraces us with his understanding and love in our lives. I had Hermana Flake bear her testimony at the beginning and didn't tell her beforehand that I was going to do that, but she did it willingly. She is such a good sport, I'm so thankful for her!
We also had the incredible opportunity to go to the temple this week! We drove there with Hermana Aleman and her companion (because they are the only other sisters in our zone) and we had a blast! It was really fun to be back in the Gila Valley with Hermana Aleman. As we drove past certain places we kept bringing up stories that we remembered and fun experiences. It was a blast. The temple was amazing. The minute I walked in I just felt like I was home. Everything from the outside world washed out of my mind and I was able to just focus on the peace I felt. I loved it so much. I realized it was my last temple trip before the one all the missionaries that are going home do, so it was a little bit of a sad moment for me. But I was able to feel Heavenly Father's love and to know that He has accepted the work I have done so far and will continue to do. It was beautiful.
After the temple, we went to visit the Way family. They are so awesome! I am so thankful to have gotten to know them. Mariana is 8 months pregnant and going to have her baby at the beginning of February. Johnny got called to serve in the Young Men's program and is being and AWESOME member missionary. He has already read the entire Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price, and is working on the old testament now. He told us that whenever he has a break at work, is waiting for a shipment to come in or just has a few free minutes, he pulls out his phone and reads. HE IS AWESOME! I cannot wait to go back in August and be there when they get sealed for time and all eternity! I love that family so much.
We had a really cool experience with one of our investigators this week. We have been teaching her for a little while, and last week we decided to sit down with her and to go over our purpose as missionaries with her again. We talked about what we do and why we do it. How our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by giving them specific invitations to increase their faith, to repent, to be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and then to continue doing that for the rest of their lives. We invited her to pray about if this is the path that God wants her to take in her life and if when she comes to know that these things are true, will she be baptized. We went back to visit a few days later and she said that she had prayed and asked God that if He wanted her to continue learning about these things, that he would keep bringing us over. She said "Well, He keeps bringing you, so He must want me to keep learning!" She then told us that if God told her to be baptized, she would be, but she wants to keep learning and make sure that she is sure it is what she needs to do. She is awesome! We are so excited for her. That lesson really changed the feel of the rest of our lessons and it has turned from "learning good things about God", to "learning things that will change my life". I love the way the Holy Ghost bears truth to people!
Well, we had a great week. Full of really spiritual experiences, and we are excited and ready for another one! I love y'all so much!
Quick story I heard at church yesterday that I wanted to share: A woman in our branch has a friend who has a son that is mentally handicapped. He is able to speak pretty well, but has a lot of challenges. He decided to get his Patriarchal Blessing and in it, it said that in the pre-earth life, he had been one of the angels that had helped to fight against Satan's plan and cast him out. Because of that, Satan made a promise that he would do everything he could to keep that boy from returning to Heaven. So Heavenly Father gave him a trial on earth, specifically his mental handicap, so that Satan could not keep him from returning to Heavenly Father.
God knows us personally. He gives us trials and challenges not because he wants us to suffer, but because he knows it is what we need to be stronger and to grow. I know that he has given me many trials for that reason, and I can honestly say that I am grateful for them, because of the person that I have been able to become.
I love you all! Keep the faith. Have a great week!
Love,
Hermana Lundquist