Week 35

Loved ones,

I don't even know where to start for this week!

Well, we were finally able to have legitimate lessons with people this week! They were with families and youth from our ward, nonetheless, they were amazing lessons! I am so grateful for technology which enables us to get to know and support our ward members even through isolation.

Guess what? The shelter in place order is ending this week! This doesn't mean much for us missionaries, as we are going to be normalizing very slowly. It'll be slower than society will be for sure but what this does mean is that members can bring us meals and we'll be able to meet as districts/zones (as long as it is 10 or less people). Yesterday, as a result of all of that, we finally got to partake of the sacrament!!! Ahhhh, my heart was overflowing with joy and gratitude on our 1 hr drive to receive it. The irony is that at this pivotal moment when we were participating in the sacred ordinance of the sacrament, a random old guy waltzed into the room and interrupted! The elders didn't stop for him but he tried to pull some of them aside to say something and then stated he would "let us finish". Oh my, heheh. This was just so random and right when we were trying to have a solemn, reflective, and spiritual experience. Oh well! We partook and renewed our covenants, that is what matters!

I have been reflecting deeply on this phrase throughout the week:
"BE NOT AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE."

We were able to have an online zone conference mid last week and that was a big theme that I took away from it. If we don't believe, we won't see miracles.

As a missionary, I don't have a lot to worry about except to learn from my experiences. I have a very focused purpose --to bring others unto Christ-- and that's it. Right now I don't have to worry about being a student, an employee, a daughter, a sister, a friend, among the other numerous roles we have in life. I AM A MISSIONARY. Why do I tend to end up worrying? Even doubting? And not necessarily doubt in the Lord, but myself and the world around me. I know that I am and we all are where God intends us to be. Don't look at your situation and compare it to anyone else's! Everything looks different from the outside anyway. What matters is where we are NOW and what we CAN do where we're at. If any of us are feeling pointless (or purposeless) whatever our situation may be --this includes everyone, not just missionaries-- we are doing the wrong thing! We are MISSING THE POINT. This isn't what any of us expected and that's okay. This is what the Lord has handed us and we just have to learn from it. Adapt and learn! Not many have the opportunity to experience the fall of the pride cycle --hearts are being humbled and softened!

The Lord is taking us into the future, whether we like it or not. Things will never go back to the way they were, the world is adapting! We must adapt in order to make the difference we are meant to as God's servants.

My companion and I are still struggling a bit with the fact that we have to rely on technology as much as we do. We weren't anticipating being online missionaries when we signed up for this --this hesitation will simply not work! We didn't volunteer to be missionaries to work for ourselves or our own conditions, we offered ourselves for the work of the Lord! To do His will! We must leave all of our worries, concerns, and discomfort behind. We need to leave it all in His perfect hands and stop trying to do things our way. He is all knowing and all powerful, who better to trust in than Him?

I was struck by this verse shared in our little sacrament meeting on Sunday:
"Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him." (1 Nephi 7:12)

As long as we have trust in the Lord and are faithful to Him, all will work out.

All of my love,
Sister Alger💛

 

 

It was a bit windy!

Me and my companion, Sister Lewis

Trimming my own hair!

It turned out pretty well. Whew!

Zone gathering for Sacrament Meeting

Week 34

Hey there my dearest friends and family(: Wowowow these times are just weird. Dillon is starting to feel more like home and I love it! I'm becoming more familiar with the geographical area and I am beginning to remember details about those we work with which is exciting! We've had some wonderful contacts this week in which we were received more warmly than anticipated, and goodness gracious, were those nice moments. There have been many instances this week in which we've had to repeatedly (and of course graciously) deny thoughtful kindness. Ahh! We ran into some members at the store and they wanted to bring us food to our apartment. We said we couldn't receive anything so they wanted to buy our groceries and more, trying to find SOMETHING they could do to help us out. There were a few that we messaged or called that did the same kind of thing... My heart hurts not to accept persistent offers of kindness, but we do all we can to follow the direction we receive. We trust that our leaders are guided by God and there's a reason for it all! I've recently been pondering how we often try to find and then grasp onto something --which might be a constant for us-- but in the end realize that we can't rely on anything in this world. There's not one thing provided by the world that would give us the solid foundation we need! The only way that we can fill the longing we have for a sense of safety, solace, and belonging, is through finding Christ. It's through building ourselves upon Him who is the only perfect foundation, the only One we can truly trust and rely on. If we look elsewhere, we will eventually find disappointment. The fact that He lives and is who He is brings us an incredibly bright hope -- a hope that we can have the missing pieces of our souls filled. We can trust that He will never leave us alone or fail us because HE IS NOT CAPABLE OF ANYTHING BUT PERFECTION. I personally have tried to cling onto what I knew before all the corona virus craziness and with isolation, everything has changed (at least on the topic of missionary life and efforts)! I had a vision that one day I would know what I was doing! I'd feel confident, I'd FEEL LIKE A MISSIONARY. Nope. That is not it at all folks! This is neither how life works nor how God works. Once we begin to feel as though we're getting the hang of things, He switches things up on us (that's why missions are so short, we get sent home before we can think we know what we're doing). There is a reason for all of this. We need to be constantly reminded of our dependence on God. We need to be reminded of our small and simpleness, we need to be humble and meek. We have all joined in fasting and prayer over the worldwide pandemic and unrest. God hasn’t delivered us FROM this pandemic yet but He certainly is delivering us IN this pandemic. There is a reason we have to go through this. So, instead of wishing to be out and focusing on the negative--look around and see God’s angels holding back your lions (like Daniel in the lion's den, he wasn't delivered FROM his trial). When the timing is right God will deliver us FROM this, until then let’s remember He is delivering us IN this. There is an awesome facebook post on this: https://m.facebook.com/groups/534352464165662?view=permalink&id=561743978093177 I love you all and hope you find the unique opportunities that come with this unique challenge! Find God! Hear Him! See Him! He is in everything. 💛, Sister Alger

Since we aren't allowed to see anyone, we have been doing a lot of hiking and wondering around the old part of town. It's been COLD, but a ton of fun!