To start off, I have a bit of news to share with y’all… I was transferred early! There were some sisters left without companions as a result of some sudden releases of missionaries and I s’pose my companionship was split to make up the difference! We actually received the call on April Fool’s day and Sister Voorhees thought it was a joke. Nope! I was really being sent to Dillon, MT to be companions with Sister Lewis and Sister Voorhees was going to receive Sister Hansen. Wow, hilarious and so sudden! That’s missionary life for ya!
Guess what?? I LOVE DILLON! I already feel so at ease and at home here. I think a big part of it is my new and dear companion, Sister Lewis. I had heard nothing but wonderful things about her and she IS a wonderful human being. I adore her already! She is more reserved, independent, and contemplative, but makes good conversation and has fun. She’s very diligent, cleanly, organized, timely, observant, and very service oriented. Also, fun fact: Sister Lewis is one of nine kids, the same as me! She is the baby in her family, whereas I am the forth in mine. It is SO fun!!
I am so thankful to have Sister Lewis as my companion!! It is cool to be a senior companion for the first time and ironic that it is with someone that really should be the senior companion herself. She knows what she is doing and loves the work so much. She's an INCREDIBLE example and leader to all those around her. God has blessed me so very much to give me her and has amplified the sweetness of it all through recent difficulties. He is so wise.
Needless to say, I am excited for what this transfer holds for the both us. It will be interesting working entirely through technology to try and get to know the ward and those we are working with (whereas in my previous area, Lake Hills, I had a week or so of meeting people in person).
When I was being transferred on the 3rd, I got a 2.5 hour drive with just my mission president and his wife! I was a bit nervous the whole time --because I love them so much and haven’t had much time with them before. I was lucky enough to receive personal counsel from the both of them and let me tell ya, it was MUCH NEEDED. We also discussed how the current challenges we are facing with missionary work are an opportunity to strengthen our efforts through technology usage.
Some of this next part is part of what I shared a bit ago on Facebook so sorry to those who have already seen it (I still feel this and had to share!):
General Conference:
It was incomprehensibly MEMORABLE and POWERFUL! My heart is filled, my soul brightened, and my mind enlightened. I have been pondering and searching deeply as to how I can best prepare for conference, as well as what I should bring within me. As a result, I came up with a page of questions and searchings that I have -- ones which have recently come up as well as themes from throughout my life. This preparation proved to be IMMENSELY powerful and personal.
When conference started, I began to doubt that what I wrote would be addressed because they are so personal (and not all of them pertain to the restoration of the Christ's church, which is a big theme for this conference). "OH YE OF LITTLE FAITH" is what comes to mind now... My questions and searchings were so CLEARLY presented and interlaced with the themes of each talk. Why did I doubt? Ahhh.
President Nelson has invited us to do all we can to HEAR CHRIST. One way that we can do that is to humble ourselves and go to our Maker in vulnerability, bearing our souls to Him, asking Him the questions of our hearts with real intent to heed His counsel. This is something that I know to be true, I have experienced it myself. It is not easy but the Lord will always receive us with love.
Something else that stood out to me in conference was when President Nelson said:
“Our ULTIMATE QUEST in life is to prepare to meet our Maker.”
Think about that line, what does it mean for you?
For me, I immediately thought about how everything is for our eternal benefit and salvation. We are here on this earth because we wanted to progress and learn in ways that we otherwise couldn’t have, had we remained in the presence of God. We are able to exercise agency, acting and choosing for ourselves if we want to follow Him. We have the opportunity to experience opposition in all things, which gives us experience and expands our capabilities. EVERYTHING, each little moment --including the most painful, awful, sorrowful, or confusing of times-- is for our eternal welfare! This means we mus strive daily to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. in all that we are and do, we must make Him the center of our lives, using Him as our guide. We are to seek, in every way we can, to HEAR JESUS CHRIST, who speaks to us through the power and ministering of the Holy Spirit. One way we do this by repenting daily and receiving His cleansing, healing, and strengthening power. Then we can feel enduring peace and joy, even during turbulent times because we can HEAR HIM.
I invite you to hear His words, hearken to them, and heed what He has told us! The Lord TRULY knows you and TRULY desires to make Himself and His love known to you!
With all of my love and prayers,
Sister Alger
No comments:
Post a Comment