Sister Jessie's Mission

Hey FAM!

How are you all doing?! Sounds like you are doing great! Well this week was good, I learned more than I ever thought I could learn on this mission. This week there were many, many difficulties but through them our companionship was able to grow immensely and my personal testimony was strengthened!

We are still planning on having this wedding at the end of October. They are both so, so excited and are getting all of their papers ready to present this next week. This family is so special to us. There have been missionaries going to their house for the past two years and haven’t opened up until now. It goes to show that the other missionaries were preparing the way for us and with the strength and work of all of us we were able to accomplish this miracle of marriage for them.

Do you remember the Baptist family that I was talking about the last time? Well, as a companionship we had the really strong feeling that we should cancel the lesson. We didn’t know why but we just did and the next day we called them and they said that they had their preacher there "ready to answer your questions." Which in other words is ‘argue about the differences we have which would have just ended up in complete contention’ and we all know what happens when contention enters. We felt good about our decision and knew that for some reason Heavenly Father didn’t want us there.

This week we had a multi-zone conference with the president three hours away from Hunter. So we took huge car together as a zone down there which was a blast! The conference was amazing! As I went into the conference I was expecting a talk about investigators, converts, etc. but it wasn’t that at all. Our president has gotten a huge prompting for us to focus on our family history personally and also use family history to draw others to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They did an activity where there were 10 people dressed in white sitting on the pulpit which represented the spirit world and the congregation represented the world. Each person in white told their history and at the end said, "I need your help. Does someone have my name?" And two things happened. Either someone in the audience jumped up and said, "I do!" and the other person running down giving this person who had their name a huge hug. And the other, it was silent. "Please help me. Does anyone have my name? Please." Seeing the sadness on their face. This presentation was so powerful for me. I could truly feel the spirit of Elijah in that moment. Making me realize that I have family in heaven and all they can do is WAIT. Wait and wait for us to find their name here on earth. It is OUR responsibility to find our family and save them from waiting anxiously in heaven. This spirit of Elijah is the key to missionary work! Please work on our family history fam! They need us and are waiting for us to find them!

The other day I went on splits with the sister leaders. I got to go to my old area in Zamacola for a day with Sister Skelton! It was such a special experience. I was able to show Sister Skelton the people that we were working with before in order for them to advance even more in their work. The sister leaders have only been there for two weeks and don’t know the area so I hope I helped a little bit! But it was super fun to see everyone again!

Well, this week has been a week of miracles and difficulties and through these experiences I was able to grow! More than anything this week I have learned how the pure love of Christ is the essence of this gospel! Like Pres. Monson said, through little things like a SMILE and nice word or a helping hand is what we fault in this world. Look to do these things each day and you never knew what life you could touch with your small act of love. Love you so, so much! Until next week! Keep smilin!

Love, Jess