Happy Holidays :) Monday Sept 3, 2018

Half of Sister Clark's area is a military base. Whilst in her area this week we decided to write notes to some members that live there! I was driving up the long road & when we saw the gates of base (we were in a weird mood) we freaked out & I turned the car around. We pulled over & discussed if we should still try and go inside. Sister Clark has a pass to get in but I don't.. haha we said a prayer & asked God if it was his will for us to deliver these notes that he would provide a way for us to get through the gates😂 When I drove up the second time I scanned her pass. The young guard man working in the gate box had us pull forward so he could see us "do you both have a pass?" 
"She does, but I do not" *i say with a big smile 
The guard gave a "shhh" and opened the gate. Hahaha so technically I was on military base illegally? 






Hmmm now I'm thinking maybe this wasn't the best story to share for my email. Well, too late now I'm not about to delete it.

Sister Chaudoin and I had pancakes for breakfast on a two floor McDonald's today. VA is too fancy for me. 

When I get kicked out of Crystal City I'm really going to miss exercising on my balcony watching the sun rise. That's all.


This scripture really stuck out to me this week. To me it kinda says "hey, you've already made it so far! Keep going! Rely on Christ because life is hard. Earth life is freaking hard. But it's okay, there are such great things coming."
2 Nephi 31:19 ...for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: (God is about to speak, paying attention?) Ye shall have eternal life. (One more time for the people in the back) YE SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE!
Friends, this is huge. Let's try & understand where we were before this life & what is waiting for us after! God loves his children (you) more than we can ever comprehend (facts). Every hard thing you are going through is the bare minimum God is allowing you to feel for the growth that is necessary for your gain. When you are sad, so is your father.
So we must endure! Work hard! Never stop! Read this quote.
"What does the word “endure” mean? It
means we whiteknuckle it, “I'm going to
endure this”, right? Wrong. The
 Hebrew word means to “make
everlasting and omnipotent”  to make
 you like God. It is a sanctifying process.
 Enduring to the end is one of the most
 sanctifying and exalting
doctrines we have, and we
think it's just “hanging in there”."
--the Donaldson papers

Look, I don't want to sound preachy. But I do know that everyone is battling something. I only get to be a missionary for 15 more months. The worth of souls is great in the eyes of God and that includes you people. God wanted me to share this in my email so I trust it is something one of y'all needs. I refect on this enduring idea often.

I believe in you all. But more importantly God believes in YOU.

Peace & blessings
Much Love, Sister Izzy Smith ðŸ’›
6 Attachments
 
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Good News!!

Image
Good news, our birds are still eating the food we leave out for them on the balcony. We have a blue jay and a crow that are regulars. no big deal. Also good news, IM STAYING IN CRYSTAL CITY WITH SISTER MINAKER FOR ANOTHER SIX WEEKS  this week we gathered some nuts that had fallen off a tree and ended up along the road in the gutter. We cracked them and tried boiling them. I don't know what our end goal was.. but it didn't work. Advice: leave the gutter nuts, they are very bitter. We met a man on the fourth floor... last door (haha)!! He met with missionaries in Korea but lost contact when he moved back to America. WELL HELLO, MIRACLES! There is a part of preach my gospel where a recent convert expresses how when he found the church it filled a hole in his heart/life that he didn't know was missing. That's the best way I can explain how being on a mission feels like. I have found a piece of me I didn't know was missing. Life right before leaving was so wonderful...
Read more

I LOVE YOU

Image
Before I left on my mission I was worried about the work coming off as "here, let me tell you how to live your life." I hate that feeling. (Degrading advice?) But what I've realized, and what is so beautiful about this gospel, is that when people are wanting to change the teachings, the truths, the testimonies, they all have a spirit of love. People realize and feel that we are here helping them because of love. Not because our way is better than their way. But because they have tried their way & through personal trials they have realized that the only way is God's way. Missionaries teach God's way. And help our heavenly father's children understand His way. This work is so worth it, always, but especially when the people thank us for helping them get closer to Christ. GAH,  THIS IS THE BEST.  Whilst on exchanges this week...  I was in the YSA area right next to mine with mah girl Sister. Wayment. We had a lesson with someone she is teaching na...
Read more

Aug 19 SUNSHINE

Image
"And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" (-alma 5:26) Alright!! I must tell y'all about Sam Sayem. We met him two weeks ago. I haven't mentioned him yet because I didn't want to take attention away from Brother Farraj and Megan!   WELL, SAM IS AWESOME. I met him on an exchange. He and his wife were getting their groceries and going into the house. They really didn't seem that interested. But God knows the heart because the next day my real companion and I were in that same apartment complex. We saw a man sitting in his car, so naturally we go wave him to roll down his window so we can talk to him (perks of being a sister). It was Sam!! He says "I read your pamphlet. I was going to call you today because I know there must be a prophet on earth today." (Grew up Muslim in Bangladesh might I add..) Well, since that d...
Read more