July 22


Sister Seaver and I did an inventory of our teaching pool and realized that everyone we teach are middle aged/ young adult men. As a result we started praying for woman to teach!! Well my goodness did our prayer get answered!! Tuesday night we get a text from a 20 year old young woman named Megan! She says something along the lines of.. "hi, my step mom (member) gave me your number. I'd really like to learn about the lds faith. Can you meet Thursday?" ummm YES! So we did! She met us at the church & showed up with cookies!! AH! Pinch me! She's amazing! We met again Sunday after church & she gladly accepted a baptismal date for August 10th!! And we had dinner with her non member father who is super supportive! ðŸ˜­ Talk about answers to prayers!!! 
But wait, there's more!
Earlier in the week we were walking around an apartment complex & walked up to this car as it was driving away! The woman driving was so happy to see that we were representing Jesus but was also rushed & couldn't give her phone or apartment number. Which was totally fine because heavenly father knows where she lives. And He guided us there later in the week! She answered AND has a twin! Jean & Joan. They let us right in! They've had recent deaths in the family and have been praying for greater direction! Vulnerability & the spirit of God led to quick bonding! 
AH, GOD IS GOOD. 

This week we talked with a man who was angrily washing his car. We asked if we could help & his quick response was "only if you buy this car! I want something bigger and faster!" ☹ It made me so sad. Someone can search their entire life on this planet of ours, desperately trying to fill the hole in their spirit that can only be filled by connecting with the truth we once knew. The fullness of the gospel truly has filled my spirit. Since my first day being a missionary my heart has been full & satisfied. (Never leaving this spiritual safety bubble haha.) One of my favorite scenes in the book of mormon is.. "Now the joy of Ammon was so great even that he was full; yea, he was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the exhausting of his strength; and he fell again to the earth. Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness" (alma 27:17&18) I know that is true! I've felt it & I've seen it in the life of my friends! Our good guy, Amer, is feeling the joy of the saints & cannot wait for his baptism! ðŸ˜†ðŸ¤˜ This is the best life ever. I'm feeling really blessed. 

A very exciting reunion happened this week. For the world. And since this is the capital, it was the talk of the town! Any guesses? The 50th anniversary of the moon landing! "One small step for man, one giant leap for man kind." (I hope that's right, I don't have Google to fact check.) I think that event and Neil's response, in many ways, is the evidence of a father in heaven that loves us. Joseph Smith saying a prayer was a small step & a giant leap for man kind. The humble birth of Jesus Christ was a small step but the biggest leap for man kind! Take hope in the small steps you take every day to follow Christ! We have been promised it is by small and simple things great things are brought to pass! ðŸ™‚ Press forward, saints! 

Well, I love you all! I know heavenly father loves you! 

Much Love, Sister Izzy Smith 




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