July 28, 2014
Well, this week was definitely a roller coaster.
There were a lot of ups and downs. It is amazing how God gives us the
really good times right along with the bad times so that we can get through it
all. Sister Akin and I were talking about how even on our really bad days, we
still feel this underlying happiness inside. And I know why!! I'm sharing
the best and happiest and most important things with everyone!! Even when they
all say no, or people don't like me (or what I say), or when we forget to do
something, I know that my heart is in the right place. I am doing my best to
share all about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ with others. And that's why
I'm happy! I also realized another reason why I am happy...Jesus Christ is MY Savior
and Redeemer!! I know that He loves me. I know it! I know that Christ loves
each and every one of us and suffered for all of us. I know He will never leave
us comfortless (John 14:18). I know that He will be there for us in ALL
things, because He has felt ALL things
(Alma 7:11-13). I know that because I feel
the Holy Spirit touch my heart and tell me it is true. Oh, it's a wonderful
feeling!! And not even others being grumpy, or me being grumpy, can make that change.
In District Meetings (on Tuesday) this week we talked a lot about
happiness. We talked about how God's entire
purpose for us is to be happy! His whole purpose for us is to have JOY!! I've
been really pondering about that and God really does love us! Everything that
he asks us to do is just so that we can be the happiest we can be. And
we can be happy NOW!
Here are some of the happy highlights of the
week:
Monday we did a random, unplanned act of service
and got to meet two wonderful and sweet ladies from Sierra Leon! I was
brave enough to just get in there and start helping her put branches in the bag
even though she had said no the first time. Once I started, you could
tell she really appreciated that. Serving and sharing the gospel made me feel
so happy inside! I know that is where God wanted us to be Monday night!
Then on Tuesday we had a great district meeting!
We also talked a lot about repentance with a member of our ward. And I LOVE
REPENTANCE. That is something else in the gospel that screams happiness. It's
so happy and merciful that Heavenly Father allows us to repent and use Christ's
grace so that we can return to live with Him again. It was also a happy
moment because I felt prompted to share certain scriptures and sentences from certain
talks. It is always a good feeling when you know that hard work and preparation
has paid off to
help someone else.
Wednesday we had a very interesting day. We
knocked on a door that looked like any other American home. A Bhuddist
monk opened the door. We were both really shocked! He invited us in to the
temple. As we sat
there and talked to him it was interesting to
feel the stillness that was in the temple, but there seemed to be an absence of
happiness and fulfillment there. The monk was so nice, and he took a Book of
Mormon to read. We also ate lunch there with all of the people that
were there for the day. Everyone was so friendly and nice! It was a great and
spontaneous experience!
Thursday morning we went and cleaned a home of a
family in our ward that needed some help. The mom had just passed away,
and so we helped clean and clean and clean! It felt so good to clean! I was in
charge of cleaning the fridge. We had lots of people there to help, and it is always
so happy to see so many friends and family helping out!! Then we rushed over to
transfer meeting! Yes..it was transfers, but neither one of us was getting
transferred!! That is something that we have to do now as Sister Training
Leaders. I'm grateful I got to go to the meeting because there were a lot of
missionaries leaving and their departing testimonies were wonderful! I realized
how little time we have to serve a missionaries now, but that the Lord's work
goes on and as long as we are doing His will, all is well!! Friday I had a
really neat experience with someone on the street. He was weeding his garden
and he started to tell me how him and his
fiancé and looking for a church to get married
in, but he feels that church is just one big business now. I felt
prompted to show him a picture of the temple and told him that he should
consider getting married in the temple!! I was so excited and happy to tell him
about
it! Then we got to share about Joseph Smith and
the Restoration. As we talked about the First Vision, I WAS SO HAPPY!!! I
knew that it was all true! I knew that because the priesthood power was
restored, we could have eternal families!! We have a temple, a place where we
go to feel peace, happiness, joy, and where we fell the Spirit of The Lord. Oh,
we are so blessed!! I've never outright told anyone on my mission that they
needed to get married in the temple...but it felt so right to tell them all
about how wonderful it is!!
And Saturday was happy because one of our
investigators prayed for the first time and really felt God's love for her! It
was an amazing experience to be there!
Sunday was one of the worst days ever, everything
seemed to go wrong, but I was still happy! I was happy because God hears my
prayers and answers them! He comforted me when I needed it the most! There is
so much more I want to say, but I've run out of time! Look for the happy
moments this week! God wants to bless us with happiness, we just need to seek
it out and keep his commandments!!
Love you all!
Sister Udall
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