Well
not gonna lie, this week was TOUGH. It was ALL over the place! So much
craziness happened I don't even know where to begin...I guess to start off -
earlier this week Sister Hansen found a bunch of bites all over her legs one
morning and kept finding more throughout the day. We kind of started freaking
out that it was bed bugs so as you can imagine we didn't get a whole lot of
sleep...bed bugs are a real deal out here folks!! NO JOKE. Takes "nighty
night don't let the bed bugs bite" to a whole 'nother level!! But praying
we don't have them turned out to be SO helpful so as of now we are golden and
bed bug free. Lesson learned: The bugs here are just crazy... And prayer always
works!!
This
week in our lessons, Kristy decided she doesn't want to meet with us anymore
but she's prayed about the Book of Mormon and knows it's true. It broke my
heart to see her get so close but give up when fear came. In 1st Nephi 11:17 Nephi is talking to an angel
about what he sees and says "...I do not know the meaning of all
things" and we need to know that's okay. We don't always have to know the
meaning of all things but we have to keep walking forward in faith, the Lord
NEVER leaves us alone. Another investigator, Emma, showed me an example of that
great faith by praying at the end of our lesson to have patience in learning
new things and having an open mind and heart to understand what God wants her
to. Like who does that?! Whatta gem..:) I need to be better at accepting God's
will and being patient in trying times.
On
Friday we had a big mission conference in Harrisburg. Elder Stanfill of the 70
came to talk to us and it was awesome! When I shook his hand he said "wow!
You have such a beautiful happy countenance on your face! Keep smiling sister
it makes me so happy to see your optimism!" So that lifted my spirits and
made so happy, he's so sweet!! He talked about how we measure
"success" on who we are becoming. He also talked about in 3 Nephi
Chapter 11 (when Christ comes to the people) how we need to be like that. We
need to testify and then invite to come and see for themselves and gain that
relationship with Christ. The benefits of the Atonement can be extended to
EVERYONE. If you think that you don't qualify, guess what?? You DO and it's
already there for us we just have to reach out and accept those
blessings.
To
all those struggling with whatever you may be, remember that God has a plan for
you that even though it may be hard right now better times are coming. It's the
hard times that shape us into who we are and I'm so grateful for those
challenging times. No matter what - good times or bad - we should always be
counting our blessings and staying close to the Lord through prayer. I know
that Jesus Christ is there with loving outstretched arms, patiently waiting for
us to come to him and help us bear our heavy loads. He wants us to build
ourselves up, not tear us down. This week notice your good qualities, the good
you are doing and as President Hinkley said, may we "try a little harder
to be a little better"
Love
and prayers your way,
~Sister
McDonald
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