There's
this awesome scripture that we as missionaries have on our minds often and it's
a gem. It's in the Doctrine and Covenants 42:14 and says "the Spirit
shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the
Spirit ye shall not teach."
Pretty
straightforward and bold right? Well I've come to know for a fact this is 100%
true. The Spirit is the ultimate teacher and we are more just like his
side-kicks. I've had my fair share of lessons these last 7 months where the
Spirit did the teaching and witnessing of truth and where the Spirit was absent
and I really could not teach...there's a HUGE difference. I testify that the
Spirit will never ever lead us astray. We just have to do like the scripture
says by 1) praying and doing the things we need to do to keep the Spirit with us
on the daily and 2) once we feel the impressions or promptings of the Spirit
follow them! No matter how weird or out of our comfort zone what we are being
asked to do may seem; once we recognize that thought or prompting is from the
Holy Ghost, we need to listen. Here are just a few amazing examples from this
week:
Sister George is an amazing woman and less active that has been struggling with
many trials throughout her life. We felt like we should text her and have a
spiritually uplifting "girls night" with her. Ha,ha! It turns out
that's just what she needed. I mean who doesn't want some quality time with the
best sisters in good ol' pixburg?! ;) We went to Taco Bell and to a baptism for
the bishop's daughter and had a really good discussion after (all by the
Spirit) about trials. Tears were shed, hugs were given and the Spirit was
felt.
This week I got to go on exchanges with the Greensburg sisters: Sis. Penrod
(came out with me) and Sis. Smith (from the State College days!) Man it was so
awesome. They are spiritual power houses and miracles happened I tell you what!
We felt like we should stop and talk to this one young guy that was with his
dog on the road we were on. We got to share our testimonies and the Book of
Mormon with him. Man I love sharing this Book with people. It is my favorite to
testify that it truly has helped me come to know my Savior on a personal level
and has helped me in every situation I've been in. We also were trying to
follow up with people we've talked with before but no one would answer the door
#StoryOfMyLife. Anywho, so I decide that we should tract around where we were at
cuz 1) I felt super strongly that someone would listen in that complex and 2) I
really do love tracting! Well Sister Penrod, Smith and I decide to tract the
houses with cars out front. The 3rd or 4th house we knock a guy named Devin answers
and we were able to teach him a little bit about the restoration of the gospel
and of course- the Book of Mormon. He excitedly told us that he had already
read part of it in South Carolina but hasn't been able to get one to finish it
since. Well...*cue missionaries with copies of the Book of Mormons for days*
ha,ha he was super kind and I'm excited to see what happens hopefully we can go
back soon and his schedule will work out so he can learn more!
As
a perk of having a leadership position (being an STL) we get to go to this
awesome meeting once a month called MLC (missionary leadership council).
Besides all the great food and friends I was reunited with and made, the spiritual
feasting was a real deal! As I was reflecting on my notes the spirit reminded
me of the simple truth that as we turn to Christ and see how he handled things
then we are better able to handle the things/trials in our way and press
forward! I know that whatever you may be going through at this time, as you
turn to our Heavenly Father in prayer and open your "door" to let
Christ in to help you you will be able to have the strength and the answers you
need to keep going! You got this :)!
Love
you all!
~Sister
McDonald
Ponderize:
Acts 17:27 "That they should seek the Lord...he be not far from every one
of us!
Quote:
"Prayer, combined with fasting, will provide so that when we “call, … the
Lord shall answer; … [and when we] cry, … he shall say, Here I am.” ~ Elder
Stanfill, oct 2015
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