Kimber mail 10-10-2016: "It's days like this...😆😭🎉"

Okay guys the moment you've all been waiting for: 

THE TEMPLE WITH ANNE WAS AMAZING!!  :D 

   Days like this are far and few between the tough ones BUT it's days like this that make it all worth it. Let me back up to a few months ago and review who Anne is, for those that forgot or are just tuning in.  J

   Okay so back up to the beginning of summer when I was serving in P3 with Sister Taunima.  We got this referral who said they wanted the lessons and even though they were in the Elders' area, they wanted sister missionaries. #SorryElders😜  Which was actually a huge tender mercy because pretty much all the referrals we would get would be in the Elders' area and would have to go to them.  Anywho-  come to find out Anne (the referral) was a member who has just been less-active for the last several years. She had been back in PA for the last 3 years but now was reaching out to us. So over the course of meeting with her and teaching her, the three of us built this strong bond, working through the good and bad. As a missionary one of my favorite things (as President Johnson says) is getting to have a "front row seat to conversion."   My life changed watching Anne give up the 'good' things for those 'best' eternal things. Her testimony of Joseph Smith and the restoration brought tears to my eyes. She made church a priority again and had her focus set on going to the temple. Yes folks, she is even more amazing than she sounds!  She could have easily been offended, or given up or just put a half-a-heart into coming back, but she didn't. She said she was prompted to get back to the church by the Lord telling her "You know what you need to do."  How many times do we know what we need to do but just push it off until when we feel like doing it later? Do we take the gospel for granted? Just some food-for-thought. Anyway, a few weeks ago Anne called me. She told me that she just got her temple recommend and wanted to go do baptisms for the dead with Sister Jacobson and I.  I know that the Lord's timing is perfect. It's no coincidence that I was transferred to one of the couple spots in the PPM that can actually go to a temple. I started tearing up as I saw her come out in her white jumpsuit and with excitement enter the water to perform baptisms for those who have passed on. The spirit was so strong. I didn't want that day to end!  I never would have thought almost 6 months ago that I would be in the temple doing baptisms with Anne, but how grateful I am for that sweet experience. She truly has changed my life. I am grateful I was able to be a tiny part of her journey back to the fold.  A friend of mine told me a few months ago to "always believe in those that you meet, they can achieve great things!"  It's so true. We may never know what someone can accomplish but our Heavenly Father sure does. I know that He is fully aware of our situations. I know he NEVER stops loving us and welcoming us back. I know that we are never, ever, EVER alone on this journey!  I am grateful for those guardian angels that have been placed along my path and am especially grateful for the ones out here on my mission.  I love doing the Lord's work and bringing back the lost. I remember when I came out kind of grumbling and not having the greatest of attitudes about Less-Active work but my whole perspective has changed. I personally think bringing a Less-Active member back is just as good as a baptism!  What an honor it is to be on the Lord's errand. I know there's true joy in doing the hard things and following the Lord. Just as one of my favorite hymns says it best:

                                      

It may not be on the mountain height

Or over the stormy sea,

It may not be at the battle’s front

My Lord will have need of me.

But if, by a still, small voice he calls

To paths that I do not know

I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:

            I’ll go where you want me to go

 

Perhaps today there are loving words

Which Jesus would have me speak

There may be now in the paths of sin

Some wand’rer whom I should seek.

O Savior, if thou wilt be my guide,

Tho dark and rugged the way,

My voice shall echo the message sweet:

I’ll say what you want me to say.

 

              I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,

             Over mountain or plain or sea;

              I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord

              I’ll be what you want me to be.

 

💕Sister McDonald 

 

Ponderize: D&C 101:36 "Fear not....in me your joy is full"

Commitment: "Be converted and healed" ~ Sis Stephens (women's broadcast)