Friday, November 8, 2013

The Hastening

"Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord's vineyard to bring souls unto him." - President Thomas S. Monson #ldsconf #lds #hastenthework #PresMonson

Before I came on my mission I thought I had an idea about what I was going to do on my mission. It involved knocking on a lot of doors. In the MTC my vision of missionary work changed. I thought I would be teaching lessons all day, every day and then every Sunday someone would be baptized. When I finally got out into the mission field I realized that both of these ideas were completely wrong. The Lord is hastening His work and preparing a way. 
I don't know if you all have noticed, but missionary work is HUGE deal right now, and it is changing. I am a full-time missionary and I am writting a blog! Totally not what I thought I would be doing on my mission. Everyday I can get on Facebook and teach people all over the world. The thought is just mind blowing. Soon, I will have an Ipad to use so that no matter where I am I can reach out to people who are lost or searching. Can you say Hastening? 

Oh! Have you seen this!
 Elder Aaron Potter, left, and Elder Brad Witbeck, missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, created a project in Union Square, New York, where they preached through chalk art. Both missionaries expressed their gratitude for being involved. (Reachmygospel.blogspot.com)   
Two missionaries in the New York New York North mission drew the Plan of Salvation with chalk. Then they talked to a bunch of people about it. What a great way to find the pure in heart! The coolest thing is that they then made a video and a blog and now thousands of people all over the world have seen it. This is what missionary work is now! I never would have guessed I would be drawing with chalk or singing on the street corners of New York, but what I realize now is that missionary work is anything that brings the church out of obscurity in a positive light. In a world were people are always on the go we need to be out where they can see us. Yes!! It is true the work is Hastening but the Lord is totally preparing a way. Missionaries and members are thinking out of the box to bring the world His truth. More and more people are prepared and we are called to spread the word.
The greatest evidence I have of this is that normally at church we have one or two people a week come and check out the church for the first time. Last week over 22 people came to the ward I am serving in on Staten Island! 22. What a miracle! The Lord is providing a way. He needs each one of us to help. All of us, no matter where you are in life, are called to the work. You don't have to go door to door. You don't have to talk to strangers. It is as simple as being a good friend and being creative. 
"If you're not a full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart" - Neal A. Anderson #everydaymissionaries #HastenTheWork

I want the world to know that I have a testimony of the work I am doing. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church. It is Christs church restored to the Earth. I consider it a blessing to help my brothers and sister come closer to Him. It brings me so much joy! I know that He lives, I know that He is aware of us, and I know that He love each of us individually. I hope that each of you can look around and reach out to those who don't know. I promise, you won't regret it!  

Friday, October 25, 2013

The Shudder Inducing And Clichéd,

1 John 4:8 

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is Love."

How do you sum up seven AMAZING months in one blog post? I'll do my best! Let me just start by telling you that I am so blessed! Really, Heavenly Father loves me a lot (I warned you that this was cliché.) If there is one thing I have learned from my time as a full-time missionary it is that God is real! He is great and He cares about each and everyone of us more than we can comprehend. Every day I try to look for the little things because God is in the details of our lives. For instance, my two favorite foods are bagels and pizza. Only in New York do they have world famous pizza and bagels!! 


Another way I can feel my Heavenly Father's love for me is through the variety of people I have met thus far on my mission. From companions and other missionaries to random people who I talk to on the street I have really come to learn that God blesses us through other people. Just last week I was struggling to accept the fact that I could repent or be forgiven. I know that Jesus Christ gave up his life for us but did that sacrifice apply to me? Right when all of these doubts were coming to a climax in my mind I happened to be on exchanges and working in Queens for the day. We went to visit a girl who had been baptized and she started to talk about her relationship with Jesus Christ. I asked her to tell me how she knew that Christ died for her. She proceeded to bear the most beautiful testimony of the Atonement. She helped me to remember that we CAN change and we  CAN become better! Christ is there to help us all along the way. He never demands perfection only progression. I know it to be true! I knew it before but somehow I had forgotten but because God is my loving Heavenly Father he put this confident, smart, new member of the church in my path to remind me when I was wondering. I have so many examples of this from my life. If you are open to the people around you they will change you, teach you and answer your prayers! 


I am going to use this blog as a way to share the lessons I learn in New York with everyone. I have never been a blogger before so hang in there with me. I'm sure it will get better with time! 



Just a FEW of the people who have changed my life: 
 My MTC District 
 Sister Romney, Amy, Brittany and Sister Millett 
 My Terryville District 
 The Reese's! 

Simoni and Brian! I love them with my whole <3