Exchanges

July 28, 2014

Last Monday was the first real Family Home Evening, in a home, with a family, I've had since being on my mission. Serving in YSA for a majority of my mission is probably part of the reason. Haha. It was incredible though. The power of a righteous family in a Christ centered home is one of the sweetest feelings I've ever experienced. I'm grateful that feeling was a familiar one. The family home evening was with the Wu family. They were baptized about 2 years ago and they're wonderful! They have three kids ages 13, 12, and 10. They have a relative living with them going to University right now and he's meeting with the other sisters. We talked about the Holy Ghost for the lesson and did an object lesson with it. Then Sister Fisher shared her conversion story, and the Spirit was so strong! We could tell that James was listening and that her story really touched him because he could relate. He's just got to take the leap and pray about it with a willingness to act! Then we played the squirt bottle game for the activity :) A Felix family favorite! The Wu's loved it too! Everybody was laughing and smiling the whole time. That is true joy right there! Then we had chocolate chip cookies and watermelon. So simple, but it truly makes a difference. It's the small things in our life that make the biggest difference. I know that for a fact. Daily prayer and scripture study, weekly FHE and church, and regular temple attendance is where faith is built and maintained.


On Wednesday I went on an exchange to GUELPH! It was one of the happiest days of my mission! Going back to an old area feels like going home. It was so wonderful! We were able to see Juliana who I taught and baptized at the end of last year. She told me about going to the temple to do baptisms for the dead and it make me so happy! So happy. We also saw Sister Shantz who is one of my favorite members of all time! It was just a great day!


We taught Wayne a few times this week and he is doing so good! He's preparing to be baptized on August 17th. He's got to quit smoking and drinking coffee, but he can do it! He loves the Book of Mormon and comprehends it really well. He also loves the pamphlets we bring :) The Restoration and the Word of Wisdom pamphlets are his favorite!


Oh Saturday I had a unique experience! We were on exchanges with the Kitchener Spanish sisters and I was in Kitchener. The chapel they attend had it's 50th anniversary that weekend so they made it an event! It was an open house for people to come learn about the chapel and our beliefs. It was an incredible finding method! There were random people that showed up because they saw an advertisement in the newspaper or saw a flyer or something. It was pretty amazing!


This week, one of the sisters I was with has a real struggle talking with people. It petrifies her. She asked me what motivates me to talk with everyone that I see... And I thought about it for a minute. It's a humbling experience when someone asks you a question about your motives and you have to dig deep to find out what it is. What I ended up explaining to her is that it comes from an understanding of my purpose as a missionary. I am here to invite others to come unto Christ. The Holy Ghost helps us fulfill that purpose by prompting us to talk with everyone. And every time I ignore a prompting to talk with someone, He slowly departs. It's the same with any kind of direction from the Holy Ghost. He will invite us to do something and if we ignore Him, He will depart until we seek Him out. The companionship of the Holy Ghost is my highest priority and my greatest desire. Having the Gift of the Holy Ghost and feeling His influence is a foretaste of eternal joy and a promise of eternal life. I'm ever grateful for the comfort, direction, and peace He brings into my life as I live worthy of His presence.


After church yesterday we taught an incredible Cambodian lady named Hieng. We taught her what we call lesson zero-Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, and prayer. I honestly felt the Holy Ghost giving me the ability to simplify what I was saying so she could understand even with her limited knowledge of English. When we would check for understanding, she responded in a way that told us she was understanding and very attentive to what we taught. The Spirit was so strong. So strong. Man this week was just full of the Spirit :) I think it's been a focus ever since I started reading the Book of Mormon with a question about the Spirit. "How does the Spirit influence people and what are the effects of that influence?" I am learning so much about the Holy Ghost and I think it's one of my most valued lessons from my mission thus far is listening to, following, and recognizing the Spirit in my life.


I hope you all have a great week! I am really looking forward to this week! Mission Leadership Council, two exchanges with incredibly epic sisters, teaching the Gospel. Life is good!


Love and Prayers, Sister Felix
"Men changed for Christ will be captained by Christ...men captained by Christ will be consumed in Christ." -Ezra Taft Benson