August 5, 2014
We went to Mission Leadership Council this week and it was incredible as usual! President Clayton is so close to the Spirit. SO close. It's incredible to watch him as we council together. We had discussed a topic, and came to a conclusion. Then about 30 minutes later, President brought it up again and said that he feels we weren't finished discussing the matter. He suggested that we hold off until further discussion. He said, "It doesn't feel right yet, but I will know when it is right." We didn't talk about it any more in that meeting, but it will probably be on the agenda for next month. President also talked a lot about coming unto Christ. He mentioned that we as missionaries and members come unto Christ the same way we invite our investigators to. CPR. (Church, Pray, Read). He voiced his concern about missionaries who struggle and he got a little choked up about it. It was apparent that he has so much love for these missionaries and aches for them! He invited us to help the missionaries that are struggling to learn how to CPR. As missionaries we do these things everyday, but if we don't do it with real intent it will not change us. We will not feel the Atonement working in our life. I went on an exchange with a sister this week that needed this exact counsel of CPR. We talked about praying with real intent and I shared with her my testimony of what it feels like when your heart penetrates the veil... I can't even put it into words. I couldn't then either. I just know that prayer is real if we really do it. In the words of Henry B. Eyring, "[Sincere prayer] will surprise you and change you." We talked about studying the scriptures and the sacred hours we are blessed with to secure our grip on the iron rod. We talked about having a goal to find something everyday that fascinates and motivates. We talked about attending church and the Sacrament and how it is our time of the week to think about our relationship with the Savior. We talked about things we could do to make it more meaningful. I think it was Marion G. Romney that said something like, "You know you are speaking by the Spirit when you learn something from what you say." This was definitely one of those experiences. We both learned a lot from each other on that exchange and we both committed to focus on making CPR more meaningful. Back to MLC :) During the testimonies, people kept saying,"the gospel has changed my life." And I was thinking about that phrase... And I was thinking about who I was and who I am now. I have always had the gospel in my life, so I don't know what I would have been without it. The gospel indeed changes me everyday, but I think the gospel has also shaped my life. It is the blueprint of my decisions and has brought me more peace, joy, change, and hope than anything else. I am eternally grateful that I have had the gospel to shape my life and I chose to let it change my life.
We only got to meet with Wayne once this week, but he is making so much progress! He has decreased his smoking by half! He is telling his family about his decision to be baptized and they are happy to see the changes he is making. He is making many sacrifices and it's incredible to watch. He's even ended friendships that he knows are detrimental to his progression in the gospel. He's got a quit smoking date for the 10th. That's this Sunday. We're doing a stop smoking workshop with his this week, so pray for him to have the strength to quit!
Hieng came to the ward picnic yesterday and loved it! She brought her 2 year old son, Zachary, and he was a little apprehensive at first, but once he warmed up he ended up having lots of fun! We were able to give them a chapel tour after the picnic. It was amazing to watch Zachary notice the reverence of the church even though he is only 2. Children are so close to the Spirit. When we walked into the chapel, it felt as if we had walked into a different realm. We had been outside with lots of people playing games and laughing and having a great time, but when we walked into the chapel it was an instant difference. An instant sacred feeling of peace. It was a night and day difference even though both were feelings of happiness, they were different kinds of happy. I think sometimes when we talk with people and say we share a message that will bring them happiness, they feel like they don't need it because they think they are already happy. What they don't understand is that this is a lasting happiness. It isn't artificial and doesn't have an expiration date. That's why I feel it's important to let them feel it for themselves. I think Hieng felt that difference yesterday. I think my mission has helped me notice that difference in my own life.
Have a great week!
Love and Prayers, Sister Felix
"Our task is to become our best selves. One of God's greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final." -Thomas S. Monson
PS. Every week President sends an email with names of everyone who got baptized in the mission in that week, and someone I had taught last year got baptized!! I just wanted to share that because I'm extremely happy and excited right now!
We went to Mission Leadership Council this week and it was incredible as usual! President Clayton is so close to the Spirit. SO close. It's incredible to watch him as we council together. We had discussed a topic, and came to a conclusion. Then about 30 minutes later, President brought it up again and said that he feels we weren't finished discussing the matter. He suggested that we hold off until further discussion. He said, "It doesn't feel right yet, but I will know when it is right." We didn't talk about it any more in that meeting, but it will probably be on the agenda for next month. President also talked a lot about coming unto Christ. He mentioned that we as missionaries and members come unto Christ the same way we invite our investigators to. CPR. (Church, Pray, Read). He voiced his concern about missionaries who struggle and he got a little choked up about it. It was apparent that he has so much love for these missionaries and aches for them! He invited us to help the missionaries that are struggling to learn how to CPR. As missionaries we do these things everyday, but if we don't do it with real intent it will not change us. We will not feel the Atonement working in our life. I went on an exchange with a sister this week that needed this exact counsel of CPR. We talked about praying with real intent and I shared with her my testimony of what it feels like when your heart penetrates the veil... I can't even put it into words. I couldn't then either. I just know that prayer is real if we really do it. In the words of Henry B. Eyring, "[Sincere prayer] will surprise you and change you." We talked about studying the scriptures and the sacred hours we are blessed with to secure our grip on the iron rod. We talked about having a goal to find something everyday that fascinates and motivates. We talked about attending church and the Sacrament and how it is our time of the week to think about our relationship with the Savior. We talked about things we could do to make it more meaningful. I think it was Marion G. Romney that said something like, "You know you are speaking by the Spirit when you learn something from what you say." This was definitely one of those experiences. We both learned a lot from each other on that exchange and we both committed to focus on making CPR more meaningful. Back to MLC :) During the testimonies, people kept saying,"the gospel has changed my life." And I was thinking about that phrase... And I was thinking about who I was and who I am now. I have always had the gospel in my life, so I don't know what I would have been without it. The gospel indeed changes me everyday, but I think the gospel has also shaped my life. It is the blueprint of my decisions and has brought me more peace, joy, change, and hope than anything else. I am eternally grateful that I have had the gospel to shape my life and I chose to let it change my life.
We only got to meet with Wayne once this week, but he is making so much progress! He has decreased his smoking by half! He is telling his family about his decision to be baptized and they are happy to see the changes he is making. He is making many sacrifices and it's incredible to watch. He's even ended friendships that he knows are detrimental to his progression in the gospel. He's got a quit smoking date for the 10th. That's this Sunday. We're doing a stop smoking workshop with his this week, so pray for him to have the strength to quit!
Hieng came to the ward picnic yesterday and loved it! She brought her 2 year old son, Zachary, and he was a little apprehensive at first, but once he warmed up he ended up having lots of fun! We were able to give them a chapel tour after the picnic. It was amazing to watch Zachary notice the reverence of the church even though he is only 2. Children are so close to the Spirit. When we walked into the chapel, it felt as if we had walked into a different realm. We had been outside with lots of people playing games and laughing and having a great time, but when we walked into the chapel it was an instant difference. An instant sacred feeling of peace. It was a night and day difference even though both were feelings of happiness, they were different kinds of happy. I think sometimes when we talk with people and say we share a message that will bring them happiness, they feel like they don't need it because they think they are already happy. What they don't understand is that this is a lasting happiness. It isn't artificial and doesn't have an expiration date. That's why I feel it's important to let them feel it for themselves. I think Hieng felt that difference yesterday. I think my mission has helped me notice that difference in my own life.
Have a great week!
Love and Prayers, Sister Felix
"Our task is to become our best selves. One of God's greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final." -Thomas S. Monson
PS. Every week President sends an email with names of everyone who got baptized in the mission in that week, and someone I had taught last year got baptized!! I just wanted to share that because I'm extremely happy and excited right now!
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