Missionary Fun in Columbia

Fare Thee Well, Columbia!

Welp, it happened again...I am getting transferred. I don't know what the deal is, but I have realized that this is the 3rd time in 3 months that I have had to pack up all of my stuff! I don't particularly care for it, but hey waddya do? The Lord has a plan for us all right! But I am whitewashing (again) into Parkway MO which is really close to St. Louis! I am stoked for the city and to finally be able to see the Arch!!!

One miracle stands out in particular this week to me that I would like to mention! So lately, I have just been struggling with feeling like I am not a good missionary and that every missionary around me is better than I am. They are more obedient, see more miracles, get more investigators, etc. Well the Lord definitely showed me that that is not true. Monday night, a member had her friend from work cut our hair for free! So all 4 of us went over to the members home and ate dinner and wrote letters and got our hair cut. Well, the friend isn't a member so of course we brought up the church with her. Well, after we finished getting our hair cut, we taught the Restoration. Somehow the lesson focused on how the Gospel fills holes in our hearts that we never knew we had. The member actually shared a touching story about some of her struggles that she has experienced in her life. After that, her friend did as well. The Spirit was soooo strong, no one could deny it was there. While the member was talking, I was thinking about how much I love her. Like, my heart wanted to burst at the thought of how much I love her. Then, a thought popped into my head, it was " Now think about how much Heavenly Father loves her." Then I started crying. Then more thoughts came. "I sent you to this mission to be Sister Bailey and not anybody else. I want you to use the talents that I gave you to help and bless those around you." Heavenly Father answered my prayers. I realized that my talents are to love as much as I can to help bring others unto Christ. This is why I am here and this is why I am on a mission. I realized also that these are real live people we are teaching. They desire and yearn for that sense of love and belonging and we can show them that the way to find it is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It stinks to leave Columbia--I won't lie. I LOVE the people here. To have seen this area come alive from when we found it dead when we got here has been remarkable! I cried when I found out I was leaving. I didn't understand why I had to leave now, I truly felt like I wasn't ready. So the night of transfer calls, I knelt down and had an amazing conversation with Heavenly Father. I prayed that he would help me understand His will and help me align my will with His. I again cried! (haha sorry for my female-ness). But now I have peace. I know that everything happens according to God's will and he knows better then we do.

My experiences in Columbia have truly taught me about humility. That this is the Lord's work and it is not about us at all. I have learned that I am such a weak person, but that God uses small and simple things (like me) to bring about His great and eternal purposes! I realized God is not a God of coincidences, and that things happen to us to help us learn and grow. And I realized that the Lord loves me more than I can ever imagine. I love being a missionary and I love bearing my testimony every single day. Its astounding to me that I get to do this for 18 months! Crazy!

P-day Fun with the Other Missionaries

Jennifer Got Baptized!

Other than those periodic wacky, funny moments, this week was greaat!!!! Mainly because Jennifer got baptized. Although, this week in preparing for her baptism, we ran into some obstacles. But, each hurdle we faced, the Lord provided a way for Jennifer to enter into the waters of baptism. The day of her baptism was wonderful. She was radiating with joy. At the end of the service she bore her testimony and it was soo touching. She said she knew that the Church was true and that she was able to sacrifice a lot of things to get to baptism through the power of God. I actually teared up during the closing song because the Spirit was so strong. While I was standing in the starewell of the font, watching Jennifer be baptized, I realized how amazing my calling is. (And for you missionaries out there, it felt like a scene straight out of the District). Seeing someone become clean and come unto Christ is so fulfilling and rewarding. I love the Gospel man.

 

Our other investigator that I want to mention is doing sooooo well too. He was progressing well for quite awhile then he went on vacation and we lost him a little. But then we sat down with him and had some powerful, bold, and goal-setting lessons and now he is back on track again! Actually, he is above and beyond that. He came to FHE on Monday of his own will and when we committed him to read the New Testament, he read it in 2 days. He is so amazing. He said in a lesson this week that he realized that he can only find true happiness when living this Gospel.

 

This week, we made it a goal to truly go back to the Basics. So this week in my studies I have just been studying the tools and training manuals that we were given in the MTC. Man has that been amazing. Something that I realized I needed to work on this week is taking every opportunity to testify. And I feel like since the Lord knew this was my goal, He provided a way for me to fulfill it. Yesterday, we got a text from the Elders old investgiator asking us to meet up. Well we told him that it was actually a sisters area now but we would still love to meet up. So, we met up with him, and come to find out, he knows EVERYTHING about the church. He has read all the standard works and actaully has been to an open house of the temple. But he decided against joining. We don't know all the reasons why, but I took the opportunity to boldly bear my testimony of the gospel and the Book of Mormon. I told him I knew I couldn't have him leave without me powerfully bearing my testimony. I don't remember everything I said, but afterwards I was kind shaking.  My experience with him made me realize how truly important the simple principles and doctrines of the Gospel are what we need to center our lives around. I am just so grateful for our loving Heavenly Father.

 

So since this marks the end of this transfer, I just want to say that something I have learned these past 6 weeks is that there are nooo coincidences. Everything we learn, experience, and everyone that we interract with we are supopsed to learn and grow from. But that's the cool thing about agency, we have the choice to take what we learn, and ACT. I love this Church, I love my Savior, and I love the Book of Mormon.

 

 

A Taste of Spring

So this week it has super warmed up! I didn't even have to wear boots or tights or a coat! It was very refreshing. Then the universe was like "psych...." and it got super cold again. Despite the tease, I know Spring is around the corner and it's coming! I am just waiting for it.

Some really, really awesome things happened this week which I am going to highlight. First, because we are serving on a University campus, we are trying to get creative on how to do missionary work and utilize the campus. So on Wednesday, we served hot chocolate at this spot on campus where EVERYBODY goes. It was soooo fun! We talked to so many people and handed out a ton of mormon.org cards. Plus, a lot of the members came and helped. It was so great to see the members take time and do missionary work. It was like they didn't even need us. We all had a ton of fun doing it too. Its not missionary work it's missionary fun! It was awesome to get our name out there and plant a bunch of seeds.

Another awesome moment is our investigator Jennifer! She is fantastic! She loves the gospel a ton and is just willing to sacrifice whatever because she knows this gospel is true. This week we taught the Word of Wisdom. Well, we knew it would be a little difficult for her so we brought our branch mission leader to give her a blessing after the lesson. It was probably one of the most powerful priesthood blessings I have ever witnessed. The Spirit was so strong in the room; it was almost tangible. You could even see a huge difference in Jennifer and her countenance. I am so grateful that I was able to witness such a wonderful manifestation of God's power on the earth and that my faith was able to be apart of it. The Priesthood is such an amazing gift. Another instance, Jennifer called us Sunday morning and she said that she wasn't going to be able to make it to church because she was really sick, but we told her that if she didn't come we would have to move her baptism back a week (because they have to come 3 times to church before baptism). Well, she called us back and was like no way man and she came to church and stuck it out all 3 hrs. Her faith and willingness to do whatever the Lord asks truly inspires me. I feel like I learn more from her than she learns from us.

This week just marked periods of self discovery. I realized that God loves me and His children very much. That the Atonement is soooo real. That Joseph Smith is a prophet and he Restored Christ's Church in these Latter -Days. I realized that every experience we have, whether difficult or easy, is not a coincidence. That although we have the Plan of Salvation, God has His own individualized plan as well for each of us. I love this Gospel with my whole heart. Sometimes missions aren't easy, but there is nowhere I would rather be. Due to this self discvery, I have decided that I am going to take this opportunity to be a missionary one day at a time and cherish every moment that I have. Every day I am going to devote to understanding the Savior and His Atonement and my calling to serve Him.

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

This week has just been a giant emotional rollercoaster. I can't even describe it. I expected things like this to happen on my mission but things have been good for the past 6 months so I guess it was about time for the storm.

I first wanna do a shoutout to my Aunt Danielle who is suffering from cancer. I was able to fast for her on Sunday so I hope she was able to recieve those blessings. For those of you who don't know, my Aunt is currently suffering from Stage 4 Breast Cancer and her condition has worsened. Luckily, I was able to talk to her on the phone this week and say goodbye. Just want to say how much I love you, Aunt Dan!

 

In addition to the family stuff, I just have been struggling. For a pick me up, Sister Firestone and I made Tender Mercy Lists. It was so amazing! I really realized how much the Lord blesses us without even realizing it. The Lord knows and loves us soo individually that he even gives us blessings that are so specific to what makes us happy. I have seen that so much this week and throughout my life. Man I know the Lord loves me.

 

A miracle of the week... So we started teaching a member referral named Caleb. The first lesson with him was awesome. He totally was into everything we said and he seemed to really take it in and ponder and even believe it! WE felt really good about the lesson but then when the member invited him to church, he sorta freaked out..... He felt like he was being pushed and realized that if he accepted the gospel hed have to make some changes. So we tried to call him and to set up another lesson but he never answered. I was sick to my stomach with worry! I prayed so hard and so much for him this week. And then on Tuesday....He called us!!!!!! He said hed love to meet again on Saturday. So we met again and addressed his concerns and it went wonderful! He felt much more comfortable and even said that when he reads the Book of Mormon her feels good!! That's a dream to hear that! And he also texted the member and told her the lesson went great! He truly and sincerely seeks the truth and we could just tell how prepared he is for the gospel! He's such a great guy! It was a wonderful miracle to witness.

 

This week I have truly felt the Lord answering my prayers. I have felt him lift me up and help me keep going. This morning I read a talk about the strengthening and ennabling power of the Atonement. It was exactly what I needed to hear. It testified to me that the Atonement does more than just heal us and provide comfort, it strengthens us and ennables us to change. The gospel is so amazing and so life changing. I know the Atonement is the reason we are even able to exist. Sometimes we face trials and we have our own spiritual storms, but the Lord will immediately stretch forth His hand to elad and guide us!

 

 

Sacrifice Brings Forth the Blessings of Heaven

Hello Fam and Friends. This week marks a turning point for me (just like every other week in my mission but hey waddyado) and I have felt a sincere change in heart concerning somethings, hence the title of this email.

First, YIREN GOT BAPTIZED. He is seriously the cutest little asian boy ever, I just wanna hug him. His baptism was wonderful. He was grinning from ear to ear and he kept saying how he felt such peace. He said he even spent the rest of the day telling his family and friends all about his baptism. We could definitely tell something changed within him when he received the Holy Ghost! It was a fantastic moment! I am so stoked to see where he goes in life and how much this gospel will bless him.

This week we had Zone Conference and the theme was "Raising the Bar." We received trainings on how we need to raise the bar as missionaries if we want to reach our goal of 521 baptisms and if we want to see miracles. We also received some devastating news, which actually ended up being a blessing, that our new music policy is strictly Mormon Tabernacle choir and that we can't read any talks unless they came from Conference or the Ensign. I was at first angry, then heartbroken. But as the trainings went on and I prayed and pondered the rest of the week, I realized how selfish and prideful I was being. If I sustain President Morgan as a man called of God and if he feels inspired by the Lord to have this policy, then who am I to disagree or disobey. I realized that because Christ made the ultimate sacrifice for us, He will never ask us to make too great of a sacrifice. So I purged. I have a pile of things ready to send home. 

Those miracles include, we received a media referral this week of a woman who is blind. When we called her, she didn't answer, but she called us back and left a voicemail. In the voicemail she elaborated on how she came into contact with the church and how she wants to get baptized asap. For those of you who don't know, THIS IS EVERY MISSIONARIES DREAM!!!!!! So we visited her and set a baptismal date for March 1! She is so sweet and so receptive to the gospel! Plus, she came to Church yesterday, brought a friend, and they both LOVED church! It was great! Man the church is true.

Last story, so we picked up an investigator a couple weeks ago and he has been attending church and reading the Book Of Mormon. He is a super sweet and spiritual guy, but really critical and analytical of the Book Of Mormon. So we had him pray to get his answer a couple of weeks ago. So this last lesson we had with him, we finally asked him if he prayed and received an answer. He said he believes the Book Of Mormon is not true and that Joseph Smith isnt a prophet. I was heartbroken. He said although, he was do further research and give us a chance to prove it to him. I told him that that wasn't our purpose and we don't have to prove the truthfulness of the Book Of Mormon. I testified to him with my whole heart and soul of its truthfulness and that if he sincerely asked, God would tell him. I felt myself speak with more power and authority then I though possible. I realized how we have such a special calling as missionaries! But after that, it sort of was like a goodbye and he cried. I am unsure why he cried, but he wrote us a note and said what we testified of truly touched him and that he will keeping reading the Book Of Mormon seeking its truthfulness. I don't know what will happen to him, but I eally truly felt the Lord working through us. I know the Lord has His own plan in His own time though.

Well the Church is true. I love being a missioanry and I love my Savior. Thanks for the support and love.