Hey!
This week has been
wonderful! It has been a test of faith but so wonderful. Earlier this week, I
was really struggling just keeping my faith strong enough in the Lord to know
that things would pick up. Things have been slow, progressing forward but slow.
We are in a great need of investigators but it seemed like maybe we weren't
doing enough. That was definitely Satan and I tried not to let him in, but
sometimes, I am weak. :) Friday morning, I was really struggling and just lost
on what else we could do. I knew we could work harder but I didn't really have
the faith to want to do that since nothing had been happening.
We received an
amazing training from our Zone leaders about Hope and how we had been exercising
our faith and working and now we needed to have hope that things would work out.
The Gospel definition of Hope is sure, abiding and active. When I think of the
word Hope, I just think of "I hope something will happen." But the Gospel
version of Hope, allows us to really know that the things we Hope for will
happen, If we do our part.
That training really
helped me to put things in perspective. I was still struggling and just fighting
with myself about things and the Zone leaders afterwards asked if we were doing
okay and it was just a witness to me that Heavenly Father really does know that
thoughts of our hearts and those tender mercies are what help us to recognize
his hand in our lives. The Lord showed me he really does care and has an amazing
amount of Trust in us to find those that he has prepared. AND!!!!!! Then
MIRACLES happen...
Friday night we
were teaching a less-active in her home and we were just getting ready to go
over the Restoration and we hear a knock on her door. It happened to be her
neighbor who came in, sat down and asked if she could join. Both of our jaws
dropped and it kind of threw us off guard! We knew that the less-active had
previously already asked her if she wanted to learn more and she had said no and
we found out afterwards that the less-active had not seen her in about 2 months.
We were able to teach her and leave a book of Mormon with her to read and she is
really excited to read in it and we have a return appointment with her and the
less-active later this week. It was amazing and most definitely a Miracle and
tender mercy from the Lord. It hit me right after how much of a Miracle that was
when we left and we knelt down and said a prayer of gratitude and just cried. It
was amazing. I had never seen anything like it.
We also had a new
investigator that came to Church on Sunday and she is amazing and just so ready.
She seems to be searching for something and I think she is starting to recognize
that she might have found it. We have also been praying for a family to teach
and we think that she is the one. She has a beautiful family that is truly ready
to receive the Gospel.
We also were able to
find a lady who seems like she is going through a tough time right now and
invited us in when we had just meet her and that threw us off guard. We weren't
really sure what to do but we set a return appointment with her for this week as
well. We found 3 new investigators in 3 days that seem really promising. The
Lord really does know when to give out Miracles! It was just amazing and I have
literally felt my faith and hope and trust increase! Sometimes that is the test
of our faith. The Lord wants to see how much we truly trust in him and how much
we are willing to follow him even when things are hard. If we have faith, it
will be tested, and then the Miracles do come. I know that God is a God of
Miracles and he is willing to grant those Miracles. We must just exercise our
faith and hope in him. We truly can have a sure hope in Heavenly Father because
of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He made everything possible for us. It doesn't
matter what we go through, we can and will make it with the Help of the Savior.
I bear witness of that. I have seen it so strongly in the last week. I know that
the Savior lives and is there for each one of us. That Heavenly Father knows and
hears our hearts whether we tell him in prayer or otherwise. And he is always
there to stand by us even through those hard times. I am so grateful for the
prayers and encouragement from family and friends. Your prayers are truly felt
each day and especially through the hard times. I know that this is Christ's
True Church once again restored on the Earth and that the Book of Mormon is true
and is for us in this day and age to help us and guide us to find true happiness
that only comes from following the Lord and his commandments. It is amazing to
be a part of God's army and helping him find his lost sheep. I am so grateful
for all that He has given me. I love you all so much and truly appreciate every
prayer, thought and letter! Stay Strong! The Church is true! Sister
Haws
P.S. Hey! Sounds like things worked out with the car well! Glad
you have a safer car to drive. That other one made me nervous. haha. You are
exactly right about the kind of music we listen to. One little thing is a big
thing and can make the difference between our downfall. We see it all the time
out here. Those little choices we make can make a huge difference and affect the
rest of our lives. "By small and simple things are great things brought to
pass." Alma 37:6 (I think) and it works both ways. I never realized that music
had such a powerful effect on me till I came out here and only listen to
wholesome music and then go into a restaurant that has awful music...and
sometimes something that I used to listen to. Amazing how it works. We sure get
immune to the trashy things that are sometimes in the music world out there.
There is no where else I would rather be than here! It is the best! Love you
Sister Haws
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