My Dearest
Family,
Nothing
could ever be better than this! There is a missionary in our ward that just got
back from Taiwan Taipei and I was assigned to speak in Sacrament meeting along
with him. My talk was on "Growth in the Gospel." Bishop Culp assigned
it to me before he was released and it is such a special topic to me because I
think it perfectly describes the work we have been doing here and the
importance of not just "doing" but of "becoming" something
greater.
We
have been working SO hard lately. Training and being exchange sister has meant
that I leave my area a LOT for specialized trainings or for this and that. I
feel like I have been working OVERTIME and praying RELENTLESSLY and I LOVE it!
I am soooooooooo busy and I just couldn't wipe the smile off my face. The point
to that story is that hard work pays off. This Sunday was by far, the GREATEST
DAY OF MY WHOLE ENTIRE MISSION.
I'm
not sure if you remember me talking about her, but there is a woman named
Debbie that we have been meeting with. I know I was sent here to meet her. She
is my SOUL mate. My eyes are often moist when I think of her and the incredible
changes she is making in her life. I love her more than I think I could ever
love ANYONE. About a month ago we took her into the chapel to show her what it
looked like. She stopped at the door in her jeans and Aerosmith T-shirt and
merely peaked in, afraid to taint or offend by her choice of clothing. Standing
in that chapel in silence I asked her, "When am I going to
sit in here
with you Debbie?" Her response was merely a sly smile but an honest
knowing that soon she would be. (No matter how hard she tried to fight it) I
showed up last Friday to inform her that I would be giving a talk and that I
might be gone from here soon. I asked her directly. Once I am gone....what
steps will you take to move forward in the gospel? She looked at me with
knowing eyes and said, "I guess the next step is coming to church."
Words can't describe the experience nearly as well as I could in person. You
would have to know Debbie. But, yesterday, standing at those chapel doors and
seeing her
walk in was
the single-most incredible thing that has ever happened to me in my WHOLE
ENTIRE LIFE! I can't even describe it guys. There is no greater feeling then
when they first take those steps. But that’s not all... the new family we have
been teaching showed up with all of their family. The woman from China I told
you about a while back showed up and told us that she wanted to be baptized so she
can feel that happiness she feels every time we come to see her. Her english is not very good but she
handed me a letter and told me to read it. In that letter she talked about this
indescribable peace she feels when we come in her home. She thanked us for
teaching her about God and how to
pray and said
that she feels that her stress always goes away when she talks to Him. She feels the "Sister" change
the way her home feels and the way her son acts. She just glows. I cried my
eyeballs out when I read it. Martin and his family were there. Hailee and Lexie
and the Goodsells were there. This work is so great! This area is so
incredible. I have seen it grow and shape into the most incredible thing. SO
MANY MIRACLES! So I sat up there on the stand... looking out at members, less
actives, investigators that will soon be baptized and my heart is just
OVERFLOWING WITH LOVE! I know each and every one of those people. There is
literally not a single person in that room that
I have not
prayed with and for. I feel like a missionary. I feel blessed to have been able
to be even a small expression of God's love for them.
Thank
you so much for all you guys do for me! I love all the cute packages! Just ask
Sister Simons... I chomp at the bit and have to reason with myself to make sure
I don't open them early haha. I love you all and I pray for you lots! Thanks
for all the uplifting advice.
Love,
Sister Ashley
Rose Mitchell
(The happiest
Sister Missionary in the whole entire world)
(I'm NEVER
coming home!!!!!!!!)
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