Not Enough Time in the Day!

Dear Family,

         This week has been busy and full of incredible experiences. Our area is really picking up and it’s impossible to describe the growth that we have seen here in Dry Creek. Our Ward Council is INCREDIBLE and they are doing so many things to lift and strengthen and reach out. We told the Ward Council about a family we met and had been teaching and our High Priest Group Leader spoke up and told us that he was related to them! So it’s been great to have him involved so that they can ask him questions and they have an automatic support system. Our investigators are progressing really well and our days are always packed with the kind of work that just fills you up! I love it! Life couldn't be better!

         This past week I have been reflecting a lot on how often we let the things that are, "out of our control," bog us down and discourage us. It’s interesting how life is all about balance. If we commit ourselves FULLY to something, it is difficult to not be disappointed when the end goal is not achieved or we don't see the success we would have liked to. Is there a way to put all your effort, heart and soul into something without being disappointed? Is the solution to just withdraw? To have "less" passion or "less" excitement? Our Relief Society President is one of the most incredible people I have ever met. I have met a lot of women in the church who know how to take on "a lot." But what I find so incredible about her is not merely the amount of things she gets done... but the "way" she gets it done. It’s apparent in the way she talks to the sisters in the ward that she prays for them and reads from her scriptures diligently to learn how she can better strengthen them. I can't explain it, but there is power and love behind her words because she is LIVING the gospel. We always joke that I am going to be just like her someday because her maiden name is "Mitchell!"

         I have noticed that I have a tendency to sometimes bite off more than I can chew. I want to see ALL of our investigators and stop by with this and do that and extra extra extra. I have struggled when people describe the word "peace," wondering if I will ever feel it as consistently as they do. I stress and worry because I care right? Well in reading about humility in preach my gospel, a certain phrase stood out to me. It’s something like, "You will be confident that you can do whatever the Lord requires of you." Two things stand out. Confidence. And "What the LORD requires." It has been a great reminder this week that instead of being stressed and worried about all that I "didn't" do.... I can have confidence when I lean on the Lord and trust Him. I also took solace in knowing that it’s what the "LORD" expects of me... not all the crazy hard expectations I put on myself. I may want to see all 164 less-active members on our ward list in the short 15 spare minutes we may have.... but what does the Lord want me to accomplish this week? This was a crazy ramble of thoughts but I really am so very thankful for my mission. I am so thankful to be doing his work and to be serving with Sister Rupp. She is THE BEST! I have had so many experiences where I just KNOW we were meant to be companions. I have so much to learn from her. Do you think that mission companions were picked before this life? Well. I don't mean to make this email forever long but we had the COOLEST experience this week with one of our investigators. He has a business partner who just got baptized and invited him to come. While he was there, he felt the spirit really strongly and decided that he should check this out a little more. He started going to church with this friend and the missionaries over there gave us his number. We tried to setup an appointment with him several times but it was difficult because he had told us that his wife was NOT interested in "becoming a Mormon." We had a first lesson with him and I'm not entirely sure why but we committed him to at least introduce us to his wife. He was hesitant and said he would think about it. We fasted and prayed for them. Then we received a phone call this week from him setting up a time for us to come by. When we met her at first she looked...not so happy to see us? But by the end of the lesson she was in tears. We committed them to pray together as a family and then that next day we (Sister Adamson and I) took them on a chapel tour. It is just so incredible to see how the spirit works in the lives of these people. I love this gospel! I know the church is true and I am so thankful to have such a supportive and incredible family! I love you guys!

Love,

Sister Mitchell