Holy Moly, what a GREAT week!!!
And really weird... but we'll get to that in a minute.
So first off, I think I had about 79 "I'm so grateful I'm a missionary" moments this week, which was stellar and absolutely the best. The biggest news was our lesson with Denyse. But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself! First, we had a super duper cool experience on Wednesday. Elder Ballard, and Elder Rasband were going to Asia for something, and decided to stop in Anchorage for a couple of hours, and wanted to meet with the missionaries!!!! So of course we were bummed that we're all the way up here, but they were able to broadcast the whole meeting to us up here, as well as all the other missionaries not in the bowl (anchorage, wasilla, chugach). So that was the coolest thing ever, having them speak to us for a couple of hours. They told us that what they shared with us was exactly for OUR mission, and what each of us specifically needed to hear. How awesome is that?! It was a spirit booming meeting and I don't think there was a single missionary that couldn't feel that these two men were 100% apostles of the Lord. Very very cool.
So we were just on a spiritual high for the rest of the day from that. So we had an appointment with Denyse. So if you recall, Denyse is our investigator that's been investigating for awhile, and has a problem with the Book of Mormon, but is a very very spiritual person who absolutely loves meeting with us. So we headed over there, and the first thing she told us was how she LOVED the heart-attack we left on her door on Valentines day! She went on and on about it which made us super happy. So then, we started the lesson. Earlier in the week, we had decided that we needed to try focusing on Joseph Smith with her, because she wasn't getting anywhere with the book of mormon. So, Denyse tells us she watched the Testiments, and that had made the book of mormon make a little bit more sense, but it still didn't make sense in her mind, like the bible did. So, we whip out the scripture, D&C 8:2-3 about how the holy ghost can tell you in your heart, AND mind. Oh man. Denyse instantly sat up straight, and said 'I just got the goose bumps" and then started to cry. Then she said how she knew she was feeling the Spirit and she knew that what we were saying was true. Holy cow, I've never witnessed anything like that! So Sister Johnstun and I just start testifying about how we know that the Holy Ghost can help her feel of the B of M's truthfulness, and Denyse is still crying and agreeing with everything we're saying!! It was unreal. But then..... We knew we still wanted to talk about Joseph Smith, so we asked her if she's ever prayed to know if J.S. was a prophet of God. Same thing happened, she sat up, got the goose bumps and started crying again!!!! And then she told us how she never had, but how obviously that's what she needed to do, and how she now knew the new direction to take her search for the truth! By this point, we're all crying, bearing testimony, and sharing different insights. The Spirit was so thick, I thought I could touch it. I thought experiences like that were just stories! But no, they're REAL! It doesn't sound quite as cool now that I'm retelling it, but man was it insane. Easily the most incredible experience on my mission thus far, and probably my life. Huge testimony builder for me, and just exactly what I've been waiting to happen on my mission. So Denyse always talks about how she loves rainbows, because they're God's promise to us. So to add to all of this, when we stood up to leave, there was a rainbow on the floor, under S. Johnstuns foot, shining in through the window. We all freaked out. WOW!!! Denyse told us she's going to re-read the book of mormon with a different mind set, and that she can't wait to see what she finds! She was so excited to start reading it agian, it was awesome! So once we got out to the car, we are both just freaking out majorly. Like x100. MIRACLES HAPPEN. I really wish you all could have witnessed this experience because it was truly incredible. I've never seen God's hand so evident in our missionary work. And to be a part in it was just something out of this world :)
All my love, Sister Dall :)
And really weird... but we'll get to that in a minute.
So first off, I think I had about 79 "I'm so grateful I'm a missionary" moments this week, which was stellar and absolutely the best. The biggest news was our lesson with Denyse. But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself! First, we had a super duper cool experience on Wednesday. Elder Ballard, and Elder Rasband were going to Asia for something, and decided to stop in Anchorage for a couple of hours, and wanted to meet with the missionaries!!!! So of course we were bummed that we're all the way up here, but they were able to broadcast the whole meeting to us up here, as well as all the other missionaries not in the bowl (anchorage, wasilla, chugach). So that was the coolest thing ever, having them speak to us for a couple of hours. They told us that what they shared with us was exactly for OUR mission, and what each of us specifically needed to hear. How awesome is that?! It was a spirit booming meeting and I don't think there was a single missionary that couldn't feel that these two men were 100% apostles of the Lord. Very very cool.
So we were just on a spiritual high for the rest of the day from that. So we had an appointment with Denyse. So if you recall, Denyse is our investigator that's been investigating for awhile, and has a problem with the Book of Mormon, but is a very very spiritual person who absolutely loves meeting with us. So we headed over there, and the first thing she told us was how she LOVED the heart-attack we left on her door on Valentines day! She went on and on about it which made us super happy. So then, we started the lesson. Earlier in the week, we had decided that we needed to try focusing on Joseph Smith with her, because she wasn't getting anywhere with the book of mormon. So, Denyse tells us she watched the Testiments, and that had made the book of mormon make a little bit more sense, but it still didn't make sense in her mind, like the bible did. So, we whip out the scripture, D&C 8:2-3 about how the holy ghost can tell you in your heart, AND mind. Oh man. Denyse instantly sat up straight, and said 'I just got the goose bumps" and then started to cry. Then she said how she knew she was feeling the Spirit and she knew that what we were saying was true. Holy cow, I've never witnessed anything like that! So Sister Johnstun and I just start testifying about how we know that the Holy Ghost can help her feel of the B of M's truthfulness, and Denyse is still crying and agreeing with everything we're saying!! It was unreal. But then..... We knew we still wanted to talk about Joseph Smith, so we asked her if she's ever prayed to know if J.S. was a prophet of God. Same thing happened, she sat up, got the goose bumps and started crying again!!!! And then she told us how she never had, but how obviously that's what she needed to do, and how she now knew the new direction to take her search for the truth! By this point, we're all crying, bearing testimony, and sharing different insights. The Spirit was so thick, I thought I could touch it. I thought experiences like that were just stories! But no, they're REAL! It doesn't sound quite as cool now that I'm retelling it, but man was it insane. Easily the most incredible experience on my mission thus far, and probably my life. Huge testimony builder for me, and just exactly what I've been waiting to happen on my mission. So Denyse always talks about how she loves rainbows, because they're God's promise to us. So to add to all of this, when we stood up to leave, there was a rainbow on the floor, under S. Johnstuns foot, shining in through the window. We all freaked out. WOW!!! Denyse told us she's going to re-read the book of mormon with a different mind set, and that she can't wait to see what she finds! She was so excited to start reading it agian, it was awesome! So once we got out to the car, we are both just freaking out majorly. Like x100. MIRACLES HAPPEN. I really wish you all could have witnessed this experience because it was truly incredible. I've never seen God's hand so evident in our missionary work. And to be a part in it was just something out of this world :)
Alright, so other news..... WE SAW THE NORTHERN LIGHTS AGAIN!!! and like 10x better than before! Here's the deal. We got in at 9 for the night, and I looked up and saw them, about how we had seen them last time. But, we realized it was only 9, so we totally drove out of town to see them better!! We grabbed our cameras and the 2nd sisters and drove about 7 miles outside the town and pulled over where there were no lights at all. Yep, I'm not even going to try and explain how incredible it was. They were SO bright, and right there! And dancing all over the whole sky! My camera didn't even come close to capturing them, so you'll just have to use your imagination on this one. Ahhhh but it was so cool. How can people see something like that and not believe in a God?! While we were standing there, it just hit me. I'm in ALASKA!!! woo hoo!! So, I'm convinced that since we had stayed in the night before, when we wanted to go out to see them, Heavenly Father let us see them this time, even better! Exact obedience brings miracles!
Other big news. Saturday night, it rained a bunch, and then got cold. So Sunday morning we wake up to find just pure ice EVERYWHERE. Absolutely covering the roads, sidewalks and driveways. It was like a huge ice-skating rink! Like seriously a couple inches of hard slick ice. So, we got a couple texts that church was cancelled. That's right, cancelled.
NOOOOOOO.
So we had to call Andrea and tell her :( I was sooo bummed. They won't cancel it for -40 degrees, but they'll cancel it for icy roads. Guess that tells you how bad it was. We also got the orders to stay inside all day. ugg how boring! I thought I was going to die. But, we found out that the YSA branch was still passing the sacrament, so what did we do? We walked! It was about a 45 minute walk one way and it was so fun! Luckily it was only about 30 degrees, but super slippery. haha I think the brave cars that were out on the road had a great time watching us walk along the road slipping all over the place. So yep, that happened. And they almost had us stay in today, but the roads aren't as bad anymore, so here we find ourselves. #onlyinalaska
NOOOOOOO.
So we had to call Andrea and tell her :( I was sooo bummed. They won't cancel it for -40 degrees, but they'll cancel it for icy roads. Guess that tells you how bad it was. We also got the orders to stay inside all day. ugg how boring! I thought I was going to die. But, we found out that the YSA branch was still passing the sacrament, so what did we do? We walked! It was about a 45 minute walk one way and it was so fun! Luckily it was only about 30 degrees, but super slippery. haha I think the brave cars that were out on the road had a great time watching us walk along the road slipping all over the place. So yep, that happened. And they almost had us stay in today, but the roads aren't as bad anymore, so here we find ourselves. #onlyinalaska
Alright, sorry this is so incredibly long, but I wanted to leave you all with a short thought. There's a scripture in 2 Nephi 9:39 and at the end is says 'and to be spiritually minded is life eternal.' Pretty profound. But wait. Take the first letter of the last five words, and put them together. - S.M.I.L.E. whoa!!!!! Cool! So think about that, to be spiritually minded, you're closer to gaining eternal life, and in turn you'll be smiling!! God doesn't want us to be unhappy as we endure to the end, he was us to be enjoying to the end! So as we're mindful of the things that we're doing, remember to be staying spiritually minded because you'll be happier, and you'll be closer to God and your eternal life :)
I hope your week goes great and that you see some hand of God moments, because those are what keep nourishing our testimonies! I love you all soooo much and always pray for you!
All my love, Sister Dall :)
No comments:
Post a Comment