November 18, 2013

Dear Family,

So many crazy things happened this week!!!

It started off TERRIBLY. Seriously, so many terrible things happened to us at the beginning of the week. But guess what? It's ok, because Heavenly Father always takes care of us and of course provided us with MAJOR blessings by the end of the week.

Last P-day we had to wash our car because we had zone conference the next day. The thing is that it was POORING RAIN outside and soooo cold. It took us way longer than we wanted it to (but hey, at least we aren't on bikes, right?) but we went home to rest and warm up a bit before our 6 p.m. dinner appointment... then our dinner appointment got cancelled. We were so bummed because we didn't know what else we were going to do and we certainly DID NOT want to tract in the freezing rain (which turned to snow eventually). But, as usual, Heavenly Father was watching out for us. 

The next day was Zone Conference. My last one! So sad! It was a great conference as usual and I got to bear my testimony at the end. At the beginning of the conference we said the mission motto (D&C 4, the Standard of Truth, My Purpose and the NYRM mission motto). While we were saying D&C 4 a part stuck out to me that says, "For behold the ^afield is white already to ^bharvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in ^cstore that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul." I was thinking about how we gain salvation for our own souls as we are out here laboring to help others gain salvation and another scripture popped into my head from Jacob in the allegory of the olive tree. There's a part that says "And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things." That is exactly how it happens: we as missionaries become fully converted because the Lord labors with us EVERY DAY. I know that is true. I've felt Him and seen Him so much in this work

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Moral of the story: perseverance and trust. Yes, the week started out horribly, but we are in Heavenly Father's hands and He is taking care of us. But more importantly than that, He is taking care of our investigators and less actives. He truly is preparing hearts!!!

Anyway, I'm about out of time. Only two more emails and I will be home?! Say what?

Love you all and miss you tons!

Love,

Sister Butters