SISTER ZACKRISON: The Lord is Good :)

Hey y’all! This week was so great. The Lord is good. Just like the subject says. We saw so many blessings this week, and I just feel so lucky to be here in this area. It has also been raining this week, and the weather has been a bit cooler. I will gladly take the rain over the heat and humidity. The weather changes faster than it does in Utah though…so we don’t really ever know what to expect. Thanks for your prayers…the heat hasn’t gotten me yet! And July is almost over. Where did it go? Really though, it is almost August, and almost the end of the transfer. It ends on August 6th.

We witnessed a miracle this week. It made me so happy.

We witnessed a miracle this week. It made me so happy. Tawana came to church!!! It was simply amazing. She is one of the most prepared people I have ever met. She is a nurse, and works every other Sunday. She hasn’t been able to make it to church until yesterday. First of all, she got to church 15 minutes early, dressed in her best Sunday clothes. We took her on a tour of the building, and explained again what we would be doing while at church. Everyone came up and introduced themselves to her, and they were all so kind. As Sacrament meeting began, each talk addressed how to follow the spirit, and relying on the Lord. This is EXACTLY what she is struggling with. It was perfect. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of peace as the spirit testified to me that the Lord really does hear our prayers. He really knows us.

In gospel principles, she answered a question about why we need modern day prophets, and in relief society she was welcomed and surrounded by women who were trying to get to know her. It was one of the best experiences I have had with an investigator at church. As she walked out, she told us how much she loved it, and how excited she was to come again and bring her kids. Her kids have been with her Mom in Florida for the summer, and return in a few weeks. I really hope that I can see her baptism. She hasn’t set a date yet, but she is close! I feel so blessed to be able to learn from her faith, and to be able to teach her about the gospel.

Our other investigator Kristina is doing well too. She was able to go to youth conference, and really enjoyed it. She has learned pretty much everything, and so we are starting to teach her church history. It has been going well. She has to wait until she is 18 to be baptized unless her parent’s hearts are softened. We love her a lot.

Game Night

We had a game night with the cutest family ever. They aren’t members, but they have a lot of member friends. They love us! Erika, the mom, even wants me to come back and live with them with I finish my mission. We played memory with them, and their son Zach always wins. So Sister Petersen and I teamed up on him and won! It was a lot of fun, and they are such a blessing!

I have been having some really great scripture studies lately. I have found a few verses that have made me chuckle as they reminded me of the south. We even found a street sign that was from the bible. We missed the fact that it was leading to a Baptist church until after we had taken the picture…but oh well! haha. One of them is found in Luke 10:8. It says:

And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.

haha we really have seen southern hospitality in its finest, and we are fed a lot of crazy things! This scripture just made me laugh.

Another southern scripture is found in Luke 12:55.

And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

Totally not meant to be funny…but when applied to a southern missionary…it is kind of funny. haha. But, I have also been able to read some really great things. I know that I am part of the gathering of Israel which is spoken of in 1 Nephi 10. Verse 13 really struck me. It says:

Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.

The gospel helps bad people become good. And it helps good people become even better.

We will all enter heaven in one accord. We will all be united in the same faith. The scattering had to happen so that we could come and gather those who are receiving the gospel. It was so cool to realize I am a part of that process! I heard a quote this week that said, “The gospel helps bad people become good. And it helps good people become even better.” I loved that. We are the agents which people can be made better. Each of us have a part to play in the gathering of Israel, and we each can help those around us to see their potential. I would like to leave another quote. It says,

When you love what you have, you have everything you need.

Y’all, we have everything we need with the gospel. Let us show our love for it by sharing it with those around us. The Lord needs each of our voices and valuable contributions to make this work move. Show what you love, and love those who need what we have.

The Street Sign Is From The Bible

I love y’all, and I love being a missionary. This work is like nothing I have ever experienced before. I would never give this up. I hope y’all don’t either.

Have a good week!