Chapter 72: Miracles & Madness

Hi y'all! 

We had district pday last Monday and it was soooo fun! We played games at the church and did a fire pit! The church has a cute lil fire pit w/ some park benches in the woods behind it. We made lots of s'mores and found a bamboo forest! 

Tuesday was such a wacky day. Got up early for seminary and had dcm. we had one lesson that day with our friend Hieu. It was outside his restaurant downtown Spartanburg. After the lesson right as we started walking towards our car some girls about our age stopped us. They asked if we were Christians. We were like "yeah! How did you know?" One of them said "oh we could just tell when we walked passed y'all!". One of the best compliments ever in my opinion. They were a evangelical group from Ohio. We talked with them for a bit and they ended up asking if they could pray with us. Of course we said yes! So we all held hands outside this restaurant in a circle and one of the girls starts giving one of the most southern praise Jesus prayers I've ever been a part of. It was great! Everyone was giving so much prayer support and girl was getting super passionate about her prayer. Sister Ward was a queen and offered to pray for them as well. She got some prayer support too. Lots of "mmmmhmmms, yes Lords, thank you Lord, and yeses" were said during those prayers. Definitely an adventure of the South.

•our prayer group friends

Pi day was on Thursday. The members we had dinner with are so so amazing and we had lots and lots and lots of pie! We came outta there stuffed like a thanksgiving turkey.

Friday we were on exchanges with the Inman Sisters. I was with Sister Newren again! But this time in my area. It was good! We followed lots of bings and had some good lessons! We also had lunch with the Courtneys and I gotta see my baby goat again. Love that kid. And for dinner we had some corned beef and cabbage. It was suuuuper yummmy. But also I think it was not cooked all the way through. The lights were low in the members house, but that meat definitely still looked pink..

Saturday was a grind! Sister Ward and I have been working so hard and I have been in almost constant awe with all the miracles we're seeing daily! This area has so much potential and I am loving seeing it start to come about! 

Sunday night we had a Book of Mormon read with the Sisters in the zone. We've been doing come follow me every Sunday night. And last night was just perfect. Funny how things work out that way. It was a hard week. There were lots and lots of miracles, but I also still feel like I'm trudging through the days some times. And I do not want to be feeling this way my last few weeks. The cfm lesson was perfect because it was 2 Nephi 31, all about enduring to the end. The Spirit taught me so much in those few 30 minutes. 

Enduring to the end is much more than just staying where you're at and suffering through things until they're over. It's continuing to act on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, rather than be acted upon. It's remaining positive and finding the hope to continue. It's turning outwards and serving those around you who are even more weary. Verse 19 is now one of my favorite verses: 

"And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save."

We are not done. I am not done. There is still more to do. All we need to do is give our will to God and ask Him what He would have us do. To rely on Christ and the scriptures with unshaken faith. If we do that, the Lord will carry us further than we ever thought we could get. We will see changes within ourselves. 

Enduring to the end also means not going faster than we have strength. God knows when we put in our best. And our best changes every day. 

We would not be able to endure without feeling God's strengthening and comforting love. So, if you feel like all you're doing right now in your journey is enduring, start with remembering that God loves you. Jesus loves you. I love you. 

-Sister Ray

Pics:

•pics from mlc last week 

•pretty sky 

•weekly planning pic