Transfer 9 Week 4

There is really not much to say about this week, but there was a few random moments here that made up our week. 

We took the sweetest Norwegian family on a tour, Sister Christensen passed-off! We went to the Lion House, had Explore day! We watched the new initiative Because He Lives (which is incredible!), met incredible RM's from the Nashville Tennessee Mission, But something happened, that taught me so much and that I too be honest am still learning and grasping more understanding as I write.

Last Saturday we met a man who was traveling from the East Coast for a convention, totally a normal thing! Got chatting and then he said "I was hoping to attend a sacrament service tomorrow if possible" Of course we just about died because that NEVER happens and so we got the information for him and we got talking, he wasn't by any means expecting a religious conversation, even though he even said "which is weird, because I'm here!" we shared some things about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon and then made a time to meet the next day. We were in communication and after Music and the Spoken Word we met with him. We sat down and went over the Restoration and even invited him to be baptized and he said YES! It was so amazing and the Spirit was so incredibly strong, we went to church with him, which was a really cool experience for us, again, this never happens! He enjoyed church and was excited to hang around Temple Square the rest of the day until he had to catch his flight back. This was incredible, an absolute miracle! We were so excited to keep in contact and we finally got to call him today! We talked and the more he was talking the more I realized... hold on... he is dropping us... My heart hasn't broken like that in a long time... I felt like I had never been dropped before and this was the first time. He loves the church, loves what we do and our standards and what we believe... but he doesn't believe in a critical part of the Restoration. It's hard, this week has been the lest successful week of my entire mission in the ways of lessons and investigators, I have had hard weeks before, but not like this. But something was said this week in our Zone Meeting and it was "You can count the seeds in the apple, but you can't count the apples in the seed."

It's hard, and just like Jeffery R Holland said "I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? " Today I was reminded of this and of the Saviors Atonement, as all of these things happen in our daily missionary work, and I know that what I am feeling is just a small, even microscopic portion of what the Savior went through when performing the Atonement, he hurt for us He himself physically broken because of everything that He was experiencing for every single one of us individually. By going through these things, these feelings, tears, heart break, everything else. I am walking by the Savior at this time just as Elder Jeffery R. Holland continues to say "When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him—the Way, the Truth, and the Life.". 

I know that by trusting in Jesus Christ and His Atonement that he so willingly and lovingly gave (John 10:17-18) I can find the path that He needs me to be on. Just like it was said in President Thomas S. Monson's talk last April conference. "...physically walking where Jesus walked is less important than walking as He walked." We in life will walk the paths He walked, of disappointment, temptation, pain, but we can also with Jesus walk the path of obedience, prayer, service, and we walk the path with him, "We will have no doubt that we are on a path which our Father would have us follow. The Savior’s example provides a framework for everything that we do, and His words provide an unfailing guide."

We may not understand everything and I certainly don't but I know that as I strive to reach out to my Savior, to call out, cry out to Him, He is here with me. He is on my side and I will know and feel of his love, as I pray with all I have, as I study the scriptures, ponder them and have them be a part of me I will come to know how the voice of the Divine sounds and feels like. (Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority - By Elder Richard G. Scott). And I find comfort in the promise given that "He came from God as a God to bind up the brokenhearted, to dry the tears from every eye, to proclaim liberty to the captive and open the prison doors to them that are bound. I promise that because of your faithful response to the call to spread the gospel,He will bind up your broken hearts, dry your tears, and set you and your families free. That is my missionary promise to you and your missionary message to the world."

I have faith in this promise and I have seen it come to pass many times, I am so grateful for the Atonement and how everything is simply an appendage to it. Without the Atonement of Jesus Christ, everything we have would be meaningless. I am coming to understand that more and more as every day passes by. I love my Savior so much, I am willing and ready to give all I have and it's hard but step by step and through the Atonement, it's happening. I am so grateful for a gospel that allows imperfect people to have a hope in Christ and in Eternal Life which will be given to us as we "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end" (2 Nephi 31:20). As I use the Atonement and continue to unlock doors I never knew existed, as I do all I can to seek and find the Savior and have that even greater relationship with him. 

This isn't at all how I planned my email today but if anything I needed to write it to receive the revelation I did, as I go through this time in my mission, and it is my prayer and it was able to help you also. My invitation to you is to seek Him out, really discover, embrace and and share the blessings of Jesus Christ Atonement, and 2 ways you can do this is 1. Checking outHeLives.mormon.org and 2. Really praying, studying the Scriptures and pondering about how you can come closer to Jesus Christ and what action steps to take next. 

I know that as you do this, things will be unfolded into your view in a way you never expected, be open to it because the Lord works in mysterious ways! And when those things happen, if it be hard or easy, it will be glorious and a wonderful lesson learned. 

Love, Sister Ryan xx

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 Explore Day 

More from Explore Day 

Lion House Dinner, I love this companionship so much! :D 

Lion House Dinner, I love this companionship so much! :D 

More from Explore day,

It's like my first transfer all over again! 

                More from Explore day,

Transfer 9 Week 3

It's that time of week again! - not sure if what I will write will make sense, but here we go!

This week there was a lot more spiritual and emotional growth that happened then anything else, it was a crazy week! But we had Zone Conference, which is always amazing! It was incredible because it was all centered on the Atonement and Consecration. It was incredible being able to hear Sisters testimonies of the Atonement and how it has helped them in their lives, knowing how we can testify of it to our investigators and those we meet on the Square.
The Atonement truly is "the central act of human history, the pivotal point in all time, the doctrine of doctrines." It was really made evident to me that without the Atonement all else in life would be meaningless, which makes sense as it has been such a central thing in my mission as I feel every transfer I discover and open at least one new door to the Atonement. Another amazing thing talked about in Zone Conference was understanding how we can be more fully consecrated in our missions by having purpose focused discussion.
Sister Christensen and I set a goal to only talk about P-day topics, on P-day, and to have our hearts and minds centered on the work at all times and to help each other out with that! It has been hard, but a really incredible experience and when they talked about it in the Zone Conference I knew the goal we had set was truly inspired and that we were on the right path. It's not easy, but we have been able to see little miracles here and there because of that, also we have grown so much closer as a companionship and have greater unity because of it.
However there is a price.... and that is what I learned this week, actually just yesterday...

When we are on a good path, when we are giving everything we can and have to the Lord, that is when Satan tries to come along and tries to tear you down, because he knows how great you can be if you give everything and put it on the alter of sacrifice! He knows what power comes from a purpose centered and consecrated missionary, he knows the miracles that can he had, the happiness and success and the eternities that can be changed because of this. So naturally, we we know he wants us to be miserable like unto himself (2 Nephi 2:27). He has been attacking from every angle, making good things and turning them into doubt and fear and confusion, it was really hard and I wont go into the details, but suffice it to say that I am surprised that I still had makeup on after a good talk with some other Sisters, that through that I was able to receive some revelation concerning the situation and some guidance concerning the matters that were clouding my mind.

I know this is a very different email to what I normally send, but the reason I am saying all of this is to testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior, that His atonement is real and infinite and we can constantly be discovering and opening new doors of it every moment of our lifes, He is the Prince of Peace. Also, we as members of the church have been blessed to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, as Joseph Smith said “No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations." The Holy Ghost has so many roles and for me in my life it has two main roles, especially on my mission, 1. Comfort (John 14:27) 2. Guidance and Revelation (D&C 9:7-9, 6:23, Moroni 7:13,16-17, 1 Corinthians 2:9–11, John 14:26, 2 Nephi 32:1–5 etc, the list goes on).
It is so incredible to know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know us so perfectly, I know that the Lord knows he needs to prepare me for things so that when the time comes when it is truly important, I know how to apply what he has taught me through these past experience, that he knows me through my Patriarchal Blessing, which is always a guide and comfort, even if it is just one new sentence that stands out when you read it! I know that they knew me for eternity before this life and I was with them, that is how they are able to help me in all that I do. Just like it says in the hymn 'Count Your Blessings', "help and comfort give you till your journeys end".

I was on exchanges this week with the most amazing Sister Missionary I have ever met, she is incredible and from Kiribati, she has an incredible story and has such strong faith and love for the Lord. We were talking to a member on the Square and then there was a text to take a movie in 15 minutes, we were already there and so we said we would take it, so the time came and it was a lovely father and daughter wanting to see Gods Plan for His Family, as we went through it and as we ended, sharing our feelings about it all and sharing personal stories about family, friends, mission, illness etc. I realized that there was a reason we personally had to take them, we needed them as much as they needed us in that moment. It was a moment where "Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together." perfectly came to pass. Then something was said that I think will change me forever, the daughter was talking about an experience in her mission and she said someone told her something that stuck with her and it has and will for me now to, she said "We preach the Gospel of Faith, not fear!" 
I am excited to let this profound saying change me into a more faithful and fearless daughter of God, I know that "perfect love casteth out all fear" (Moroni 8:16) and that as I remember the love the Lord has for me and as I show my love to Him, by having my eye single to the glory of God and to this sacred work we have been called to, fear will be cast out and I will have a greater hope and abiding trust in the Lord. It's going to be hard and it has been, but I'm excited for it and to reap the fruits of these lessons I'm learning.

I love the gospel so much, I don't understand how anyone who believes in God and believes the Bible can say that this is not true. This truly is Jesus Christ Restored gospel on the earth today, through a living prophet, just as powerful and amazing as the prophets of the Old Testament. You only have to read the scriptures and pray to know, it all makes sense the the blueprint is the same (What Is the Blueprint of Christ's Church? - Elder Tad R. Callister), The Book of Mormon truly is a means by which we can more fully know our Savior as it is Another Testament of Him. I love being a missionary and doing this work, it is an honor and privilege to know that we as missionaries represent the greatest being to ever walk the face of the earth at this time, where the gospel is so needed in a world of chaos and turmoil. What peace it brings to those that heed the words of the prophets, seers and revelators!

I love you all, thank-you for all you do. Stay Strong, Keep Smiling, Love the Lord.

Love, Sister Ryan xx 

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                                        Happy St. Patricks Day from Sister Christensen and I