Hello to all!
This week’s definitely one for the books! First off, it’s Hermana Aguilera’s birthday! She's a whole 22 years of age! Those of you who still have access to Taylor Swift songs, please listen to her title of the same name and enjoy by way of celebration. Additionally, this means that my birthday is in two weeks (and one day). Any suggestions as to how to commemorate my last days of true teenagedom? Is the idea to share the message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? If so, the Bowling Green sisters are on the case! But on to what we actually did.
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| This was before our lesson with Liam, the coolest guy ever, whom we have to pass off because he lives in the other mission, but it’s OK. |
First off, I love the people! They are seriously the best! The missionaries, the members, the people we’re teaching. It’s been awesome. We got to attend the baptism of the youngest kid in a member family that was so tender. Their daughter who’s 15 gave a talk on the gift of the Holy Ghost that was super powerful. Shoutout to Moira. Also, the opportunity to attend a baptism is one of the sweetest experiences to have ever, especially as a missionary.
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| The Primary children decorated copies of the Book of Mormon for us and wrote their testimonies inside. It’s so tender. |
Our friends have been progressing so well! I’m excited about Angel and Liz in particular, who are two of the sweetest women on the planet! They have such awesome member friends in the ward who are starting to strengthen their involvement in the gospel, and I’m so happy just seeing them progress and become happier with what they’re learning.
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| A couple of cuties on a walk |
Even though this week has been beautiful, there are hard parts to it. We’ve been rejected, frustrated, and grown physically, spiritually and emotionally tired. It’s part of missionary work. Something that was especially difficult is that we had to cancel the baptism for someone we were teaching because they aren’t ready for various reasons. They had chosen this Saturday before Hermana Aguilera and I even came to Bowling Green. It’s definitely not fun to see someone's actions not align with their desires. But the day we put this person off date, someone who was previously taught reached out to us. He’s been having a hard time, but he told us that he opened his Book of Mormon and turned to this scripture in Helaman 3:
28 Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.
He then wrote:
“I’m glad Heavenly Father reminded me the gate of heaven is open.
It isn’t closed.
His blessing, grace, peace are open to me. Not closed.”
It reminded me of a scripture in Alma 37 that I really love:
17 For he will fulfil all his promises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers.
Heavenly Father loves us. I say that to people all the time. But it’s real. It’s eternal. It’s personal. And it applies to you.
— I promise,
Hermana Newton
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