Hi Everyone!!! :D Sorry the email is a day late this week, BC day was yesterday, and Canadians are ALWAYS looking for an excuse to have a three day weekend lol... Not That I blame them ;] I hope everything is well and good on the Home front, I absolutely love your letters and emails, so please keep writing me! They really bring a lot of encouragement and support that I most certainly Need :]
This week was another rough one... the work here in White Rock is Pretty slow, but I believe that the Lord is utilizing my companion and I to lay the foundation work for a fantastic future that's nearby! I've learned that Patience when suffering through afflictions is one hundred percent necessary when face with extreme opposition....Alma 7 has made me feel much better about life! Lol
I had the oppritunity to go the Temple today, and the trip was much needed <3. I feel that the Lord has been casting me small, tender mercies all along the way of my mission so far. Whenever I've been feeling down, discouraged, exhausted, or sad, some kind of life line always finds its way to me. This week, it came in two forms. One was in the form of a wonderful trip to the temple, and the peace that the Spirit in the House of the Lord brings. I've been struggling a lot with sleep lately. Ever since I was a teenager, i've struggled with getting to sleep at night, and staying asleep. Waking up more tired that when I go to bed is a pretty common thing for me. Before my mission I always just assumed that it was my love for Dr. Pepper that hindered me, but i can count on one hand the amount of Dr. Pepper Ive had in the past few months... and the sleeplessness continued unhindered. I've come to realize I've been carrying a very heavy tiredness upon my soul most of my life. I've had many wonderful, and significant spiritual experiences that have made the burden lighter, but its never quite fully gone. My mission has truly given me the oppritunity to reflect upon who I really am, and the kind of person I want to be for the rest of the Eternities, and honestly, I can't say I quite know the answer to all of the questions that particular problem holds. But I find that as each passing day comes, I find more and more to build my foundation... for ," it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God that ye must build your foundation, that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whilwind, yea when when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock on which ye are built. " Helman 5:12
Ive come to realize everything that entails building my rock upon his foundation, and the true sacrifice that it takes. Someday I'll be able to completely give my burden to the Lord, and I'll be able to sleep, someday :]
The Second Lifeline came in the form of a testimony, from a wonderful, powerful and dedicated missionary who's had far less success that he deserves. His name is Elder Edge, and he's one of the other elders that serve in White Rock with us. After an initial discussion of business in regards to the things that we need to set forth in the ward, he told us of his experiences in his pervious area called Terrace. He was there for the first 7 months of his mission, and he said he didn't bapize a single person there. I can now be a first hand witness to just how hard that feels. He said, as lousey as he felt... he came to understand that the Lord was refining him, and teaching him that True sacrifice brings forth so many blessings. He may not have baptised anyone, but he was trying everything he possibly could. He discovered the greatest thing he was doing was building a relationship with his members, and he realized, he too was building a great foundation. Because of the excitement that he left behind in the ward, for missionary work, Terrace is expecting many baptisms in the coming weeks. He stated that he hadn't planned on sharing that testimony, and I think we've worked in this ward long enough together for me to assume that he's not really the type of missionary who treats his testimony frivilously or shows it off like a cheap accessory. He regards it with a sacred cherishment, and this is how I feel all of the missionaries I've gotten to work with are.
Whether it be in the form of a powerful testimony given by an inspired leader, or a peaceful trip to the temple, I know the Lord is watching over me. And I'm all too often quick to forget my many wonderful blessings. I love you guys, and I hope things are going well in AZ! Enjoy the Sun, and soak up some rays for me ;]
Love and Joy,
Sister Kennedy
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