Does that make any sense? We had a training specifically about this this past week. In order for someone to say to you "hey get out of the way..." You have to be in their line of direction in the first place, right? So, our training was all about being in the way of the Lord and coming to understand what He wants for you. You first have to be in the way, and then be willing to step out of it so that He can direct you to where EXACTLY He needs you to be. We had some wonderful training by President and then we watched a WONDERFUL MTC talk given by Elder Holland in January 2011...Which I am pretty sure you attended Elder Bowman..(I need an older sister moment...) WHAT THE HECK!??! WHY DIDN'T YOU WRITE HOME ABOUT HOW AMAZING THAT TALK WAS?!?! PROPRIO...JUST AWE INSPIRING AND LIFE CHANGING!! It's a good thing you're a bit of a ways off because you would SO be in castigo right now ;) And speaking of which, you should tell your Italian friends that I am here in Italy! I am sure they would have SO much fun stuff to tell you about!! Okay, so anyways, I hope you learned as much as I did from his talk...
Elder Holland has, once again, changed my life and my mission. He spoke about how precious our missions need to be and how hard we really do need to work! Elder Hudson! I am SO EXCITED for you to go and labor in the Lord's field in good ol' Utah! You are NEEDED there and people are WAITING for YOU to find them! We must treasure up our missions and work hard to allow the Lord to use us in His plans. Sorella Wolfgramm and President Wolfgramm had a Mission President's training in Germany and they spoke to us about being justified and sanctified through the Atonement. And what a light that brought into my life...something I have been searching for. My past mistakes were justified...I have repented and I have moved on the greater and better things...but when does the sanctification come? When does the guilt leave and the scarlett is washed white through the blood of the Lamb? Sanctification, I believe, comes in many different ways and only in ways that the Lord knows you will pay attention to. During that conference, I received such a wonderful sense of peace and a strong confirmation on many things...as to which I broke down in tears and felt the Lord's love for me...and felt the CLEANSING power of the Atonement and the washing away of all guilt. It's real. The Atonement is real. Most times, if not all, the most beautiful miracles come in unanswered prayers because we see how the Lord guided us to what was "best" for us in our lives. Thank you Dad.
Each week we have to share a miracle with President Wolfgramm...I included this insight with him, and I will go ahead and explain further what the "white jacket" is...He has been using my experience in these last trainings to share with others and so I didn't repeat it to him...nonetheless:
I have already mentioned the "white jacket" miracle but I must say a miracle that I saw happened yesterday when we had a lesson with a certain family of the bishopric. As we entered their home, things started out a little crazy..what with kids showing off and all that jazz. But eventually we got right to the lesson that turned out to be so spiritual it was absolutely amazing. THe daughter, only 14 (which freaked me out because she's the same age as my sister and doesn't look like it) was having some troubles that I could relate too. The miracle of it all was me finally learning and coming to terms with how the Lord has beautifully guided my life. As I sat there and taught, bearing my testimony of things I KNOW to be true....the things that I knew coming only through struggle and frustration, prayer and desire. You come to find that, sometimes, the greatest miracles unanswered prayers and the Lord loving you enough to cut you down. I am really grateful that I'm a currant bush which is lovingly being trimmed by the Lord's all knowing hands
This week has been difficult for me. I have been struggling with headaches, fatigue, tiredness and swollen everything. I have been really, REALLY struggling to get up on time...in fact I haven't been able to do it at all for the past week. But my companion continues to tell me that "Rome wasn't built in a day...We'll get this, little by little." But thus, I know that the Lord knows of my frustrations and how I am trying SO HARD to finish my mission waving the Title of Liberty to everyone I can...I really am! And yet, I still fall short. But, a tender mercy was given to me from the Lord...just to let me know that He hasn't forgotten me. President Ucthdorf's talk from the Women's General Conference last year: "Forget-Me-Not"...Sisters, read it again. I testify that it is true!! But, on Friday night I put it into my heart that I really want to gem this city and I really want to bring it BACK to the Lord. (Milano 3) A LOT of mistakes have been made and are BEING made and so Sorella Hanks and I have been doing a LOT of clean up and still have a LOT of cleaning up to do. People are just slipping through the cracks! But Friday night I prayed unto the Lord to forgive me, to thank Him for His gentle mercies, and also if He would be willing to help us reach 20 lessons or at least find someone to teach and talk to. As I sat there pondering, I had...well a "visions" you could say. I felt that at 12:00 noon we would need to go down to the Metro Station and there would be someone in a white jacket near a pole. And as I sat pondering, I remembered that we had an appointment at 1:00 and we wouldn't be able to be by the station at noon because we needed to figure out where the appointment lived. Nevertheless I just said "Okay Heavenly Father, if that's where we need to be, I know thou wilt make it happen." And thus I went to sleep. NEXT MORNING: Things are just going great! Started the day off with a great breakfast of a healthy green drink and started our planning right off the bat! We started having some really great success and then, we get a call...our 1:00 appointment cancels. I look at my companion and share my experience. She looks at me and we decide to pray about it ...Noon it is, right at the Famagosta Station. So we keep planning and 11:30 rolls around...then 11:35...and I panic a bit because we REALLY need to plan! But we pray about it again and all I could feel was this peace and a little voice saying "Go" Alright, I make the final decision and we go. So we start walking and for some reason, my mind starts filling with doubt. "Who's going to be wearing a white jacket? Who even WEARS white jackets?" And then it was like the Lord being funny...I rememberd that I wear a white jacket. So I left all doubt behind and started looking. We arrive at the station at 11:58 and we see a man IN A WHITE JACKET board the bus....okay, that must not be him. Then off in the distance my companion sees SOMEONE walking in a white jacket...and so we "casually" go after, what we find out to be, her. As we arrive, we look at the clock and it says 12:15...but on the other side it says 12:00. For some reason, I felt to just play along and check a few times....and this young lady starts laughing and talking to us. She is 26, named Paola, searching for the light and the road that she needs to take. She was leaning by a pole, in a white jacket, at exactly 12:00 noon. She was waiting for a bus that she has only had to take for this second time in over 3 years...she was going to get a package that her mother sent for her. As we started talking, we couldn't teach much, but we testified and promised her that this was the road she was searching for. IN the back of my mind, I also remembered from my "vision" that we wouldn't have a lot of time...maybe 20 minutes...mainly 15. So we teach, talk, and testify and she says that she would like to learn more. ANd thus, I move in, exchange numbers and right then the bus comes. I look wave goodbye, say we'll call, and look at the clock 12:18...Miracles.
I know that the Lord lives and that He loves me and each and every one of us. I am so grateful for His love and the tiny miracles He shows me, each and everyday. That's all for now!
until next time,
sorella bowman
p.s. Gaetano doesn't really want to learn anymore...He brought beer to the last activity (after we explained that it wasn't okay) and he didn't think it was all that great. But he still wants to come to the activity..so...little by little eh? Funny things DO happen!!
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