I can't believe we are reaching the end of the move-call this week- it's truly all too fast!! We Sisters keep saying that we're just waiting for the next announcement when we can extend to 2 years ;D I seriously would! But I know that we are needed elsewhere and Heavenly Father has many plans for us after the mission too.....so I'll just enjoy all the time I have! This week was so great because we went on two exchanges and then spent a lot of time serving and dancing with the members.........yes, real dancing!
Being a Sister Zone Leader has been a really incredible experience. We have loved going on exchanges with these incredible Sisters every week- you get to know them really well and see all the incredible gifts Heavenly Father has given them that are really utilized as a missionary. It's also such a privilege to be in a position where they ask you for help or want to know how they could improve as servants of God. Every missionary is so unique, yet their capacity is truly extraordinary. It's night and day when a missionary is living up to their potential and when they're not........it's truly just a matter of faith......that's really what I learned........faith and confidence in the Spirit and then bingo! You will be on the rise to be the absolutest, bestest, servant, child of Heavenly Father you can be. I loved a quote that President Blickenstaff shared with us in Zone Conference this week by Elder Bednar,
" You can't use spirituality as an excuse to lack competency in needed areas." Whoa.....we've got to have the Spirit, but then we've got to be faithful, confident, and do! and do good things at that.........that was definitely something that I needed to hear and I know it is true!
This week we were able to meet some new investigators and are really praying and going to work hard to help them set inspired baptismal goals this week! This week our dreams were fulfilled to serve the ward as a family let us come over Tuesday night and help clean out their back porch area.....we didn't feel like we did that much, but they thought we did! It was so fun to physically serve them and get to know them better :) The daughter even had a member referral for us after which was awesome! It's the Work of Salvation in action! We also made Spaghetti for the entire Shi Family (the family whose house I skyped you at) and they have about ten people in their family so it was a lot of spaghetti! We didn't come prepared with a recipe so kind of made it up on the spot but they loved it! Did you know the secret to spaghetti sauce is ketchup and soy sauce? It's delicious! It's so fun to share lessons with them, but it's even better to be up and about serving them and therefore teaching by example.......we have decided to make this a monthly tradition! Our 1st ward Ward Correlator and his adorable returned-missionary fiance were married in the temple yesterday so they are getting ready for a big reception this Saturday at the church! The ward members are performing a traditional folk-song with a simple little line dance and they invited the missionaries to join! It was so fun........we literally had dance practice with the ward Saturday night! Funniest moment of the night was having 3 different moms all try to help the Elders get the steps down haha :) It was so great to see the ward come together and a less-active sister is also participating as well! Little YJM, our RC is dancing too! It's really building Ward Unity and we are so grateful to Heavenly Father for this huge blessing of feeling so close with the ward members. Also, ZJM who got baptized last week went to the temple yesterday!!! She was glowing :)
Well as crazy as it is, Sister Belnap is going home in a week!! I honestly keep forgetting, but we both just have to face reality! She has been so focused til the end and is such an INCREDIBLE example to me!! She'll have the best transition home too......she's all set up to teach the Chinese Sunday School class in her home ward and her parents have already set up appointments for her to visit less-actives and other Chinese members......so awesome! I can honestly say it has been one of the biggest blessings of my mission to be her companion. In closing day, I just wanted to share thoughts from reading Mormon 8 this morning.........just think about it.......you are the only one left of your people. You don't know where you are going or how long you will be alive, but know that God wants you to make a record of your people. Then the Savior shows you the year 2013 and you see all the pride, destruction, and inequity and realize how imperative it is for the saints to stay true and live the Gospel.....and the only way you can tell them is through hand-carving writing on the plates and you pour out your heart! I would just love to know how Moroni felt as he was writing these chapters to us.....he wants us to cling to the Savior and the Gospel so badly, to repent and as he asks in verse 38: "Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ?" That's his message to us.......be courageous, be bold, and be not ashamed to stand as a witness of Christ in these last days! As President Monson said, "Courage, not compromise allows God to smile upon us" (don't know if I quoted that totally right :) ) Anyways, that's who we need to be courageous, faithful, followers of Jesus Christ who bear our testimonies proudly to the world! I love it!!! I hope you will all remember how amazing you are and the potential you have as a child of our Heavenly Father.....go out and share it!! I love you all so much!!! and am always over and over again so thankful for your examples!!!
Have an amazing week!
Sister Jarvis
With lots of people I love at the mission office :-)
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