Thursday, March 21, 2013

New Heights of Busyness

So I've been procrastinating updating this. I have a lot going on now and it seems like spare time isn't so spare anymore.

I'm working two jobs for the first time in my life. Is exhausting but worth it. Feels good to be taking care of things. I just keep reminding myself that this is one more step I must take in preparation for my mission.

My lesson with the Hermana's this week was very interesting. I'm used to have 2 or maybe 3 visit, but yesterday there were FOUR Hermanas at my weekly visit. I have been so tired from getting used to working 2 jobs that I texted the Hermanas on Monday and asked them to teach on Wednesday as I knew I would not be ready to. One of the original pair of Hermana's (Hna Schroeppel) that started teaching me came as well as her new companion (Hna Stevens) plus another two Hermana's (Hna Isaak y Hna Madsen) (the latter 3 just arrived Tuesday!).  The lesson choice was so inspired! Hermana Schroeppel opened by asking "What do you know about the Gospel of Jesus Christ?".  I was tired so it took a second, but then I was mentally like "wait a minute that's what I taught about, I know this!"  So I started talking about all that I had learned from my studies. I must have talked for a solid 4 or 5 minutes just explaining what I knew and had learned about the Gospel. I felt the Spirit so strongly as I shared my recently acquired knowledge and that further confirmation of what I now KNOW to be true was awesome! Then one of the new missionaries (Hermana Isaak) mentioned an awesome verse in D&C. Oh I wish I had written it down!!

Friday, March 1, 2013

In His Time

I taught again last night! I taught Hermana Schroeppel and Hermana Layton the second half of lesson 3 from Preach My Gospel. I taught about baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. It was awesome. I learned a lot as I taught and I'm getting less nervous each time I teach.
     
Tuesday, I had my 2nd piano lesson and Sister Watson said I'm doing great and appear to have a natural talent for it. I've managed to play very simplified version of a few of the most popular hymns and its been awesome!
     
Wednesday at Institute I got the answer to a question that has been plaguing me. The lesson was taught by former Temple President Giles and I got to ask him if there were any special rules regarding the temple for those who had been re-baptized and he said no. Starting the week after my own baptism I can start doing proxy baptisms! I am so excited. I'm starting to reach out to family so I can begin doing my own genealogy. My paternal grandmother's twin sister passed away about 2 months ago and I plan to do her work once the year passes and I am so excited to be able to help her.
     
Thursday, my friend Allie and I went shopping for missionary-suitable clothes. I've never really been a dress/skirts kind of girl and didn't know what would be good. We found almost a dozen outfits at the thrift store (I figured why buy new when I'm losing weight) and the stuff is so cute. I have a much better idea now, so as I slim down I can continue buying appropriate stuff. I figure I need to start getting used to wearing skirts/dresses more than once a week.
     
So much has changed for me, for the first time in my life I am beginning to feel beautiful and I know that it is the light and joy in my life from the Gospel shining thru. My friend, Anna Melissa, took portraits for me at the stake center on the night of the Fireside where Elder Christofferson spoke. I have never seen photos like those before. The light in my eyes surprised me, and a few friends commented on it (posted the pics on Facebook so my family could see them).
     
On a different note, I've been looking for a 2nd job to help towards my mission. I applied for what I thought would be perfect job a couple weeks ago and got declined because I refused to work Sundays. Well I got a call on Tuesday and interviewed Thursday for an even better position. This job is closer to home, pays more, and only wants me to work Monday to Fridays and are willing to let me have Wednesdays off so I can keep going to Institute. The interview went well and I think I got the job. I knew when that first job fell thru that it wasn't right, but trusted that (because I have a righteous reason for wanting a 2nd job) something would turn up. 
     
     And trust in his timing brings me to an awesome quote I read recently.

"We cannot have true faith in the Lord without also having complete trust in the Lord’s will and in the Lord’s timing." Elder Dallin H Oaks

Recently I have learned how true this is. I keep wanting and trying to make my life play out according to my schedule when I should know better. Each time I stop trying to be in control and place things in His hands, things turn out better than I could have ever imagined or managed on my own.