10/28/2013

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

Who, when he had found one pearl of great price went and sold all that he had, and bought it."

I have been thinking a ton about this scripture this week and what is means to be a consecrated missionary. Even more than that and for everyone reading this, what is means to be a consecrated person. I remember a story my institute teacher told me last year around this time. In the story a young girl decides she wants a string of pearls just like her mom. Her parents tell her that if she saves up all of her pennies that they will take her to go buy her pearls. She works and works and saves up ALL of her pennies! And her parents kept there promise. They took her down to the nearest dollar store and proudly the little girl bought her new treasure. She wore them every day! While she played! While she swam! and even in the tub. Every night when the little girls dad would tuck her in he would ask if she loved him. She would respond of course daddy, of course I love you! And he would reply ...then give me your pearls. Oh No! She would say. Not my pearls. But ...you can have my favorite doll.

The process of this happened over and over and the girl had about given everything in her room to him. One night the father walked in and saw her crying by her bed with something in her hands. He asked what was wrong. She looked at him and said daddy! I love you. so here are my pearls.

She gave them up! She worked so hard! But she gave it all up! When she did this out of the back pocket of the father came a brand new, real set of pearls. Nothing fake or imitation. Nothing cheap or easy to buy. But the Pearls of great price.

Our Heavenly Father asks us the same question. And many of us respond in the same way...well...I love you but not that much. I will give you my Sundays, I will give you my scripture study, and prayers...but not my pearls. Not my imitation pearls. How silly of us when what he has is that pearl of great price! He is willing to give us more than we can imagine we ...easier said than done... just have to learn to consecrate ourselves.

So...give it all up. Everything unworthy, or worldly. Give it up! And in return you will receive so much more. You will receive that pearl of great price.

I love you all :) We had a fantastic week here. We have been working a ton with less actives and had 4 more of our brothers and sisters in sacrament meeting this week!  Keep praying for us that we may find those who are ready to here and act upon the gospel.

10/21/2013

Hey Family :)

Lisa one of our investigators had her baby! She is on date to be baptized on november 9th and she was worried she wouldn't be ready health wise by then. Well we went home and prayed that she would have the baby early ( but healthy) so she could be ready...and...she had the baby that night! He is the most adorable baby :)

She is looking so good and soo ready to make the promises of baptism. I wanted to be there so bad when she had the baby haha she would joke that I would be the last person on earth she would want there...well maybe she wasn't joking. She said I had to much energy for that...Maybe labor and delivery shouldn't be one of my top choices for a career?

We had an awesome lesson with a new investigator named Teryn. We met her while we stopped by the house looking for a less active member. The member moved but Teryn was there ready to hear the gospel. She

 

loved it! and said that she had tons of friends she wanted to invited to the next appointment.

We are working hard at meeting all of the single sisters in the ward especially those who have become less active. We call it the SINGLE SISTER SAFARI. It is a blast and we get to meet so many new people.

My companion sister crossley just happens to love giving back massages so my back is currently loving life. we carved pumpkins at a members house today :) it was so much fun! and we have basically the whole ward inviting there friends to the Halloween party on Saturday!

10/15/2013

So I just wanted to quickly share an experience I had with the scripture of D&C 4:6. Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, dilligence.
For a long time these christlike attributes seemed absolutely unattainable. I was reading in a talk about how different prophets throughout the BOM had these abilities. I got the idea that I knew people in my life that possessed these qualities! I went through and thought of a person for each attribute. I usually don't like to single people out. and I am not even sure who reads these but I wanted to share what I found.
Faith : I chose the biggest example in my life. Isaac Foley. He trusts with everything he has. He gives all of himself to his Heavenly Father and trusts that He will guide him.

Virtue: I thought of Karissa Lindsay. A friend from my high school drill team. We didn't know each other for very long but she made such a HUGE impact. Who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies? Karissa was always concerned with dressing modest and the way she presented herself was always virtuous. She is a woman of God!

Knowledge: I chose my very first seminary teacher brother Dixon! He helped me learn to love the scriptures. He hungered and thirsted after righteousness.

Temperance: I chose my MOM :) She is so patient with us and situations. She is always grateful for what she has :)

Patience: I picked my 9th grade English teacher. Joan Heap. She saw everyone as the Saviour would. Because she was able to see with spiritual eyes, she was patient with people and there shortcomings.

Brotherly Kindness:Mimi Miller! so happy. so nice. so friendly. enough said. She makes everyone feel loved and welcome:)

Godliness: My dad :) he is the closest example we could get to of how our Heavenly Father loves us. He loves unconditionally.

Charity: Karlee Hurst. She always gives. She is always looking for ways to reach out in love to friends and family.

 Humility: my best friend, Megan Marsden :) She wants to be her very best. She is constantly striving to be better. She WANTS to be shaped and changed.

Diligence: Gavin Yeip. He was always 100% comittied to whatever he did! Probably never thought that any one noticed...but I did!

 I hope that this can help me be able to attain these christ like attributes. This made it seem more attainable to me! I challenge you to do the same :)
Love you

10/7/2013

Woah! Conference! Probably the happiest time of the year...as a missionary at least! I tried something new this year. I wrote down a list of questions that I had for my Heavenly Father ...personal questions and ones that pertained to the work. Every single question was answered in detail! Our Heavenly Father is so aware of us and our needs and concerns. I really want to start doing this every week as I prepare for the Sabbath Day. 

We went over to one of the families were working with ( Evelyn and Lisa from Liberia ) conference morning. We made captain crunch pancakes ( a new recipe I decided to try) and they made us African srambled eggs. We ate a yummy breakfast and then soaked up all the goodness that conference had to offer. There mom Cecilia, is a recent convert. She turned to me with tears in her eyes when the prophet spoke and said "I can really feel the spirit right now. I like what he is saying".

THE CHURCH IS TRUE.

I hope you all came away from conference inspired to be missionaries. "Now is the time to paint the missionary badge on your hearts" They challenged each member to share this "Good News' With one friend by Christmas. It was not only a challenge. But it was a commandment! A commandment from a loving Heavenly Father who wants all of His children to enjoy the blessings of the gospel. I can't wait for you and your families to experience your very own miracles as you embark on this journey to spread the gospel to the four corners of the earth!  

I love you all to pieces :) 

sister fullmer