Just for some background, although the visitors' center sisters are the ones that get to be on the mormon.org chat, we are only scheduled for about an hour a week. The day we went in, we actually got there later than we were scheduled but were able to get on anyways. Most of the computers in the room weren't getting internet EXCEPT the one I was on. If mine hadn't been working, we would have just gone and done other things. After we left the one I was on stopped working. On chat, we get on the server and wait for anyone to send a message. People are sorted out according to availability- there are other people waiting to help in other visitors' centers as well. I cannot stress to you how slim the chances were that James (Austin's investigator) talked to me. Not only that he got onto chat during the only hour during the week that I was there, but that I wasn't talking to someone else at the time and that his message didn't get sorted out to one of the other 30 people online at the time. The odds are absolutely ridiculous. I kind of explained that to him before we left, but not completely.
Anyways.
As soon as James got on and it said that he was from Oxford, I knew he had seen Austin. I froze. He explained that two missionaries had stopped by and he still had some questions. He asked about our belief in evolution and creation, and was overall very respectful and curious. As his questions were pretty much coming to a close, I felt like I should ask who the two missionaries were that came to see him. He said Elder Dressman and Elder Paraso! I was SO happy. I decided to explain my connection to Austin dear and he didn't believe me haha. He thought I was pulling something on him, but I can definitely see why. He kept asking what the chances of that were. I asked if he would see them again and he said he hadn't planned on it but now felt like he had to- that God was trying to tell him something. I encouraged him to meet with them again and he said he was texting him right away. We had to go at that point because we were already over our scheduled hour.
Welp. Cool. Ha! Even on different continents we work well together, Austin and I. Good on ya.
I realized during the week that pretty much everything I said in my rant last week can be encapsulated in James 1:22 and 1:26-
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
I was going to ask why it is the scriptures are always able to say things so much better than I ever can and then I realized that's a really stupid question.
But really! Do you all realize that Satan has a perfect knowledge and faith in Christ's divinity? He knows better than we do who God is! So what? As James also goes on to say in chapter 2, "faith without works is dead." So what is the difference between us and Satan? Not faith! But what we DO we faith- how we act on Christ's name. Think about THAT next time you want to do something stupid.
So yesterday was my first day giving tours at the Smith Family Farm! (Sacred Grove, log home, frame home, visitors' center) I think that's my favorite site to be at our of the four. I just love that one. It was pretty busy so I gave tours on my own. I'm so glad that I get to serve up here in this area!
Something I've been thinking about for a while now is being strong. I've talked a tad about this idea before, namely considering the character of Christ, but it kind of keeps coming back. Come what may, I don't want to be someone that people need to worry about. I know that my parents, Donna and Dan, my extended family, and my friends will always be concerned with how I'm doing because they love me, but I don't ever want people to have to WORRY about me. Does that make sense? Late at night when you're trying to get to sleep I hope no one is tossing and turning because I'm struggling. Austin shouldn't have to spend time with his fingers crossed that I'm going to make it through whatever it is that is happening or that I'm going to get along ok. It needs to be known and understood that I'm always going to be okay! When you hear that something happens I want you to be able to say, "She's a strong girl. She'll pull through just fine. I'm not worried." rather than, "She's fragile...I hope she can handle this." And the thing is for the most part it's up to me! And it's up to each of us individually! We can become the kind of people who don't waver in storms. The kind of people who can be counted on when someone needs something or when something really needs to be done. You have to be the strong one now.
Last thing for the week, I was reading in 2 Corinthians 4 and I found a few verses that really get right to the heart of what I'm doing up here in snowy New York.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.
Well, friends I don't have that much more to say. It's really more of a thinking/processing time at the moment. Everything I've written above finished processing during the week. Maybe next week the stuff that's processing right now will be finished. What am I some kind of oven? Ridiculous.
Love, love.
Bye now
Hermana Ray
PS HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALY! I've had a package sitting on my desk for a week. The first time I went to send it, I got an AMAZING package from HER right before and then wanted to write something else so I waited, wrote a letter, put it in the package, went back, and then realized I didn't put the address on! Tried next day. They were closed! And then the next day. Lunch break! And then the next day was Sunday. I am...horrible at this. But there is something in the mail now and should get there sometime this week. Love you Al!
PPS I'm sending a picture of Sister Fetuli and me! One is from this weekend at the Sacred Grove and the other is from my first transfer with Sister Hess on the right. Sister Fetuli is a lot happier than she looks in pictures ha
PPPS Yesterday the Senior couple shooed us to the basement to hide for a good half hour because there's a man that comes every week to try and talk to the sisters who...they don't think is quite harmless. Scary! But kind of cool! Danja, danja danja.
PPPPS (This is getting out of hand) This week we were helping someone move apartments and they pulled out a candle with seashells in it and I was THROWN into seriously missing the beach. What is that?! Really it was painful. I need to be promised multiple beach trips after this is all said in done to be healed. Ow. Ow. Need. Beach. One day!
Anyways.
As soon as James got on and it said that he was from Oxford, I knew he had seen Austin. I froze. He explained that two missionaries had stopped by and he still had some questions. He asked about our belief in evolution and creation, and was overall very respectful and curious. As his questions were pretty much coming to a close, I felt like I should ask who the two missionaries were that came to see him. He said Elder Dressman and Elder Paraso! I was SO happy. I decided to explain my connection to Austin dear and he didn't believe me haha. He thought I was pulling something on him, but I can definitely see why. He kept asking what the chances of that were. I asked if he would see them again and he said he hadn't planned on it but now felt like he had to- that God was trying to tell him something. I encouraged him to meet with them again and he said he was texting him right away. We had to go at that point because we were already over our scheduled hour.
Welp. Cool. Ha! Even on different continents we work well together, Austin and I. Good on ya.
I realized during the week that pretty much everything I said in my rant last week can be encapsulated in James 1:22 and 1:26-
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
I was going to ask why it is the scriptures are always able to say things so much better than I ever can and then I realized that's a really stupid question.
But really! Do you all realize that Satan has a perfect knowledge and faith in Christ's divinity? He knows better than we do who God is! So what? As James also goes on to say in chapter 2, "faith without works is dead." So what is the difference between us and Satan? Not faith! But what we DO we faith- how we act on Christ's name. Think about THAT next time you want to do something stupid.
So yesterday was my first day giving tours at the Smith Family Farm! (Sacred Grove, log home, frame home, visitors' center) I think that's my favorite site to be at our of the four. I just love that one. It was pretty busy so I gave tours on my own. I'm so glad that I get to serve up here in this area!
Something I've been thinking about for a while now is being strong. I've talked a tad about this idea before, namely considering the character of Christ, but it kind of keeps coming back. Come what may, I don't want to be someone that people need to worry about. I know that my parents, Donna and Dan, my extended family, and my friends will always be concerned with how I'm doing because they love me, but I don't ever want people to have to WORRY about me. Does that make sense? Late at night when you're trying to get to sleep I hope no one is tossing and turning because I'm struggling. Austin shouldn't have to spend time with his fingers crossed that I'm going to make it through whatever it is that is happening or that I'm going to get along ok. It needs to be known and understood that I'm always going to be okay! When you hear that something happens I want you to be able to say, "She's a strong girl. She'll pull through just fine. I'm not worried." rather than, "She's fragile...I hope she can handle this." And the thing is for the most part it's up to me! And it's up to each of us individually! We can become the kind of people who don't waver in storms. The kind of people who can be counted on when someone needs something or when something really needs to be done. You have to be the strong one now.
Last thing for the week, I was reading in 2 Corinthians 4 and I found a few verses that really get right to the heart of what I'm doing up here in snowy New York.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.
Well, friends I don't have that much more to say. It's really more of a thinking/processing time at the moment. Everything I've written above finished processing during the week. Maybe next week the stuff that's processing right now will be finished. What am I some kind of oven? Ridiculous.
Love, love.
Bye now
Hermana Ray
PS HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALY! I've had a package sitting on my desk for a week. The first time I went to send it, I got an AMAZING package from HER right before and then wanted to write something else so I waited, wrote a letter, put it in the package, went back, and then realized I didn't put the address on! Tried next day. They were closed! And then the next day. Lunch break! And then the next day was Sunday. I am...horrible at this. But there is something in the mail now and should get there sometime this week. Love you Al!
PPS I'm sending a picture of Sister Fetuli and me! One is from this weekend at the Sacred Grove and the other is from my first transfer with Sister Hess on the right. Sister Fetuli is a lot happier than she looks in pictures ha
PPPS Yesterday the Senior couple shooed us to the basement to hide for a good half hour because there's a man that comes every week to try and talk to the sisters who...they don't think is quite harmless. Scary! But kind of cool! Danja, danja danja.
PPPPS (This is getting out of hand) This week we were helping someone move apartments and they pulled out a candle with seashells in it and I was THROWN into seriously missing the beach. What is that?! Really it was painful. I need to be promised multiple beach trips after this is all said in done to be healed. Ow. Ow. Need. Beach. One day!
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