Oh my sweet familia!!
WHAT A WEEk. Mom, every other lesson or person we meet, Sister Buxton likes to point out it seriously was SO divine that i have been called here. Not kidding, every less active person, and every Mainer and just everyone has a "bad back" and lives off social security and cant come to church because the pain. I tell them to suck it up. Nicely of course, and promise them by showing their faith to the Lord that they are willing to try and go to church with the pain, the Lord will soon lift their burdens and make it bearable. It's frustrating to see people find every excuse in the book to not go to church, but each day i look for the miracles and realize the Lord is working them for me and the people. You want pictures of the people here? Think of the gnarliest beard ever, an England accent mixed with a redneck accent, throw in a cigarrette in the mouth and you've got a typical Mainer. Did i mention you have to have a minimum of 6 cats too? It's true. Cats are musts here. Oh, one more requirement, you MUST be a hoarder. But guess what! I'm getting over my cat hair phobia and i'm learning to just get over the fact that i will never sit in a home because theres just no where to sit. People here are just interesting, but i love them.
I had my first door slam this week. I KNEW rejection would be hard for me, since i kinda have a tender heart, and yep. It is hard. My focus has really just been to love them anyway, and not let them get me down because i dont want someone else's attitude to take away the spirit from me, thus taking away someone elses chance of hearing the gospel. We still have yet to find an investigator, but there are lots of potentials. I guess i should tell you i havent tracted much, since last week i was sick and this week... Well. here it goes mom. Promise not to worry k! A couple of nights i have woken up to the most excruciating pain in the world in my stomach, which leads to major major major killer back pain like ive never experienced ( and thats saying a lot) which leads to uncontrollable vomitting. The spells last for about an hour in the middle of the night, and eventually it lessens enough that i can fall asleep. So, i've seen a couple of doctors and we are just waiting on blood results. During the day i get heat flashes and chills, and have sharp pain in the right lower abdominal area. I guess just keep me in your prayers! I dont know if i mentioned the blessing i got from President Wilkey last week, but he mentioned the trials i would face starting out as a missionary so i could understand how Christ had to descend below all things so that He could rise above. I really am learning that. It's really frustrating, because a lot of time has been spent in the car traveling to doctors, and other days traveling to NH to go to training things, so i feel like my feet havent been planted yet, but it'll come!
Today i was reading in Jesus the Christ. I want to share a line, it says (talking about Stephen the Martyr) that he was eminent in faith and good works, through whom many miracles were wrought. And then, my favorite, "He was Zealous in service, aggressive in doctrine, and FEARLESS as a minister of Christ". THAT is how i want to be known to others, and especially to our God. I want Him to be able to always trust me, to know that i am keen in listening and that he can rely on me to follow through with any prompting. Mom, maybe you could print that out on some cutesy paper.. but exchange the "he" with "she" and send it to me?
I wanted to share a just one of the miracles of this week. Yesterday, we felt like we should go see a less active sister, so we get to her house (she is older) and she just starts crying, She then tells us she was about to eat dinner, which is hardest for her because she hates eating alone, and that it also is her deceased husbands birthday. She can barely stand up for a minute, and guess what! She too broke her back and has rods! except she's only fused in like 2 vertebrae, but we just sat and cried together as i listened to hear story, and told her how much the lord loves her. I am so needed here, and am so grateful the Lord gave me a million different ways to relate to a million different people here.
Last, you wanted to know about sister buxton. We're looked at here as the power couple. Really, she is amazing and i couldnt have been more blessed with a better trainer. she is so genuine patient and talks to anyone and everyone. she is exactly who i needed, SHES CLEAN and she is so funny so we just feed off each other. Love her gutts, Shes from pleasant grove and also has a man back home who sends who 3 letters a week. Needless to say i hate checking the mail, because ive only received two letters EVER and both were from the greatest grandma who has ever lived. LOVE YOU GRANDMA CURTIS!! i love getting your letters so much so keep them coming!
Oh! PS tell Colt congrats on being a graduated man! I sure love that kid, and talk about him and all of you cute sibs and of course you mama a lot. everyone here knows i have the best family in the world. I love you all!!
Always be a missionary. EVERY MEMBER A MISSIONARY. and seriously, give the missionaries referrals!!! We have only gotten one from the million people we have asked in our ward. Do your part, because you have a part and it's a responsibility you will be judged upon.
With all my love,
Sister Cloward
ps mom, really, im ok. dont worry about me!
No comments:
Post a Comment