EGD and Reality

June 24, 2013

OKAY i'm about to brag here real quick.   So wednesday i went and got the EGD?? and apparently when i was coming out of anesthesia, i basically taught the anesthesiologiest the first lesson and raved about The Work of Salvation broadcast and told him the time and place and about how crazy changes are happening. Am i a boss missionary or what? I now preach in my dreams, wake up to myself planning for the day, and even preach the gospel while under the influence. Im officially a missionary. Sister Berg my new comp got some on video, so if i can send those ohhhh i will. I was calling everyone unto repentance and baptism, and other nonsense stuff.   But now back to reality, can we just talk about how amazing that broadcast was?! The day before, me and my comp and the two elders who serve in Augusta with us met to talk about how we can change the Augusta area and get it fired up. We came to the conclusion that it has to start with the members, because we can knock on doors all we want but the true success lies within the members. Their potential is so great, and yet they have no faith in themselves and in turn their Heavenly Father. SO with that being said, i obtained an amazing family mission plan and spiced it up and have started to work with the members more and challenging them to fill out the plan and not only to fill it out but to pray for the desire, strength, and drive. We also talked about the fact that us four missionaries.... well we are all baby missionaries, and therefore we are done doing it the way previous missionaries have done. We aren't going to do things just because that's how it was done with every other elder in the area. We are going to be bold, fearless, and unaffraid to change things no matter how hard it will be. I know that success wont be SEEN right away, but i know that in the lord's time, the waters will flood. How amazing that just 24 hours after we met, the prophet and apostles echoed exactly what we talked about. I am ever so eager to see the changes happen and be apart of it. My oh my will it be so dang hard but guess what, i knew that when i put in my papers. And guess what else, that just means more blessings to all those whom i love so very much. The Lord also answered major prayers. We see little success with tracting, and honestly, it is extremely hard on my body. Ive been getting migraines up the wazoo here, and apparently my back despises humidity. Once again, it is so apparent that the Lord's work is changing and my needs will be taken care of with the changes. It is being geared from tracting, to internet work. While that may not be as exciting as walking and talking to people face to face, it will be something my body can handle, and something GREATER success will come from. Just gotta love the Lord for taking care of me every single time i ask...   So! my companion. Background story. Throughout last transfer, Sister Buxton always brought up with how concerned she was for her companion she trained the prior transfer. She felt like she had zero faith in people, and that because of that if effected the success. She called our mission pres and s. wilkey and voiced, who also felt the same concerns. They asked her to pray about it, so s. buxton did as well as fast, to which she got the answer she would be fine, just as long as she was with someone whose faith couldnt be shaken. She told the Wilkeys, to which they said "someone like sister cloward". Well, lo and behold here we are! It was extremely hard for me the first few days, because i had the knowledge i did, and it was apparent she did lack some faith. It literally ate at me... and Satan truly was working me. It just seriously sucked. I prayed so hard to love her, and to know how to build her, and to also allow her to build me. Finally, i just knew i needed to tell her everything. OH MY GOSH, why hadnt i thought of that sooner? It was one of the most amazing comp inventory's ever. I admire Sister Berg so much for her ability to hear her weaknesses, RECOGNIZE them, and want to make them strengths. We definately are a powerhouse. She has such an awesome ability to bring the facts to the table, and i know i can rely on her for knowledge that i don't know yet, whereas i have been blessed with the gift of testifying. There is nothing more powerful than feeling the gift of the spirit speaking boldly through me. It's just unreal to literally FEEL the spirit SPEAKING through me, and seeing the eyes of those i am testifying to soften, glisten with moisture, and truly become lighter. truly remarkable.   My investigators are definately progressing. Im sorry i don't talk about them so much, but i feel that my testimony speaks more volumes about how they are doing, because not only am i building them up but they are building me up even more. Oh how i love them all.   oh cool fact for the day.... the library i email at has a first edition of the Book of Mormon, and yes, i read some good of words of King Benjamin from it. The power i felt while holding it... reflecting on it's history, who has held the book, and the torment it truly has gone through is something i will not nor can i ever deny. The book is true.   Well, now i am going to chastize you all. Go get off your booty's and truly heed the call to fulfill your duty as a son or daughter of god. you are a member missionary. you promised your savior, your father, and your brothers and sisters before coming here that you would help the work, and help them come back to their father in heaven. it is time to go and do. i pray that the work hastens all over the world just as much as it is here in Augusta Maine, because of our realization as missionaries that we have the greatest responsibility in the world... which is to bring forth the children of God, unto Him again. i love you all, my dear brothers and sisters. so very much. so, truly, go and do.   sister cloward