It has been humbling week for Sister Askerlund.
But it has been a wonderful week! I know the Lord is mindful of me.. (minus the fact there was snow outside this morning.. that must be part of his sense of humor)
It's been an awesome week full of lots of laughter, lots of tears and lots of Jesus! What more could you ask for, right?
First of all, this coming weekend is Easter... :)
I don't know about you.. but I am guilty of thinking about cadburry eggs, my hatred of peeps, and jelly beans a whole lot more than I think about Jesus Christ.
I love my Savior, and before my mission I thought I had a good relationship with him.. but being out here.. has changed all that. I feel him with me every day. He's with me as I walk, he's with me as I knocking on every door, he's with me at the end of the day during my prayers, he's with me when I feel rejected, inadequate and defeated. But he is also with me during my lessons as I bear my testimony of His love for the people I am teaching, he is with me when we commit someone to be baptized, and he is with me when someone repents and feels the atonement work within them.
I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES.
He lives! He may have died on the cross, but he lives, and guides this church and his people today! I find no greater comfort than that!
Speaking of Easter.. guess who got asked to speak on Easter Sunday.. none other than Sister Bean and myself.. I'm a little nervous to say the least. No pressure right?.. :)
We have been working with some amazing people this week! Sam is awesome! Pretty sure we are the same person! She loves dogs, she has a weiner dog named Oscar... haha cracks me up every time! We taught her the plan of Salvation.. she had so many good questions! We are teaching her again this week!
Nate came to church! The awkward hug guy... He's black.. and our ward is 100% white so he added a little flavor haha he is so awesome!!
We dropped Micheal.. (the guy who went to Jail) which means we aren't teaching him anymore.. which is really hard.. but it's what's best for right now. The Lord will continue to work with him till he's ready again.
There's this lady Lisa in my ward who got baptized last November and he is SO awesome! She has such a love for the gospel and has such a light about her :) I truly love her!
We met this awesome guy Robert, who started talking to some Elders at a gas station, and he was like "hey I tried to be mormon once" so he wants to be taught again, he smokes, but we can help him with that :) Lucky for us he lives in our area so we get to teach him! he's had a hard life but has such a positive outlook on life!
We have this investigator Cindy.. who is awesome, she has a quad, has been to temple open houses, basically knows more about our church's history than I do.. but she doesn't believe all of it. She has a problem with our beliefs in Grace. But on Wednesday we made homeless packages with her. She bought all this stuff, like granola bars, socks, a tooth brush, juice boxes and even little bibles and we separated them all out and put them in bags to hand out to homeless people. we even put scripture references on each thing in the bags. She is the most Christlike person I have ever met!
On Thursday, I had my first exchanges, Sister Johnson came and stayed with me for the day.. and wow was that interesting! Sister J. is from Texas and is SO awesome! She is on fire! We tracted and met the most amazing people! We met this guy named David who at first wanted nothing to do with us.. he first thought we were Jehovah Witnesses, then when he found out we were Mormon, He asked us how many husbands we have.. after we cleared all that up, his dog came out and I bent down to put her (of course) and I asked her name, He said Lacey, and when I looked up at him he was crying.. he said that was his wifes name and today was the anniversary of the day she died.... I stood up and told him how sorry I was and I told him she was in a better place and that he'd see her again, he was really crying now..the spirit was insane!! We asked him if we could pray with him and he said yes. He told us we could come back whenever... so we definitely will :) the Lord guided us to his home that day, I know it!
I know all this stuff sounds so happy and the perfect missionary life but I will tell you... there is A LOT OF REJECTION! A lot of people don't like us.. and there is some mean people. We are just here to help and uplift people and build their relationship with Christ, I pray that some people will soften their hearts and realize that.
But
the work is hastening and the Lord is preparing people :)
I know this is where I am supposed to be.
I know Heavenly Father has guided me through life to this exact point, he has placed people in my path to help me get here. I feel so blessed to be a missionary.
This is the happiest times of my life.
"Yea, I know that I am nothing, as to my strength I am weak; therefor I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things yea, behold, many might miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever"
Alma 26:12
with all my love, Sister Askerlund
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