Hello!!
I love you all
and hope you had an amazing New Years Eve and day! Everything here was
closed so that's why I'm writing you today. We spent the evening with
members and ate dinner and talked. Then yesterday for New Years day we
went to the Campo and had a fire and walked along the Coast (it was just like
walking along the rocks in Oregon. So perfect.).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
TYLER TODAY!!!! And Happy Birthday to Sarah this week!! I love you
both so much!!
I have learned a lot
this week. I've been able to see how incredibly weak I am and how much I need
the Savior in every moment. Its really true that the more you come unto Christ
the more He shows you your weaknesses. Its really incredible that he
calls 18 and 19 year olds to be his missionaries. I am baffoled (hahaha
idk how to spell that but you get the idea) by the trust that He puts in
us. I've learned a lot about His love. Really, its the only thing
that changes people, situations, and everything. Everything is based on
love. And to know that He loves me and has put His trust in me is the
biggest motivator. It shows me just how much He values me and each one of
His children. Knowing that, knowing who we are, helps us realize that we
can't act like the natural man. I think that's why it's so important as
missionaries to study our purpose. And as members of the church in
general. If we don't constantly remind ourselves who we are and How
Christ and Heavenly Father see us, we are going to act in a different
way. We forget so easily. That's why we are counselled to go to the
temple often and we take the sacrament every week. Its the same with my
missionary purpose and spending time in prayer listening to how God feels about
me. Anyway, I'm becoming more humble and I'm changing. We really
are absolutely nothing without the Savior. Its also really hit home to me
how with my kids in the future, with my family now, my companions, future
companions and other missionaries that the only way people are going to change
is through love. Through real charity.
Our sector is doing
well in so many ways, but in other ways it's been heartbreaking. A few
investigators have dropped us this week and that was pretty hard. Not
because I'm beating up on myself thinking "what did I do wrong?", but
because I want them to be happy and they just rejected the most beautiful thing
that anybody has to offer. They couldn't see how their life could be 3
million times better. I was doing a contact this week and in the middle
of testifying and inviting them to hear more, the guy took off running.
It would've been funny if we were selling insect repellent or something but
this guy just ran away from the only source of peace and joy. Part of me wanted
to laugh, but it hurt to stand there and feel even the smallest part of what
the Savior must have felt as He suffered for his brothers and sisters, the
people He loves with every part of who He is, and they still rejected
Him. They rejected the only person that brings them healing and
peace. It hurt the Savior not because He felt offended, but because He
loves them. He wants them to be happy. I've been feeling a super
small part of that lately. I've been putting my whole heart into serving
these people. I know I'm completely weak and there are a million ways I
can improve, but I have really been trying my best and I will keep trying my
best until the very end. But despite the little moments of pain, I'm still
soooo completely happy. There is so much joy in living the Gospel.
There is absolutely nothing better than getting to work with the Savior in
helping bring people unto Him--whether they reject it or not.
I love you all so
much!!!! Have an amazing week!!!!
--Hermana West
