Monday, April 27, 2015

Week 31 - The Advesary



Hello All!!!! 

OK so this week goes something like this...AHHHHHHHHHHHH WHAT THE HAY?! It was nuts!! So good, and so interesting....

Well to start we found an amazing family and committed the four old enough to be baptized! Then, we found out they don't live in our area, awesome! But it's alright the missionaries who cover their area have been praying for a miracle, so hey we were instrumental in helping the Lord bring one to them, so I'll take it!!!! It doesn't matter which missionaries help teach them, because ultimately they are being taught by the exact same spirit, and as long as they can feel that spirit, and feel their Heavenly Fathers love for them,  and enter into the covenant of baptism, I don't care who gets to watch them do it, just as long as they do!!!! It would only be my pride if I said anything else. I think that's one major thing I have learned here on my mission, just how prideful the natural man is. I HATE IT! But something I have been able to realize that it once you grow true Charity for someone you don't care how or rather who they receive the Gospel or greater happiness from, just as long as they do. I have a true testimony that charity and pride can never go together, in order to have Charity for others we must lose our own pride, and truly make that weakness become a strength. It's hard to do, and I am still working on improving it myself, but it is a true and great testimony I have that I can be done, that with God nothing is impossible, we can truly do all things!!!!!! 

So on top of going finding we had a crazy week!!!!! The mission has set out to reach a goal never before reached in May! As a farewell gift to our mission president, and a launching pad for the mission we have set out to reach the standard of excellence in the month of May, if, or rather I should say when we reach this it will mean just under 400 souls will be coming unto Christ and partaking of the ordinance of baptism in the month of May!!! Some may say it's crazy, or that's it's impossible, but I say that if we do all we can do, and we follow the Lord's will, there is no reason we cant reach that, or even exceed it! The mission has set this goal, and it has been becoming more and more clear that we will achieve it, but it has also become more and more obvious that the adversary is working harder and harder against us. It reminds me of this quote. 
 
I think we will witness increasing evidence of Satan’s power as the kingdom of God grows stronger. I believe Satan’s ever-expanding efforts are some proof of the truthfulness of this work. In the future the opposition will be both more subtle and more open. It will be masked in greater sophistication and cunning, but it will also be more blatant. We will need greater spirituality to perceive all of the forms of evil and greater strength to resist it. But the disappointments and setbacks to the work of God will be temporary, for the work will go forward.
 James E Faust

I love how it says these setbacks will be temporary, the work will go forward, for truly it will! How could the Lord's work not?! This week we as a companionship, a zone, and a mission have seen some set backs, but we have also seen some of the most amazing miracles!!!! The adversary is working hard against us, but our Lord is working even harder for us. We see opposition in all things, but we also are able to see the miracles in all things as well. The question that must be asked though is are we looking for them? Our we looking for the good, or simply seeing the bad? It requires a whole change of mind to look past the good to see the bad, but I know it is possible, no I am not perfect at it, but I am getting better, and I know without a doubt that there is good in all opposition, and that the Lord is continually providing miracles at all turns!!! We must simply look for and see them! Talking with the mission president he simply said the degree of difficulty has increased, but what pattern can we see from the scriptures when their degree increases? They all pass through hard times, Nephi got beaten how many times? They burned Abinadi to death, The sons of Mosiah were put in prison how many times? The Army of Heleman faced how many? All of these and then some are increases in their degree of difficulty, but what happened to all these men when they endured their trials? The Lord provided a miracle! Nephi made it to the promised land, Abinadi's message touched Alma's heart, The Sons of Mosiah converted thousands, the army of Heleman all survived. All because they trusted in the Lord, they faced difficulty, and though it was hard they kept the faith, and looked for the miracles that were destined to happen. So it is in our life, we can learn from their great examples, yes our degree may increase, but just as we see in the scriptures we can expect a miracle to happen, because the Lord will always provide for his followers!!! The adversary is real, and it is strong, but the Lord is stronger, and we can truly overcome all things with him! Hope you all have had an awesome week!!!! Love and miss you all!!!! and just remember no matter how hard it gets, no matter how much your degree of difficulty increases, as long as you endure, and endure it well the Lord will provide!!!! 

Love, 
Sister Kaycie Sondrup 

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