Week 72: “Now That’s Something!” (November 18, 2019)
I have watched many of my companions go through the emotions of a final transfer - and every single one of them told me that their last transfer was one full of tender mercies from the Lord. Now, my mission has been filled with those on a consistent basis... So originally hearing that from countless people, I now realize how I had struggled to understand what they meant.
A final transfer helps solidify your testimony that the Lord loves you, and that He is going to continue to help you become something - even after you have to remove the nametag. I have never been so emotional, over every spiritual ounce in missionary work, yet here I am. So join with me as the week's dwindle, but the miracles never do.
We went on four exchanges this week, bouncing from here to as far as Belgrade and back, keeping us out of our own area for half of the week. Those days consisted of restless nights on couches and air mattresses, random meals, and eating some bear that created some messy problems (for me especially). I hugged a lady with bed bugs, witnessed a few car robberies, and laughed more than I can express to you. Yet in between all of the crazy and the sick, inbetween the long drives and scary rest stops, the Lord blessed us with amazing lessons and used us in His hands... No matter where we were.
While on an exchange with a new missionary in Bozeman, a not so busy day turned into one crazy ride. We went from painting nails at an assisted living home, to having to push back a lesson due to an emergency call from a member who really needed our help; though we thought the help was needed in a different way. This member is named Mileen; she had called expressing that a recent illness made it hard for her to get her home cleaned, and so we anticipated lots of messy housework. When we arrived, we spent about five minutes folding laundry, which ended with, "Well, thanks for coming and helping!"
Confused, we decided to sit down on the couch and talk with Mileen. Mileen did not need help cleaning her home, or even folding her laundry... But Mileen had been given a prompting to ask the missionaries for help, because her Spirit was suffering. She called us on a feeling, a feeling that turned into panic, and a feeling that turned to darkness she did not want to find again. Mileen cried with us in that room for about forty-five minutes. Tears filled my eyes as I testified of the gift of everlasting repentance, and how the Savior could literally heal her and protect her from the faults she faced.
These are the moments I will miss the most.
She looked at me, at the end, and said, "I love these sister missionaries, but I know it is no coincidence that she is here today."
That evening, the elders gave her a blessing, and she told me again how she had felt with me. The Lord knew I needed to be in Bozeman, with that certain sister missionary, on that certain day. And it will always amaze me just how smoothly He guides our little decisions, like which missionary to go with and what day to do exchanges. He truly guides His work.
Mileen gave me her email, and is striving to create her own eternal family. I hope to be an eternal friend to her.
The following day, in Belgrade, I got to meet a very special woman named Julie. Julie was just baptized a month ago, despite some very difficult circumstances in her life. Julie had a stroke, that inhibits her speech. She can talk, but not from a complete idea or thought with her words. An example would be,
"You were here, who is they." Meaning, "You have always been around, and who is this new girl?"
Julie gets really down on herself, as her brain works at a full capacity, and yet her body cannot function for her. We sat and flipped through the Gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet together, pointing at the words as we talked, gathering her understanding through broken thoughts and incomplete sentences. And yet, Julie is one of the strongest people I have been blessed to teach as a missionary. She is the purest example of what Moroni describes in Ether 12, verse 27,
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
She allowed a terrible trial to turn her to the Lord, to use His truth, to make herself happier, despite her circumstances. She is not a victim of sadness, but an overcomer. One phrase she said more than the rest, was, "Now isn't that something?"
She is right. This is all something. This is Christ's church. And if we all had the childlife perspective of Julie, we would all be able to open up the windows of far deeper understanding.
The Lord blessed me, by allowing me to feel of a piece of the love He has for Julie, and for allowing me to witness her amazing example of overcoming.
She would finish most of her thoughts by saying, "It isn't about me, it about God."
How incredible is it that we, as tiny specks in the race of human history, get to experience the amazing joy that comes from witnessing people enter in on the covenant path! What a blessing it is that I get to be in Billings again, just to witness the full circles of those I have taught and get to teach again, and to be on these particular exchanges.
It did not have to be me, but the Lord allowed it to be me. I am grateful for that.
Joe, our recent convert, received the priesthood on Sunday. He got emotional, as his nerves of having to stand in front of everyone subsided, and as the Bishop also expressed emotions as he asked the crowd to sustain him.
Brandon, one of the people I helped be baptized last April, got to pass the sacrament for the first time as well... In fact, all adults passed the sacrament with him, no young men. It was one of the funniest, and sweetest things to witness. Half of these men had never been able to bless or pass the sacrament, and watching the more experienced guide them around the chapel, with scribbles of directions on their hands, was both heartwarming and hilarious to witness. I felt immense love in that chapel. And the sacrament meant just that much more, knowing the effort that went in - and knowing the love for each one of them, from our Savior.
Despite being out of our area all week, the Lord allowed us to have three people come to church today who we did not expect - two of which became new people being taught. It allowed us to meet our mission standards, despite it looking kind of grim for us. The Lord truly never takes away promised blessings from those who strive.
All we are asked to do is try. Try and try and try. Exact obedience does not mean you do not slip up ever - it just means that when you fall, you get back in the boat that much faster. The Lord will use you, I promise.
He uses me every moment I remember Him.
Missions are incredible, but the Lord and His infinite wisdom trumps it all. He will never stop helping us become, and learn, and progress. Keep trusting, you got it this week.
Love you all.
Sister Walstad
A final transfer helps solidify your testimony that the Lord loves you, and that He is going to continue to help you become something - even after you have to remove the nametag. I have never been so emotional, over every spiritual ounce in missionary work, yet here I am. So join with me as the week's dwindle, but the miracles never do.
We went on four exchanges this week, bouncing from here to as far as Belgrade and back, keeping us out of our own area for half of the week. Those days consisted of restless nights on couches and air mattresses, random meals, and eating some bear that created some messy problems (for me especially). I hugged a lady with bed bugs, witnessed a few car robberies, and laughed more than I can express to you. Yet in between all of the crazy and the sick, inbetween the long drives and scary rest stops, the Lord blessed us with amazing lessons and used us in His hands... No matter where we were.
While on an exchange with a new missionary in Bozeman, a not so busy day turned into one crazy ride. We went from painting nails at an assisted living home, to having to push back a lesson due to an emergency call from a member who really needed our help; though we thought the help was needed in a different way. This member is named Mileen; she had called expressing that a recent illness made it hard for her to get her home cleaned, and so we anticipated lots of messy housework. When we arrived, we spent about five minutes folding laundry, which ended with, "Well, thanks for coming and helping!"
Confused, we decided to sit down on the couch and talk with Mileen. Mileen did not need help cleaning her home, or even folding her laundry... But Mileen had been given a prompting to ask the missionaries for help, because her Spirit was suffering. She called us on a feeling, a feeling that turned into panic, and a feeling that turned to darkness she did not want to find again. Mileen cried with us in that room for about forty-five minutes. Tears filled my eyes as I testified of the gift of everlasting repentance, and how the Savior could literally heal her and protect her from the faults she faced.
These are the moments I will miss the most.
She looked at me, at the end, and said, "I love these sister missionaries, but I know it is no coincidence that she is here today."
That evening, the elders gave her a blessing, and she told me again how she had felt with me. The Lord knew I needed to be in Bozeman, with that certain sister missionary, on that certain day. And it will always amaze me just how smoothly He guides our little decisions, like which missionary to go with and what day to do exchanges. He truly guides His work.
Mileen gave me her email, and is striving to create her own eternal family. I hope to be an eternal friend to her.
The following day, in Belgrade, I got to meet a very special woman named Julie. Julie was just baptized a month ago, despite some very difficult circumstances in her life. Julie had a stroke, that inhibits her speech. She can talk, but not from a complete idea or thought with her words. An example would be,
"You were here, who is they." Meaning, "You have always been around, and who is this new girl?"
Julie gets really down on herself, as her brain works at a full capacity, and yet her body cannot function for her. We sat and flipped through the Gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet together, pointing at the words as we talked, gathering her understanding through broken thoughts and incomplete sentences. And yet, Julie is one of the strongest people I have been blessed to teach as a missionary. She is the purest example of what Moroni describes in Ether 12, verse 27,
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
She allowed a terrible trial to turn her to the Lord, to use His truth, to make herself happier, despite her circumstances. She is not a victim of sadness, but an overcomer. One phrase she said more than the rest, was, "Now isn't that something?"
She is right. This is all something. This is Christ's church. And if we all had the childlife perspective of Julie, we would all be able to open up the windows of far deeper understanding.
The Lord blessed me, by allowing me to feel of a piece of the love He has for Julie, and for allowing me to witness her amazing example of overcoming.
She would finish most of her thoughts by saying, "It isn't about me, it about God."
How incredible is it that we, as tiny specks in the race of human history, get to experience the amazing joy that comes from witnessing people enter in on the covenant path! What a blessing it is that I get to be in Billings again, just to witness the full circles of those I have taught and get to teach again, and to be on these particular exchanges.
It did not have to be me, but the Lord allowed it to be me. I am grateful for that.
Joe, our recent convert, received the priesthood on Sunday. He got emotional, as his nerves of having to stand in front of everyone subsided, and as the Bishop also expressed emotions as he asked the crowd to sustain him.
Brandon, one of the people I helped be baptized last April, got to pass the sacrament for the first time as well... In fact, all adults passed the sacrament with him, no young men. It was one of the funniest, and sweetest things to witness. Half of these men had never been able to bless or pass the sacrament, and watching the more experienced guide them around the chapel, with scribbles of directions on their hands, was both heartwarming and hilarious to witness. I felt immense love in that chapel. And the sacrament meant just that much more, knowing the effort that went in - and knowing the love for each one of them, from our Savior.
Despite being out of our area all week, the Lord allowed us to have three people come to church today who we did not expect - two of which became new people being taught. It allowed us to meet our mission standards, despite it looking kind of grim for us. The Lord truly never takes away promised blessings from those who strive.
All we are asked to do is try. Try and try and try. Exact obedience does not mean you do not slip up ever - it just means that when you fall, you get back in the boat that much faster. The Lord will use you, I promise.
He uses me every moment I remember Him.
Missions are incredible, but the Lord and His infinite wisdom trumps it all. He will never stop helping us become, and learn, and progress. Keep trusting, you got it this week.
Love you all.
Sister Walstad
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