Hey all!
So...it's been another insane week. I'm pretty sure this has been the craziest transfer of my mission. I'm trying to figure out what Heavenly Father is trying to teach me! Monday night, we get a call telling us that we have to move...the next day. The zone leaders had to leave their apartment before the next month - so Tuesday was the final day - so they moved into our apartment and we moved in with the 3rd sisters, Sister Brewster and Sister Olson. I was a little bit wary of it, because I started having flashbacks to college. I loved living with 4 other girls, but I also had the tendency to turn anti social and cranky. It just goes to show how much I've changed on my mission...because it's been nothing but a party! Especially since I served with Sister Brewster and Sister Olson came out with me. It's been a fun time! But, moving wiped out pretty much an entire day of proselyting.
And then we still had to do another exchange...so we crammed one in after district meeting on Wednesday through Thursday afternoon, and then we had Mission Leadership Council on Friday...and then with General Conference on the weekend, I feel like Sister Fowkes and I haven't had much opportunity to be companions while out proselyting this week. It's put a huge strain on me, because all I want to do is throw myself into the work, yet things seem to keep getting in the way...so it's been interesting.
General Conference was a special one for me, though. Because it was 2 years ago that the age change announcement was made. In fact, 2 years from TODAY!! I've been thinking about that a lot. It's been 2 years! And I look back and reflect on all that has happened to me in 2 years. Before my mission, I had to learn how to receive revelation and how to trust the Lord, in order to actually make it on a mission. And then, while on my mission, I've learned SO many things. I've met so many people who I needed to meet. I've learned skills that will help me in life and gained strengths and attributes that will, hopefully, help me continue to serve the Lord and my brothers and sisters when I'm home. I've had the opportunity to be an instrument in God's hands. I've served and loved and grown, and now the WA-TAC is become holy ground.
In reality...I don't really have words for anything. General Conference was great! I truly learned a lot. I loved Elder Chi Hong Wong's and Elder Jorg Klebingat's talks as well and Elder Bednar's! They were definitely powerful. And I loved that there were talks in different languages. That was so neat! But, all that is in my heart right now are the feelings to gratitude, love, sorrow, and joy that pertain to my mission. I don't think there are words that can fully express what it means to me to be out here. Ever since I was super little, I've wanted to serve a mission. The past 18 months, I've literally been living my dream! It hasn't always been easy, and there have been several rough patches, but I wouldn't trade any of this for the world. I'm so grateful I still have a week left. I hope to serve my hardest this last week. I love this work. I love being able to serve the Lord in this capacity. I love being able to proclaim the Gospel. I love being able to testify to strangers - and to feel love for these strangers - about the goodness of the Gospel. I love being able to share something with people that they legitimately need. I love being able to share the message of the Restoration with people. I love reciting the first vision, and feeling the spirit that just overwhelms when you do. I love it!
I'm so grateful to be here, and I'm so grateful for all that has been done to help me be here, to support me here. I love you all! Thank you for everything!
Sister Beth Ann Root!
Monday, October 6, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
Letter from September 29th, 2014
I'm pretty sure this was the craziest week of my mission. Because of that it went by WAY too fast!! We did an exchange from Monday night to Tuesday night, went to Zion's Camp as an MLC on Wednesday and then went to Zion's Camp on Thursday to lead it, and then after Zion's Camp through Friday afternoon we did another exchange. Saturday evening was the Women's Conference. SO. CRAZY.
I feel like I just blinked and the week was over. But, it was a really good week. I loved the exchange at the beginning of the week. The companionship is a trio, so I went to their area with two of the sisters, Sister Liao and Sister Sorenson. Sister Liao is from Taiwan and Sister Sorenson is a visa waiter going to Taiwan, and it was her second week in the mission. My favorite exchanges are the ones where I get to help the sisters see that they are good missionaries. For the vast majority of the day, I just sat back and let them work, because Sister Liao has never taken the lead, and Sister Sorenson was not confident at all. There were a few times I had to take control of a situation, simply because sometimes investigators get sidetracked...but for the most part, I was able to just kind of help them do their thing. At the end of it, Sister Liao was like, "I learned that I can do it!" That's probably my favorite part of being an STL is helping sisters see what they can do when they are put out of their comfort zone. I love it!
Zion's Camp was really neat, as well. The ropes course that we did involved one of two things: trust in the Lord or trust in companionships/people. God places people in our paths for a reason, and we have to trust those people. We have to trust leaders, we have to trust our companions, our spouses, our co-workers, our friends. If we can't trust them, we will be leading a very lonely life, and we will not get very far. And, most importantly, we MUST trust in the Lord. My favorite task was the cable walk. There were two cables that reached the same destination, set at different angles. The point was to walk across them as a companionship - one on one cable and one on the other - and reach the end at the same time. It was, in reality, an impossible feat, unless you had incredible upperbody strength. To get the furthest, though, it was necessary to face your companion and you push against each other. You hold the other person up. The key to success is not worrying about if you are staying up, but if your companion is staying up. and you move along, until the cables spread too far across, and you literally would be parallel to the ground if you continued. The moral of the story: you can' tmake it across, without a third party. And that third party is Jesus Christ. But, you MUST be putting forth all of that effort for Him to help you. You put forth that effort, knowing you can't do it alone, trusting that with His strength and His help you will be able to make it to the end. I love it! We cannot reach salvation on our own. We cannot reach salvation with the combined efforts of us and our loved ones. We only reach salvation by relying on our Savior Jesus Christ. I just really loved that lesson.
Women's Conference was another highlight. I loved all of it! I was able to receive a lot of insight. I loved the emphasis on the temple. So much of the work being hastened has to do with our ancestors passed away, as well. We must hasten the work on both sides of the veil! and we have to be doing both!
More than ever, though, this week I have been filled with gratitude. Gratitude to be here. Gratitude for this experience. I cannot say what this means to me, or what it feels like to be realizing that it's coming to a close. But, I'm so grateful. There is nothing better I could have done for my life. I love you all! Thank you for all that you do to help me and support me out here. I love you!
Sister Beth Ann Root!
I feel like I just blinked and the week was over. But, it was a really good week. I loved the exchange at the beginning of the week. The companionship is a trio, so I went to their area with two of the sisters, Sister Liao and Sister Sorenson. Sister Liao is from Taiwan and Sister Sorenson is a visa waiter going to Taiwan, and it was her second week in the mission. My favorite exchanges are the ones where I get to help the sisters see that they are good missionaries. For the vast majority of the day, I just sat back and let them work, because Sister Liao has never taken the lead, and Sister Sorenson was not confident at all. There were a few times I had to take control of a situation, simply because sometimes investigators get sidetracked...but for the most part, I was able to just kind of help them do their thing. At the end of it, Sister Liao was like, "I learned that I can do it!" That's probably my favorite part of being an STL is helping sisters see what they can do when they are put out of their comfort zone. I love it!
Zion's Camp was really neat, as well. The ropes course that we did involved one of two things: trust in the Lord or trust in companionships/people. God places people in our paths for a reason, and we have to trust those people. We have to trust leaders, we have to trust our companions, our spouses, our co-workers, our friends. If we can't trust them, we will be leading a very lonely life, and we will not get very far. And, most importantly, we MUST trust in the Lord. My favorite task was the cable walk. There were two cables that reached the same destination, set at different angles. The point was to walk across them as a companionship - one on one cable and one on the other - and reach the end at the same time. It was, in reality, an impossible feat, unless you had incredible upperbody strength. To get the furthest, though, it was necessary to face your companion and you push against each other. You hold the other person up. The key to success is not worrying about if you are staying up, but if your companion is staying up. and you move along, until the cables spread too far across, and you literally would be parallel to the ground if you continued. The moral of the story: you can' tmake it across, without a third party. And that third party is Jesus Christ. But, you MUST be putting forth all of that effort for Him to help you. You put forth that effort, knowing you can't do it alone, trusting that with His strength and His help you will be able to make it to the end. I love it! We cannot reach salvation on our own. We cannot reach salvation with the combined efforts of us and our loved ones. We only reach salvation by relying on our Savior Jesus Christ. I just really loved that lesson.
Women's Conference was another highlight. I loved all of it! I was able to receive a lot of insight. I loved the emphasis on the temple. So much of the work being hastened has to do with our ancestors passed away, as well. We must hasten the work on both sides of the veil! and we have to be doing both!
More than ever, though, this week I have been filled with gratitude. Gratitude to be here. Gratitude for this experience. I cannot say what this means to me, or what it feels like to be realizing that it's coming to a close. But, I'm so grateful. There is nothing better I could have done for my life. I love you all! Thank you for all that you do to help me and support me out here. I love you!
Sister Beth Ann Root!
Monday, September 22, 2014
Letter from September 22nd, 2014
Hey all!
This week was a good one! Of course. :) Probably one of the coolest things of my mission happened this week. And it may not seem like a big deal, but it seriously was just a wonderful manifestation of God's love for His children.
A few weeks ago, Sister Fowkes had lost a necklace. It's one that means a lot to her, and she had worn it every day of her mission. It had somehow fallen off of her neck and fell down underneath the deck of some random door we were knocking, one evening. She was super bummed about it - more bummed, I knew, than she let on. We actually stopped by one other time. No one answered the door, so we got down on our hands and knees in the yard to see if it would be possible to get it; it seemed impossible.
Friday, I was on exchange with Sister Olsen - a sister who came out with me and, exactly a year ago, was Sister Fowkes' companion. Everything had fallen through, and I was scrambling through my brain to think of people we could visit or places we could go. we went to go visit a less active who normally is home on Fridays...but she wasn't home. So we sat there in the car, seeking for something productive to do, when suddenly I remembered that we were in the neighborhood where Sister Fowkes had lost her necklace. And I had the crazy idea that maybe we'd be successful in getting it this time. I threw the idea out to Sister Olsen, and then prefaced it with, "It's probably a lost cause." But for some reason I just couldn't let it drop. I needed to go find out if we could get it!
So, we go and knock on this guy's door - his name is Ralph - and you could tell that he kind of was like, "Weren't you guys here like 2 weeks ago?" But then we were like, "So, last time we were here, a necklace fell off and fell through your deck...do you think there would be any possible way we can see if we can find it?" His demeanor instantly changed, and he was so very concerned, and agreed. He ran inside and grabbed a flashlight and was out there with us, scanning underneath the porch for any glimpse of the necklace. I was praying with all my heart that we could find it, but I knew I probably was just nuts thinking that we could get it. Then, Ralph is like, "I think there is enough room for me to climb under" and proceeds to army crawl, through the dirt and cobwebs, 10-12 feet, searching for the necklace. He was nearly to the end, and was like, "Man, I don't see it! I'm so sorry!" Inside I was just begging that he would just look one more time, hoping beyond all hope God would perform a miracle. Then he's like, "Ok, there is just one more section that I can't see. I'll move just a little bit forward to check it out." He crawled forward, and there, at the very end, reached forward, and picked up the necklace.
I cannot express to you how incredible this is. God cares about us enough that he will pull out all the stops to cater to our smallest, earnest desires. That necklace means a lot to Sister Fowkes, therefore it meant a lot to me and Sister Olsen. As we sent up our prayers, pleading that there would be some way we'd be able to retrieve it, He listened. There have been few moments where I have felt God's love so strongly. I know that may sound super silly, but really! God cared enough.
Yesterday I read in Lamentations 3:58 which says, "O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul." As we plead the causes of our soul - small and big, life changing or not - our Brother, Jesus Christ, will then plead them to our Father. And they will provide.
This was not the only miracle we witnessed this week. Among other things - and just as joyous as finding Sister Fowkes necklace - was that Jerry Whitman was baptized. He is SUCH a miracle! He is so excited and happy, as well as his wife Jeannette. I am so incredibly humbled by their love and their insistence that we were sent from God. I think THEY are sent from God to bless my life and the lives of those in the Lacey 5th ward. I am so incredibly grateful.
I'm so grateful for this work! I am constantly learning. And God is constantly teaching me. And I am always seeing miracles. Miracles that are wrought to bring forth the salvation of His children - and miracles to make manifest His love for us.
Haha I know this email is super random and focused on such a small thing, but I really don't know if I've had a greater example that God answers prayers. It was so neat! And I know He cares, and as we send up prayers of faith, He cannot withhold His blessings.
I love you guys! I hope all is going well! Keep living the word, keep on keeping on, and never forget that God is listening to the cries of your heart, no matter how small they may be. Love you all! Thanks for everything!
Sister Beth Ann Root!
This week was a good one! Of course. :) Probably one of the coolest things of my mission happened this week. And it may not seem like a big deal, but it seriously was just a wonderful manifestation of God's love for His children.
A few weeks ago, Sister Fowkes had lost a necklace. It's one that means a lot to her, and she had worn it every day of her mission. It had somehow fallen off of her neck and fell down underneath the deck of some random door we were knocking, one evening. She was super bummed about it - more bummed, I knew, than she let on. We actually stopped by one other time. No one answered the door, so we got down on our hands and knees in the yard to see if it would be possible to get it; it seemed impossible.
Friday, I was on exchange with Sister Olsen - a sister who came out with me and, exactly a year ago, was Sister Fowkes' companion. Everything had fallen through, and I was scrambling through my brain to think of people we could visit or places we could go. we went to go visit a less active who normally is home on Fridays...but she wasn't home. So we sat there in the car, seeking for something productive to do, when suddenly I remembered that we were in the neighborhood where Sister Fowkes had lost her necklace. And I had the crazy idea that maybe we'd be successful in getting it this time. I threw the idea out to Sister Olsen, and then prefaced it with, "It's probably a lost cause." But for some reason I just couldn't let it drop. I needed to go find out if we could get it!
So, we go and knock on this guy's door - his name is Ralph - and you could tell that he kind of was like, "Weren't you guys here like 2 weeks ago?" But then we were like, "So, last time we were here, a necklace fell off and fell through your deck...do you think there would be any possible way we can see if we can find it?" His demeanor instantly changed, and he was so very concerned, and agreed. He ran inside and grabbed a flashlight and was out there with us, scanning underneath the porch for any glimpse of the necklace. I was praying with all my heart that we could find it, but I knew I probably was just nuts thinking that we could get it. Then, Ralph is like, "I think there is enough room for me to climb under" and proceeds to army crawl, through the dirt and cobwebs, 10-12 feet, searching for the necklace. He was nearly to the end, and was like, "Man, I don't see it! I'm so sorry!" Inside I was just begging that he would just look one more time, hoping beyond all hope God would perform a miracle. Then he's like, "Ok, there is just one more section that I can't see. I'll move just a little bit forward to check it out." He crawled forward, and there, at the very end, reached forward, and picked up the necklace.
I cannot express to you how incredible this is. God cares about us enough that he will pull out all the stops to cater to our smallest, earnest desires. That necklace means a lot to Sister Fowkes, therefore it meant a lot to me and Sister Olsen. As we sent up our prayers, pleading that there would be some way we'd be able to retrieve it, He listened. There have been few moments where I have felt God's love so strongly. I know that may sound super silly, but really! God cared enough.
Yesterday I read in Lamentations 3:58 which says, "O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul." As we plead the causes of our soul - small and big, life changing or not - our Brother, Jesus Christ, will then plead them to our Father. And they will provide.
This was not the only miracle we witnessed this week. Among other things - and just as joyous as finding Sister Fowkes necklace - was that Jerry Whitman was baptized. He is SUCH a miracle! He is so excited and happy, as well as his wife Jeannette. I am so incredibly humbled by their love and their insistence that we were sent from God. I think THEY are sent from God to bless my life and the lives of those in the Lacey 5th ward. I am so incredibly grateful.
I'm so grateful for this work! I am constantly learning. And God is constantly teaching me. And I am always seeing miracles. Miracles that are wrought to bring forth the salvation of His children - and miracles to make manifest His love for us.
Haha I know this email is super random and focused on such a small thing, but I really don't know if I've had a greater example that God answers prayers. It was so neat! And I know He cares, and as we send up prayers of faith, He cannot withhold His blessings.
I love you guys! I hope all is going well! Keep living the word, keep on keeping on, and never forget that God is listening to the cries of your heart, no matter how small they may be. Love you all! Thanks for everything!
Sister Beth Ann Root!
Monday, September 15, 2014
Letter from September 15th, 2014
Hey all!
Well, this is the transfer of miracles! Every transfer, and every day we are blessed with miracles. But, this transfer in particular, Sister Fowkes and I have already been blessed with many mighty miracles. Last email, I had said that Susan had fasted for a baptismal date, and the answer she received was, "Soon." So, Monday night, we go and visit her, and she starts looking at her calendar and asks us, "can we do it this Sunday? Is that allowed?" Susan Emory was baptized Sunday, September 14th at 6:30 in the evening. My heart was so full, and the spirit was so strong. Susan is on fire and full of the spirit. I've never seen someone so excited for baptism - or seen someone who worked so hard to be baptized. She worked against the spirit for a little while there, but once she started stepping in sync with it, she progressed quickly, overcame many challenges and addictions, and just blossomed. She was glowing last night! I literally don't have words to express the feelings in my heart, to express the incredible joy to know that Susan has chosen a more excellent way, as Moroni puts it. Susan makes my heart happy!
And Jerry is still so excited for his baptism! He just glows with excitement and loves to study the scriptures. He expresses his gratitude each time we see him for the fact that he has a group of people he can now worship with and whose views are aligned with his. And his wife, every time we come over says how it was such a miracle that we knocked on their down. Jerry is SO elect. God truly prepares His people. He just expects us to be in the right place at the right time. He expects us to be worthy of those promptings and to act quickly on them. Because by doing so, we become worthy to receive miracles - not that we ever do anything to earn miracles, but He expects us to be worthy to receive them when He sends them down to us.
It's been humbling to work with Sister Fowkes, and to see her constant positive attitude, her hope, and her drive to always do what the spirit prompts her to do. We had about 15 minutes before an appointment and she was like, "let's go knock a few doors on this street!" and I wasn't too thrilled by this idea. The 3rd house we come to there was a less active member who had just days before been talking to his girlfriend - who was there as well- about how they should start going to church. His girlfriend has a daughter who has been considering going to church with her Mormon friend. God's timing is perfect, and there are no coincidences.
Sister Fowkes wanted to knock this apartment complex that was full of cranky people last time I knocked it, and I didn't really want to knock it. But, we grudgingly went, and we found multiple new investigators that night. I'm learning a lot about just doing things, even if it doesn't seem appealing, or if it doesn't seem fruitful to you - because if the spirit prompts it, nothing else matters!
I love this work. I love being here! God continues to bless me so much with things to learn! thank you for all that you do to support me here! I love you all!
Sister Beth Ann Root!
Well, this is the transfer of miracles! Every transfer, and every day we are blessed with miracles. But, this transfer in particular, Sister Fowkes and I have already been blessed with many mighty miracles. Last email, I had said that Susan had fasted for a baptismal date, and the answer she received was, "Soon." So, Monday night, we go and visit her, and she starts looking at her calendar and asks us, "can we do it this Sunday? Is that allowed?" Susan Emory was baptized Sunday, September 14th at 6:30 in the evening. My heart was so full, and the spirit was so strong. Susan is on fire and full of the spirit. I've never seen someone so excited for baptism - or seen someone who worked so hard to be baptized. She worked against the spirit for a little while there, but once she started stepping in sync with it, she progressed quickly, overcame many challenges and addictions, and just blossomed. She was glowing last night! I literally don't have words to express the feelings in my heart, to express the incredible joy to know that Susan has chosen a more excellent way, as Moroni puts it. Susan makes my heart happy!
And Jerry is still so excited for his baptism! He just glows with excitement and loves to study the scriptures. He expresses his gratitude each time we see him for the fact that he has a group of people he can now worship with and whose views are aligned with his. And his wife, every time we come over says how it was such a miracle that we knocked on their down. Jerry is SO elect. God truly prepares His people. He just expects us to be in the right place at the right time. He expects us to be worthy of those promptings and to act quickly on them. Because by doing so, we become worthy to receive miracles - not that we ever do anything to earn miracles, but He expects us to be worthy to receive them when He sends them down to us.
It's been humbling to work with Sister Fowkes, and to see her constant positive attitude, her hope, and her drive to always do what the spirit prompts her to do. We had about 15 minutes before an appointment and she was like, "let's go knock a few doors on this street!" and I wasn't too thrilled by this idea. The 3rd house we come to there was a less active member who had just days before been talking to his girlfriend - who was there as well- about how they should start going to church. His girlfriend has a daughter who has been considering going to church with her Mormon friend. God's timing is perfect, and there are no coincidences.
Sister Fowkes wanted to knock this apartment complex that was full of cranky people last time I knocked it, and I didn't really want to knock it. But, we grudgingly went, and we found multiple new investigators that night. I'm learning a lot about just doing things, even if it doesn't seem appealing, or if it doesn't seem fruitful to you - because if the spirit prompts it, nothing else matters!
I love this work. I love being here! God continues to bless me so much with things to learn! thank you for all that you do to support me here! I love you all!
Sister Beth Ann Root!
Monday, September 8, 2014
Letter from September 8th, 2014
Hey all!
Man oh man, it has been the week 1 to trump all week 1's! I have seen more miracles than I can count. The Lord has been so good to me. As I went to bed last night, I couldn't comprehend all that has happened in the last 7 days. This last transfer is going to be AMAZING!
First, I have to say, Sister Fowkes is exactly what I needed to finish off my mission strong. Heavenly Father's plan is perfect. We are a lot a like in many ways, but we also have different strengths and weaknesses, and I have already learned a lot. I'm excited for what the next 5 weeks will bring!
Jerry Whitman is just as awesome as ever! They are going out of town next week, and Jeanette, his wife, was saying that they might have to push back his baptism, but Jerry started shaking his head the minute she suggested it. He is SO excited, and SO prepared! I'm so incredibly grateful that we were able to find him.
And Susan Emory is doing so good! We invited her to fast yesterday to ask God when He wanted her to be baptized. At church, she said, "There's no date coming to my mind, but I just keep feeling soon!" She's working on quitting smoking and is just trying so hard! Her attitude is much better than it was before, and she actually made it a couple of days before she slipped up. But, she picked herself up and is trying again. She'll be baptized either at the end of September or the beginning of October, I'm sure of it! Regardless of when, though, she is going to be baptized, and that brings my heart such joy! Everyone at church keeps saying how much she has changed, and that is just a testimony to me that her change is real, and that the spirit has truly worked within her heart. Getting to teach her and see her change has been one of the sweetest experiences of my mission!
We have been blessed to find several new investigators this week, and I'm so excited to see what will happen. I can't remember the last time my planner was so full with actual set appointments - before the week actually began!
It actually is such a testament of the truth that this is GOD'S work. Because the past 4 transfers, I haven't been doing things much different. It's not like I've been disobedient or lazy, or doing things I shouldn't have. But, at the beginning of this 5th transfer her in Lacey, Sister Fowkes just bringing a little bit of difference in, the Lord has suddenly caused things to happen. And there hasn't been much difference in the way we work - although, Sister Fowkes has helped me to see a lot of little things I need to work on. Not because she's called me out, but just by her example. It's actually a little bit exciting, because I've already seen the growth in me as I've focused on improving. -
You guys. This is God's work. Never miss an opportunity to participate in it! Because even if you extend an invitation and someone turns you down, that is NOT a failure. Because this is His work, and He prepares people in His own way. There is nothing that we can do or say that will make the difference. But, if we open up ourselves, He will allow ourselves to be in the right place at the right time - but only if we continue to follow every prompting. With promptness. That is the meaning of the Lord hastening His work.
Oh man, I love this. I'm so grateful to be here. As Ammon says, "my heart is brim with joy" because of this work. I can't help but be happy! Thank you for all that you do to help me and support me out here. I'm grateful to each of you and the love you have for me. I love you guys!
Sister Beth Ann Root!
Man oh man, it has been the week 1 to trump all week 1's! I have seen more miracles than I can count. The Lord has been so good to me. As I went to bed last night, I couldn't comprehend all that has happened in the last 7 days. This last transfer is going to be AMAZING!
First, I have to say, Sister Fowkes is exactly what I needed to finish off my mission strong. Heavenly Father's plan is perfect. We are a lot a like in many ways, but we also have different strengths and weaknesses, and I have already learned a lot. I'm excited for what the next 5 weeks will bring!
Jerry Whitman is just as awesome as ever! They are going out of town next week, and Jeanette, his wife, was saying that they might have to push back his baptism, but Jerry started shaking his head the minute she suggested it. He is SO excited, and SO prepared! I'm so incredibly grateful that we were able to find him.
And Susan Emory is doing so good! We invited her to fast yesterday to ask God when He wanted her to be baptized. At church, she said, "There's no date coming to my mind, but I just keep feeling soon!" She's working on quitting smoking and is just trying so hard! Her attitude is much better than it was before, and she actually made it a couple of days before she slipped up. But, she picked herself up and is trying again. She'll be baptized either at the end of September or the beginning of October, I'm sure of it! Regardless of when, though, she is going to be baptized, and that brings my heart such joy! Everyone at church keeps saying how much she has changed, and that is just a testimony to me that her change is real, and that the spirit has truly worked within her heart. Getting to teach her and see her change has been one of the sweetest experiences of my mission!
We have been blessed to find several new investigators this week, and I'm so excited to see what will happen. I can't remember the last time my planner was so full with actual set appointments - before the week actually began!
It actually is such a testament of the truth that this is GOD'S work. Because the past 4 transfers, I haven't been doing things much different. It's not like I've been disobedient or lazy, or doing things I shouldn't have. But, at the beginning of this 5th transfer her in Lacey, Sister Fowkes just bringing a little bit of difference in, the Lord has suddenly caused things to happen. And there hasn't been much difference in the way we work - although, Sister Fowkes has helped me to see a lot of little things I need to work on. Not because she's called me out, but just by her example. It's actually a little bit exciting, because I've already seen the growth in me as I've focused on improving. -
You guys. This is God's work. Never miss an opportunity to participate in it! Because even if you extend an invitation and someone turns you down, that is NOT a failure. Because this is His work, and He prepares people in His own way. There is nothing that we can do or say that will make the difference. But, if we open up ourselves, He will allow ourselves to be in the right place at the right time - but only if we continue to follow every prompting. With promptness. That is the meaning of the Lord hastening His work.
Oh man, I love this. I'm so grateful to be here. As Ammon says, "my heart is brim with joy" because of this work. I can't help but be happy! Thank you for all that you do to help me and support me out here. I'm grateful to each of you and the love you have for me. I love you guys!
Sister Beth Ann Root!
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Letter from September 2nd, 2014
Hey all!
Don't know how cohesive this letter will be. Emailing on non-pdays is always a weird thing. Transfer news: Well...Sister Bayles is going home. And so I get to stay in Lacey! And, my new companion will be Sister Fowkes. Oh man, I am SO excited about that! She is stellar and we are good buddies. We served in the Bremerton zone and Silverdale zone together. We followed each other. It's going to be a good way to end this transfer!
It's very much a surreal feeling to realize that this is my last transfer. I'm pretty sure this is going to be my most emotional transfer. But, I anticipate it being one of the most joyous as well. Jerry Whitman is on date for September 20th. Keep him in your prayers, please! He was totally and completely elect, and it was SUCH a miracle to find him. He picked his own date to be baptized, and he is excited and totally on board. His wife is also very excited.
Susan Emory is also doing a lot better. She is much more focused and much more determined. She made the statement that she keeps trying to push the truth away and deny God's commandments, but the spirit keeps drawing her back to us. So, she knows she needs to start living God's commandments and has a desire to draw closer to God. And she WANTS to be baptized. So, instead of picking her baptismal date this time, we are having her pray and ask God when He wants her baptized. This way, she has more of a reason to work towards it, because she knows that it's what He wants, not just what the missionaries want. I'm not sure if it'll happen while I'm still here, but I have high hopes, and I'm confident that she will get baptized.
We also found a couple pretty sweet new investigators, Kevin and Raul. Hopefully you'll end up hearing more about them, because we really need new investigators! We only have a handful of people we're teaching, and really Susan and Jerry are the only solid ones. But, the good news is that they are SUPER solid.
Life is good. I've got nothing to complain about. My heart is full at the thought of all that I've been able to experience here, and I'm so incredibly grateful that I have 6 weeks left to serve my God in this capacity...but I'm also incredibly sorrowful that I only have 6 weeks left. But, I know this will be a great 6 weeks, and I'm determined to do all that God requires of me.
I love you all! Thanks for everything you do and for the support you give me. I feel the prayers and appreciate them. I love you!
Sister Beth Ann Root!
Don't know how cohesive this letter will be. Emailing on non-pdays is always a weird thing. Transfer news: Well...Sister Bayles is going home. And so I get to stay in Lacey! And, my new companion will be Sister Fowkes. Oh man, I am SO excited about that! She is stellar and we are good buddies. We served in the Bremerton zone and Silverdale zone together. We followed each other. It's going to be a good way to end this transfer!
It's very much a surreal feeling to realize that this is my last transfer. I'm pretty sure this is going to be my most emotional transfer. But, I anticipate it being one of the most joyous as well. Jerry Whitman is on date for September 20th. Keep him in your prayers, please! He was totally and completely elect, and it was SUCH a miracle to find him. He picked his own date to be baptized, and he is excited and totally on board. His wife is also very excited.
Susan Emory is also doing a lot better. She is much more focused and much more determined. She made the statement that she keeps trying to push the truth away and deny God's commandments, but the spirit keeps drawing her back to us. So, she knows she needs to start living God's commandments and has a desire to draw closer to God. And she WANTS to be baptized. So, instead of picking her baptismal date this time, we are having her pray and ask God when He wants her baptized. This way, she has more of a reason to work towards it, because she knows that it's what He wants, not just what the missionaries want. I'm not sure if it'll happen while I'm still here, but I have high hopes, and I'm confident that she will get baptized.
We also found a couple pretty sweet new investigators, Kevin and Raul. Hopefully you'll end up hearing more about them, because we really need new investigators! We only have a handful of people we're teaching, and really Susan and Jerry are the only solid ones. But, the good news is that they are SUPER solid.
Life is good. I've got nothing to complain about. My heart is full at the thought of all that I've been able to experience here, and I'm so incredibly grateful that I have 6 weeks left to serve my God in this capacity...but I'm also incredibly sorrowful that I only have 6 weeks left. But, I know this will be a great 6 weeks, and I'm determined to do all that God requires of me.
I love you all! Thanks for everything you do and for the support you give me. I feel the prayers and appreciate them. I love you!
Sister Beth Ann Root!
Monday, August 25, 2014
Letter from August 25th, 2014
Hey all!
It has been a wonderful week! It's been super weird for Sister Bayles and I. As we were doing our weekly planning, Sister Bayles realized she was planning her last week in the mission...which made me realize that in 6 weeks I'd be doing the same thing. It's so odd for me to think about. I can't believe that it's ending for her and then soon after it ends for me...it makes for odd musings when I start to think about things. But it's helping me to make resolutions and decisions about the future.
Other than the annoying thoughts of going home soon, we've been greatly blessed. We had a way awesome exchange last week! Sister Bayles went with Sister Rea (I was a little bit jealous. Sister Rea has become one of my favorite people ever) and I went with Sister Liao. Sister Liao is from Taiwan, and she's in her 3rd transfer here. She speaks pretty good English, and she was way excited to hear that I had a brother who served in Taiwan! We talked about it for a little while. It was really neat to get to be with Sister Liao, though. She is probably one of the happiest and most optimistic people I know, and it helped to remind me the power of expectations. Elder Holland has said that we need to expect miracles to happen. And that's what Sister Liao does! A couple things fell through that day, and she was just like, "It will all work out!" It made me smile, because it's so true. It was a really good reminder for me to be a little bit more optimistic and positive about things. I love it when I get to learn and be reminded of things on these exchanges - and I love it most when it's from young missionaries, because it just goes to show that every missionary, no matter how young or how old, has something to offer, and has something we can learn from.
We've been teaching Isabel, a friend of a member who is visiting from Spain. She actual goes back today, but the past month that we've had to teach her have been very special to me. She said she was willing to meet with the missionaries in Spain, so we're super excited to give that referral. But, it was such a sweet tender mercy teaching her because of her openness to learning, and her sweet spirit. She never has been able to recognize the spirit, but it's been neat to see how it is still working within and even changing her, though she's not recognizing it. Teaching Isabel has also been a wonderful example of one of my favorite things of being a missionary: being able to feel the love that God has for people. I have felt such an incredible amount of love for Isabel. It's been such a treat to teach her, because of the feelings I feel as we are there. It still dumbfounds me to think how the spirit can fill me with such love for a person that I barely know. I love it!
Susan Emory, who decided she didn't want to get baptized is slowly changing, again. Her heart is softening. I have to keep reminding myself that it's God's timing and now ours. But, she came to church this week, and even told us she felt the spirit - it's good that she's recognizing it on her own! She's been reading and has been a lot more...mellow, I guess would be a good word. Last week, she was really...aggressive when we met with her. Pretty much refusing the spirit. Now, she is listening and accepting, again. I'm confident she'll get baptized, still, but we'll just have to be patient with her. I'm hoping she'll get baptized before I leave...but I'll just be happy to know she actually gets baptized.
And THEN! The highlight of the week. :) Jerry Whitman! He has decided to be baptized! He's not on date, yet, because apparently he made the official decision after we left the lesson, but his wife at church said she was talking to her sister on the phone and she told her Jerry was getting baptized, and Jerry just sat there with a big grin on his face! So, the next time we meet with him, we'll get a solid date set - and make sure he actually is committed and converted. But, we are so excited!
Things have been going well. And I think week 6 will be a week of miracles. It's gotta be, because it's Sister Bayles' last week! I love you all! Thanks for all that you do to support me and all you do for me!
Sister Beth Ann Root!
It has been a wonderful week! It's been super weird for Sister Bayles and I. As we were doing our weekly planning, Sister Bayles realized she was planning her last week in the mission...which made me realize that in 6 weeks I'd be doing the same thing. It's so odd for me to think about. I can't believe that it's ending for her and then soon after it ends for me...it makes for odd musings when I start to think about things. But it's helping me to make resolutions and decisions about the future.
Other than the annoying thoughts of going home soon, we've been greatly blessed. We had a way awesome exchange last week! Sister Bayles went with Sister Rea (I was a little bit jealous. Sister Rea has become one of my favorite people ever) and I went with Sister Liao. Sister Liao is from Taiwan, and she's in her 3rd transfer here. She speaks pretty good English, and she was way excited to hear that I had a brother who served in Taiwan! We talked about it for a little while. It was really neat to get to be with Sister Liao, though. She is probably one of the happiest and most optimistic people I know, and it helped to remind me the power of expectations. Elder Holland has said that we need to expect miracles to happen. And that's what Sister Liao does! A couple things fell through that day, and she was just like, "It will all work out!" It made me smile, because it's so true. It was a really good reminder for me to be a little bit more optimistic and positive about things. I love it when I get to learn and be reminded of things on these exchanges - and I love it most when it's from young missionaries, because it just goes to show that every missionary, no matter how young or how old, has something to offer, and has something we can learn from.
We've been teaching Isabel, a friend of a member who is visiting from Spain. She actual goes back today, but the past month that we've had to teach her have been very special to me. She said she was willing to meet with the missionaries in Spain, so we're super excited to give that referral. But, it was such a sweet tender mercy teaching her because of her openness to learning, and her sweet spirit. She never has been able to recognize the spirit, but it's been neat to see how it is still working within and even changing her, though she's not recognizing it. Teaching Isabel has also been a wonderful example of one of my favorite things of being a missionary: being able to feel the love that God has for people. I have felt such an incredible amount of love for Isabel. It's been such a treat to teach her, because of the feelings I feel as we are there. It still dumbfounds me to think how the spirit can fill me with such love for a person that I barely know. I love it!
Susan Emory, who decided she didn't want to get baptized is slowly changing, again. Her heart is softening. I have to keep reminding myself that it's God's timing and now ours. But, she came to church this week, and even told us she felt the spirit - it's good that she's recognizing it on her own! She's been reading and has been a lot more...mellow, I guess would be a good word. Last week, she was really...aggressive when we met with her. Pretty much refusing the spirit. Now, she is listening and accepting, again. I'm confident she'll get baptized, still, but we'll just have to be patient with her. I'm hoping she'll get baptized before I leave...but I'll just be happy to know she actually gets baptized.
And THEN! The highlight of the week. :) Jerry Whitman! He has decided to be baptized! He's not on date, yet, because apparently he made the official decision after we left the lesson, but his wife at church said she was talking to her sister on the phone and she told her Jerry was getting baptized, and Jerry just sat there with a big grin on his face! So, the next time we meet with him, we'll get a solid date set - and make sure he actually is committed and converted. But, we are so excited!
Things have been going well. And I think week 6 will be a week of miracles. It's gotta be, because it's Sister Bayles' last week! I love you all! Thanks for all that you do to support me and all you do for me!
Sister Beth Ann Root!