Hey everyone! Life as a missionary continues to be GREAT! Yes, it is hot and brown and dry here, but if I stand at a certain spot in my area, I can see my entire mission. It's beautiful. Plus, I can see all three temples in my mission! Oquirrh Mountain Temple is to the west of my area, while both Draper Temple and Jordan River Temple are to the east. I haven't had an opportunity to attend any of these temples yet, but it makes me feel peaceful when I see them. They are very beautiful with the mountains behind them.
A few days ago, in the morning when we were exercising, we decided to take a bike ride through our area. My companion informed me that the incline of our ride would be when we headed west up a hill. Let me tell you: that "incline" was flatter than the road in front of my house in WV! Biking here is WAY easier than it is back home. It's been nice, though, when I run into people who used to live in WV. They totally understand how much I miss the green and all the hills.
If there is one thing you should know about the area in which I'm serving, it's apricots. Tons of apricots. People pick them, eat them, can them, jam them, and turn them into fruit leather. I didn't know there were that many things you could do with apricots. Our landlord has at least two apricot trees out back, and the branches were so heavy with fruit that they began to break! By the way, I'm not sure if I wrote it in my last entry or not, but my companion and I live in the furnished basement of an elderly sister in our stake. She is super sweet and has a great sense of humor.
Also by the way, HAPPY PIONEER DAY!!! (July 24) I didn't know that this day is a holiday. When I got to my area, I kept hearing people talk about how they wouldn't be home July 24th, or they already had plans that day, and I was getting really curious about why it was so special. Turns out that July 24th is the day that the pioneers came into the Utah Valley.
One of my favorite things about missionary life is getting to serve others by weeding their gardens. I know that sounds silly, but it's just nice to be able to do something so small that makes a huge difference to some people.
Since I've been out, I've studied the scriptures a lot more and prayed more frequently than before. And you know what that has brought me? Peace and calmness. Try it out and see if it works for you.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Monday, July 21, 2014
Out of the MTC and into the field!
This is Amy's first post from the mission. I was getting worried I hadn't heard from her yet. She amazes me more and more. Please feel free to leave comments here, and I can forward them to her. Also see her first post for her contact information.
~Tiffany Thomas
Being a missionary is the best! =D Honestly, it is such a blessing to have time set aside every day to study the scriptures and pray almost constantly. Heading out the to MTC, I really didn't expect it to be such a huge difference from regular life, but it's so different. I had a great companion at the MTC named Sister Harward. She's from North Carolina and she has been raised in the church her whole life. She was such faith and sincerity in her desire to spread the gospel and help others develop a closer relationship with Christ. I absolutely enjoyed spending 16 hours every day studying, learning, doing service, and practicing how to be a great missionary. I know that sounds geeky, but it was awesome! There is no where that I have felt the Spirit stronger and more pervasive, except for the temple. I will admit, however, that I did pick up a sinus infection while I was there. :( I ended up going to the doctor on campus who sent me across the street for antibiotics. Thank goodness for modern medicine! I'm feeling a ton better now.
I'm in my first area and first transfer. My companion is from Hawaii, and her name is Sister Olszowka (which isn't pronounced evenly remotely like it looks). She is fantastic and really all I could ask for in a companion and trainer. She's super patient and understanding, and she is so hard working. In our area, we are in charge of an ENTIRE STAKE! We have 11 wards and 1 branch. There are so many people here!
My very first day here we had a miracle. A woman who has recently returned to the church and who has been struggling with severe depression called us up and asked us to meet with a friend of hers. Her friend is currently homeless and is having a rough time. She told us that she knows how much living the gospel has helped her in her life, and she knows it can help him. We taught him the first lesson, and he seems to have the desire to learn more. Let me tell you right now that the Atonement changes lives. A good friend of mine once told me that there is never ever anything that is so bad that you can't change your life around. This only happens through the Atonement.
So if you are reading this and wondering how you can obtain happiness and peace in this life, I urge you to pick up a Book of Mormon and start reading it. I'm not kidding. But don't just read it, ponder it. And after you ponder it, pray to your Heavenly Father and ask him if the things and teaching contained in it are true, if they are good and right. (Moroni 10:3-5). And after you do that, when the Holy Spirit gives you that peace, apply the teachings that you've read and pondered. Our Heavenly Father loves you more than you will ever know.
By the way, if you read my blog, feel free to write or e-mail me at any time. I love questions and I love helping people develop a stronger and deeper relationship with our Saviour Jesus Christ. I know that this church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true, and I know that we have a God who is our father and loves us. I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and that we can become closer to God by following the teachings in it. I know that there is no other way back to God than through the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all very much. Search, ponder, pray.
~Tiffany Thomas
Being a missionary is the best! =D Honestly, it is such a blessing to have time set aside every day to study the scriptures and pray almost constantly. Heading out the to MTC, I really didn't expect it to be such a huge difference from regular life, but it's so different. I had a great companion at the MTC named Sister Harward. She's from North Carolina and she has been raised in the church her whole life. She was such faith and sincerity in her desire to spread the gospel and help others develop a closer relationship with Christ. I absolutely enjoyed spending 16 hours every day studying, learning, doing service, and practicing how to be a great missionary. I know that sounds geeky, but it was awesome! There is no where that I have felt the Spirit stronger and more pervasive, except for the temple. I will admit, however, that I did pick up a sinus infection while I was there. :( I ended up going to the doctor on campus who sent me across the street for antibiotics. Thank goodness for modern medicine! I'm feeling a ton better now.
I'm in my first area and first transfer. My companion is from Hawaii, and her name is Sister Olszowka (which isn't pronounced evenly remotely like it looks). She is fantastic and really all I could ask for in a companion and trainer. She's super patient and understanding, and she is so hard working. In our area, we are in charge of an ENTIRE STAKE! We have 11 wards and 1 branch. There are so many people here!
My very first day here we had a miracle. A woman who has recently returned to the church and who has been struggling with severe depression called us up and asked us to meet with a friend of hers. Her friend is currently homeless and is having a rough time. She told us that she knows how much living the gospel has helped her in her life, and she knows it can help him. We taught him the first lesson, and he seems to have the desire to learn more. Let me tell you right now that the Atonement changes lives. A good friend of mine once told me that there is never ever anything that is so bad that you can't change your life around. This only happens through the Atonement.
So if you are reading this and wondering how you can obtain happiness and peace in this life, I urge you to pick up a Book of Mormon and start reading it. I'm not kidding. But don't just read it, ponder it. And after you ponder it, pray to your Heavenly Father and ask him if the things and teaching contained in it are true, if they are good and right. (Moroni 10:3-5). And after you do that, when the Holy Spirit gives you that peace, apply the teachings that you've read and pondered. Our Heavenly Father loves you more than you will ever know.
By the way, if you read my blog, feel free to write or e-mail me at any time. I love questions and I love helping people develop a stronger and deeper relationship with our Saviour Jesus Christ. I know that this church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true, and I know that we have a God who is our father and loves us. I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and that we can become closer to God by following the teachings in it. I know that there is no other way back to God than through the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all very much. Search, ponder, pray.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)