Dreams, Donuts, and Paying the Price!

Last Sunday we went to a Fireside about financial advice. It made me feel confident. I took lots of notes. It helped me with shopping the next day. I saw a pretty dress I wanted, but I decided I have enough clothes and that I didn't need it. When we walked out of the store, I felt good. I felt powerful. I felt like I had control over my agency. 

On Tuesday, I woke up with a headache. It didn't seem bad so I tried to tough it out.  We went to help move the Elder's things to a new apartment, which is across from our apartment. How cool is that? It actually makes me feel safe :) But my headache became progressively worse as the day went on, and I've been keeping a log to try and figure out what triggers them.  That day, I even drove for half an hour and back ... I'm not sure how I did it. Driving helps I guess. I felt frustrated because I didn't want to appear weak or lazy. I also didn't want to cancel our appointments or to cop out on Heavenly Father. I wanted to work for Him! Sister Hosea advised me to stop worrying. She said she could see that my desire is to work hard and serve the Lord.  But it's important to rest the body to be able to serve better. So, I took a nap, and when I woke up I felt better. 

We were able to visit a girl named Kimberly. She had a bad dream the previous night. The dream really upset her and when she woke up she felt awful about herself. I told her that we all have bad dreams like that. When we sleep, we are not only vulnerable to the Spirit, but also to the adversary. We can pray though and ask Heavenly Father to protect us from all evil as we sleep, and pray for peaceful dreams. I have been doing this lately and it works! I still have weird dreams- but they're not scary! ;)  Before my mission I was worried about my health and if it would slow me down. But I know Heavenly Father wouldn't have sent me on my mission if He knew I couldn't handle it- and here I am! Serving the Lord! So I'm gonna be tough as nails! Just like my Mama! 

This week was a little slow though. We went contacting like crazy! But we weren't getting the results we wanted. By Thursday, we were slow moving but finally got ourselves going. Sister Hosea had to take a power nap before we went to do more contacting. She struggled throughout the morning, and was getting frustrated because we had been contacting with no results. But then she remembered the hardships her father and her grandfather went through on their missions and it helped to keep her motivated. 

After we went contacting, we met with Marina and her family. Her mother has a gluten intolerance and made gluten free brownies. She offered us some. I was afraid to touch them because they looked so good that did not look gluten free. They didn't even taste gluten free!!! But they were soooooooooo yummy! Gluten free food is getting better and better all the time.

On Saturday we went to the Oakland Temple. It is so beautiful! Our Ward went with the Washington Square Ward. We listened to the words of Christ and then watched the 20 minute version of the Restoration. Sister Pule told a story. She used Elder Neilson, a senior missionary as an example:

"There was an institute class. Elder Neilson came in with a box of donuts. He asks a student named Bob to do ten push-ups for each person to have a donut. Bob agrees. Elder Neilson asks the first student if they want a donut. They say yes so Bob has to do ten push-ups. Other students say yes for a donut, until they start to notice Bob is struggling and growing very tired. The next student is worried about Bob and says no to a donut, but Elder Neilson says: "Can you do ten push-ups for the donut that this Student doesn't want?" And Bob has to keep doing push-ups, for everyone. Another student declines and asks if they can do the push-ups themselves. Elder Neilson says: "No, you can't. Someone already volunteered to do it for you." 

We don't have to suffer for our sins. The Savior has ALREADY PAID THE PRICE for them in full. All we have to do is repent and believe in Him, or we will suffer like He has suffered. And if we stop to think about how much He suffered, and if we can picture that in our minds, then we should be so grateful for all He has done for us by showing Him how much we love Him...because He offered to do this for All Of Us, whether we accept Him or not. For the past four months I've learned that forgiveness is possible! And that we always have a second chance.

Yesterday, we got to go to a fireside by Liz Wiseman: she spoke to us about "Seeing potential in yourself and others". 

As a missionary, it's easy to see potential in others. You love the Lord and that enables you to love others, and to see them as He sees them. For me, I'm still learning to see potential in myself. I know I'll find it while I'm out here on my mission. I just need to trust Heavenly Father and look at myself through His eyes. 

- Always, Sister Brown