My last letter!
Hello! It has been such a wonderful week! Here are some highlights:
We got transfer calls! Sister Spencer and Sister Clawson will both be training--so excited for both of them. I do have to say I prayed my whole mission to end my mission by training a new missionary, and luckily I got one of the best. Sister Spencer has a heart of gold and is the most humble, loving, kind person I know. She has taught me so much! I am really excited for her to bless a brand new missionary's life, as she has blessed mine. And, it has been such a party having Sister Clawson with us the last two weeks. She will be an incredible trainer!
Monday night our lesson fell through, and we weren't quite sure what to do. It had been snowing nonstop for over 24 hours. We felt impressed that we needed to shovel one of our investigator's driveways who is going through a difficult time. We had a blast shoveling, and right as we finished, her neighbor walks out and, long story short, we started shoveling hers. This turned into an opportunity to testify to her of the love that her Heavenly Father has for her, that she is truly a child of God, and that our Savior, Jesus Christ, lives and knows us perfectly. It was such a powerful experience. I gave her a Book of Mormon, and she asked me, "Why would you give me this book? I feel like I am the worst person ever and don't deserve this." I was able, in that very moment, to testify of the healing power of the Book of Mormon and the blessing it has been in my life. In that moment I felt so much love for her and knew that she truly is a child of God. I really cannot even begin to express what an incredible moment that was. It is amazing to witness time and time again how the Holy Ghost leads us and guides us to the places we need to be in the exact time we need to be there. The following day we had some incredible opportunities once again to listen to and act upon the promptings of the Spirit and be in the right place at the right time.
Everyone this week has kept asking me, "What is the number one lesson you have learned?" I'm like, "How do I even answer that?" I have learned lessons every day over and over again. Lately, though I have recognized, and really come to understand, the importance of the Spirit in ALL that we do. I have seen time and time again on my mission exactly what Nephi said, "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." AND, MIRACLES come! But is is because this is the Lord's work. He knows exactly what we need to be doing, where we need to be, and what we need to say to help these people that HE has been preparing. I am so grateful for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost--first, to lead and guide me to peoples' driveways at 8:30 and to meet Frankie, an incredible child of God--who had absolutely NO idea! Second, to testify of truth. The Spirit truly testifies of truth and will always testify of truth, and third, for the comfort that the Spirit can bring, and the comfort that I have felt day in and day out!
We also had some AMAZING lessons with some of our investigators. They are progressing really well and exercising so much faith. It is incredible to witness how the Gospel of Jesus Christ blesses and truly changes families and individuals. During Fast and Testimony Meeting yesterday, two of the investigators got up and bore the most sincere and real testimonies I have ever heard. The spirit was so strong. I feel very blessed to have met all of these individuals and be a part of witnessing as they accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ and light up with the Spirit. I love them all with my whole heart and am looking forward to watching them continue to progress and soak it all in.
It has been such an incredible week and, more importantly, an incredible 18 months. I am really at a loss of words to know where to even begin, or how to describe what an amazing blessing it has been to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each and every day I have had the opportunity to put my name tag on and go out and represent our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know with my whole heart that our Savior lives. I know that He came to the earth, established His Gospel, was crucified and suffered for the sins of all of us. I have felt the power of the Atonement in my life every day, and been able to witness the hope and power the Atonement of Jesus Christ brings into the lives of the people I have grown to love with my whole heart. There really is no greater blessing than being able to witness the enabling power of the Atonement in the life of someone who has lost all hope. I know that I would not have been able to make it through every day without my Savior, Jesus Christ, and I want you all to know that I love Him so dearly.
I know that Christ's original Gospel has been restored to this earth through a prophet, named Joseph Smith. He had a simple question about which church was true, which one he needed to join. As he knelt in a grove of trees, I know that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph. He received his answer and through him the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. Joseph went in the grove with a question and was ready to act upon the answer he received. I know that as we do the same that Heavenly Father will hear and answer our prayers. I know that we are all children of a living, loving Father in Heaven. I know that the Book of Mormon is truly the word of God and is here on this earth for us at this time. There is healing power that comes as we read the book every day. It truly is another testament of Jesus Christ.
I know that God has given us the Plan of Salvation to allow us to return to live with Him again, and for the happiness of His children. I love my Heavenly Father and Savior. I love this great state of Alaska more than I could ever describe. I love the many incredible people I have been so blessed to meet. I love this Gospel with my whole heart and am really thankful for the experience and opportunity I have had to serve as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, inviting others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the Restored Gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. There is no greater joy and happiness than sharing with others the one thing that brings happiness in the moment and for eternity.
Our Ward Mission Leader said yesterday, "We should take strength from the fact that when we invite, we do it on behalf of the Savior. That is why we have it, so that we can share it." I can testify of that. As we invite and share the Gospel with others, we have our Savior with us every step of the way. I am humbled, thankful, and eternally grateful for this incredible opportunity to share the Gospel with all I have come in contact with, and will continue to do so the next couple of days on my mission and the rest of my life.
I love you all and am so very thankful for each and every one of you. Thank you for the many prayers--I have felt them every single day. Truly, thank you all for everything!
I will see you soon, but until then I am excited to continue to witness the Lord's hand in this great work and witness the many miracles that will come here in the Lazy Mountain area! There is no question in my mind that there is so much work here to do, and I am so excited to finish strong!
Love Sister Lake
Anchorage Alaska Mission
