June 2, 2014 -- El Amor de Dios

On Sunday I looked outside and there were the BLACKS from Dalton! They ran up to me and said, Hermana Collier, you never said goodbye to us! I felt so bad haha!  They were on vacation in Gatlinburg and came to church especially to see me.  It made my day.  They are just some great members.

Hola Familia!!!  

I miss you all.  Sounds like you had a fabulous week with Les Mis at OHS -- wish I could've seen it!  Felicitaciones to Caleb and everyone who was in it. 

This week was super great.  Last P-day/Memorial Day was spent at the Sheets playing corn-hole, which I was actually all right at! And playing with the grandkids and all, it was great fun!

So you know how we gave that journal to Celeste and committed her to write in it every day something she's grateful for? Well as part of the commitment I did the same, but for mine I committed to write how I felt the Love of God/Saw His hand in my life that day.  It has been truly amazing to do this and see how much I've been blessed!

On Monday, we went to dinner with our investigator Lisbeth.  We walked in and as I looked around, looking at potential people to talk to, a middle-aged man sitting alone at a table gave me a big smile, so I smiled back.  He said, "I like your smile!" and I told him I liked his.  Then we were eating dinner and he came to us and said goodbye before he left.  We gave him a pass-along card and asked if he'd like to know more, and he said he would, so we got his info.  Lisbeth laughed and shook her head, "You girls never stop, do you?" Haha.  But when we were done eating, the waiter came up and said your bill is already paid, the man who owns and maintains this building wanted to pay for you!  And he gave us a reciept with a sweet note on it.  Lisbeth was SO touched!  It was such a sweet quick interchange, and we're looking forward to getting to teach him.  And if not, then at least us girls and Lisbeth were able to see the imminent hand of the Lord that day.  So God bless Jim!

I was able to see various other experiences where God obviously was putting His hand out to help and bless us this week.  Whenever we do our part and open our mouth or work our hardest or fulfill our end of the promise, He promises to fulfill his end - D& C 82:10.  This is something I've been learning about Obedience recently-it is just another demonstration of the Love of God, and His commitment to bless us!

Look at my pretty friends! I love them so much!

On Friday we had a sort of last-minute Spanish conference!!!  When sister Malloy and I heard about it we could hardly sleep, we were so excited to see everyone!  It was SUCH a fabulous conference, complete with trainings from local members that spoke Spanish, fellow missionaries, Mexican snacks, games, Hermana Horrocks and I did a musical number, and then remarks by President Irion.  Then, we had the fabulous opportunity to hear from Elder Pino from the Quorum of the Seventy.  He came sort of last-minute to do President Irion's exit interview (wipe away a tear), and so we got the chance to hear from him.  WOW!  He was from Venezuela, and was so excited to speak to us in Spanish because he has recently been doing a lot in English.  He spoke with love and demonstrated a very disciplined character.  I just can't even describe what was so great about it!

But he also spoke the things we really needed to hear -- he talked about how sometimes we think that the doctrine of Christ is something abstract, but we read in 2 Nephi 31 how straightforward and clear it is -- follow Jesucristo!!  And how if we relate everything we do as missionaries to that purpose, inviting others to follow Christ, we will as a result see more success.  He talked about how sometimes we get trapped in patterns - if something didn't work the first time it won't work the second. He illustrated this by saying if there's a big fish and a small fish in a tank, what's he going to do? Try to eat the small fish. But if there's a glass dividing them he won't be able to.  He'll try and try and fail to get to it.  Then if the glass is removed, he has complete access, an opportunity to succeed.  But does he try? No.  He related this to us with missionary efforts, sometimes we get thinking that something won't work, or we give up on someone because they didn't use their agency correctly last time.  KEEP trying, KEEP working effectively.

So I was just grateful for that opportunity to hear from him. Then we got to see all our Spanish amigos y amigas!  Las hermanas son las mejoras! I got to see Mama Button for the first time since Feb., which was great, and so on.  

Also this week, we got to visit a sweet, young less active returned missionary sister.  Haha, that sounds harsh, but if you heard her story it would be easier to understand.  But I am learning out here that no one is exempt from the temptation of the world.  We had a really good moment as she honestly told us that she can't see or feel God's hand in her life -- she feels like she's given everything to the Lord and He isn't blessing her. The Young Women president who came with us was really able to testify of the ways God is supported her through her trials and we could see that it really affected her.  I am excited to continue fellowshipping her.

I can't believe it's already June! Nine months of my mission flew by.  I don't want it to end.  I will continue working and loving this experience for the rest of my time!

Love yall sooooo much! Oh and cool chapter to study about the Love of God -- 1 John 4.

Hermana Collier

Celeste has been awesome - she kept her commitment and is diligently writing in her gratitude journal every day.  She is a really gifted baker so she taught Sister Malloy and me how to make bread this week! It was great.