Wanda: Wanda is so so tender and she was having a rough week. Her baptism was the past week and she was excited but also very nervous. She was having problems sleeping and with nightmares and was not feeling the best because of the weather and that wasn't helping with her immune system. We had been praying for her so stinking hard because we knew that she had been having kind of a hard time. We told her that Satan likes to be especially mean and try and get to people the week and the days before their baptism because he doesn't want them to make this important and necessary decision. She said that she knew that and not to worry because even though she was nervous and a little scared, she was going to be baptized no matter what. We had a bunch of members call in with her this week and on the day we had the relief society president call in, we seriously all talked about ice cream for 15 minutes. Wanda is such a funny lady. We called her Saturday morning and we talked and asked how she was feeling and she said that she was feeling great despite the bad weather!! She was super excited about her baptism and nothing was going to stop her. We went over the list of things that she needed to bring again and she curled her hair for pictures and everything. We got to the church a few hours early to warm up the font and did some lessons while we waited. We realized, that the water was super duper hot though. I found this out the hard way. We wanted to make sure that it would be deep enough and I hiked up my dress to wade in and burnt the bottom half of my legs. We knew that Wanda's tender 71-year-old skin wouldn't be able to handle that, so, we ran to the store and picked up 44 pounds of ice to dump in there. We finished dumping the ice as soon as Wanda walked into the building. Perfect timing!!
Wanda was so excited and everything went great! Her leg flew up the first time so that was unfortunate and she had to go down again but it was kinda funny when it was all said and done haha. The Elder that baptized her had never baptized someone before so it was so funny to see his leg bouncing so hard before the ordinance. Wanda said that she felt so good when she was coming out of the font and it was so cute!! When she was confirmed, you could feel the spirit like a brick in the room. I was just praying that Wanda would be able to feel it too. After her confirmation, she just sat there and said "whoa" and we had to help her to her seat because her strength had just left her. When we talked to her when the service was over we asked her how she was feeling and she said that when she was getting the Holy Ghost, that she had seen a man's face for just a second and that right after she was transported up into the clouds. It was crazy! We're convinced that Wanda seriously saw the face of either God or Jesus. That night, she slept better than she ever had before and didn't have any nightmares! Yay holy ghost! She also said that she had a dream about a lady that came into her room and told her to throw away all of her coffee stuff so it wouldn't even be a temptation! It was so cute. Wanda is seriously so in tune with the spirit. Also, I sang a musical number with the two Elders that came and Sister Johnston played the piano and it was scary.
When I told her that I had to go, she seriously cried. We went over to her house earlier today to have her sign her baptismal papers and she was so cute. She is part of the VFW (Verteran's association something) and she gave me two pins to give to dad (so cute I know) and she gave us cupcakes and she gave me a candle to say bye. It was seriously so sad. But, I told her that I would give her a call and not to worry about it because we would be friends for a long time. I love Wanda. I'm going to miss her! It was so special to see how much faith she has in her Savior and how once she knew something was true, she didn't give in to temptation. She is such a good example to me and I'm grateful that I got to meet her and to be a part of her journey.
Eric and Emily: These two people are seriously my homies and I love them so much. Their baptismal date was for May 16th and they were looking good for it. We invited them to be done with Tobacco products by Sunday the 10th and they agreed! We were so happy for them. This entire time I was a little bummed because I knew that I would be back at the square, but I just knew it was in God's hands and I was just going to zoom in. Then, we called them at the normal time that we do on Friday and we said "wow only EIGHT DAYS until your baptism, how do you feel?!" and Eric was like "oh, we are actually going to do it on Tuesday so Sister Moran can be there!" and then I seriously cried. I had to leave the camera because I was just so touched. I have grown to love these people so much and it was just really special that they had actually grown to love me a little bit too and that they cared enough about me that they wanted to move their date so I could be there.
Well, I was obviously so excited and we started making plans for Tuesday! They had their last day of Tobacco on Friday and we were squared away. We were going to fast for them on Sunday so that way they could stay strong and make it to their day. We called them Saturday and Eric was (in his own words) "jonesing'" (I don't know what that means) but we just focused on the strength that comes through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We also went over the interview which happened the next day. We were fasting for them and they said that they both "passed" their interviews and they were so excited!! We called them Sunday night and talked more and followed up on the WoW and Emily said that she was doing great, she didn't even mind it, but Eric had actually given in that day after his interview. We were really disappointed. We decided to tell him that and we then told him that he couldn't have any more or he couldn't get baptized. We were really worried about him honestly because his resolve was kinda crumbling. So, Monday morning we drove to the store and bought him cinnamon gum and grapefruit juice because apparently both of those things help and we dropped them off along with some ties that the Elders had given us for Eric. He was struggling, you could see it in his face, but he was so grateful. He is just a genuine dude.
We talked to them again later and Eric was like "Sisters, the juice and the gum you gave me is working because I haven't had any cravings since I've been drinking and chewing the gum!" and I just threw my hands straight up in the air and said "wow God LIVES" and then they laughed at me. We just KNOW that it is because we have been praying and fasting for them and the Lord hears our prayers and He answers them.
Tuesday baptism day!!! Also, my last day in Ohio. So strange. Anyways, their baptism was AMAZING. They were so excited and so nervous the whole day. Eric said that he couldn't sleep the night before because he was so nervous and had so many feelings of anticipation! How funny! They got to the church building super early so we ended up giving them a tour of the building. Then everyone else showed up and then the guy doing the zoom thing showed up super late so that is why it started late (sorry) but the service itself went super awesome. I could feel the spirit like a freight train. Eric's mom watched and they were both just so excited. Emily couldn't stop thanking us for everything that we had done for their family. During their confirmation, I could just see Eric and Emily leading their family to the temple and I can just see generations after them being so blessed because of this choice that they have made. Wow. It was such a special service. PLUS, also during their confirmation, I was super shooketh because I was sitting there and I was thinking about the temple and about how special and important it is there and I was just thinking about how I want to be in the temple all the time and at that moment all of my desires to sin ever went away and it was so cool. God can really change your heart.
I really love Eric and Emily and their baptism was so special. Afterward, they were so happy and so grateful and just GLOWING it was super awesome. I am so proud of the decision that they made and I know without a shadow of a doubt that it was the right one. I am excited to keep in touch with them and help them from a distance.
Okay, now I'm going to just tell you about three big things that I learned in Ohio.
1) God is a God of miracles. Never have I ever seen more miracles in my entire LIFE. As we pray with faith, Heavenly Father will consecrate our efforts and He will make our goals and our aspirations a reality. I was able to see His hand more in Ohio than I have before in my mission. I think some of that had to do with just looking for miracles every day because we had to text it to the ward council. It was just so awesome to see how He blessed us every day with something extraordinary. HE IS NOT LIMITED TO QUARANTINE, HE IS LIMITLESS!!!
2) I was able to learn how to listen to the spirit more fully. My whole life I have always struggled a little bit trying to discern when the spirit is talking to me and what I should do. In Ohio, it was like God just fine-tuned me and helped me learn how to listen to that still small voice and to know what it feels like to me personally. This is a tool and a gift that I will be able to use for the rest of my life so I am grateful for the experiences that I had in Ohio that helped me to more fully realize and utilize that amazing tool that Heavenly Father gave me.
3) Last but certainly not least, I learned how to LOVE. Man oh man is charity something that I struggle with. I just feel like I am not the most charitable person. Being in Ohio taught me how to focus more on other people and how to put them first more fully. Don't get me wrong, I did that my entire mission, but especially my last transfer in Ohio everything that I did was about my companion, the sisters in our zone or the people that we were teaching and that was just so special. Don't get me wrong, I still have lots to work on love wise and I still need more charity and all that good stuff, but I feel like I learned that just a little bit more for the three transfers that I got to serve in Ohio.
We drove down to Columbus after Eric and Emily's baptism and we got there right around midnight. I forgot that I lived three hours up north and the drive was just super long. But it was good! I loved getting to talk to Sister Johnston and to listen to music with her. I love her. Wow, I just had the best companions while I was out there. Anyways, the next morning I woke up at 6am and showered and then Sister Johnston dropped me off at the airport. Classic Sister Moran literally cried because I was so sad. President and Sister Stratford met us there and after realizing that we actually missed our flight (whoops) they helped us out and got us on one in the next few hours. We just had to sit for like three hours to make it to that one. We flew from Columbus to Atlanta to SLC and I was feeling really nervous and jittery the whole way. I didn't really cry though so I was really proud of myself for that. BUT it didn't feel like it was really happening.
I got to Salt Lake and I made Sister Runquist (the other sister that went to Ohio with me) walk super slow through the airport because I was just terrified. Finally, we saw like 6 other sisters and then I just wanted to die. Then, I got in a minivan that took me to the square and I was equal parts terrified and excited but more terrified. I cried in the car. I got there and all I heard was screaming and crying and exclamations of joy. Oh, Temple Square how I have missed you. Then, everyone was talking about my hair and how good it looked so that was really nice of them! Then, I put my stuff in my room and my companion came and got me. Her name is Sister Cummard and she is from Mesa Arizona! She has been out for a year tomorrow and she is just super sweet and a really good missionary. She was supposed to go outbound to Lansing Michigan but they actually canceled all outbound assignments so she didn't go, which I feel bad that she couldn't go especially because I just came back from some of the most miraculous months of my mission but all is well! She is a super awesome sport. She played volleyball in high school and she is super nice. Also, it is her first time being a zone leader too so we are just going to figure this whole thing out together. It can't be too hard, right?
Anyways, then I really just wanted to get to work because I was feeling sad because the Square is so different now. Sister Cummard was telling me about all of the changes and I almost cried right then. So, as you know, the buildings are closed. We pretty much do Teaching Center all day but that is good because the queue is super poppin. TONS of people to call which I love. There are maybe two or three assignments that are the same (west gate and guest services) and the rest are all different.
We get two hours for personal study every day and we get two hours for lunch. Once a week we serve at welfare square and once a week we have an assignment to hike up Ensign Peak? I don't know how I feel about that one. We also have the assignment "Temple Square stroll" and that is basically just walking around the square for an hour for a change of scenery. President for a while was showing movies once a week (for example they watched Mulan, the Lion King, etc.) but we don't know if that will continue or not. I'm hoping not. So yeah. Oh, and we can't approach people, we can only talk to them if they come up to us and talk to us. Basically, the entire mission is really super different and I know less than half of the sisters here now and I just feel really sad because this wonderful amazing place that I love just seems so broken and different from what I once knew. I know that it'll get better and that it's just hard now because it's new, but it just makes me really sad. Especially from coming from miracles on miracles and being super super busy to having what seems like non-missionary related things scheduled in. But it'll be okay, I'm just overreacting a little bit.
Anyways, please pray for me, and please pray that we will be able to find some elect people to teach online this transfer that can be baptized!!! If there is one thing that I know for sure it is that God is preparing people and they are in those thousands of names that are coming on the computer every day, all I have to do is follow the spirit and find them.
I love you both and I miss you both! I'll see you in right around six weeks. Weird. I want to extend. Okay, anyways I love you and talk to you soon!
Love
Sister Moran
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