Our Little Twig

Hey all!  

It was such a good week! I gotta say I love being here in Cheboygan and I love serving a mission. It's been so fun. Also sorry to everyone who read my email last week I didn't get enough time to explain the pics I sent.... those two I sent were from when we went sledding as a district on p-day! It was a blast. 

Ok! To explain the subject line of my email.... here in Cheboygan we don't have a branch or a ward, we have what's called a group! There are about 25 members of the church but only about 15ish of them go to church, and only like 5 of them participate in Sunday school and everything else. I love these people so much! It's so special to be in such a small group. They call it a twig, which I thought was funny. I love that these people love the Gospel so much. Most of them (actually all but like 1 of them) found the Gospel later in life and are the only member of the church their family. The people here love the Gospel. They don't go to church to just go to church. They go to learn and to support each other. I've gotten to meet a few of them over zoom and I love their stories and their testimonies. Also they really love the missionaries so thats also really fun. We always have food in our fridge lol. 

I LOVE teaching lessons. I love seeing people change and grow because of their Savior. I love the people we're teaching. They have such great faith and a desire to know more about Christ. Not all of them are as willing to change as others, but I still love the discussions we have. It"s been cool to experience the spirit helping us know what we need to teach and say during our lessons. I've also been taught a lot. when my companions or I testify of a principle of the Gospel, I often have moments when the Spirit re-affirms the truth of what we're saying to me. I love this Gospel and know that it's true! 

For anyone wondering, the way we do missionary work now is a lot different than it's been in the past. Because of Covid, we can't go into members' homes, teach in person (unless it's the only option), or go knock doors. We do a lot of facebook doorknocking. so, there have been days when we don't go outside unless it's to go check the mail or go to the church to do a live video. it's kinda hard,  because my whole life i've thought i'd be around people, talking to people, and helping people as much as i can on my mission. and for those who know me, that's what i love to do. BUT. despite it being hard to do a lot of missionary work on our phones, it has been reallllyy cool to see the effectiveness of missionary work online. I know that this is what the Lord needs his missionaries to be doing right now! i read Doctrine and Covenants 123:12-17 this week:

"For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—

13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—

14 These should then be attended to with great earnestness.

15 Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things.

16 You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.

17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." 

No effort is small to Heavenly Father when its spent helping others come to Christ. I love these scriptures and they brought me a lot of comfort this week! I know God knows what He's doing! There have been so many blessings and miracles that come from doing missionary work online that wouldn't come from how we used to do things. I'm grateful Ive gotten to experience those blessings and know that what i'm doing is making a difference, even if it's "small". 

love you all!! 

Sister Ross

1) sis Hansen made some cheesecake and then she dropped it on the table as we were eating it. This photo wasn't planned .... literally happened at the perfect moment 

2)we went to Mackinac Bridge this morning! It was beautiful but the coldest I've ever been 

3) doing some Facebook finding and eating chocolate from trader Joe's (thanks fam) 

4) the ice waves at the lake! It was so so cool. Sis frogley is in the pic. She's leaving for Brazil soon. We're so sad but so happy for her! 

5) we found this random head statue thing when we were on our way to do a book of Mormon study with some friends! 

6) I love these 2! 

7) happy Valentines day! 

8) we love this girl! She's amazing and i am so glad we get to teach her 

9) matthew! He's in our group and is so so fun!

If you can't tell we love to take pics. I'm so grateful I get to serve with these girls. If I hadn't had my ear surgery, I would never have been able to meet sister frogley! I know it's a miracle I'm able to be serving a mission and the way things worked out was perfect and exactly how God wanted it. :)