August 2, 2021

Hola!

Soooo.... Andrew was baptized!! Woot woot I'm so happy for him. I've never seen someone with so much faith. He has the strongest desire to follow God. I know he'll be the biggest strength to the Cheboygan Twig. Something I've learned from him is that following Jesus Christ means to give your all. He gives everything to the Lord and more. I want to do the same. 

Our friend Jacob is preparing to be baptized! We've had a lot of really good discussions with him this past week. He could use prayers. I know he can do it with the Savior's help. The day he accepted an invitation to be baptized was amazing! I've never seen him so happy. It's really cool to see how the spirit works in people. he texted us that night and said "I know the Book of Mormon is true". We squealed for joy haha. I really want what's best for Jacob. I know this Gospel will make him happyyyy:)))

Ohhh. we got offered to do communion with one of our friends and her husband who has brain damage. we didn't participate but we watched as they prayed to the statue of Christ they have on their wall and drank their Gatorade. I wish i could describe the situation over email but i just can't hahah it was....interesting... to say the least. 

It's amazing to me that God allows us to feel a portion of his love for people. There's certain people i've met on my mission who I love so much. And it's the type of love you can't really describe. Like you'll do anything for them. We had a mission devotional a while back and the speaker talked about fighting for our friends. being willing to do whatever it takes to help them on the covenant path back to God. I have felt that so deeply for our friends. I will do anything in my power to help them come closer to Jesus Christ. It's been really cool to see the good that having authentic and genuine relationships with people can do. I remember when I was deciding to serve a mission I asked God how I can most effectively help the people I'd be serving. I remember two conference talks from the October 2020 session stood out to me. 

"Eyes to see" by Michelle Craig and "We Talk of Christ" by Elder Anderson. 

Michelle Craig said, "I witness that Jesus Christ loves us and can give us eyes to see—even when it’s hard, even when we’re tired, even when we’re lonely, and even when the outcomes are not as we hoped. Through His grace, He will bless us and increase our capacity. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, Christ will enable us to see ourselves and see others as He does. With His help, we can discern what is most needful. We can begin to see the hand of the Lord working in and through the ordinary details of our lives—we will see deeply."

elder Anderson said: "As the world speaks less of Jesus Christ, let us speak more of Him. As our true colors as His disciples are revealed, many around us will be prepared to listen. As we share the light we have received from Him, His light and His transcendent saving power will shine on those willing to open their hearts. Jesus said, “I … come [as] a light into the world.”

All we have to do is to see people deeply and to talk of Jesus Christ. As we give our all to doing that, then that's where the miracles happen. I know that to be true and I experience it every day. And there's definitely a difference on the days when I remember to do that compared to the days when I don't. 

ALSO. I found this quote on facebook today and loved it. 

"Sometimes we are tempted to let our lives be governed more by convenience than by covenant. It is not always convenient to live gospel standards and stand up for truth and testify of the Restoration. It usually is not convenient to share the gospel with others. It isn’t always convenient to respond to a calling in the Church, especially one that stretches our abilities. Opportunities to serve others in meaningful ways, as we have covenanted to do, rarely come at convenient times. But there is no spiritual power in living by convenience. The power comes as we keep our covenants”
- Elder M. Russell Ballard

It's not always convenient to share the Gospel with people. A couple weeks ago we were driving past a house and waved at the people out front. then I had a feeling that we needed to turn around and talk to them. Kinda awkward right? turning around and parking in front of a strangers house. weird and inconvenient for both us and them. But now we're teaching them and they are some of the coolest people I know! I know there are blessings that come from being out of our comfort zone and keeping our promises we made with God to share the Gospel. 

Anyways- speech over! Love you all soooo much. 

Also we get transfer calls this week- eeek. I don't want to leave Cheboygan!! 

Have a great week!! 

Sister Ross