May 4, 2015

May the 4th be with you!

Hello everyone,  

      While reading the September 2004 Ensign I came across a quote that really hit me by Elder Belcher. He was speaking of Senior Couples, but I think the quote applies to each of us,

" Unless you go, you will never know what you and your talents might do to leave a lasting influence on others."   I like to replace the word go with Serve,  "Unless you serve you will never know what you and your talents might do to leave a lasting influence on others". This can apply to each of us in the various places of our lives. Unless we help and serve others we don't know what experience, people and blessings were missing out on. Who can God touch through us?  We will only know if we reach out and find out.

      This week we had a lot of investigators go M.I.A.  So we were truly trying to talk to everyone to find those who are ready for the gospel. One very sweet experience for both me and sister Linquist was with a friend of our investigator. Our first encounter with him was a short one, he seemed convinced that our message was just too far out of his reach for the things that he had done. He did  accept a  Book of Mormon. A few days later we saw him on the street and we were able to have a good discussion with him.          As we testified of Jesus Christ's Atonement right there on the sidewalk and it's healing effect he sat down on nearby stairs, and than an amazing thing happened. We could see his whole demeanor change. We could see the Spirit testifying to him of the reality of the words we were saying. We could see the change in him from a 15 minutue conversation. It was truly a testimony to me that the simple gospel truths that we know are true. That they truly have an amazing effect.  Than it made me think how often do we take these for granted. How much better can others' lives be if they had what knowledge we have had all our lives? I feel so blessed to be able to share the gospel and be an instrument in the Lord's hands to give them what has blessed mine and so many others life!

Love 

Sister Rawlings

4/27/2015

     This week, both  Sister Lindquist  and I have just really felt exhausted but we've pushed forward and had some really amazing things happen. Luke set a baptismal date:) 

    We had a really awesome contact with a guy at the place where we get our oil/ tires changed. We usually do it on Monday, but they didn't have any time available so we set up for another day. Usually when we are in, it is very busy with people coming in and out and phones ringing but this time we were about the only people in there. While we were there the guy working sat down and talked to us and we were able to have a really good discussion about why we're on missions and the church. The spirit was present and in the end we left him with a Book of Mormon. We truly felt like the Lord had put us there at just the right moment because if we would of otherwise been there when we usually come it would of been so busy that he wouldn't of had time to really talk to us.  The Lord truly is in the details of our life.

        I found this really awesome scriptures! 

  "That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." ~ 1 peter 1:7

 That reminded me that our purpose on this earth is to be tested and to prove ourselves/ This is our time to shine, to choose to be on God's side.  That through our many  experiences...life's hardships,we gain an eternal perspective  more valuable than we can ever comprehend. Though at times I'm sure we would rather have the gold, our trials = gold. Keep an eternal perspective have patience and persevere (PPP) and remember that with God on our side we can overcome anything and everything.

Sister Lindquist and I

Sister Merpaw and I

Michellin  helps with our French!

Sister Lindquist, Raquel and I at the Veterans' Memorial.

Pictures, pictures, and more pictures!

Raquel and me.

This is how you know it is Hockey Game Night!

4/20/2015

         When you think of Canada, one of the first things you are bound to think of is maple syrup....this week I had the opportunity to visit a Maple Syrup farm. 

    

Sister Lindquist, Sister Merpaw and Me having breakfast at the Maple Syrup Farm

It was really neat! A very sweet sister in our ward took us. In the pictures you will see lots of blue tubing-that is the modern way of collecting maple syrup. It collects from the trees and runs to the main line and collects in their sugar shack.  It was a really cool experience for both for my companion and I.

   

             

Maple Syrup

This week we had a really amazing thing happen! We were about to get into our car when we spotted a young family outside. We talked to them for a short while and gave them a "Because He Lives" pass along card with our information on the back. We briefly explained the video and encouraged them to watch it. The following day, during companionship study  we received a text saying that they really enjoyed the video.  We stopped by the next day, they let us in to share a message and she proceeded to tell us that she had always had a fear of death and of the uncertainty that it holds, but after watching the video she felt peace, comfort and that that fear of death wasn't as strong.  Their family was really touched by the video and since then we have taught them two lessons, and answering  lots of questions about the church... and are continuing to learn more with us. They are a really sweet family and through the Because He Lives video, she felt the Spirit and was so touched that she said that she just had to tell us what it did for her and for her family and invite us back.  The spirit was strong and was very powerful. 

       I love you all! The church is true and is the surest way to happiness in this life and the life to come! 

Have a great week!

Love,

 Sister Rawlings

4/13/2015

                Sister Alvrez, Sister Schumuel, Elder Gunther, Elder Morales, Elder Lloyd, Elder Udave,Me and Sister Lindquist

" What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a Shepard, I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man, I would do my part; yet what  can I give him; give my heart"~ Author of Christmas Carol

        I loved this quote that was given to us last week by President Patrick, and I've been really thinking about it a lot. Truly trying to give my whole mind, might and strength into this important work. To truly focus, putting my whole heart into it. To leave the world behind and  focus on the here and now. Focusing on the people and working to strengthen them. It can be hard at times, no doubt, tiring-yes but worth it. Absolutely! For truly the "Worth is Souls is great". 

        I have been working on that and yesterday we saw the miracles.We were trying to find a member that we had both never met and we knocked on a house and it wasn't the member we thought, but we both recognized the woman. Come to find out she is the sister of some of the members that we had Christmas Dinner (she was there too). She let us in and talked to us for a good twenty minutes. Than on our way to the car we talked to this family who were outside enjoying the beautiful weather and we gave them a card with- "Because He Lives" and told them it was a beautiful video,Then this morning during our studies, we got a text from them! Thirdly, we felt to stop by a member who hasn't come to church in a couple of years and they really needed us to be there and to offer support. It was such a  confirmation that the Lord puts us where we need to be when we need to be there! 

Love you all!  Have a great week!

Sister Rawlings