Prayer. A beautiful thing.

Today I had a wonderful experience with prayer. This morning I hopped on the computer needing to access some information I had put onto my little travel drive I carry around. Usually it is always in my purse in a pocket next to my chap stick... today that was not the case.

I could not find it ANYWHERE! To me this felt like I was losing memories from the last year of my life. All of my saved pictures from my mission were on this and a ton of documents from studies and letters I had received were there as well. My heart sank, and it sank fast! 

I ran to my locker here at the Visitor' Center and looked through all my stuff. No travel drive. I checked both computer rooms and all of the computers. No travel drive. It was so heart wrenching.

I tried to put it out of my mind and continue on with my day thinking it would show up eventually.

A couple hours later I found myself back at the Visitors' Center again needing my travel drive. In our back room a few missionaries were studying and I asked if they had seen it. One missionary, Sister Hamstead, explained how she too lost something super important this day; her debit card! She suggested that we all kneel in prayer and ask for the Lord's help. A beautiful prayer was said by Sister Avanesjan and we continued to work. 

About 2 minutes later I was once again in one of the computer rooms searching for another missionary. As I talked with them I asked if they had seen my little drive. Sister Horrutiner looked at the computer (which happened to be the VERY SAME ONE I had used this morning when I found my drive missing) and pulled a drive out and said "is it this one?" 

IT WAS FOUND! 

I know lost things are always found...well normally... but what really amazed me was how quick it was found after a prayer was offered in faith. 

"Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles;..." The Book of Mormon, Mosiah 8:18

I love these opportunities to see how aware Heavenly Father is of me. He really does know me and wants what is best for me. We are all put through trials in our life. Some small like misplacing a simple travel drive, others larger like losing loved ones or feelings of loneliness. As we turn to Him at times of need he helps us! These times are here not to punish us, but to polish us! I have learned that we all have these Mountains to Climb, we have difficulties to hurdle, we have bad days to get past and we can do it with his help! Especially with prayer. Lots and LOTS of prayer! 

He knows us. I promise you that. Turn to him and see for yourself 

:)

Our Purpose.

  As a missionary I have a purpose. That purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

My FRIENDS :)

 This week I was so fortunate to go on an amazing exchange with these lovely Sisters!
Sister Ibuyan, my darling Filipino friend, and Sister Beaudette, the most amazing jump roper I have ever met, and I spent a whole 24 hours together.
This experience really helped me to love my purpose as a missionary even more than I already did! 

These sisters are currently working in a new ward. They are doing something called "white washing" which means that they are brand new missionaries to the area they work in. Usually one companion will stay and a new one will come and show them around and such, but in this case they are both starting from scratch. Over my mission I have had the experience of white washing about 5 different times. It can be stressful, but turning to the Lord always helps!

While we were on our little exchange we saw SO many miracles! We had a focus to talk and contact as many people as possible and build their faith right away. Each person we talked with we bore testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel. 

One amazing experience I want to share is with this lady we went to see. She had talked with missionaries before and then randomly just stopped talking with them. Being new in an area is a perfect time to go see all these people who just stopped communicating with missionaries before. As we talked with her we learned how much she desired to learn about this gospel and how much of an impact her new knowledge of prayer has been for her recently. As we shared our simple testimonies in her home I know I felt her trust growing not only in us, but in the message we share! I am excited to hear what happens as she continues to make changes and finds happiness in this gospel.

Missionary Fun

I really needed this exchange. Recently I have been on one of those emotional roller coasters. I know I am meant to be here in Mesa, Arizona for a reason. Being with these sisters helped me see how no matter how difficult the situation can be we can really put it all in the Lords hands. Not only was it an amazing spiritual boost for me, but a lot of fun. After all, it is missionary FUN, not just missionary work!

Sister Ibuyan said something to me during this day that really meant a lot. She said "You are just so natural with a name tag". As a missionary I have a name tag. It has the Lords name right under my own. I feel it is natural to be this missionary only because I KNOW what I am sharing IS TRUE. If I was unsure, if I had doubt, if I was confused it would be different. I know it is true because I have asked about it. The gospel of Jesus Christ invites us ALL to learn and decide if it is true or not. It is up to us and I love that :)