Soul Pain & Spiritual Joy

April 14, 2014

I just remembered, half way through my email time, that I need to write a letter to everyone! 

How could I forget a thing like that?!

 

Courtney is actually going to be baptized april 26th. she keeps moving it up! i'm excited. This is another one of those people that I really feel I was sent to Lone Mountain Stake for.

 

Our car has been back to Pep Boys which means we've been teaching in Pep Boys. We taught two people... One of them told us way too much about his sins. As it says in Alma 31, it pains my soul. So many people struggle with sins that... well, are evil, they tear up your soul. it's so sad to see one of my brothers, God's child, struggling with it, wanting relief, but not quite willing to do whatever it takes to use the Atonement. They're everywhere. There's also a lot of people ready to do whatever it takes, like Courtney and Steve.

 

We have a new investigator! His name is Cody. The spirit was really strong as we taught the first lesson. He commited to baptism.

 

We spent quite a bit of time in a member's home. she has closets filled with her own clothes. we went through them all with her and she gave us what she didn't need. Then we took all of that stuff to a Sister Missionary clothing exchange this morning. and I got some pretty cute stuff as well. it's a little bit different than my typical style. we'll see if I can work them in. i'm super excited to try!

 

Love you all!

Sister Cornelsen

Worked on by God & 99 days...

April 7, 2014

Aooo there's two families in the ward that are less active. For the last 6 months that I've been here, we share a short scripture, if we're able to get in, and they go on with their life with no intention of changing. I guess it just wasn't the right timing for them. One of them has decided to be active. The other is allowing us to teach lessons.

 

So the first one, her name is Colleen. She loves the Lord and has a testimony. We didn't know what was keeping her from coming to church. Well we dropped by on Thursday. She told us a little story. (she likes telling stories). Her son is getting married in the temple this spring and it's been killing her knowing she doesn't have a recommend. so she prayed the night before about what she should do. her answer: "get your butt to church and talk with the bishop." And we show up the next day. 

We were able to be very open with her. and she was open with us about some doctrinal questions she's had about plural marriage. honestly, no one was willing to talk with her about it. So we answered her questions and she felt a lot better about it. Funny thing is, there's no church that sunday cause of General conference, but we gave her the number to call to set up an appointment with Bishop. So that's cool! I'm telling you, people are being worked on by God!

 

The second family... i think the wife is a bit more resistant than the husband. Some time in the past, they got offended in a different ward and have had spurts of activity and inactivity ever since. We're teaching them the lessons, hoping they realize that they need to live in harmony with what they believe, regardless of whether other people are polite or not. The spirit was actually quite strong. we asked when we could teach the next lesson and the wife was thinking in a month or so... and then the husband says… "How about next Tuesday about the same time?" hahah! I think he's digging it. Hopefully she doesn't rebel. we'll have to be careful.

 

Courtney is set for May 10th to be baptized. Her whole family is going to come. which is SO GOOD!!!

 

I don't know exactly what's been going on with Dawn or Danielle... hoping we can figure that out. but Danielle baptism day passed without her realizing it. Dawn texted us and said she wants to push it back because there's a lot going on right now. Sad.

 

General Conference was lovely. :) I really enjoyed the talk by Elder Nelson.

 

Love you all!

 

Sister cornelsen

 

ps. 99 days til i'm home? what?!?!

Barriers Down, Testimonies Up

March 31, 2014

Well I have some good news. I've broken through a barrier! I''ve been doing ASL interpreting for a deaf couple! 

Last two weeks they've come to Sacrament meeting, but no interpreter showed up. So I stumbled my way through it. I've been learning a ton! But it's super good for me and they get a spiritual message. :) Not sure if they're going to keep coming to this ward or not. There is a Church group for deaf people on the other side of the valley. I guess it just depends on what Bishop decides is best. But I sure love Bonita and Jimmy. I think we're going to interpret for them tonight for the Empty Nester FHE, too. I get super nervous, but I love it.

 

Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting. Dena shared why she has so much faith, because of the miracles she's seen. Wendy shared her testimony about her inter-faith community helping her come closer to God and how she's so grateful she has a family feeling in this ward. And Steve shared a powerful testimony about his brother's death and the role of the Savior. For the first time in his life he was able to declare Jesus is the Christ and mean it. It was powerful. It's super nice to see how the people we've been working with have the courage and faith to share their testimonies with the ward. That's when you know you're doing some good in a ward.

 

I LOVED the General Women's Broadcast. I've been feeling discouraged so I prayed for encouragement and comfort. That broadcast was EXACTLY what I needed. It was in direct answer to my prayers. I have been feeling so much better.

 

Courtney wanted to talk with her dad about her choice to get baptized before we set a date. She was thinking July. But we told her the timeline of what needs to happen before her baptism and she realized it could be a lot sooner. :) I think her friend has been a huge help for her to understand the gospel and answer those questions because he's right there. He should have gotten his mission call this last week... we'll find out tomorrow!

 

Love,

Sister Cornelsen

Randomizing: Sad, Led by the Spirit, Happy

March 24

Well, I think today is going to be a jumbled email. so here's a bunch of random thoughts and events.

 

Suicide seems to be a theme for this week. One person told us they had attempted it before they met us, and another person we were starting to work with actually commited to suicide this week. That's been super hard on us and his family, and then a new investigator was asking what happens to people who don't know Christ, like their nephew that took his own life. It's really weird how there's themes like this. And really sad when the theme is something as dark as this.

 

We met a less active man who's in his 80's and a self-professed jack Mormon. haha. He believed the book of Ezekial is about an alien spacecraft coming to earth... funny thing is, I just finished reading Ezekial and I'm pretty sure it's a vision of a temple. ...yeah. haha

 

Chris is a guy we met while tracting. We were able to come back this week and explain more about the Book of Mormon. he seems genuinely interested. i'm excited to keep working with him.

 

We went to a baby shower on Saturday and met Renee, a second cousin of the person the shower was for. Very nice. I didn't think too much about her, but the next day we had dinner with the party host, and she said that Renee could use some help packing and organizing.  She also mentioned that they're looking for a Church because their Seventh day Adventist church is moving farther away than the 45 min drive it already is. So last night we dropped by Renee's house and met her husband, mike, and 2 boys, Cody and Cassee. I LOVE this family. It was so easy to talk with them. Mike started asking questions about what we believe. We're going over on Friday to do some service and teach a lesson. Super pumped! this is the first referral from a dinner that has actually turned into a teaching appointment. I'm really excited. :)

 

I have bangs now... side bangs... still getting used to them.

 

Do you remember Courtney? Well, she texted us! Said she's ready to have lessons again!!! yay!!!!

 

What else... i'm happy. :) yeah. that's good. Which is crazy considering everything that has gone on this last week. but I am. I am happy.

 

Love you!

Sister Cornelsen

The Desire to Serve, Lifted by Faith, Accepted by God

March 17, 2014

Hola!

Well the Gibson's are already talking about what callings they could have. and they want to serve! I just love it ! :) Even a 14 year old wants a calling. It's so wonderful. :)

We met Dawn this week. Her boyfriend has been inactive since he was 11 and now wants to come back to the church. He saved up some tithing and called the church building to know how to get involved again. When we met with Dawn, her boyfriend, Nathaniel, wasn't there. I was a bit disappointed that we couldn't teach them at the same time. But Dawn has been reading the book of Mormon and understand more of it the more she reads. She committed to baptism in the first lesson! They have some things they need to work on to get their lives in order so we'll see when it actually happens. but the baptism is set for April 26th.

I have really felt the power of fasting this month. Because of my health I can't fast normally. but I ask for help to know exactly what to eat/drink so that I can still function and serve, but still fast. It's amazing how well God knows what we need physically. And I receive answers to my prayers when I fast because I am more in tune. It's a wonderful thing.

I'm doing well now. I had an emotional week. Sister Aird gave me some advice a few weeks ago about living in the moment and I can't tell you how much it helps. When we're feeling anxiety we're living in the future, which we can't control. When we're feeling fear, we're living in the past, another thing we can't control. I can only control what is going on right now. And right now, people are changing and using the Atonement and I am blessed to witness it. I'm able to be the Sandpaper, as Steve put it, and to be the push when it's needed, as Sis Seward put it.

Sister Kellar and I have been in the area long enough that things are going well... and there's not a lot of new stuff. It'd be super easy to fall into a rut right now. But I'm trying to find those opportunities to teach from what has already happened. Softening family members hearts and so forth. Hopefully it works. After this transfer, I only have 2 transfers left. It's unusual to be in an area for just 2 transfers. So I wonder if I'll stay here the rest of my mission. If that's the case, I can't get in a rut. We gotta keep moving.

The nice thing is that while we were in a lesson last night. well, back up... we were practicing a lesson with some active members. the Hewitt's. He's in the bishopric and she's in the relief society presidency. Brother Hewitt did a GREAT job at being an investigator. a reluctant, Bible bashing investigator. haha. we don't come across a lot of those. Anywho. it went well. We asked that he would say the closing prayer and we would have a moment of silence afterward to let God communicate with us. In that moment of silence... well it's a beautiful thing. Everyone receives personal revelation. Mine was that my offering of service has been acceptable to God. I can't tell you how much that means to me. I still have a ways to go. And this isn't the first time I've had that impression from the Spirit. But it's so good to know that I am on the right path. of course there are things I should and try to improve on. But God accepts it all. I love it. I love Him.

There are lots of other miracles going on. I testified to Steve and his wife that they couldn't afford to not pay tithing. The Spirit was so SO strong. They whispered 'ok'. and commited to pay it.

A newly wed less active couple came to church... for all 3 hours. It was wonderful to see them engaged in the classes. I know the Word of God can heal hearts and make all whole.

We're actually going to meet Dena's husband tonight! which is a huge thing. He's an atheist Catholic and does not want any preaching. So we're going to share a good battle story from the book of Mormon. :) 2000 stripling warriors. I hope it'll peak some interest. :)

So yeah. lots of fun things going on. I love you! I still appreciate letters.... those have died down a lot... but I still like them!!!

Love,

Sister Cornelsen