Blue Island Letter #29

Rafael Sanchez, Ian Plncarte, & Hermana Hoer

I'm being transferred tomorrow and my last Sunday in Blue Island was an eventful one. None of the investigators that we invited ended up coming to Church - which has been the case for some time. However, it may have been the most fulfilling missionary Sunday of my mission.

It was the Fast and Testimony Sunday. One Brother and his daughter shared their testimonies. In the last night we'd visited their family, I had invited the daughter to share her testimony. She did. She had never done so before yesterday. Her father, who also shared his testimony, had been inactive for a long time. In just the last month and a half, he has finally come back to Church! He shared a powerful testimony about the healing power of the Gospel, and the importance of our efforts to apply the Gospel in our lives. He's been to Church consecutively for the last three or four Sundays. He's been going through his scriptures from his own mission, picking out scriptures that meant a lot to him or helped him through a tough time, and then he writes them on a piece of paper and gives them to us. He's done that three times.

Another Brother in the ward, who has been inactive for years, CAME TO CHURCH! He has only stepped foot on the Church property once in the entire seven months I've been here, and that was merely with the purpose to pick up his son from a Friday night activity. His wife was beaming and glowing. She just hugged me and hugged me.

Since I have been in this area (seven months), I've worked with another inactive family. They are a great family, but they just don't go to Church. They haven't for years. I've been very bold and very forward with them - more than I've ever been possibly - on several occasions. If he wants his children to be raised the way he was, if he wants them to have what he had, HE needs to make it happen. He needs to start with coming to Church. Well, he told me time and time again that "someday we'll get back". Someday just happened to land on my last Sunday here. He was so happy to be back in Church, and feeling what he'd been missing for so long.

Hermano Saldana pulled me aside and told me that I've had a profound impact for good on the Blue Island Ward. He said that I am unforgettable to them, as I've done unforgettable things for the members of Blue Island. He cried as he expressed to me the importance of my role here. He said that sometimes a missionary comes along and doesn't see the results the way they may expect - baptisms, investigators at Church, etc. However, he said, I am one that carries with me a spirit of joy and peace, and have left that with the people here in Blue Island.

I'm not sure what I did for him to say and feel that way. But, I am very grateful for his words. I cannot think of a better compliment. Hermana Brant shared with me similar feelings, as well as a few other ward members: Segovia, Juarez, Plancarte, Obispo, Gutierrez, and the Quiroz.

Another member of the ward tearfully hugged me and thanked me for helping her mother. I didn't realize that I had! She told me that she knows I've been on God's errand with her mom (who is in her 70s and has breast cancer which requires daily radiation treatments), and that I have had a profound, uplifting impact in her life.

This last Sunday here was such a blessing for me. Heavenly Father showed me very clearly that I have done good in my time here - that I have done His work.

It's so interesting to me. I had no idea I was doing anything that would be so personally important to so many individuals, much less to a large group of people. It's a testament to me that God works through each and every one of us - if we have charity in our hearts. If we love, God is with us. If we have chartity towards our fellow man, we are undoubtedly an instrument in His hands to do exactly what He would do if He were here in the flesh.

In District meeting, Elder Stumph asked a question about Doctrine & Covenants 121:

We read nearly the entire section 121 of Doctrine and Covenants, and Elder Stumph paused afterwards to focus on verse 35. He asked: How can we ensure our hearts are in the right place? What does it mean to have hearts set on the world?

 34 Behold, there are many acalled, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
 35 Because their ahearts are set so much upon the things of this bworld, and caspire to the dhonors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—

I followed the footnotes and came across two conclusions:
1-the first footnote went to Luke 14:18-20. It talked about excuses. I didn't connect anything right at first, but later it'll come together. 
2-Another footnote brought me to Luke 9:57-62. It is the story of a man who is invited by Christ to follow Him. The man says, absolutely, but can I bury my father first. Christ responds:

60  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

So...where am I going with this?
Excuses + Desires (that are human and are not at all wrong) + Hearts = WHAT????

Well, to have our hearts in the right place isn't as easy or as simple as it may sound. Yet, it is quite simple in the same breath. What I determined from this experience is that there are two main stumbling blocks to having our heart in sync with God's.

First of all, when our hearts aren't in sync with God's will, we're not in line to receive all that He has reserved for us. We may receive parts or bits and pieces, leaving us satisfied. However, when we put our hearts in line with God's will for us, windows and doors of opportunity, understanding, comfort, blessings, revelation, strength, and His love are opened up to us in ways that we cannot imagine nor completely comprehend.

Excuses prevent us from doing whatever is necessary to put our hearts in line with God's. We rationalize or justify, leaving our hearts short of God's will (even if our heart is in a good place).

The desires of the natural man aren't necessarily bad. The desire to spend the last day with a dying father and to bury him is not a bad desire at all. It is, however, a personal desire rather than God's desire. That is a key to differentiating between a heart set on God's will and a heart set on our own will: do our desires reflect His? It's selfish vs. selfless, even if selfish is a good thing. God always has a BEST to whatever GOOD we may conceive on our own. 

Personally Focused Desires + Excuses = Left to our own devices, stunted in progress.

Selfless, Godly Desires + Willingness and Humility = Blessings of Heaven at our every turn.

I'll send news from Woodstock, Illinois (near Wisconsin) next week!

Love,
Leshelle

Blue Island #28

 Hermana Hoer & friends

I wore green for the 17th, and we made green pancakes and such. I made them in to J A K E, because it's Hermana Moffat's brother's birthday, and they have a tradition of green pancakes. I took pictures of her with the pancakes and she is going to send it to her brother.

We found several new people to teach this week and last. Nacho and his wife, Aurora. They are a funny, odd little couple. I love them. We found a really neat 16 year old named Meliani, and when we returned to teach her, we taught her 12 year old bother Luis, also. They are really grounded, level-headed kids. We were looking for former investigators one day, and Meliani answered the door. She informed us that the former investigator didn't live there anymore; so, we began talking to her about the Book of Mormon. She was excited to accept and read it. The day that we returned was immediately following our great Zone Conference all about the Book of Mormon. We talked about our personal relationships with the Book of Mormon, Hermana Moffat, our member Marlene Juarez, and me. It was REALLY neat. I love the Book of Mormon. That's an understatement. I don't know how to say it more strongly -but my love for it is much stronger than I can say.

The above mentioned Zone Conference was all about the Book of Mormon. Talk about a blessing. It's helped me see more clearly how the Book of Mormon has brought Christ into my life at times when I need Him most. The Book of Mormon is my best friend and it gives to me exactly what the Savior would if He were physically sitting beside me. It comforts, loves, supports, believes in me, encourages, chastises (lovingly), gives truth, hugs me, brings miracles, and speaks to me in a way that no other human being can. I am so grateful for the scriptures.

On our second visit with Meliani and Luis we got to practice teaching what we learned in Zone Conference about the Book of Mormon - not what it is or where it came from, but why it matters to me. I have adopted that as my mission theme from here on out. I am here to share Christ through the Book of Mormon. In this goal, I know that I will feel more success as a missionary because I know and believe what I am sharing. I love it. I find purpose and peace from Jesus Christ through the  Book of Mormon. No matter what I go through, it guides me.

Nearly everyday I receive very specific revelation and application to me through the Book of Mormon. I am so thankful. Heavenly Father is with me here.

For P-day today Hermana Moffat and I are going to picnic on our front lawn while we make banana bread, write letters.  It's a gorgeous day -- 78 degrees. 

Love,
Leshelle

Blue Island Letter #27

Hermana Hoer & her Knight in Shining Armor

Service project picking up garbage in a trailer park field: Elders Clawson, Stumph, Barney, and Lavelua, Hermanas Hoer and Moffat

 

 

The weather is GORGEOUS!!!! Therefore, I am a happy woman! It has been so beautiful the past few days. I am soaking it up, and crossing my fingers that it isn't all a ploy before HumidHeat makes his return...If seasons were campaigning, I would vote for spring: softball, green grass, cool breeze, warm sun....all good things.

Two neat things that came to me this week:

ONE:
Journal writing.

Yesterday in Church, Elder Lavelua was teaching the class about scriptures. Towards the end, he brougt up the importance of keeping our own personal records. As he was wrapping up, he shared that he has a habit of finishing every journal entry with a "for my son" section. He shares with his future son what was learned or how God had a hand in that day. His comment really struck a chord within me, because it led to a realization/evaluation about my own journal writing: I don't think my kids would like it. I'm not sure I would like it sometimes! I realized that so much of the content is just me unwinding at the end of the day (which is a good thing, don't get me wrong); yet, I want more meaningful, significant, intentional journal entries.

Therefore...(here is the goal / application to the awesome mental moment): I turned a whole page in my journal, wrote "New Chapter" and then turned another page before I began. This new chapter of my journal is dedicated to my future children. Each day I will share the experiences I learned from, and what I learned. I will share with them in mind, thinking of how to give words to the incredible experiences I am having. After all, I don't want to share only a list of daily occurences with them someday. I want to share with them the MEAT of life -- the bread and butter, meat and potatoes, whatever the best main course is! I want to share what's in my heart.

Thinking about my audience has changed how I look at my day, not only how I look at my journal writing. This new chapter of journal writing may just be a new chapter of me also. Through the day, I think to myself, what do I want to be able to share with my children about this phase of my life? What can I do today, right now, so that I am able to share that with my kids? It's causing me to think more about God's impact on my daily, momentary life.

TWO:
Towers. Elevated Attitudes. Eternal Perspective. Mosiah 20.

I had several neat insights while reading this chapter; however, I am just going to share one of them. Brief summary so that things make sense: The wicked priests that were hiding out in the desert kidnap 24 of the Lamanite daughters, and the Lamanite king assumes that Limhi's people were responsible (even though they were not, nor were they even aware that it had occured). Consequentially, the Lamanite king gets his armies together and goes to attack the people of Limhi...

At this point, it says in verse 8 that Limhi had seen them coming from the tower. He had seen their preparations for war as well as their movement towards Limhi's land. Because of this, Limhi was able to prepare his people for what was coming.

All this got me thinking about the critical element of the tower-an elevated location from which we can see potential threats. When we have a "tower" of an eternal perspective, or maybe an elevated attitude of optimism and positivity, we will be able to prepare ourselves against attacks, even if they are unjust (as was the case in the situation with Limhi and the Lamanites). Life brings unjust, undeserved attacks. This example came from a misunderstanding and assumption. That happens to us all the time, right? You bet it does. If we are building ourselves up a spiritual, personal tower each day, we'll have the view and perspective as well as the ability to confront these attacks of life. Limhi's people were much smaller in number compared with the armies of the Lamanites; yet, they held their own and even caused the Lamanites to flee from them despite their larger Lamanite numbers.

Even if we aren't the strongest of the armies, we will be victorious against the attacks of discouragement, assumption, miscommunication, etc. if we have a lookout "tower" in our elevated perspective and attitude.

That's my two cents for today. Well, I guess it's for the week, isn't it?

Love,
Hermana Hoer

Blue Island Letter #26

Hermana Hoer -- baking cookies!



Happy Birthday to SETH and RASHAUNA!
Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes!

We attended our Stake Conference yesterday. An Area Seventy spoke as the Spirit directed him. The Stake split the conference into two sessions - one in English and one in Spanish. We were in the Spanish session, of course. It was a neat realization moment for me, sitting in a Spanish meeting taking notes in Spanish. I can do that! That's kinda neat...

The Area Seventy: (I totally don't remember his name, sorry) Menish, something like that...???
He spoke directly to the Spanish people, and really emphasized their role in bringing the gospel to the world. He referred to a scripture which I love in 2 Nephi 1:

 5 But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath ccovenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord.
 6 Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord.
 7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound, cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.

He then said that they have come to the US to be prepared, in order to take the gospel to others of different language, culture, and country. Isn't it interesting, he pointed out, that so many of the members that come to this country have children serving missions in their native country?

He also talked (He spoke in English and they had translation) about the power of the Spirit to be conveyed, regardless of language. It crosses language and cultural differences to touch the heart.

His words were really powerful. It really struck me at how cultures and languages are tools in God's hands to accomplish His purposes. I recently found a neat article that talks about how the gospel overcomes all cultural differences. I have yet to read it; though, I find it very interesting to try to see God's hand in it all.

I also got to thinking about my own experience. I'm generations removed from my ancestors immigrating to the States. However, each one of us is here because we (via our ancestors or our own lives) were brought by the hand of the Lord. There is no other way to come here. You and I are here because the Lord wanted us to be here, because He guided us here. That is a neat thing to think about. It helps me remember and be more grateful for my family membe'rs efforts and sacrifices to come here.

Have a Happy March.
Leshelle