Change/Newness :)

With the Zwicks

This last week was so packed with spiritual instruction and edification that I felt I almost couldn't receive anymore without putting some of it into action first!  It was great to hear from Elder Zwick of the 70!  He gave us a lot of encouragement from him and the first presidency.  He also gave us some good instruction to lift our mission a little higher.

One thing I was taught this last week is, being willing to change means being willing to leave our comfort zone......Being willing to change means being willing to leave our comfort zone.  That hit me so hard.  I realized that I have great desires to change and do better, but what's stopping me is my comfort zone.  I've come a long way in expanding that comfort zone since I was born :)  however, if I were to stop now, it would all be in vain.  You can't stop because then you backtrack.  I know that the Lord wants me to go out of my comfort zone so that he can expand my abilities and work greater miracles in my life and the lives of those around me.

One thought that I have often had is, how do we expect miracles to happen if we are not willing to do miraculous things?  Or why do we expect extra ordinary results when we are only willing to give ordinary efforts?  We have to be willing to leave our comfort zones in order to experience new and joyful things.

Sister Hartley and I are working with [two sisters] who were supposed to be baptized this upcoming weekend, but we are going to have to push it back.  Hopefully we can help them and teach them all we need to so that they can receive the blessings of the full gospel of Jesus Christ.  Sister Hartley and I, as well as many of the sisters in our zone are struggling to find people who want to receive our message of the restored gospel.  If as you pray for me or any other missionary you could specifically pray that we will be able to work with the members to find those who are searching for the gospel, that would be wonderful.  We need that help and guidance in order to hasten this work.

I know that the gospel is one of joy and newness!  We are to have new experiences, achieve new things, and become new people.  I hope that each of us will recognize and accept the strength given to us through the atonement of Christ so that we can experience the newness, the change, and the joy that comes through doing so.  I love Jesus Christ and I love my Heavenly Father.  I know that He is my Father in Heaven and that He hears my prayers.

I love you all and hope that you enjoy the newness of your lives this week!