So something kind of cool is that sister peterson spoke in church and she used a poem i wrote! And i realized that i haven't shared it with any of you!!!! only my companions and now my ward! I wrote it for personal progress because i restarted personal progress on my mission! Its a poem written from the point of view of the prodigal son!:
"when i came to myself and changed my ways it was so very hard to see, that even though I had been a disgrace...My Savior, He still loved me.
I do not think i understood the atonement that was made. Nor did I understand by what means and how my guilt and sorrows should fade! But i write to you now as a different man! A man of God on High! And if you ask "How can this be?" I'll assure you the reason why! I have faith in my Savior, The Lord, Jesus Christ and His capacity to forgive! And so from this time, and forever more! I shall look to Him and live."
I was grateful that my companion shared that! It helped me as i wrote it recognize the faith i had in Jesus Christ! She pointed out something interesting in her talk! She said "We focus on the definition given in the Bible Dictionary when it says 'Faith is a hope for things which are not seen, which are true!'" but then she went on to explain that we forget the last part of the definition! It must be centered in Jesus Christ in order to produce salvation! IT MUST BE IN JESUS CHRIST! i could have faith in the greenbay packers or faith in my ward or mission leaders! But if i don't first and foremost have faith in Jesus Christ, it won't matter what other things i do have faith in! I know that! but anyway! hahaha
HOLY SMOKES HOLY SMOKES HOLY SMOKES!!!!!!! Who knew smoke could be so holy right????? hahaha okay! So last p-day sister peterson and i were walking in the mall looking for a place to get snow boots! we walked into Kohls! we get 5 feet in the store and then we hear....as clear as day! "I love the mormon tabernacle choir!" we look at each other and then walk outside! we saw a woman sitting on a bench outside the store! I walked up to her and said "Um hi...do you like the mormon tabernacle choir???" and she said "Yeah why???" and I said "Well we are mormon!!!" and she said "Woah no way!!!!!" anyway! Her name is mary! She thought that we weren't christians and that we hate the catholics! and i said "Nope not true not true mary!!!!" and we taught her the restoration! And then invited her to baptized! She said YES!!!!! WOAH! :) hahaha so cool! It was a mini miracle! ACTUALLY!....who are we kidding!?!?!?? ITS A MIRACLE ! A HUGE FULL BLOWN MIRACLE! hahaha
well hello friends!!!! How are you!?!?!? It has been QUITE the week! I love being a missionary!!!!!!!! This week was full of a LOT of service! We helped the friend of a member move out of her house! There were 4 other elders there! Sister Peterson and I were quite the team! lifting dressers and mattresses and couches! it was great! This woman needed the help! We and the elders were so glad to help! I love serving!
It was also really cool to go into downtown milwaukee with the spanish elders and teach a woman who was deaf! We came a long with the donich family! They sign because their daughter is deaf as well!! It was a different expereince, speaking to someone who cannot hear you! however i knew that even though we were not hearing the same things, we were feeling the same thing. the spirit! I am grateful for the universal language of love! I know that is how God communicates with us!
I know that this is the true church! I have found it out for myself! Although i was born under the covenant that my parents made in the temple I had to find for myself and 'wrestle with God" (as Enos writes) to gain a knowledge of this gospel and the truthfulness of it! I know that this is the true church on the earth! I know this because I know the one who stands at the head of it! Jesus Christ!
I wanted to end this email with a REALLY cool story i heard!:
There was a man performing at a theater! Many came to watch him in a play! He had a talent, or even a gift, to speak! He spoke with such clarity and such loudness that everyone in the theater could hear him exactly! After the show the MC came out and said "Wasn't that GREAT!? before we end tonight we would like to invite the star of our show to come out here and to quote "Psalm 23" the man came out and started "The Lord is my shepherd....etc."when he finished the audience was clapping and standing!
The Mc came back out and invited an older gentleman to come out of the audience! The man struggled to make his way to the stage, for he was old and weak! The man made it to the microphone and was invited to also quote Psalm 23! As he choked out the verse holding back tears he said "The Lord is my shepherd...etc" he finished and the audience was left in tears! The MC came back out, thanked the man and turned to t he audience and
said: "Ladies and Gentlemen, the first man knew psalm 23. The second man knew the shepherd."
I know the shepherd as He has shown me that He wants to know me! we can each know him as we study him and have faith! I know it! I love you all!!!
"Because I have been given much i too must give"
-Sister Ashton Louise Wise
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