Transfer 4 Week 5

Week five. I know it gets tiring me saying the same thing at the beginning of every email, but time flies so fast it’s ridiculous.
Vanhin Gamblin—expect a letter from me within a week (ish). My Bishop in one of the wards I serve in served in Finland and wanted me to say some things to you in Finnish. Hope all is well in Finny-land!!!
This week was good. We had some emotional ups and downs, but overall the Lord is blessing us for our determination to serve him to the best of our abilities.
This week we had some great lessons, the highlight being our lesson with Julieann and Adam Stone. AH-mazing couple. So like I told y’all, Julieanne is LA and her hubby is a man from England who has no foundation whatsoever when it comes to religion. So Friday we went over there, ate dinner, gave a brief synopsis of the restoration prior to watching Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration (the movie they play in visitor’s centers and jazz). We also prefaced the movie by saying that he should ask us any and all questions that came up during the video. And thus it started, us watching my favorite movie about one of my favorite people ever. And Adam would pause the movie every 15-20 minutes with questions about the gospel, Joseph, the Book of Mormon and where its contents originated from, what the bulls represented on the baptismal font, and everything else. It was such an awesome experience because he asked DEEP questions and it really got my brain working. I am still so young in the mission and sometimes fret over my answers to questions because I’m afraid that my knowledge isn’t sufficient. But the Lord promises that he will make weak things strong, and I know he’s been doing that with me. September 16 I finished reading the Book of Mormon for the first time since I’ve been on my mission and it was incredible the feelings and the insight the Lord blessed me with. It is truly an amazing experience to become the Lord’s investigator during our time of study in the morning. It’s cool to look through my scriptures from when I started studying the BoM and where I ended—and in these last couple of weeks I’ve really inquired of the Lord to help me learn, and really listened to what the Spirit had to say—and my scriptures are marked totally different at the end. I can’t wait to reread the Book of Mormon, but first I must finish D&C. And then I’ll reread the Book of Mormon.
Saturday my companions and I, as well as 2 sets of Elders, got to volunteer to help the Sierra Vista ward’s primary activity that was all about missionary work. The little kids got mission calls in the mail, came to the stake center, and then from there they packed their bags, flew to the MTC, and then went to their missions (New Zealand, Japan, or Sweden). We, the missionaries, helped kids go “tracting” in the stake center. It was so cute to help little sunbeams introduce themselves as “Elder Landers” or “Sister Hawkins” or whatever, and then watch them smile and say something simple about the gospel. There were 6 doors for them to knock on—one had no answer, one wasn’t interested (and rude about it haha), and the other 4 were very nice people who wanted to learn more. The best was when one of my groups—three 6 year-olds—knocked on the door where the volunteer behind it said “NOT INTERESTED” and slammed the door. One of the little girls looked terrified and shocked, and then looked at me to see what to do. It took everything I had not to laugh my head off. But what was even better is when one of the people who answered the door would say, “Why should I come to church?” or “what is good about your church?” and the kids would answer on their own—“It’s a place to come and learn about Jesus and feel his love in your heart” or “Jesus loves little children—and adults too!” or hearing their bold sauce coming out—“repent and be baptized because Jesus wants us to!” Some of the kids weren’t even deterred by the slammed door—one of my little boys pushed a pass-a-long card under the door and said, “here’s a card anyway! Have a good day!” It was so precious to see. We’re taught that the gospel blesses families—and we can all benefit from the love and peace the gospel brings, whether your 3 or 103.
This week, I realized, marks the one-year anniversary of my decision to serve a mission for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is so weird that almost a year from now I checked my email, saw my declined acceptance to BYU, and felt within seconds the spirit confirm to me that I was to serve a mission. I remember calling Julie immediately afterword and telling her because my family was asleep. I remember the following day Dad waking me up and telling me I needed to start my mission papers. I ALMOST spoiled the surprise by telling him I was going to serve—but instead I got ready for class and left. September 25 is when I made it official and public—I told Mom and Dad and Jordan that I would be serving a mission. It was at Carrabbas, and I remember making Mom drive me home because I had a migraine so bad I couldn’t see. Dad forgot to get my meal boxed up and bring it home to me. And that following Sunday I met with the Bishop.
A WEEK before September 24 I wouldn’t have guessed I was going to be serving a mission. And now, almost a year later, I’ve been out for 5 ½ months in Vegas, sweating, walking, working, praying, crying, rejoicing, singing, serving, helping, reading, growing, etc etc. I am so thankful for this choice I’ve made to serve.
Missions rock, kids. Never forget it.
Love love LOVE you all,
Sister Mack
Moroni 7:33