How can I ever feel like I'm not loved? I have yours, my friends, my mission president, the members, my companion, and my Heavenly Fathers constant words of encouragement :)
A year in the books. The best year of my life thus far, but better are coming, and quite fast!
I learned a lot this week from the sister's I went on exchanges with. I learned a lot from Sister Shumate. I learned a lot from mission leadership council. Learning has become my new favorite thing. Believe it or not, I am super excited to read, study, and write! I find great joy in gaining knowledge of the one who created me and the one who died for me. They are the best things to learn about. "To be a prime leader, you need to be a good follower."- Elder Packer
Here is an excerpt from my email to President Brinkerhoff that puts Elder Packer's statement into context for me:
"A clear, spirit-filled mind is what I seek. Sister Shumate and I were able to feel that this week. One lesson in particular. Hagen, a freshman at ISU, sent his information to Mormon.org and requested the missionaries. The elders got the referral and went and contacted him in the dorms. Hagen was pleased to see them and invited them into his room. Hagen's non-member roommate, Taylor, happened to be there and happily listened to the short message of the Restoration. They both accepted a Book of Mormon and the Elders graciously set up a return appointment for them to meet with us. Saturday night we met them at the Institute for our lesson. We learned that Hagen grew up in the church, but in about 8th grade he started to have doubts. Taylor invited Hagen to his youth group at his church. Hagen began to build his knowledge of the Bible and the two have grown to be best friends and help each other through many trials. So, both have strong testimonies of the Bible, which is GREAT! This is where the clarity of mind comes in to play, Hagen proceeds to ask a very important and heart felt question. A question, that if answered out of spite, ignorance, or lack of passion, would fall on deaf ears and lead him to question many other things. In that instant, Sister Shumate turns to me and says, "I honestly don't know, do you?"
A desperate plea for help fled from my heart to my Heavenly Father. I felt prompted that I must answer this question, and that I must do it with preciseness and confidence. I began to speak, "taking no thought beforehand what [I should] say." The words flowed, the thoughts came, the conviction heated within me, and the spirit was transferred from one heart to another.
Whatever I said, was and answer to my prayer. Hagen accepted it, and liked it, to be honest. I could see that his testimony was strengthened in that moment, along with mine. "Edified and uplifted"!
I'm humbled to know that when I had to be an instrument in the Lord's hands, I was able to. This gave me great confidence and hope for future times when I will need to confess with boldness the reality of our Savior."
Yes- this was quite a miraculous thing for me to experience, but think, we can all have experiences similar to this! If we keep the commandments and seek the Lord's guidance through the spirit, WE CAN ALL BE VESSELS OF SPIRITUSAL CONVEYANCE! I bear firm testimony of this and invite you to try. What do you have to lose? Just a chance to feel the power and influence of the Holy Messiah :)
Love, so much love,
Sister Fredrick
That's not my real nose, promise.
Sister Payne, my favorite Sr. Missionary at mission leadership council!
Zone movie night Halloween night
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