Called to Serve (as a trainer)

This week has been really great. The weather has been so beautiful. We

had exchanges again, but this time with the sisters in Jonesborrow. I

got to see Sister Green twice while we switched Sister Lange and

Sister Thomas. I guess most missionaries don't get to see their MTC

companions as much as I've been able to, so I'm lucky! Hi Sister Green

(if you're reading this), I love you. Norma, the Marshallese woman we

have been teaching is really progressing. When we first began teaching

her she was shy and wasn't very open. Over the past couple of weeks

she has completely opened up. When we see each other we hug and laugh

like school girls. She's so sweet. This week we taught her about the

plan of salvation. She loved it. I kept asking her if she understood

and if she had any questions (slight language barrier) and finally she

exclaimed, "ITS GOOD" hahaha. We talked to her about the temple, and

how inside families can be sealed together forever. Her face lit up.

Baptism is now just a step on her path, with the temple as the goal.

She is set to be baptized in a couple of weeks. This weekend was

General Conference. I loved it. I have been thinking a lot about

progression and the things that I can improve on as a missionary, and

a disciple of Jesus Christ. Isn't it incredible that through out our

entire lives, and in the eternity to come, we are meant to continue to

improve, to grow and to learn ALWAYS. There will never be a day when

we realize we are the best we can be and check it off our list. There

are always opportunities to be better, and to become more like our

savior Jesus Christ. That's the whole plan, the whole purpose of this

life. Our Father in Heaven sent us to Earth and created a way by which

we could return to Him AND eventually, become like Him. I loved what

Elder J. Devn Cornish said in the Saturday morning session of

conference. He said, "The answers to the questions “Am I good enough?”

and “Will I make it?” are “Yes! You are going to be good enough” and

“Yes, you are going to make it as long as you keep repenting and do

not rationalize or rebel.” The God of heaven is not a heartless

referee looking for any excuse to throw us out of the game. He is our

perfectly loving Father, who yearns more than anything else to have

all of His children come back home and live with Him as families

forever. He truly gave His Only Begotten Son that we might not perish

but have everlasting life! Please believe, and please take hope and

comfort from, this eternal truth. Our Heavenly Father intends for us

to make it! That is His work and His glory." I think sometimes in life

we start to feel that the odds are stacked up against us and that we

are being set up for failure. In reality, we are meant to succeed and

we are meant to make it. "For behold, this is my work and my glory--to

bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39).

This is a comforting concept to ponder as this morning President

Wakolo extended to me the call to serve as a trainer. Typically

missionaries are trained for 12 weeks. I'm being asked to train

another missionary at what should have been the half way point of my

own training. Needless to say I felt a bit overwhelmed and unsure.

However, as I continued to ponder the phrase "yes, you are going to be

good enough and yes, you are going to make it" I felt comfort and

reassurance. "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in

Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of

all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word

of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye

shall have eternal life" (2 Nephi 31:20).

I know that there is a Father in Heaven who loves each of us. I know

that He created a plan for us to progress and find joy in this life. I

know that central to that plan is our Savior and Redeemer Jesus

Christ, who atoned for the sins and heartaches of the world. Through

Him I find hope and strength each new day.

With love,

Sister Bailey Guthrie

Feeding ducks

The district

On our exchange (Sister Clarke's eyes are forever closed)

After conference with Norma!

More second coming sunsets