Is this my daughter?

 Usually I put only Danielle's letters in this blog, but today I feel I need to give you a little introduction.

 Sometimes when I read Danielle's letters, I ask myself, "Is this my daughter?"  Danielle has changed so much on her mission.  I can see through her that God truly can change a person.  He can take a little girl who has had a lot of hard things happen in her life and gently but dramatically change her in ways that are astounding.  I wish I could take credit for the wonderful woman she has become, and sometimes Danielle tries to give me credit, but it is not me--it is God.   God didn't coddle her nor did He scold her. He patiently waited for her to put her trust in Him. Then it was through Danielle's obedience that she got to know Him in a more personal way--In a way in which He was able to show her how much she means to Him.

Here is part of her letter:
 
"I have been feeling the spirit so strong throughout my day, so I guess I'm grateful for that. Something else that I was able to recognize is that my nature is truly changing.  President talked about how often times we change our behaviors (meaning, we wake up at 6:30 because our companion does and we go out to work because we know we need to) and I can admit, that a good portion of my mission has been because I know I needed to.  Granted I did love it, but I would wake up at 6:30 because I know that is what missionaries should do and I want to be obedient.  I go out and work all day again, because that is what I have been called here to do.  He talked about a change of behavior VRS. a change of nature.  When we have a change of nature, it truly becomes a part of us.  It's not out of obligation or duty, rather out of sincere desire. Having a desire because I love the Lord and I love his work.  My motives have changed a lot.  It's not about going about doing good just to do it.  It's about doing good because that is my greatest desire and that is the Lords greatest desire.  I wouldn't say I have it all figured out by any means and I still have much to work on but my love for the Lord and his work has drastically increased as I allow the Lord to change my humble heart.

I wanted to share my feelings and things the Lord has taught me as of lately.  Often times this journey of life may seem long, tiring and miserable   but I think about what that moment may be like when this is all over and we return to our Father in Heaven who is awaiting with outstretched arms.  Think about the joy that we with feel!  I can't even comprehend the amount of peace we will feel, feeling entirely safe in his presence.

Thank you for teaching me the gospel Mom.  I could name so many  events that I have learned so much about the gospel simply from your example.  You'll never understand even to the slightest, the influence and impact you've had on my life

Love you so much!   

XOXO, Sister Thiriot

Danielle will be coming home August 14th.  I've heard it will be a hard adjustment for her--even harder than the adjustment of going on a mission and being in a new environment with people and places that are strange.  But when she comes home, nothing will be the same as when she left, but more than that, She will not be the same. 

Lookout Mountain--you can see 7 states from where we were standing!  I'd assume you could see both North Carolina and Gorgia in this picture

having more hope

This week was crazy! I spent two days in Georgia as I was able to go on some exchanges with the sisters!  Sister Hatch and I fell so behind on everything and have been playing catch up the past few days! We still lack on progressing investigators, however things are looking better than last week!  We've met a few people who are actually putting in a good amount of effort to find out if what we teach is true. Also, I found a live mouse in my shoe the other day.  I went to go to slip on my shoe when I saw a brown, furr ball in my shoe.  Sister Hatch about had a hard attack.  I did learn something meaningful this week though. We were driving home from an appointment of a lady who had dropped us and I look over at Sister Hatch who is crying.  As we talked, I could see how much frustration and discouragement she was facing as she questioned why everyone was dropping us and what we were doing wrong. I kept thinking and praying of what I could do or say and after a few minutes of silence, she looked at me and said, "Sister Thiriot, I know that there is someone out there who will listen to us. I know it."  I just smiled and agreed and we continued on with our day.  I will never forget that! Although I may have not been as discouraged, I admire that she was able to conquer such discouragement simply by having more hope.   I'm so grateful for my companion and the things that she teaches me.

Easter time

.Easter was good! We had lunch at a members and worked the rest of the day, sharing the message of Christ to anyone and everyone we came in contact with.   Every single appointment we had, cancelled.  That about sums up our past week actually.  Every investigator we did have, dropped us, including Sierra who had a baptism date.  It's been so easy to get frustrated just because we feel like there is something else we can be doing but are unsure of what that is.  We're still doing a lot of finding and on average, getting about1-2 new investigators per day which is actually the highest thus far on my mission but we're having the hardest time having 2nd appointments with them!  Everyone we have been teaching lately is so flaky and we've realized that our faith in any appointments not cancelling is decreasing. We've been praying about it a lot these past few days and I am certain that the Lord is trying to teach me something.  I'm willing to do whatever it takes and I'm really trying different approaches in the way I talk to people and even just in my teaching.  On the bright side, there are a ton of other people to talk to when our appointments cancel. 'Tis the season that everyone is always outside and I absolutely love it.

I've been pondering a lot about the opportunity I have to testify of Christ this past week.  Last week, there was an incredible member that got up in testimony meeting and bore such a powerful testimony.  Relief society came around and there was another opportunity for testimonies. After about 2 seconds of that awkward silence where no one wants to be the first one to stand up, that same member stood up and said, "I don't want there ever to be a second that I could be bearing testimony of my Savior, and not taking the opportunity to do so."  It reminded of a scripture in 2 Nephi 25: 13 where Nephi expresses the same desire.  It says, "Behold, they will ^acrucify him; and after he is laid in a ^bsepulchre for the space of ^cthree days he shall ^drise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have ^eseen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name."
 I've thought a lot about this and about sweet sister and the example that she's been to me.  I, like Nephi "delight to prophesy concerning my Savior" and although that is what I have been called to do and I feel like that is what I spend so much of my time doing, I feel like I can testify even more not only through my words, but through my countenance and to really appreciate every second that I've been given to do so.

I wish I could say more, but my time is short. I hope all is well with you and I hope you know how much I love you. 

Love,
Sister Thiriot

Coasting on the Sabbath

I was reading in 1 Nephi 10: 19, where it talks about diligently seeking to know the mysteries of God, and that doesn't necessarily mean that I'll receive some crazy revelations that are unknown to man, but more so personal revelation given to me through the Holy Ghost.  As I read that, I thought about my Patriarchal blessing and how that is something that God has reveled to me personally and so I had an increased desire to study it this week.  I made a copy of it, and really went through marking it up, referencing to scriptures and studying each individual line and I honestly can't even express to you how much I've learned as I have done that.  I feel like I'm really coming to better understand who my father in heaven has designed me to be and he's given me clear direction in becoming that person.  I encourage you to do the same and let me know how it goes.  I can assure you that you won't be disappointed in the results.

At women's conference I felt Gods love for me so strongly and more than anything, I felt so much peace.  I felt like God was letting me know that he's proud of me and it felt so good.  It's so easy to be hard on myself because I'm so imperfect and inadequate and constantly focusing on the things I need to change (which is how it should be) but I guess it's just been a slap in the face being a missionary because it's not really about me at all.  I fall so short of being the teacher and disciple that Christ was and as I am trying to help these people, that is the thing that I most yearn for.  I so often find myself wondering what Christ would say if he were sitting next to me teaching these people?  Anyways, it was a good reassurance and reminder that I'm doing my best and that's what matters because Christ has already made up the rest. 

So I'll let you in on a completely necessary event that happened this week, just to maybe give you a little laugh. Yesterday (Sunday) we're pulling out of the parking lot of the church, heading to our dinner appointment that is 17 miles away and our gas light comes on and just that day in Sunday school, we learned about keeping the Sabbath day holy and how we should avoid even the littlest things such as filling up our gas tank to devote that day entirely to the Lord.  Well Sister Hatch and I looked at each other and laughed, said a prayer, and coasted basically the entire way there and back, (and not even kidding about all the way there.  the cars behind us seemed to be a little bit aggravated at the sped we were going) but we made it to all of our other destinations throughout the day.  I feel like God has a pretty good sense of humor and I'm sure he was giggling just as much as we were yesterday.

Mom, I love you.  I wish you could even comprehend how much I appreciate you.  Thanks for all that you do for me

New companion--new area

Scripture I really like:  2Nephi 1:15 "But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love." It is inspired from the song "Savior, redeemer of my soul" but I just love the wording of it.  I can just picture it so clear, the love that my savior has for me. I realized this week how grateful I am for my testimony.  That also reminds me of what my companion and I have been studying lately.  We have decided to study one christlike attribute per week out of chapter 6 preach my gospel (PMG) and study it every single day and pray to better inherit it.  If you have a preach my gospel (which I hope you do), you should try it.  It's nice to just focus on one attribute and really try to make it become part of my character.  This week we chose virtue, and I'll just share a passage right out of PMG .  Concerning virtue, it explained: 

"Your mind is like a stage in a theater; in the theater of your mind, however, only one actor can be on stage at a time. If the stage is left bare, thoughts of darkness and sin often enter the stage to tempt. But these thoughts have no power if the stage of your mind is occupied by wholesome thoughts, such as a memorized hymn or verse of scripture that you can call upon in a moment of temptation. By controlling the stage of your mind, you can successfully resist persistent urges to yield to temptation and indulge in sin. You can become pure and virtuous."

It made me realize how important it is that I continually have a scripture or hymn in my mind so that my mind is never left bare.You asked for an update about the area /companion.  I don't really know what your looking for but her name is Sister Danalyn Hatch and she actually goes by Dani.  Cool huh?  She's from Ogden, UT and been out for nine months.  She's a hairstylist, she's really sweet and been a really strong and faithful member her entire life.  She's knows the gospel SO well and has taught me a lot.  I really am so lucky to have her.  

I don't know if I ever told you that I was called to be a sister training leader meaning that Sister Hatch and I work with the sisters in our zone, going on exchanges, giving trainings at meetings, and just making sure that the sisters are doing well.  We have a fairly small zone which is nice because we get to work pretty closely with them and really focus on their needs.  There is 8 sisters in our zone and it's such a blast! I've learned so much from these sisters. 

As far as the area goes, I live in Ooltewah. The area itself is Seventh day adventist-ville because of the university here which is something I've never delt with before on my mission.  I'm used to the good old baptists so this is kind of new to me!  They're so strong in their faith, it's incredible. It feels like a whole different mission working with them because they're just so, different.  We have a big ward-- the biggest I've served in thus far.  We have about 180-200 active members and a lot of young families!  It's been so much fun and we're really spoiled here.  We have an amazing bishop who is 110% missionary minded which makes the members really excited and involved as well.  We don't go a day without getting fed and we have members come out with us daily.  

We've been teaching this guy named Ty, who is very knowledgeable and strong in his Methodist church.  This week was our third time meeting with him and we've really been involving President Brodniak (who is a member of our ward and also works with President Irion) to help us teach.  Sister Hatch and I were really unsure what to teach him because he got caught up on the littlest things such as the nature of God, and how we can't know of truth by the spirit or a feeling, but of the evidences and sadly, we weren't all that excited for our appointments with him just because we really didn't know how to help him. Much of our lesson turned into him and President Brodniak flipping through the bible going on a scripture chase and I noticed how inadequate I was feeling as I realized that I couldn't even comprehend most of what they were saying.  Throughout the entire lesson, doubts began to enter my mind about how my knowledge was so limited and how badly I felt like I should know more as a missionary and at the end of the lesson, I found myself bearing my testimony about how I know that the things we teach are true not because of how much I know, but because the Spirit has testified to me that they are and if my testimony was based on the knowledge I had of the gospel and the evidences it contained, that I obviously wouldn't on a mission right now.  I'm not even really sure if what I said effected him whasoever but I recognized that the spirit really taught me something that night.  I realized that I may not know the scriptures as well as I'd like and my knowledge of the gospel may be limited but I do know that this is the restored gospel without a doubt and that is enough.  I can still have confidence and say just as President Brodniak can that these things are true even with the little knowledge that I do have because I have received a spiritual witness that it is.

I've had many more learning experiences this week, and I'm so grateful that I get to work with so many incredible people. I hope that you too can sit back and realize how much the Lord blesses us, even with the simplest things, such as a testimony.

Love you!

week of miracles

 I got to go to my first mission leadership council and elder hymas from the 70 joined us and it was SO awesome!  I forget how lucky I am to have so many opportunities to council with and be taught by some of the greatest leaders in the world.  Anyways, here is the rest. It has surely been a week of miracles, so I'll just jump right in and tell you all about it. 

 

The newest member of the Harrison Bay ward, Hannah Abercrombie was baptized this Saturday!  Leading up to her baptism, everything that she couldn't possibly been attacked with struck in one single week.  Tuesday, she came home to find her brothers 1.5 year old baby who has major brain injury and isn't the highest functioning sitting on her front porch.  Wednesday, her house caught on fire and Thursday, she got in a fight with her family about the church and came to her baptismal interview dripping blood, from being pushed down the outside stairs of her mothers home and getting cut up from a barbwire fence.  Sister Hatch and I being a little overwhelmed, felt like we should ask her if she wanted to push her baptism back a little bit until things calmed down and she explained that it was entirely obvious how powerful Satan really is and how nothing he could do stop her from being baptized.  Hannah truly was our two week miracle.  I had always heard about missionaries finding, teaching and baptizing in 2 weeks but I never thought I would expirience it myself.  It was evident that the Lord had been preparing her but not only that, preparing the ward to recieve her in as a new family member to this ward because they honestly couldn't have been more welcoming as members and it couldn't have happened without them.  I am still amazed at the strength and courage that Hannah has, and also how quick the ward was to jump to her aid when she needed help. 

 

The actual day of the baptism another miracle followed.  Hannahs baptism was set to be at four, and loosing track of time and not thinking too much about it, we turned on the font around 2:55.  Hannah arrived at about 30 minutes later and we decied to go check the font to see the water had not even reached the top of the very first step, hitting just above my ankle.  We starting stressing a bit and decided we'd sit kneel down, right there on the bathroom floor and pray for a miracle.  Sister Hatch offered such a sincere prayer, pleading that the water would be high enough for Hannah to be baptized. We decided we'd move the program into the chapel allowing more time for the water to fill until the actual ceremony when bishop walks in, 2 minutes before four and asked us why we were having it in the Chapel when we explained to him that the water needed to fill.  He looked at us and said, "Sisters! I don't know how full you are expecting it to be, but it's fine!"  We ran in the relief society room, and sure enough, the font had been entirely filled.  There was no way on earth that in those short 27 minutes, the font had filled at the rate it was going without the Lords hand being in it all.  I KNOW that the Lord answered our prayers that day.  I know that it was by no chance or coincidence that there had been enough water for Hannah to be baptized.

 

I guess that about sums up the majority of our week.  I truly have seen the Lords hand in every aspect of our work this week.  To top it off, I was able to stay in my area this week for exchanges as a sweet sister joined me and when I woke up that morning, I realized how sick I was. I just prayed that we would be able to make it to all our planned appointments that day and I would have the strength to work.  Although the Lord didn't completely take away my sickness (and quite frankly, I didn't expect him too), he allowed me to be able to teach and go to every single appointment.  Somehow, everytime I walked into a home, it seemed as if it was all taken away for the time being, not even thinking about it again until we would walk out of a home and I was quickly reminded that I was sick as I threw up again.  It was incredible to me that the Lord allowed me to be well enough to teach and just forget about it long enough that his work may still be accomplished.  I love this work with all my heart and I know my feelings about it will never change.

Love you!

 

Love,

Sister Thiriot

spiritual slapping

If I could sum this week up into a few words, I'd say that it was a week to be taught.  So many great things happened this week!   We taught more lessons than we have any other week since I've been in this area and got to meet so many new people!  We also had so much member involvement which was fantastic!  To top it all of, the chapel was PACKED.   We had multiple less actives come again and had four investigators at church! We were surely blessed this week.

I witnessed once again the importance of members.  We've been stuck with our investigators Tammy and Andrew for the last few weeks and we felt impressed to take one of our members to teach with us to see Tammy's husband, Kim (who is a member) while she was at work.  Our intentions were to have the member give him a "spiritual slapping" and that's exactly what he did!  I'd actually call it more of a spiritual punching, but whichever works. (A little background; Kim can't provide for his family because of health problems which causes depression and is basically dying from heart failure) The member basically told him that he obviously can't be the financial provider anymore, but it's his job to be the spiritual provider in the home and he is failing drastically.    Exact words, "You can either sit in the corner and rock your life away or you can die trying to help yourself and your family."  It was so intense!! I was clinging on the edge of my seat the entire lesson but the spirit was so strong, that his boldness only shook him up enough to make him do something .  Kim is already being more of a positive influence for his family. 

There were so many other instances this week where the members made all the difference in our teaching. Sometimes I even think they're here to just teach me! 

 I've gained such a strong testimony of personal revelation and how the spirit truly works. As I was able to attend zone conference this week, I really prepared myself by coming with questions so that I could better be prepared to receive personal revelation and I surely did.  It's not about what is said, but what is heard and felt.  Enthusiasm and the fire of missionary work and working with members seemed to be a pretty big theme. Missionary work is seriously so exciting and it's my job to help the members realize that.  Hey, so you should be stoked about it, okay? Oh, and I guess I should mention that I'll be getting transferred this week.  It was completely unexpected and a pretty big shock, but I'm grateful for all the time I've spent here in Watauga, and excited for the many changes to come! 

Until next week... LOVE YOU!

Sister Thiriot