YES. Moscow. Actually it's pronounced Moss-Coh. I am in the south of the pan handle of Idaho. It's cold. I came at an odd time with only one week left in the transfer so who knows where I'll be next week. I love all the missionaries I have met and we have become fast friends. And yes mom, my mission president (President Palmer) does have a new Zealand accent. It's fun. When I arrived I spent the night at President Palmer's house. It was the best night sleep I've gotten in my life. At 7am I had a short interview with them and then he sent me off to Moscow.
The past 4 days have been crazy good. My new companions are Sister Jurado (Sister Hurado) and Sister Brown. They are really good missionaries. They have been such a blessing. We are teaching a lot. I'm serving in the married student wards of Idaho University. We cover three wards. We teach everyone, but we work with the members of those specific wards. It's an interesting set up and hard to explain. I met the Bishops, relief society presidents, and ward mission leaders of every ward on Sunday. We bike. When I first got here all we did was bike, but now we have a mini-van and share it with the singles ward Sisters so we bike every other day. Probably the coolest thing ever, right now, are all the Spanish lessons we've been teaching. Sister Jurado speaks Spanish fluently and so we've been teaching a lot of lessons in Spanish. We all still teach. She translates what she can and the Spirit does the rest! It is so cool to both feel and see how the Spirit can transcend any barrier that might lie in it's way.
Elder Bednar (an apostle of the Lord) is coming to talk to us on Saturday. We are all really stoked. What a great way to start out my six months here. On the other hand, I just got an e-mail from the Henricksons from Nauvoo. All the Sisters leave Nauvoo and the PROPHET of God shows up. Yes. Thomas S. Monson is in Nauvoo right now and I am sitting at a computer at the institute building in Moscow, Idaho. It's a good thing I have been sent here by the Lord with a work to do and the most important massage in the world to share with people. Otherwise I might be a little put out.
I called the Nauvoo visitor's center today to get my driving information faxed over here to the mission office. It was the weirdest thing to talk to the Senior missionaries on the phone. It was like calling my friends. I love them and miss them so much, as I do all of you.
That's all right now. I love you. Sorry for how short this e-mail is. I'm still kind of star struck by it all. My head is swimming.
Sister Bailey
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Last e-mail from Nauvoo
I expect this letter to be a short one. There is too much to do and too little time. But what an amazing opportunity we had this weekend to hear a Prophet of God and the Apostles! I can't believe I forgot to tell everyone about it in my last letter! If anyone would like to listen to all the amazing things declared and directed for our benefit visit LDS.org and find the links that lead to "General Conference". Sometimes, as missionaries, you only take life one day at a time. I didn't realize conference was here until it was here and even then we were serving in between the moments we were able to watch. I am so excited to get the conference edition of the Ensign! What a wonderful day to live in...when the words of a prophet are delivered to you door step once a month. Susan Easton Black was here this weekend in Nauvoo as well. It was such a treat to be able to spend time with her and to ask her questions and the hear her testimony of the early saints and of the divinity of Joseph Smith and his calling. I know that Joseph Smith was and is a Prophet of God. The the fullness of the gospel has been restored and that we can chose eternal life and happiness by the merits of Jesus Christ and His atonement or to choose eternal misery and death according to the power and captivity of the devil. Elder Jeffery R Holland bore testimony that the Savior warned "that in the last days, mens' hearts shall fail them". And surely it will happen, but it is our choice, Brothers and Sisters, if we are contributors to the fulfillment of that prophecy. Will our hearts fail? Or have we built our foundation upon that foundation that if men build they cannot fall?
I would also like to express my love and gratitude to all you have been such a strength and support while I have been out here. Your letters are appreciated and you prayers are felt. When ever I cannot stand on my own I can feel angels round about me to bear me up. I know that I have not earned those angels by my own merit. Thank you for your love, prayers, support and concern. I love you so much and I think of you all often.
Sister Bailey
Alma 5
Washington Spokane Mission
820 S. Pines Rd Ste 101
Spokane Valley, WA 99206-5420
I would also like to express my love and gratitude to all you have been such a strength and support while I have been out here. Your letters are appreciated and you prayers are felt. When ever I cannot stand on my own I can feel angels round about me to bear me up. I know that I have not earned those angels by my own merit. Thank you for your love, prayers, support and concern. I love you so much and I think of you all often.
Sister Bailey
Alma 5
Washington Spokane Mission
820 S. Pines Rd Ste 101
Spokane Valley, WA 99206-5420
Friday, October 2, 2009
Pride has reared It's Ugly Head
I am having trouble writing this week because quite frankly I just e-mailed you the most exciting news I've gotten already. Washington Spokane Mission. As soon as I get a new address I'll pass it along, but find comfort in knowing that if you send a letter here to Nauvoo it will get forwarded. I don't know if you guys remember me talking --- er --- writing about the Howards. They are "the most giving people I've ever met in my entire life". That's usually how I describe them anyway. They are from SPOKANE! They were crying when they found out where I was going. They offered to take a box to Spokane for me because they'll be leaving about the same time we are. They said that they know exactly where the mission office is and would be able to drop it off. I told them that that would be great, the only problem is that in 6 months I'll have to be able to make it back to Nauvoo with the same amount of stuff.
Sister Lukens and I have been studying humility. It has been really neat. I want to share what it says about humility in "True to the Faith". Just the first paragraph. "True to the Faith" is a study resource that I have that has been put out by the Prophet of God and the Apostles that defines and describes words and concepts so that we can better understand them. The first paragraph concerning humility says, "To be humble is to recognize gratefully your dependence on the Lord --- to understand that you have a constant need for His support. Humility is an acknowledgement that your talents and abilities are gifts from God. It is not a sign of weakness, timidity or fear; it is an indication that you know where your true strength lies. You can be both humble and fearless. You can be both humble and courageous". I love it. The opposite of humility is pride. We read through the scriptures to help us better be able to identify pride in ourselves. We only got through three so far, but this is what we came up with. 1) If you do not flee from temptation and willingly put yourself in spiritually threatening situations, pride has reared it's ugly face 2)If you blame God for your shortcomings or for your hardship, pride has reared it's ugly face and 3) If you are offended by something or someone, check yourself for the following situations, a) if you are offended at something that is not true you are being over sensitive. Who cares if it's not true? or b) if you are offended by something that is true, something needs to change. Pride, has reared it's ugly head.
So, the study continues. We still have some scripture references to go through, but that is what we've got so far. We can all be more humble. The struggle with pride will never be over. And just has you think it is, it's bit you on the ankle. For what humble man would sit and say to himself "I have conquered pride" with out an inkling of pride in his heart?
In my most recent president's interview President asked me what my greatest fear for my new assignment was. I was completely candid and told him, "that I wont want to come back to Nauvoo". I love Nauvoo. I know with all my heart that this is where I need to be right now and that I was called here by God himself, but I have never felt comfortable here. I feel so much more prepared for the kind of work I will be doing in Washington. I know I am going to fall in love with the people. I generally fall pretty hard for people. I am going to get attached and just as I have to rip my heart away from Nauvoo, leaving little pieces of it behind, I will have to rip it away from Washington as well. It is going to hurt. President Ludwig responded, just as any God-inspired man would, "Sister Bailey," he said in his love drenched tender tone of voice, "I know that you are scared that you wont want to come back, but I certainly hope that it happens that way. I know that Nauvoo has been hard, and maybe the outbound won't be as challenging for you as it is for others, but thank goodness the Lord let you do something that is just a little bit hard. I hope you hate leaving Washington. I hope you fall in love with the people. But we will be glad to have you back".
I would rather be drug onto the plane kicking and screaming than plowing people over trying to be first. I know it will be the former. If I manage to leave Washington with out getting my heart ripped out, then my heart won't be right with the Lord. Here's to growing pains.
I love each of you with every piece of me. Thank you for your support. I am being 100% serious when I say I can feel it.
Sister Bailey
D&C 128
Oh yeah! here's where everyone is going:
Sister Aston: Texas, Dallas
Sister Quick: Colorado Denver North
Sister Lukens: Colorado Colorado Springs
Sister ME: Washington Spokane
Sister Patterson: Tennessee, Nashville
Sister Barry: Washington, Keenewick (sp?)
Sister Reece: Texas, Fort Worth
Sister Picard: New Jersey, Morristown
Sister Goodrich: Georgia, Atlanta
Sister Parker: New Jersey, Cherryhill
Sister Westwood: Montana, Billings
Sister Johnson: Nevada, Las Vegas
Sister Morgan: Colorado, Denver South
Sister Thomas, Sister Alexander, Sister Meyer: All the the Iowa, Peoria Mission for 6 weeks and then they go home
Sister Lukens and I have been studying humility. It has been really neat. I want to share what it says about humility in "True to the Faith". Just the first paragraph. "True to the Faith" is a study resource that I have that has been put out by the Prophet of God and the Apostles that defines and describes words and concepts so that we can better understand them. The first paragraph concerning humility says, "To be humble is to recognize gratefully your dependence on the Lord --- to understand that you have a constant need for His support. Humility is an acknowledgement that your talents and abilities are gifts from God. It is not a sign of weakness, timidity or fear; it is an indication that you know where your true strength lies. You can be both humble and fearless. You can be both humble and courageous". I love it. The opposite of humility is pride. We read through the scriptures to help us better be able to identify pride in ourselves. We only got through three so far, but this is what we came up with. 1) If you do not flee from temptation and willingly put yourself in spiritually threatening situations, pride has reared it's ugly face 2)If you blame God for your shortcomings or for your hardship, pride has reared it's ugly face and 3) If you are offended by something or someone, check yourself for the following situations, a) if you are offended at something that is not true you are being over sensitive. Who cares if it's not true? or b) if you are offended by something that is true, something needs to change. Pride, has reared it's ugly head.
So, the study continues. We still have some scripture references to go through, but that is what we've got so far. We can all be more humble. The struggle with pride will never be over. And just has you think it is, it's bit you on the ankle. For what humble man would sit and say to himself "I have conquered pride" with out an inkling of pride in his heart?
In my most recent president's interview President asked me what my greatest fear for my new assignment was. I was completely candid and told him, "that I wont want to come back to Nauvoo". I love Nauvoo. I know with all my heart that this is where I need to be right now and that I was called here by God himself, but I have never felt comfortable here. I feel so much more prepared for the kind of work I will be doing in Washington. I know I am going to fall in love with the people. I generally fall pretty hard for people. I am going to get attached and just as I have to rip my heart away from Nauvoo, leaving little pieces of it behind, I will have to rip it away from Washington as well. It is going to hurt. President Ludwig responded, just as any God-inspired man would, "Sister Bailey," he said in his love drenched tender tone of voice, "I know that you are scared that you wont want to come back, but I certainly hope that it happens that way. I know that Nauvoo has been hard, and maybe the outbound won't be as challenging for you as it is for others, but thank goodness the Lord let you do something that is just a little bit hard. I hope you hate leaving Washington. I hope you fall in love with the people. But we will be glad to have you back".
I would rather be drug onto the plane kicking and screaming than plowing people over trying to be first. I know it will be the former. If I manage to leave Washington with out getting my heart ripped out, then my heart won't be right with the Lord. Here's to growing pains.
I love each of you with every piece of me. Thank you for your support. I am being 100% serious when I say I can feel it.
Sister Bailey
D&C 128
Oh yeah! here's where everyone is going:
Sister Aston: Texas, Dallas
Sister Quick: Colorado Denver North
Sister Lukens: Colorado Colorado Springs
Sister ME: Washington Spokane
Sister Patterson: Tennessee, Nashville
Sister Barry: Washington, Keenewick (sp?)
Sister Reece: Texas, Fort Worth
Sister Picard: New Jersey, Morristown
Sister Goodrich: Georgia, Atlanta
Sister Parker: New Jersey, Cherryhill
Sister Westwood: Montana, Billings
Sister Johnson: Nevada, Las Vegas
Sister Morgan: Colorado, Denver South
Sister Thomas, Sister Alexander, Sister Meyer: All the the Iowa, Peoria Mission for 6 weeks and then they go home
Monday, September 28, 2009
I had an interesting Friday.
Saturday, September 26th
I have only ever been to the state of Washington once in my life. It was the worst road trip I had ever taken. The best part was the ten hour drive there and the ten hour drive back to Rexburg with, who was then Mallory Mills, and is now, Mallory Daybell. I am grateful and excited that my second trip there will be much better, one in which I will be able to fall in love with Washington.
Last night we all went to President's house to gather before we went to clean the temple. We were all excited. He read a string of scriptures about missionary work. He then pulled out a piece of paper and informed us that we were not going to clean the temple, that instead, he had decided to tell us where the Lord was sending us next. I did not want to know. I had set myself up for Monday. I was the third name called. The Lord has sent me to the Washington Spokane mission. I will be flying there on Wednesday October 7, 2009. The call really came from left field for me. Shock is probably the best word to describe my initial reaction, but as soon as my brain shut up a feeling of peace started to grow within my heart. The peace I expected to feel upon opening my original call letter, one that I did receive concerning the Nauvoo Illinois Mission, but not until much later. I needed to struggle with that first call. I needed to. Not with this one. That feeling of peace was such a sweet assurance that the Lord is mindful of ever needful thing. Not just for me, but for every one of us.
I will be excited to write again on Tuesday when I have been able to gather my thoughts a little better. I wasn't even going to write today, but I thought you might like to know as soon as I did.
Sister Bailey. D&C100
I have only ever been to the state of Washington once in my life. It was the worst road trip I had ever taken. The best part was the ten hour drive there and the ten hour drive back to Rexburg with, who was then Mallory Mills, and is now, Mallory Daybell. I am grateful and excited that my second trip there will be much better, one in which I will be able to fall in love with Washington.
Last night we all went to President's house to gather before we went to clean the temple. We were all excited. He read a string of scriptures about missionary work. He then pulled out a piece of paper and informed us that we were not going to clean the temple, that instead, he had decided to tell us where the Lord was sending us next. I did not want to know. I had set myself up for Monday. I was the third name called. The Lord has sent me to the Washington Spokane mission. I will be flying there on Wednesday October 7, 2009. The call really came from left field for me. Shock is probably the best word to describe my initial reaction, but as soon as my brain shut up a feeling of peace started to grow within my heart. The peace I expected to feel upon opening my original call letter, one that I did receive concerning the Nauvoo Illinois Mission, but not until much later. I needed to struggle with that first call. I needed to. Not with this one. That feeling of peace was such a sweet assurance that the Lord is mindful of ever needful thing. Not just for me, but for every one of us.
I will be excited to write again on Tuesday when I have been able to gather my thoughts a little better. I wasn't even going to write today, but I thought you might like to know as soon as I did.
Sister Bailey. D&C100
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Time moves quickly, no surprise
This letter is an odd one to write because so little time has past between this one and my last. Sister Brinkerhoff and Sister Stagg left this morning. It was a very bitter morning in the Hatch house.
Transfers went great. My companion is Sister Lukens. She is 5' 2", an amazing missionary, and from California. She graduated as an English major and is planning to do graduate school when she gets home. I love her. The past 48 or so hours have been good ones. I feel like we have a good plan for the next 2 weeks. This transfer is going to be/already is so weird. So short. It's like a little goodbye transfer for all the Sisters. We are making our preparations to leave both temporally and spiritually. Yesterday, Sister Lukens asked me what the best experience from my last transfer was. We both laughed at the impossibility of the question, but it made me think back on things I need to write about. My loftiest goal is to get caught up in my journal before we leave on our outbounds. As Nauvoo has slowed down the Lord has blessed me with so many tender mercies. So many spiritual experiences. It felt like Pageant was one big spiritual experience, but after pageant, as things slow down and people say goodbye, there has been something each day, something distinct and over powering that has built up my spirit like the saints did the city of Nauvoo. It makes me feel strangely close to this place.
The words obedience and obey often have a negative connotations connected with them. However, we are teaching lesson four this week in "Angels in the outfield" and it is entitled "Keeping the commandments. Commandments are given so that we can be happy. "Men are that they might have joy". Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to be happy! Wouldn't it make sense for Him to give us instructions on how to do all that? I want to testify now that when we willingly put forth effort and do what our Father in Heaven has asked us to do, no matter how hard it may seem, He will provide a way for us to do it.
He will help. He wants to help. Let Him. Besides, if "obedience" makes you feel like a tool I would invite you to read and ponder upon Mosiah2:33, "For behold, there is a wo pronounced upon him that listeth to obey [the evil spirit]; for if he listeth to obey him, and remaineth and dieth in his sins, the same drinketh damnation to his own soul; for he receiveth for his wages an everlasting punishment, having transgressed the law of God contrary to his own knowledge". The funny thing about obeying the evil spirit is that often times we think that we are rebelling or being open minded, or freeing ourselves of some oppression. Really what has happened, is that instead of obeying God, someone who loves us, and wants the best for us, who promises us eternal life and happiness, we choose to obey someone who only wishes to do us harm, to drag us down, and break our souls. Who promises us an eternity of punishment and anguish. Sometimes, when God asks us to do something, we have a tendency to ask why. The same question can be asked when Satan asks us to do something. "Why?" I can promise that a reasonable, logical answer will not come.
Obedience to God brings the blessing of Eternal Life.
Sister Bailey
Mosiah 13
Transfers went great. My companion is Sister Lukens. She is 5' 2", an amazing missionary, and from California. She graduated as an English major and is planning to do graduate school when she gets home. I love her. The past 48 or so hours have been good ones. I feel like we have a good plan for the next 2 weeks. This transfer is going to be/already is so weird. So short. It's like a little goodbye transfer for all the Sisters. We are making our preparations to leave both temporally and spiritually. Yesterday, Sister Lukens asked me what the best experience from my last transfer was. We both laughed at the impossibility of the question, but it made me think back on things I need to write about. My loftiest goal is to get caught up in my journal before we leave on our outbounds. As Nauvoo has slowed down the Lord has blessed me with so many tender mercies. So many spiritual experiences. It felt like Pageant was one big spiritual experience, but after pageant, as things slow down and people say goodbye, there has been something each day, something distinct and over powering that has built up my spirit like the saints did the city of Nauvoo. It makes me feel strangely close to this place.
The words obedience and obey often have a negative connotations connected with them. However, we are teaching lesson four this week in "Angels in the outfield" and it is entitled "Keeping the commandments. Commandments are given so that we can be happy. "Men are that they might have joy". Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to be happy! Wouldn't it make sense for Him to give us instructions on how to do all that? I want to testify now that when we willingly put forth effort and do what our Father in Heaven has asked us to do, no matter how hard it may seem, He will provide a way for us to do it.
He will help. He wants to help. Let Him. Besides, if "obedience" makes you feel like a tool I would invite you to read and ponder upon Mosiah2:33, "For behold, there is a wo pronounced upon him that listeth to obey [the evil spirit]; for if he listeth to obey him, and remaineth and dieth in his sins, the same drinketh damnation to his own soul; for he receiveth for his wages an everlasting punishment, having transgressed the law of God contrary to his own knowledge". The funny thing about obeying the evil spirit is that often times we think that we are rebelling or being open minded, or freeing ourselves of some oppression. Really what has happened, is that instead of obeying God, someone who loves us, and wants the best for us, who promises us eternal life and happiness, we choose to obey someone who only wishes to do us harm, to drag us down, and break our souls. Who promises us an eternity of punishment and anguish. Sometimes, when God asks us to do something, we have a tendency to ask why. The same question can be asked when Satan asks us to do something. "Why?" I can promise that a reasonable, logical answer will not come.
Obedience to God brings the blessing of Eternal Life.
Sister Bailey
Mosiah 13
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Getting sick gets worse as you grow up. Or life keeps getting better. Maybe it's a combinations of both.
Our p-day was changed from Monday to Friday due to the mission presidents seminar we hosted. So the e-mail for this week is rather late. A lot has happened. About three quarters of the way through September 7th I began to feel awful. It was a steep down hill from there and today is my first real day of feeling better. I served until Wednesday when Sister Ludwig found me at the Visitors Center. To my raspy "Hello Sister Ludwig" her face quickly dropped and said, "Are you getting sick?". My stomach dropped and after some very short and pointless protests she had me in the car and headed back home. I have to admit, in high school getting sick was like getting an unexpected holiday. I much preferred my warm bed to a cold dull classroom any day, even if I felt as though my head would fall off. Then I went to college. Getting sick at college is no fun. There is no mother to care for you, you feel crummy, your roommates avoid you like the plague for fear they will get sick, and if you miss classes it means a lot of catching up to do before you begin to feel well again. I never thought getting sick could feel any worse, but alas, I can assure you that getting sick on a mission is worse. Getting sick means you can't serve until you feel in tip top shape again and everyone wants to help you feel better. I have been in and out of serving since Wednesday, but I am back on my feet and ready to go! I can only imagine how getting sick must feel as a mother. Yuck. I was able to serve the mission presidents, their wives, Elder and Sister Perry (Yes, Elder Perry, an Apostle of God) and all the other General Authorities. It was an amazing weekend. I loved it! The weirdest thought was that some of these mission presidents were some of the Nauvoo Sisters future mission presidents. We had no idea who they were, but there knew who we were. It was fun. The thing that really put the icing on the cake was when we sang "Called to Serve" for all who were in attendance. It was the last time we would all sing together as Sisters. Sister Brinkerhoff and Sister Stagg are leaving next Thursday. The spirit was so strong. We were able to sing a rendition of the song that was arranged by a Nauvoo Sister that served here last year. It really does those sweet, quiet, really joyful moments on a mission justice. Elder Perry stopped all of us as we started to exit the room and made sure that we received a standing ovation. He then asked who had had their companionship study the previous day. We all raised our hands and laughed as he let us all leave.
Today has been absolutely fabulous! How could it not be? We got up, exercised, went to the Temple and now are writing to our loved ones! The Temple was so good today. I love it there. It will be hard not to have it so available when I leave this place. I was reading Alma Chapter 8 today while I was at the Temple. This is the chapter in which he meets Amulek. I love Amulek. I also love the example that Alma is to me as a servant of the Lord. In verse 14 it describes Alma as he travels away from a city that he has just been essentially kicked out of because he was preaching the Gospel. The people there were offended by truth and saw that he was removed. Alma is "weighed down with much sorrow", not for his own persecutions, but because the people had rejected the Gospel. Alma wanted nothing more for those people than to feel the joy the Gospel brings. In verse 14 the Lord commands Alma to turn around, go back to where he just came from, back to a place where he was just spit on, yelled at, and cast out, and preach the Gospel again. Alma's response? "He returned speedily to the land" of those people that had cast him out to do the will of the Lord. Not only did he return, but he did it "speedily". I can only hope that I will be as quick to hearken to the counsel of the Lord.
For the rest of the day I am going to write my mission president, go out to lunch with the other p-day Sisters (I have been out for 6 months today), run some errands, and write letters. I have A LOT to write. Thank you so much for the sometimes overwhelming amount of support you all extend to me. <333
Sister Bailey
Suggested reading : Mosiah18
Today has been absolutely fabulous! How could it not be? We got up, exercised, went to the Temple and now are writing to our loved ones! The Temple was so good today. I love it there. It will be hard not to have it so available when I leave this place. I was reading Alma Chapter 8 today while I was at the Temple. This is the chapter in which he meets Amulek. I love Amulek. I also love the example that Alma is to me as a servant of the Lord. In verse 14 it describes Alma as he travels away from a city that he has just been essentially kicked out of because he was preaching the Gospel. The people there were offended by truth and saw that he was removed. Alma is "weighed down with much sorrow", not for his own persecutions, but because the people had rejected the Gospel. Alma wanted nothing more for those people than to feel the joy the Gospel brings. In verse 14 the Lord commands Alma to turn around, go back to where he just came from, back to a place where he was just spit on, yelled at, and cast out, and preach the Gospel again. Alma's response? "He returned speedily to the land" of those people that had cast him out to do the will of the Lord. Not only did he return, but he did it "speedily". I can only hope that I will be as quick to hearken to the counsel of the Lord.
For the rest of the day I am going to write my mission president, go out to lunch with the other p-day Sisters (I have been out for 6 months today), run some errands, and write letters. I have A LOT to write. Thank you so much for the sometimes overwhelming amount of support you all extend to me. <333
Sister Bailey
Suggested reading : Mosiah18
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Rock Of Our Redeemer, Who Is Christ
We are going to Hannibal for P-day with the Henricksons (sp?), which leaves pretty much no time for letters. I cannot grantee that anyone will get a letter this week, so forgive me in advance for your empty mail boxes. :(
A weird thing happened to me this week. Sometimes, when I study, I read over my ministerial certificate to remind me what I'm doing and who my call to Nauvoo has actually come from. This time, as I read, I took more notice of my tentative release date..... "August 31, 2010". The most evasive thought pushed itself into my head, "If the date on that card holds water, this time next year I will be home". And today, if that's true, this time next year I will have been home for a week. I love all of you and miss you a lot, but I don't like to think about it. Part of me wants to be a missionary forever.
This past week was the first week of "Angels in the outfield". This is when we get to teach the Seniors. It has been so fun. I have to admit, about an hour before my first lesson, I was scared out of my mind. I couldn't think straight. I had no idea where it was coming from, which only made it worse. I only remember thinking, "I have to write this down. I never want to forget how hard this was". From Tuesday on everything was coming up roses. I had no idea how creative the Seniors are here. We have been having so much fun. I have now taught the first lesson roughly 19 times (not counting the MTC or the visitor's center, this is just for angels) with 5 different companions. It has been so amazing to learn from one another and teach together. I have taught with Sister Alexander, Sister Lukens, Sister Westwood, Sister Reece, Sister Thomas. It was SO good.
To make it even better, yesterday was fast Sunday. We broke our fast at President Ludwig's house and then all sat down in the living room and talked about Angels in the outfield and then our outbounds. President doesn't know where we're going. ( I think I told you otherwise last week. Please forgive me, this is the Navuoo mission... rumors spread like fire on prairie grass). Transfers have been pushed back a week because next week we're going to be hosting a "Mission President's seminar" here in Nauvoo. Some of us will be meeting our future mission president. We wont know it when it happens. Many of the mission presidents coming next week are presidents of missions who often times shelter Nauvoo Sisters for the winter. Many sisters are really nervous about the field. When I really think about it, my excitement drowns out any nerves I have. As the upcoming months unfold I hope to keep two things in mind. One "I am a Nauvoo Sister, who is now going out to proselyte" (Sister Lukens, dispelling the thought of "Ok I'm no longer a Nauvoo Sister I am a proselyting sister"). And two, I have been called by the Lord, and the Lord has not called me to failure.
"And now my sons remember remember that it is upon the rock of our redeemer who is Christ that ye must build your foundations, that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless woe, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation upon which if men build they cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12)
The same can be said for each one of us here on earth. We are God's children, He loves us and He sent us here to learn the things we need to learn and do the things we need to do in order to become like Him. The whole purpose of this life is to one day return to Him. That is how we are happy, that is how we are successful. We have not been sent here to fail, just as every missionary has not been called to fail. And just as every missionary must turn to and depend on his arm for strength, we must "remember that it is upon the rock of our redeemer who is Christ, that we must build our foundation.
A lot of times in the mission we talk about our "mission life" and our "real life". In some ways it's true, there is a bit of a difference, but in a lot of ways the line between the mission and "real life" is much finer, much blurrier than we give it credit for. The principles for success are the same. "Remember, faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence. Ask and ye shall receive, knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen."
Sister Bailey.
D&C 4
A weird thing happened to me this week. Sometimes, when I study, I read over my ministerial certificate to remind me what I'm doing and who my call to Nauvoo has actually come from. This time, as I read, I took more notice of my tentative release date..... "August 31, 2010". The most evasive thought pushed itself into my head, "If the date on that card holds water, this time next year I will be home". And today, if that's true, this time next year I will have been home for a week. I love all of you and miss you a lot, but I don't like to think about it. Part of me wants to be a missionary forever.
This past week was the first week of "Angels in the outfield". This is when we get to teach the Seniors. It has been so fun. I have to admit, about an hour before my first lesson, I was scared out of my mind. I couldn't think straight. I had no idea where it was coming from, which only made it worse. I only remember thinking, "I have to write this down. I never want to forget how hard this was". From Tuesday on everything was coming up roses. I had no idea how creative the Seniors are here. We have been having so much fun. I have now taught the first lesson roughly 19 times (not counting the MTC or the visitor's center, this is just for angels) with 5 different companions. It has been so amazing to learn from one another and teach together. I have taught with Sister Alexander, Sister Lukens, Sister Westwood, Sister Reece, Sister Thomas. It was SO good.
To make it even better, yesterday was fast Sunday. We broke our fast at President Ludwig's house and then all sat down in the living room and talked about Angels in the outfield and then our outbounds. President doesn't know where we're going. ( I think I told you otherwise last week. Please forgive me, this is the Navuoo mission... rumors spread like fire on prairie grass). Transfers have been pushed back a week because next week we're going to be hosting a "Mission President's seminar" here in Nauvoo. Some of us will be meeting our future mission president. We wont know it when it happens. Many of the mission presidents coming next week are presidents of missions who often times shelter Nauvoo Sisters for the winter. Many sisters are really nervous about the field. When I really think about it, my excitement drowns out any nerves I have. As the upcoming months unfold I hope to keep two things in mind. One "I am a Nauvoo Sister, who is now going out to proselyte" (Sister Lukens, dispelling the thought of "Ok I'm no longer a Nauvoo Sister I am a proselyting sister"). And two, I have been called by the Lord, and the Lord has not called me to failure.
"And now my sons remember remember that it is upon the rock of our redeemer who is Christ that ye must build your foundations, that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless woe, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation upon which if men build they cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12)
The same can be said for each one of us here on earth. We are God's children, He loves us and He sent us here to learn the things we need to learn and do the things we need to do in order to become like Him. The whole purpose of this life is to one day return to Him. That is how we are happy, that is how we are successful. We have not been sent here to fail, just as every missionary has not been called to fail. And just as every missionary must turn to and depend on his arm for strength, we must "remember that it is upon the rock of our redeemer who is Christ, that we must build our foundation.
A lot of times in the mission we talk about our "mission life" and our "real life". In some ways it's true, there is a bit of a difference, but in a lot of ways the line between the mission and "real life" is much finer, much blurrier than we give it credit for. The principles for success are the same. "Remember, faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence. Ask and ye shall receive, knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen."
Sister Bailey.
D&C 4
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