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Hello all, 2/24/15
I have
always heard that there would be things that I would have to face on my mission
that would make this one of the hardest experiences ever. some of those
experiences came this week, but it has been amazing to realize how Heavenly
Father prepared me for it and how unique it was for me. That trials and
adversity are hand crafted for us and we can do all things through Christ.
We started
out the week watching the Movie 17 Miracles, with a Part-member family. It is
an amazing movie i had never seen, and It brought everything into perspective.
It was amazing and I cried (happy tears).
Watching
that movie brought into perspective our entire week, it was full of
Miracles!
On Tuesday we had zone training. I love whenever I have the opportunity to
hear president speak. He is so wise and I learn so so so much from him every
time. At zone training this week he spoke to us about prayer. And there are
some awesome things I want to share with you. He spoke a lot about the settings
in which we should pray, " to find our own sacred grove." And pray
there often. Not only morning and evening but throughout the day. To remember
gratitude and remember the place I came from. He made us all remember our very
first day In the mission field and how scared and unsure we were and the place
we are now. how great and merciful The Lord has been unto me. What a
blessing, prayer is a time for each of us to expand our gratitude in order to
receive more revelation. That as we pray and before we pray we should ask and
allow the Holy Ghost to teach is what to pray for. (D&C 46:28,29 ;50:22
alma 32:28). And then we are allowing ourselves to pray consistent to the
will of The Lord. Ask not, neither do ye receive. Remember to ask for the
things we need. My other favorite part was when he shared with us the
importance of visualizing who we are praying to before we pray, he said "
I see an old, kind, loving man, who is patient and listening in his chair as I
tell him my thoughts." What a great image. I love Heavenly Father! And then
to stay on our knees and FEEL the promptings that will come to us. Listen
and act. Heavenly Father has given each of us the Holy Ghost to be our CONSTANT
companion. That includes in prayer as well. He is our companion as we talk to
The Father and should be present.
Anyways I
felt very enlightened and grateful for this knowledge. I personally have come a
long way and I am so grateful for Heavenly Fathers patience with me.
After that,
on the same day we had a very hard meeting with a less- active family. To put it
all short, and spare you details, they are very wrong in their beliefs of the
church, and Satan has had real power over them and skewed their beliefs, so
much that they are lost. in efforts to help them understand and recognize
the truth they once had, i was sad, and cried. a lot. first time crying on my
mission. and it was an ugly cry. hysterical and gasping for air. like a little
kid, throwing a tantrum crying-it was hilarious. I did my best to stand up for
the truth and show him love. as i faced The Adversary i knew i could do
nothing but state the truth and rely on my solid foundation. I knew that my
walls of defense had been knocked down - which probably caused some of my
crying - i had that foundation that i relied on. It was a hard experience
that i will keep close to my heart for a long time. And I will remember the
great things i came to know to be true during the trying time.
I realize
the great importance of having that solid foundation in Christ and the Gospel.
I hope each of us can develop and keep that foundation. and i hope i can
instill this foundation in my children the way you (mom and dad) have in me. At
the end of our experience we had to get a ride home from the Hermanas because
we car share with them, and so i had to tell them the whole experience, through
my tears again. it was fine telling them. I just felt ridiculous through my
tears telling them. As we got to our apartment, Hermana brown (my
favorite, Remindes me SO much of Chelsea Owens and her spunky personality, it
is so fun!) got out to give me a hug, and she slipped and fell on the ice and
everyone just busted up laughing. she is so tough so she laughed too, and it
was such a tender mercy to help us get over the events that had just happened.
she is the best. i love her. I wish she wasn't Spanish speaking, or that i was
just so that we could serve together as companions.
Later on in
the week we had another experience, we went to stop by another less active lady
and she was literally insane, not one complete sentence came out of her mouth
the 15 minutes we were there. she took us into her basement and gave us candy
and she just sat there staring off into space rambling. and then out of the
blue she started talking about Murder. and then someone up stairs was walking
around and it sounded like footsteps coming to get us. it was the scariest
thing, I looked at sister oliphant and we both had this scared look on our
face, haha we tried to hide it, i dont know if we did a good job or not, but
then we just followed the promptings to leave, and we did. We asked this lady
like 5 questions and she just looked at us and rambled. haha it was so
strange!! but we survived! haha
Then we had
SO many lessons this week!! we taught someone in Pakistan, some one in Taiwan,
someone in Pekin, IL, someone in California ( i bet you could guess who
that was), and someone here at the church. all were unplanned lessons and
blessings because our lessons that we had set up had cancelled and these were
lessons we were not expecting. the one we taught in the church was a
pastor from the church across the street and she just came over and rang the
door bell while we were there. and so we were able to teach her. it was
awesome. she wouldn't take a Book of Mormon, but it was good.
KIRA!! I
got to teach Kira online! it was so cool! she started talking to me. and she
told me she is going to breakup with her non-member boyfriend because she feels
pressured into breaking the law of chastity with him. I AM SO PROUD OF HER!
I am doing my best from here to help her continue to progress towards
baptism. It makes me so happy to watch as others make righteous decisions to
follow Christ! she is awesome! i am so excited
And Friday was our Chili Cook off! It was fun,
I don't like Chili, but it was good. they also had a pie cook off. so
that was delish. And we had an investigator at Church!! it was so
exciting! she is a former investigator that we are picking back up. we hope to
help her be baptized by the end of March!
SATURDAY!! one of the most wonderful days! HECTORS BAPTISM!! I like to pretend i
was there and live vicariously through mom and dad for those moments. We had an
opportunity to talk with Hector earlier in the day long before his baptism, and
it was so great to see his excitement. He is an amazing individual and I feel
so blessed to have had the opportunity to have taught him, in some small way.
He has made an impact to my life and understanding of principles of the gospel.
I am forever grateful to have had this opportunity and to feel united as a family
in our efforts to be his friend and give him support. i am excited for him to
start on the path and walk in the ways of the Lord. I love this work! every
time we talk with him i feel like D&C 50:22-25ish -just uplifted and that i
have learned so much. He is a great example. I love him! like my brother!
well he is my brother :) but truly. i love him!
This has
been the best week of my mission. The most life changing week, and just one of
those moments where you come to a realization of who you really are and what
you really believe. I felt like I was stripped of everything and was left with
my testimony and talents. It is refreshing to have that experience. to know who
i am and be able to move forward and have the strength of the Lord.
Alma 26:11-12
"11. ... I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but
behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will
rejoice in my God.
12. Yea, I
know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast
of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things;
yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we
will praise his name forever."
My joy is
full. I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I am
honored. I am grateful for your love and support which I felt specifically from
you this week. I love learning. I know this Gospel is true! I know Joseph
Smith is a Prophet of God, I know Jesus IS the Christ and I know Heavenly
Father loves me.
Love from
the Midwest,
Sister O'Neil
2/17/14
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Happy
Presidents Day!!
I feel so
privileged and grateful to serve under President Fenns direction. I love him
and I am grateful for his advice, spiritual strength and example. this is an
amazing opportunity to work so closely with him!
I dont
really know what to tell you about this week. It was valentines day! i hope you
all felt the Love God has for each of you! because that is the most important
kind of love we need to feel -daily.
Sister
Oliphant and I "heart attacked" some sisters in our ward. It was a
fun experience not being able to feel your fingers and trying to tape hearts to
doors. And we were caught by a couple of sisters, but hey! then we got to go in
and warm up and tell them how much we love them. It was fun.
last week i
climbed the HUGE snow mound outside our apartment. That was fun.. and then on
Valentines day we got red water and sprayed "Jesus Loves you" in the
snow. with a little "mormon.org"
at the bottom. so there is a picture of me doing that as well. And i had a
delicious breakfast that sister Oliphant made me of Red heart shaped pancakes
with homemade strawberry syrup. with whipped creme and chocolate chips on top.
talk about Delish! :)
I have
loved my studies in the Book Of Mormon! I have been really slow at reading
because i am trying to study it while i am reading so i figured out how many
pages i have to read a day and... i will make it... i just have to push my
self. :) BUT i LOVE reading the Book of Mormon. there is so much power in
the stories and how simple the prophets teach the doctrines. As president
always says "trust in The Book of Mormon." There is a real
power and I have to remind my self, that it is teaching me things so it will
also teach investigators and members and EVERYONE the things we need to learn
most. I LOVE IT! and i am Grateful for it!
I AM SO
EXCITED!!! HECTOR IS GETTING BAPTIZED!! We are so excited for him to make
covenants and take the first step in the gate!!! I really feel so privileged to
work with him and to have had the opportunity to teach him the gospel. I cant
tell you how happy it has made me to see you mom and dad get involved in his
conversion process and to show your love and support for him. I just love that
we are all involved! I feel unified with you. and like it is bridging the gap
between this cold place and sunny California. Hector is amazing and I am
excited to see where this gospel takes him and the great opportunities that
will come into his life because of the blessings that come from our Loving
Heavenly Father. I LOVE THIS WORK!!
I LOVe
being a missionary. I love the lessons i have learned and all that i have yet
to learn. The chruch is true. Keep going to church. Read those scriptures.
PRAY. The power of prayer is real. I learned so much from President Fenn
at sisters conference about prayer that has changed my perspective and given me
a deeper desire to pray- ALWAYS. I love my Heavenly Father.
Love from
the Midwest,
Sister
O'Neil
P.s. HAPPY
BIRTHDAY HARRISON!!! you are growing up too fast! i love you buddy! have an
awesome birthday!! eat cake and ice cream. the true O'Neil way!
I thought
the stop sign picture was funny, had to share....
