lisellovingleeds : It's been a rocky week ;)

Hello everyone!

This week has been tough, Satan is trying his hardest on me, but I am fighting back! Good news is the doctors finally found out what is wrong with me! I have kidney stones :):) so this week I will be getting them removed and I will be able to finish strong!

We went by one of our investigators house one night this week & she wasn't in, but her daughter & husband were and we were able to teach her daughter! She said ever since we started teaching her mom she had started to believe in God again. We are excited to keep going over & help her get involved with the other youth in the ward.

We also taught our Filipino investigator who's son is a member in the Philippines. We had a great lesson with her about the plan of salvation! She said she has a hard time believing in an after life but her understanding of it grew so much. She said she knows the Book of mormon is true and wants to get baptised eventually but she is a full time carer for her husband who is really ill and can't leave him. We are praying for an opportunity to get her to church! I realised how much I love teaching the lessons in preach my gospel. They are so simple and they invite the spirit so much.

Josh is doing super well! He has been inviting his friends to the ward activities and doing some missionary work. Emily (the mom) & Josh friends with a less active family in the ward and they have been getting them to come to church more! They have been experiencing the joy of missionary work too :)

I think what has brought me the most peace this week and helped me to keep going no matter my situation and no matter what I can and can't do is knowing Heavenly Father still loves me. Even if I can't get out of bed, or be a normal missionary right now. I get so caught up sometimes about my leaders thinking I'm not doing enough or if my indicators are really low but I remembered what it says in the white handbook last night, my loyalty is first to the Lord. I am thankful for that!

We had a great lesson in relief society about service. It definitely helped me realise how much happier I will be when I choose to focus on others & how I can help them. President Hinckley said something that really stuck out to me,

"Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people. Cultivate a spirit of forgiveness in your heart against any who might have offended you. Look to the Lord and live and work to lift and serve His sons and daughters. You will come to know a happiness that you have never known before if you will do that. I do not care how old you are, how young you are, whatever. You can lift people and help them. Heaven knows there are so very, very, very many people in this world who need help. Oh, so very, very many. Let’s get the cankering, selfish attitude out of our lives, my brothers and sisters, and stand a little taller and reach a little higher in the service of others… Stand taller, stand higher, lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Forget yourself." I love it!

I am spending the day exploring England with my trainer Sister Pro, who has finished her mission and lives here now...defs a highlight. Love her so much!

Have a great week!

Love, Sister Stevens