HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!
I wore green all day so you can put those pinchers away! I made that up just now, I even impressed myself.
This week was great but I spent a lot of time emailing my mission president so I don't have much more. Here's why: WE WANT BIKES! so bad. Hermana Lauaki-Sablan and I have been talking about it for a while now but we really really want to be put on bikes instead of driving around. I want to be out and be seen. A lot of people don't even know there are sister missionaries because we're always hidden in a car. I know it will be hard but that's why I want to do it so badly. I want to sacrifice more and give it my all. I only have 13 months left out here and this is a time I'm never going to get back. I want to look back on this experience and know I gave my all to the Lord, not that I was sitting in a car with AC on my way to our appointments. Our area is the furthest away in the ward and we have the most hills but - even better! There are sister missionaries on bike in different places in California. Remember Hermana Baird from the MTC? She's in San Jose and she's on bike (yes, in a skirt) and she loves it! Plus with these dinners we're having, I need to burn a few more calories during the day.
On Saturday we had the opportunity to hear from Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorom of the Twelve Apostles and also Elder Anthony Perkins and Elder Douglas Higham both from the Seventy. It was our entire mission and the Rancho Cucamonga mission, so probably over 500 missionaries. And Elder Andersen wanted to take the time to shake each one of our hands! So I shook hands with an Apostle for the first time and after hearing his remarks, I know he is an Apostle of the Lord. While we were sitting there waiting for them to arrive, we were sitting quietly and pondering. I remembered that I should have a question in mind. I bowed my head and said a prayer, asked a couple questions, and continued to wait patiently and ponder. One of the questions I had in mind was "How can I enjoy my mission more and learn to love every part of it" about halfway through Elder Andersen's message, he said "The key to loving your mission is learning more about and understanding the Atonement" there was my answer! Clear as day. Another insight I got was that I need to stop comparing myself to other missionaries and other people I know. I am a unique daughter of God and I was called to the California Redlands mission for a unique purpose. I need to be patient with myself but not excuse myself. It is a constant struggle to try to accept and do the will of the Lord but it is something I am slowly learning. I can see the beauty of the Master's plan when I step out of the way and let Him work. Another thing I liked was when Elder Andersen said that when we are feeling discouraged or worried, it's because we're trying to do the work ourselves. I am also learning to lean more on the Lord and not my own efforts or understanding. This work cannot be done withour the Lord's help and I am learning that more and more everyday. When I make mistakes it's because I'm trying to do it myself and when I have success it's because Heavenly Father took over and is helping me.
We heard a story this weekend from one of the general authorities about missionaries running from door to door and appointment to appointment and it really touched me. He said that anywhere they would go, they would run. At first I thought it sounded a little strange but then I thought, what do we think when we see people running? That there is something important, right? The message we're sharing is the most important message I've ever heard and it is so important that others hear it. Since then I have had a desire lately to do more and serve more and sacrifice more. That is why I would really like is to be put on a bike. I have thought about it a lot and have a lot of reasons I think it would be good for me. I know it will be very difficult but I want to do it because I want to stretch myself and push myself. I feel like I would have the ability to talk to more people and be seen. If we were able to get out on the streets we could be seen and have more street contacts. It would use less miles on mission cars and when we need a ride, we can find a sister to give us one and there is a good chance of her staying for our lesson and raise our member presents.. If safety is an issue, we can bike during the day and drive at night. I am just so excited for missionary work and have such a desire to do more. Hermana Lauaki-Sablan and I even talked to some members about our desires to be on bikes and they really respect it. The Luna family, who are very strong in our ward and very active in missionary work are completely supportive of the idea. They said that as members if they were to see us biking around, they'd instantly think of the sacrifice missionaries are making and the sacrifice of the Savior. They said that it would make them more excited about missionary work and more willing to help. I know it won't be easy but that is part of the reason I want this opportunity. I want to push myself completely out of my comfort zone and give everything I have to the Lord these next 18 months. I hope you will be willing to let us try this and at least give it a shot.
I feel like after having the privilege to hear from Elder Andersen, Elder Perkins and Elder Higham I am more excited for missionary work and just ready to give it my all. I have such a strong testimony that he is an Apostle of the Lord and was sent to the Redlands mission for a purpose. I hope we will have the opportunity to learn and grow and work more on bikes, I don't want to be a lukewarm missionary.
We heard a story this weekend from one of the general authorities about missionaries running from door to door and appointment to appointment and it really touched me. He said that anywhere they would go, they would run. At first I thought it sounded a little strange but then I thought, what do we think when we see people running? That there is something important, right? The message we're sharing is the most important message I've ever heard and it is so important that others hear it. Since then I have had a desire lately to do more and serve more and sacrifice more. That is why I would really like is to be put on a bike. I have thought about it a lot and have a lot of reasons I think it would be good for me. I know it will be very difficult but I want to do it because I want to stretch myself and push myself. I feel like I would have the ability to talk to more people and be seen. If we were able to get out on the streets we could be seen and have more street contacts. It would use less miles on mission cars and when we need a ride, we can find a sister to give us one and there is a good chance of her staying for our lesson and raise our member presents.. If safety is an issue, we can bike during the day and drive at night. I am just so excited for missionary work and have such a desire to do more. Hermana Lauaki-Sablan and I even talked to some members about our desires to be on bikes and they really respect it. The Luna family, who are very strong in our ward and very active in missionary work are completely supportive of the idea. They said that as members if they were to see us biking around, they'd instantly think of the sacrifice missionaries are making and the sacrifice of the Savior. They said that it would make them more excited about missionary work and more willing to help. I know it won't be easy but that is part of the reason I want this opportunity. I want to push myself completely out of my comfort zone and give everything I have to the Lord these next 18 months. I hope you will be willing to let us try this and at least give it a shot.
I feel like after having the privilege to hear from Elder Andersen, Elder Perkins and Elder Higham I am more excited for missionary work and just ready to give it my all. I have such a strong testimony that he is an Apostle of the Lord and was sent to the Redlands mission for a purpose. I hope we will have the opportunity to learn and grow and work more on bikes, I don't want to be a lukewarm missionary.
One story this week is that we taught a man yesterday for the first time and it was pretty interesting. We found his wife while we were knocking on doors and she said we could come back but when we did she didn't want to talk to us. Luckily her husband let us in. As we were talking to him we shared John 3:16 which talks about how Heavenly Father sent his son to atone for our sins. As we were talking, I bore my testimony telling him that the atonement is such a great gift to us but he cut me off and told me that the fact that Jesus Christ came to the earth and died doesn't do him much good. That it doesn't help him much. He doesn't believe God created Adam and Eve and he put his hand on my bible and looked me in the eye and said "Estas son mentiras" which means "These are lies" I just stared at his hand on my scriptures and was so hurt. We talked to him for a little bit longer, we weren't fighting or offending one another but his beliefs were something I have never heard on my mission before. Since I've been out here I haven't met someone who doesn't believe in anything. It was a learning experience for sure. It was a testimony builder to me for sure, I KNOW that Heavenly Father sent his son for me. And I KNOW that without that one act, I couldn't have eternal life and I couldn't become the person that Heavenly Father wants me to be. I work hard, I do my best, I do everything I can, and the grace of God makes up the rest. I need it. And that is our message to the world. And this man was willing to let us come back so we'll see what happens...
Please say a special prayer that my companion and I are able to start biking, I love you all!
Hermana Granado
Hermana Granado
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