"Divine" - Mosiah 2:41 - January 2, 2023

January 02, 2023

Happy 2023, everyone!!!

Wow, all of 2022 was spent serving the Lord, pretty incredible!!

We met with Donald and Ashley last week. It was awesome! We reviewed the 10 commandments and talked about the Law of Chastity. I haven't taught that lesson very much on my mission but overall it was great! Donald and Ashley are so amazing!

We have started teaching Debbie! We met Debbie a while back while knocking. She said to come back later and we did! Although, the next time we went by she was asleep so we tried again and we were able to teach her! Due to some events that have happened in her life we taught her the Plan of Salvation. She had some different insights about it all but mostly agreed woth us. We invited her to pray and ask God if it was true and she said she would! We are going back this week!!

On Wednesday we had Mission Leadership Conference! Oh my goodness, it was absolutely wonderful! We talked about having unity in companionships and what helps or hinders it. We also had interviews with President Lindahl! He is amazing! I'm so so so grateful to be serving with the Lindahls! I love them!! We drove back to Fairmont and then had ward correlation!

Looking back at this week I'm beginning to realize the last normal day we had was Tuesday. Wednesday was full of driving and meetings! Then, on Thursday, Bishop Drennen called us around 1 pm and asked if we would fill the font for the baptism happening. It was for one of the ward members granddaughters! Their family was in for the holidays so they were doing while everyone was here! We said we would so around 4 pm we got to the chapel. Instead of just turning on the font and letting it run we had to run it for 15 minutes then stop it for 10 minutes! It was crazy! Something with the hot water tank was off so we had to fill the font in that crazy way! But, the baptism was soo wonderful and Sister Nelson and I loved being able to help out!

We had a lesson with our friend Dotty on Thursday, too! She's a sweet older lady. We taught her the Restoration through her screen door, haha! She accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon and said she would read it!! We are super excited for her!

Friday was fun. We had a white elephant gift exchange for district council! It was supposed to happen last week but we weren't able to meet in person so it happened this week! I got some Bey Blades from the New Martinsville Elders! It was a lot of fun!! We also met Kevin on Friday. We were knocking down a beautiful little street and felt we should knock his door. He told us about how he is religious but has started doubting some of his beliefs. We brought up the Book of Mormon and how it helps answer our questions. We also taught part of the Restoration message with it! We invited him to pray and read about it and he said he would!

Well, after Friday things went a little downhill. I developed a cough on Friday but it wasn't anything crazy. I kept drinking water because I thought it was just a little dry throat action. Well, Saturday I got up and my throat felt scratchy and my muscles kinda ached. We went about our morning missionary routine and all was sorta OK. I laid down to take a little nap at 8 am but instead slept till 11!! At that point Sister Nelson felt something was probably wrong. I insisted I was OK. We ended up calling the mission nurse and she said it was probably the flu. I slept for the rest of the day. Sunday wasn't super great, either. But! For the first time in a long time I went to bed New Years Eve and didn't wait up till midnight! Although, at midnight LOTS of fireworks went off, so we still kinda celebrated the new year! I'm feeling a lot better today so we should be back to normal soon!!

Song of the Week: "Divine" 2022 Youth Album. This song is so good! We are each made in our Heavenly Father's image. He has made us divine. We each have our own individual purpose in being here on earth! As we follow Jesus Christ, we can come to know what that purpose is. Mosiah 2:41 had become one of my favorite scriptures. When we follow God's commandments we are happy!! True joy comes from obedience. I decided to use this song and scripture together because following the commandments helps us find our divine identity and that brings us joy. I am so grateful to know that I am a Child of God. He is our loving Heavenly Father. His Son, Jesus Christ, is my Savior, Healer and Redeemer.

I hope y'all have a sparkling first week of the new year! Talk to y'all next Monday!

Love,

Sister Sariah Francis

Pictures!!!