How are you? I continue to be amazed at how much and how quickly
everyone is growing and changing. But it is a beautiful thing. Really,
really beautiful :)
Anyway. I spent a lot of time reading emails and gawking at things today
so I am going to hurry up and update about what happened this week :)
It was actually a very busy, spiritually uplifting week with not a ton
of time in our area. On Monday we traveled to Lima (I traveled with Hermana Santiago. She finishes this week... weird right?) and got there
late at night.
On Tuesday was the last concilio of President and Sister Douglas. It
was such a tender, spiritual conference. It was all about the Doctrine
of Christ, applying to us and our investigators and our lives and
everything. It was an amazing conference, one of my favorite lines was
that "God doesn't want perfect people, just people who are perfectly
willing". That is what it means to be a missionary of excellence, a
disciple of excellence, just to be willing to accept the Lord's will. The
concilio actually ended pretty early, with President's final testimony
being 2 Nephi 31:13.
Then we went to the temple all together and Sister Rush and I were in the session with Hermana and President Douglas. It was a very tender session, and a very vivid reminder that
all that matters in this life are the covenants we make and how well we
live the Doctrine of Christ in order to qualify for the blessings that
go with them. Fun fact, for the first time in almost 18 months, the four Peru Lima South girls (me, Rush, Bott, and Bond) where all in the
temple together. It was very tender to be able to talk and share
scriptures. I thought a lot about eternal relationships. Being in there
with President and Hermana Douglas made me think of my parents and my
family. I am so grateful for all of the people in my life, family and
friends, mentors and companions, and for the amazing impact they have
made on me. Nothing is coincidence. We were all together before and we
will be together after if we can endure to the end and use the Atonement
of Christ in our lives.
On Friday, I had my last interview with President Douglas. It was a
pretty crazy 10 minutes, but it was amazing and I was really grateful
for that interview. I truly love President and Sister Douglas, and will
be forever grateful for their service and sacrifice and for the change
they have made in my life. Not going to share all that was said in those
precious ten minutes, but I feel impressed to share a couple little
things....
Don't rush! Into anything, remember that the Spirit leads and guides in moments of peace and reverence.
The Doctrine of Christ is absolutely everything-Marry a man that knows
that and understand how that applies to the Atonement and to everything. Teach your children that. Marry someone who lifts you spiritually and
makes you so happy you can't even breathe. Be a disciple of Christ in
every moment and live a celestial life.
Just a few highlights. Also this week, we had a hugely successful
activity with our district (planned by the missionaries). It was
exhausting, but spiritually amazing. 130 people attended, and we talked
about the Doctrine of Christ and being a covenant people. It was
amazing.
Lisbeth and Enrique are doing amazingly. I am going to dedicate next
week's email to just sharing their journey.... But it is sufficient to say that
after all is said and done, I know without a doubt in my heart that each
and every one of us is a beloved child of our Heavenly Father, and that He desperately wants each of us to return to him.
I know this church is true, and I love this gospel with all of my heart.
Remember always that I know this is true, and if anyone everyone is
questioning it, lean on my testimony of these things. And the last of
all is this- that there is no other way unto salvation save it be
through our Savior Jesus Christ.
I love you all!!!
Hermana Lauren Bailey
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