The Time Is Far Spent

Hello!

This week P was able to get baptized! It was such a special baptism. Him and his wife were so happy. They both practically glowed. He was baptized, and then confirmed yesterday and then he received the priesthood on Sunday as well. His whole countenance just changed! It was amazing to see. They are so excited to get to go to the temple and be seal and have a cute family. It is just amazing to see the changes that happen to individuals and families as they center their lives on Jesus Christ.  I have such a strong testimony about how the gospel can bless families. I am so grateful for my wonderful family how they are consistent with family prayer, scripture study, and family home evening. Even when the weeks are crazy busy, they make time for those things that matter most, and it makes all the difference. It is because of that consistency that I am where I am and who I am today. I will carry the tradition on with my future family because I know how important it is. I've seen the contrast on my mission between doing those things and not, and the difference it makes is amazing. 

This week we also got to go to a Leadership Meeting in Laramie with Elder Martino of the Quorum of the Seventy. It was such an amazing meeting and I realized how far I have to go to become the kind of missionary that I would like to be. I am grateful that I still have 3 months to be able to improve and get better every day. One thing that was mentioned is that we can not be complacent. We can not be satisfied with who we are right now, we want to always be striving to become better. If we remain complacent then that is when we will decrease and not increase. I have set some goals because of that meeting and I will continually be striving to improve until the day I go home, and then until the day that I die. Because guess what?! When your mission ends, that is NOT the end! It is the time to take what I have learned into my life back home and put it to the real test. I am excited to be able to do that. The meeting that day motivated me to keep trying, keep improving, doing the best I can with what I have, and then do even better! haha. 

This ward that I am a part of is an amazing ward. They are so on top of everything. For the baptism, literally all we had to do was show up. It was all taken care of. We have great leaders in this ward and they are so great to work with. This area has so much potential and I know that great things will continue to happen. We are focusing a ton on finding this week. We are struggling in that area. But we have some goals to help us stretch. Things are getting better every week. Thanks for all of your prayers and love. I love each of you sooo much!

I found a wonderful Hymn I wanted to share with you all this week:) It's not super common but I read the words for the first time yesterday and it hit me. Hymn #266-As I'm nearing the end of my mission I felt it very fitting. But it also can apply to the last days and how we have little time remaining to do the Lord's work.

1. The time is far spent; there is little remaining

To publish glad tidings by sea and by land.

Then hasten, ye heralds; go forward proclaiming:

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven's at hand,

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven's at hand.

2. Shrink not from your duty, however unpleasant,

But follow the Savior, your pattern and friend.

Our little afflictions, tho painful at present,

Ere long, with the righteous, in glory will end,

Ere long, with the righteous, in glory will end.

3. What, tho, if the favor of Ahman possessing,

This world's bitter hate you are called to endure?

The angels are waiting to crown you with blessings!

Go forward, be faithful, the promise is sure.

Go forward, be faithful, the promise is sure.

4. Be fixed in your purpose, for Satan will try you;

The weight of your calling he perfectly knows.

Your path may be thorny, but Jesus is nigh you;

His arm is sufficient, tho demons oppose.

His arm is sufficient, tho demons oppose.

Love,

Sister Young

Pictures-P Baptism

Happy Earth Day! 

Leadership Meeting

Snow, Snow

I only have a few minutes left because I have been writing a lot of personal emails. But I will try my best to fill you in on the week. 

So, Had a pretty good week. Things have gotten better this week, I am feeling more adjusted to the area. The Lord is helping me. We went on exchanges this week, and I got stuck in Laramie. So our usual 24 hour exchange turned into an extended exchange of 72 hours! Haha. It literally did not stop snowing for 3 days straight! It was crazy! We had to walk a lot too because they kept making it a no-drive day because of bad roads. Also, we didn't have a phone because the sister that I went with, her companion accidentally took it. It was quite an adventure but I truly loved it and I know there are reasons for all things. It was nice being in Laramie and I got to be in the YSA ward for 3 days, which I have always wanted to try. I was with Sister M. She is sooo sweet and I just love her a lot. I learned a lot from her and we had a great time together. 

We have still been teaching P and he is getting all prepared for baptism this weekend. He is going strong. The only thing he is struggling with really is keeping the Sabbath Day holy. We showed up last night and they had bought dinner from some restaurant. We'll have to go over that again. But he is doing really well and he is excited! 

Sorry, this isn't very long! But I love you all so much! Thanks for your love and support. 

Love,

Sister Young

Continue in Patience

Hello All!

Our top progressing investigator is P. He is still set to be baptized on April 25th, which is coming up really fast. He is doing really well. They are a super sweet family. 

Another investigator, N, she is 9, has been having some real struggles lately and doesn't want to be baptized. She is super smart. Most of the things that she says I just can't even believe are coming out of a 9 year old's mouth. She knows what she needs to do but is not willing to get baptized yet. She is having trouble feeling Heavenly Father's love because she is struggling to feel love in general. But she still comes to church, but she doesn't want to get baptized yet. Soon though, hopefully.

.

We had a ward party on Saturday night. It was super great. A yummy meal and then a lot of performances from the ward members and some non-members as well. We had quite a few non-members and less-actives that were able to come. The K family performed some traditional Korean songs and even sang, "How Great Thou Art" in Korean. It was neat to be a part of the whole evening and to finally get all of the ward members in one place so I could finally meet them all. We truly are part of a wonderful ward here. The people in Wyoming are so focused on the Atonement. I love it. I've been able to see how all kinds of different stakes work as I have gone throughout my mission and I have seen how the stakes that are most focused on the Atonement before they are focused on the numbers, those are the stakes where true miracles and progression happen. Those are the stakes where the most rescuing is being done. It is so great to be a part of that again here in Cheyenne. 

I love the Lord. We are doing His work. I am still learning to trust Him more. Especially when trials come and I don't feel like I can move forward. I was reading Pres. Uchtdorf's talk this morning from 2010. One of my all time favorite talks. "Continue in Patience." Here is a quote that I truly just loved. "

Patience Requires Faith

Brigham Young taught that when something came up which he could not comprehend fully, he would pray to the Lord, “Give me patience to wait until I can understand it for myself.” ⁵ And then Brigham would continue to pray until he could comprehend it.

We must learn that in the Lord’s plan, our understanding comes “line upon line, precept upon precept.” ⁶ In short, knowledge and understanding come at the price of patience.

Often the deep valleys of our present will be understood only by looking back on them from the mountains of our future experience. Often we can’t see the Lord’s hand in our lives until long after trials have passed. Often the most difficult times of our lives are essential building blocks that form the foundation of our character and pave the way to future opportunity, understanding, and happiness.

 I know that is true. I have been being continually built as I exercise patience. Trusting in the Lord. He knows what will help me most now, and help me most for my future family. He loves us perfectly!

I love you all!!! Have a fantastic week.

Love,
Sister Young

Pics-The K family in their traditional Korean clothing. 

A giant cookie that some members bought for us. I only could eat a few bites. 

We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet!

Hello!

 Happy Easter! How was your Easter Sunday? How was General Conference? Tell me all about it. What talks were your favorite? I am still processing. We watched conference at a a bunch of different places with people I had just met. haha. Such is life:) 

So, first, tender mercy of General Conference weekend. There is a family in the ward named the K family. Guess where they are from originally? Korea!!  Well, we watched Sunday morning with them yesterday and then they invited us to stay for lunch, which was Korean food!! Bee Bim Bop...I think that is how you spell it maybe. I was overjoyed. They are such a neat family too! And their cute Grandma was visiting them from Korea for the weekend as well and only spoke Korean the whole time. It was just a great place to watch conference. I'm excited to get to know them.

As as mission we are working towards helping 50 of Heavenly Father's children to the waters of Baptism this transfer. We have been fasting and praying for this as a mission and doing our part as much as we can. So, last week we did a mission fast. That same Sunday, there was a man from this ward who went to the bishop and told him that he is ready to be baptized. His wife is a member and he has been working with missionaries on and off for years. But he is now ready! We met with him this week and he truly has spent a lot of time gaining his testimony and now feels like he is ready to be baptized! He will be baptized on April 25th. Miracles! The Lord is truly preparing His children to be baptized. 

There is also a 9 year old girl we are working with who is ready to be baptized but is having a hard time setting a date to actually get baptized. Not quite sure what her hold up is yet. But we will figure it out for sure. 

My new companion is Sister Heintz. She is from Northern California. She is great. She loves life and has a positive attitude.

This weekend with General Conference, I was able to have my testimony of Living Prophets strengthened so much! Oddly enough it was during the sustaining of our leaders that my testimony was strengthened. With the odd occurrence of those who "opposed" our prophet, I had a mix of emotions occur. But as the session continued I realized how much I do know that Thomas S. Monson is God's Prophet on the Earth today! I will sustain and stand by him through whatever happens. When we sang the hymn, "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet," the spirit testified strongly to me that we do have a living prophet and "those who reject this glad message, shall never such happiness know." It just made me sad for those select few who chose to not sustain our prophet. They really have no impact upon the Lord's work. They will never receive the joy of the gospel. That is so sad. 

I know we have a living Prophet on the earth today! I will stand by him, sustain him, and follow him. I love you all so much! Have a wonderful week:)

Love,

Sister Young

I'm Going Back to Wyoming!

Hello All! 

We heard about transfer news this weekend and there are some pretty big changes that will be happening for me. I will be heading to Cheyenne, WY in the Capital Hill Ward. I will be companions with Sister Heintz (I think that is how you spell it...) Another exciting change, I have been called to be a Sister Training Leader as well. I think I will be the Sister Training Leader for all of the Sisters in Wyoming since they now only have 3 companionships of STLs for the entire mission. I'm excited to have this leadership opportunity to learn, grow, serve and love. It will be quite a few changes though so I will be praying a lot. I hear that the ward I am going to is awesome though, so I am pretty excited:)

We had some really neat miracles happen this week. First one, last night we got a text from Sis. M, K(recent convert) mom, that said, "Just wanted to let you know that (her husband) has been sitting in on scripture study for the past couple nights!!!" That was the best text ever! His heart is being softened little by little and as they read the Book of Mormon together, I know it will continue to be. That was a huge step for him and it filled me with so much joy to hear. Their cute family is so sad to see me leave. The youngest doesn't quite understand transfers and when she was told that I was leaving, she said, "She can't leave mom! She can live with us! She can have my bed!" They were pretty upset when they heard. This family has been such a big part of my mission and I know they will continue to be a huge part of my life

Another amazing experience that we had this week was a bit unexpected. One day we felt prompted to text a couple that we have worked with a bit but not too much. The wife is a member but less-active and didn't grow up much even in the church. Her husband is not a member but has taken the missionary lessons many times through out his life. They both love missionaries but have seemed pretty content to stay how they are which is why we haven't worked a ton with them. But we text them, after not having seen them in quite a while. Sis. B said, " My husband was just asking about you both and wanted you to come over!" We set up a time for the next night. We went over and found out that we needed to be there that night. He had been going through some tough times and was really in a tough spot. We shared Because He Lives with them and had a wonderful lesson on the Savior and his Atonement. They both really opened up to us, which is hard for them. Then we felt prompted to sing, "Where Can I Turn for Peace." So we did. The spirit was so strong while we sang and Bro. B after just sat there sobbing. They kept saying how much they had needed us to be there that night and how it was not by accident that we were there. I love the spirit. I love music. I love the Savior. 

As, I leave Terry Lake, it will be hard to say goodbye. I love the ward dearly. I am so incredibly grateful for my wonderful companion, Sister Jensen. We have had such a good time together. I am so grateful for her. She is such an amazing missionary and I have learned so much from her. We helped each other through the difficult times. I know I was needed here.  I'm grateful for the people I have meet and worked with and I have made some lifelong friends here and seen lives change through the Atonement. 

I am so excited to watch General Conference this weekend and hear the counsel from our living Prophet. I know he receives revelation from Heavenly Father that we need in our lives. To watch conference online this week you can go to  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=eng

Prepare this week to be able to receive the messages that Heavenly Father has to give to you individually. I know the spirit teach us each what we need to know. I love each of you!! Happy Easter!! Always remember our Savior and His sacrifice for us.  

Love,

Sister Young

Because He Lives

March 23, 2015

Sorry! This email is going to be really short. Not too much time today. 

We find out about transfers again this upcoming Saturday, so who knows what will happen. I'll let you know next week. 

C has set a baptismal date for April 11th, so that will be exciting! She is really great and excited to be baptized. 

We have been focusing a lot on the new initiative that the church is putting out for Easter. Because He Lives. This Friday the church will be releasing the Because He Lives video on helives.mormon.org . We got a sneak peek of it at our Zone Conference a few weeks ago and it is beautiful. I am so grateful for the Savior and how because He lives, we have so much peace and hope in this stressful, chaotic, world. There is so much beauty in the world because He lives. We can also live again with our families for eternity because He lives. I am grateful for that blessing. Check out the video this Friday and share it with your friends. Use the hashtag #becausehelives . 

I love you all! Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Young

A sweet sister we teach

Our wonderful district this transfer!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

As Zion's Youth in Latter-Days

Well, I'll have to be fast! This week K got baptized! It was such a great baptism. She is so sweet. The spirit was there strongly and her dad could feel it as well. We showed a short clip on the Restoration and he watched intently the whole time. Later on, Sis. M said that he had told her that he thought we were really good sister missionaries. We have become part of their cute family as we have taught them and it was not by chance that we were a part of their life at this time. I love them so much! 

We also have been teaching an 11 year old girl, C. She is so sweet. Her brother just got baptized a few weeks ago and they both are just choice spirits of Heavenly Father. As we taught the Plan of Salvation this week, she just had so many good questions. She wants to be baptized and she will probably be baptized in the next month! I feel so blessed to be able to meet these choice children of God. 

The promise is real. The field is white and all ready to harvest. But the harvest sometimes takes a while and takes patience and sorting the wheat from the tares. We have done that a lot lately. Just been using the spirit to help us know who is not quite ready at this time so we can focus our time on the most effective work of the Lord. We also had a neat experience the other night when we went to a Part Member Family's home. As we got to know them and shared a lesson with them, the spirit was just so strong that there was a very specific reason we were there. Now, their daughter, age 14 is going to start learning more about the gospel and we pray that in time, her dad will too. He sat in on the lesson and their family was just so great. I felt a strong connection to them. 

Good things are happening in this area. Less-actives are coming back, moving forward, we are finding those who are prepared and ready. The members are getting involved in the work. Just so many good things happening. I know that the Lord in control of this work.  Sister Jensen and I have gotten to sing a lot lately. We sang at Zone Conference, we sang at Zone Meeting, we sang at the baptism, and we just love it! The spirit truly speaks through music in a way that no words could. I am so grateful to be a missionary. Sorry for the randomness of this email this week! 

I love you all so much! Thanks again for your support and love. Keep pressing forward!

Love,

Sister Young