Spirit-Filled Tears

Well... I have to try and keep this email short. I promised Sister Staker that I wouldn't email for too long this week because I usually take a long time. Sister Amataga never cared how long I took but Sister Staker doesn't like it haha So I'm trying!

Leaving sticky notes with scriptures on them on the Elders' door

Last Monday the 22nd we didn't do much. Basically all we did was clean, clean, clean. It was crazy! I had to clean our carpet in our room because it has become so dirty. We tried to clean it before but never knew what to use but found something from the dollar store and it worked pretty good! So I was happy! And that's basically how we spent our Monday. But I didn't want to quit cleaning! haha It felt so good!

Then Tuesday the 23rd we got up super early and we went on a hike with a few of the Elders. I was so excited to go on this hike. We were hiking the "A" in Azusa and I have seen this on the mountain so many times and I thought it was going to be really easy. But we started and we weren't even half way there and I was already super tired! It was ridiculous! I almost gave up and just stopped. But I kept going and thankfully we made it and I didn't die. It was a beautiful morning and I was happy that we made it to the cross on the top of the huge mountain!

Then that morning we had a lesson with Anthony. We had to have the Elders who are also in the YSA ward come with us. We were teaching him the Law of Chastity and Brother Hatch wanted the Elders to teach it. And it was a good lesson. I'm just glad that I didn't have to teach the Law of Chastity to a 30 year old male haha

 

Sister Staker leaving sticky notes on the Elders' door

 

Then Wednesday the 24th we had a lesson with Jen. We haven't seen her in over a month and we didn't know what was happening. It was such a good lesson! We went in not knowing exactly what was going to happen. But I asked Jen where she stood and what she wanted and her answer was "I don't know what to do. I read the Book of Mormon and I don't see or read any relevance." That scared me when she said that. But then she asked what I read when I feel down or need something and so I pulled out Alma 7:11-12. And oh my gosh!! The Spirit came SOOOOOOO strong. Jen started to cry and she asked "Why do you always do this to me??" And it was just amazing!!!! I don't know how else to describe it. I wish everyone of you could have been there to feel the Spirit so strong. She said many other things but it was...gosh!! I wish I could take that lesson and bottle it up in jar and keep it forever.


Then Thursday the 25th.... That was a hard but good day. It was hard because.... Well, I can't say much but I found out that we have to postpone a baptism for one of our investigators. We had interviews with President and not even five minutes into the interview he told me something and I was in tears. I could barely handle it. But it's all good. Everything happens for a reason and things will be ok! I just went home after interviews and cried for a bit. But I didn't let it keep me down. Life throws curve balls and we catch them and throw them back to make things good. It's all going to work out in the end!

Sister Staker lost her name tag and so for now there are two Sister Wheatleys!
 

Friday the 26th was a pretty good day! Lots of weekly planning got done! Sister Staker came up with this awesome idea to do with the youth to help with their missionary work and so we went over that and put it together to take to our ward mission leader to see how we can present it to the ward council and the YM/YW leaders. Sister Staker is on fire! She has many great ideas and she's never wanting to stay more than five minutes at a place hehe She's great! And later that night, we went up to the Duvall's and there we were able to see the Salisbury's! I was so excited to see them. I have missed them so it was a treat to get to talk and see them for a bit.

Well, Saturday the 27th was a very awesome day as well. Our stake had the Mormon's Helping Hands in the city and we did so much! There were a good three hundred people there helping and we worked on homes, parks, and many other things. It was great because we got there just a couple minutes late and as we were walking to see where they needed us, the Whitworth's walked by and Sister Whitworth told us to come with their group. They were a very small group so it was good! And it was awesome that we went with them because the house we went to, we had to clean his backyard and pull weeds and after it was over (I wish I had gotten before and after pictures) we were talking to him and he asked what church we were from. He looked at my nametag and said "Oh! Mormons!" Yes, we are Mormons. And he said that he's always wondered what we believe and that he wanted to come to one of our services. So we took down his name and information and then gave him the Elders information and told him the Elders would contact him to get him to church. And he was very excited about that! So it was a wonderful service! And after we were done at his house, we went over and helped out Brother Nelson in our ward finish preparing lunch. And this stake does not skimp out on food. We had tostada's and tacos and it was just wonderful! It was the best tostada I have ever had! YUM!!!!

Hiking to the top of Azusa mountain

Then yesterday, Sunday the 28th, was one of the most spirit-filled Sundays I have ever had! It was the YSA ward conference and it was also the day they were releasing the Bishopric in the YSA ward. This Bishopric had been in for five years! So you can imagine how hard it was for them and every member of the ward to say goodbye. I was even in tears! I have only been serving in the ward for four months and I was bawling my eyes out. Our sacrament service took almost two hours compared to the usual hour and ten minutes. But it didn't feel that long. It was just amazing!! That's another experience that I wish I could bottle up and take with me to remember that feeling whenever I'm feeling down. Just too hard to describe. Bishop Ferrell, Brother Bell, and Brother Laidlaw have been amazing to work with. It's been a blast getting to know them. But the new Bishopric will be just as fun. We have Bishop Hatch (the YSA ward mission leader), Brother Blackburn and Brother Corbett. And they are all from the Glendora 5th ward!! So we don't have to miss them by not seeing them each week. Especially Brother Corbett. He has the most contageous smile ever!!! I was so happy that he is in the new Bishopric. Just awesome! And this new Bishopric will bring a lot of amazing things to this ward. Things are going to be kicking pretty darn soon! I am excited to work with these great men. Plus the new ward mission leader and his wife are also from the Glendora 5th ward, the Spencer's. So it's very exciting!!! We might as well just move the 5th ward and the 6th ward as one :)

Well... That' basically all that has happened this week. I'm trying my hardest to write a lot with good detail but also make it so I"m not on here too long. We're all going to the bowling alley right now to bowl so I better end here. I love you all! Thanks for your love, support, and prayers that I am constantly feeling.

Love always, Sister Rachel Wheatley