WEEK 11! Three's Company...

June 24, 2013

Another week here in Virginia, things have been good! Did I mention I am now in a trio? Since the other companionship lost an Hermana, we are now a trio covering two areas. Great fun :) We are with Hermana Ward who is the cutest, funniest companion ever :) haha we have had some great times lately! It's been different adjusting to a trio in lessons but it has been good. We moved in with her so we don't live with our member for now but we'll be back :) Moving was interesting.... Did you know you can fit a mattress in a Toyota Corolla?

Well this week has been good. Honestly, I struggle more in my head than anything. But it was a good week to figure out some things. My testimony has been tested and suddenly I am questioning everything I have believed and it's just been difficult. Suddenly our investigators are bringing up things I have never thought about and I didn't have the answers. I really tried to study them out but I forgot the importance of prayer. I began praying for peace and lo and behold he answered through my patriarchal blessing with a part that I never had realized was there :) This was right before we went to the World Wide Training meeting for mission presidents/missionaries/members and whoever else who is involved in missionary work(everyone!)

 Along with the questioning of my testimony, I haven't been "feeling" it for missionary work. I know, I'm awful. It hasn't been good. I have had a shortage of my desire to serve. I feel so awful for that and trust me I felt it this week too. I didn't understand why though, I wasn't sad, depressed, scared, etc. It just wasn't the right feeling I should have. I had the opportunity to go on an exchange with Hermana S in her area near Centreville. (Planes flying waaaaaay too close for my comfort) and I found this desire to talk to random people? This optimism that had faded? Spanish words I had forgotten but remembered?  I found a love for people I did not know anything about? I realized THAT is missionary work. THAT is what I am supposed to be feeling 24/7. I came back and tried to keep it going but it just wasn't happening. I've been praying for assistance and finally at the training meeting, I felt peace. Right before the meeting began the word "broken" came into my head. I felt so much peace in the fact that that was how I was feeling. I had been searching for a way to describe it so I can figure out how to fix it and that was it! When I thought more about what broken meant, I related it to a broken bone. The bone is still a bone, it's still that kind of bone, it hasn't lost any value or importance, you still need that bone, it just has been broken. Well, you need to fix it but first you have to set it up so it can be mended correctly. During the meeting, someone said that we are doing this (missionary work) with Christ. The way I am going to become mended is through Jesus Christ. I'll be mended with His doctrine and teachings. "Gotta break you down before they can build you up" has always been a saying in volleyball, wrestling, and life that I have heard many times and it is the same for the Gospel. I might twist my bone during the mending and have to restart or get some pins in to hold it in place, but it will mend over TIME and WORK.

 Sooo that's my great analogy haha. Probably not great, just confusing and random but that is what has been on my mind. The work is progressing here in Virginia and with time, we are going to have a thriving ward here in Leesburg :) (yesterday was stake conference and we had 3 Spanish speakers there at the beginning, 2 investigators that speak hardly any English and 3 missionaries who have never translated before- 3 members showed up to help us out luckily) So a thriving, active ward will be here in Leesburg with some work! :)

 I love the Gospel and I am grateful for the testimony I have. I DO have a testimony that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that Heavenly Father is very aware of me and the plans He has for my work here in Leesburg (and eventually Peru). We can find peace and joy in the Gospel; Families ARE FOREVER! :)

 Love you,

Hermana Joslyn