Try to Drive. Try to Serve. Try to Be.
(Today is my pday because I got to go to the temple!! :))
There's a quote in our handy dandy Preach My Gospel that says: "If you lower your expectations, your effectiveness will decrease, your desire will weaken, and you will have greater difficulty following the Spirit". Woah. Pretty straight forward right? On the flip side, having high expectations has a direct correlation with having higher effectiveness (which is something President Teuscher is HUGE on). But having high expectations should not be confused with perfection. God, He's a smart and loving guy, He knows we wont be perfect...yet. All we are expected to do is try...try...try. Try to do the work assigned, try to do family history, try to be the best missionary I can be. It is then that His grace kicks in.
This is something I've kept in my mind my entire mission. I fall short of the glory every day. I am weak. I am inadequate. But yet, I try...even when it comes to driving.
Here's a miracle story for the day. Yesterday, we dropped off our Chevy Malibu at the dealership to get some work done and we go grab our brand spanky new 2019 Toyota Corolla (like it has less that 700 miles on it). I was driving on a pretty busy street and attempted to swerve around a car that decided to parallel park. And...yes hit the car on the left. Ahh......luckily a police officer was there, he inspects it all. Sees NO damage on the other car, looks at my tag and says "the good Lord was watching over you today Sister".
How could we have come out with no damage? How could I have been safe? How did the police officer just happen to be there? No words or explanation except to give thanks to my God. It was He who kept me safe and helped me stay out of danger. No coincidences, all in God's timing. All God asks of us is to try, even when it comes to driving. The Lord protects His servants when we do what is right.
Also...another how in the world did this just happened. Just happened as I was typing this email in fact. We were just traveling up from Grand Central to New Rochelle on the Metro North and I took out one of my super special journals that I had taken notes in to type things out. We get off the train and are walking to leave and hear "Sister! This!". And as the doors of the train are closing...out flies my super special blue notebook and it lands on the platform as the train speeds away. Does it sound dramatic to you? Well it was haha. Blessings. Blessings. Blessings.
Alma 26:37:
"Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever."
As long as we are trying to do our best, the Lord will never forget us and never let us fail. He is mindful of us each, no matter where in the world we are. If its important to us, then its important to Him...even if its a little blue notebook.
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| Exchanges with the Plainview Sister Training Leaders! (Long Island) |
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| View from the Hermanas apartment. Pretty sick. I'm in New Rochelle and I can see my two areas (the Bronx and Manhattan) |
Randoms:
1) Went to my first MLC. Twas swell. President Teuscher is a visionary man alright. All the Elders sung a song for the musical number. After had to drop a Sister off in Flushing Queens and we got stuck in traffic for an hour...haha
2) Exchanges with Sister VanWoerkom! Shes only be out for 6 months but has no fear! She would just go straight up to any door and knock away and was so persistant in her approach. Love it.
3) On Friday, Elder Bennett of the Seventy and Elder Buckner of the Seventy addressed our mission for about 4 hours. Pretty sweet. These men are truly called of God and made my heart happy!
4) Member makes all the difference in missionary work. Our friend, Nicky, came to church for the first time on Sunday. After sacrament we asked her, how was it and she tells us "I know its true. And if all of this is true, then so many people are in darkness right now. I feel comfortable here, I feel good here. I think I'm going to convert". The Lord is prepparing people everywhere around the world, even up here in New Rochelle.
5) Had a youth spaghetti dinner with an auction for baked goods. There were cakes going for $100-$300. Crazy stuff.
7) Went to the temple today and did a family name :) also walked around Manhattan for a bit! So many people! I love it! People of New York, gotta love them and their unique personalities! I love the temple! I love New York! I love the New York Temple :)
8) P.s. there was a little scratch on our car but nothing too major, thankfully!
facebook video for the week... https://www.facebook.com/ldsnewrochelle/videos/2278659619060328/
Me ke aloha,
Sister Ellis
Believe, Love, Do