Well, this week I
definitely felt like I was going through the Refiner's Fire.
My heart is full of
gratitude and my eyes full of tears at the moment. I am feeling the Refiner's
fire. I truly am grateful for weaknesses and for the opportunity to work even
more diligently on focusing all my heart, might, mind and strength on our
Savior and Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for the Atonement and I strive to
use it every day. I have enjoyed giving my accounting to Heavenly Father,
asking for forgiveness, and moving forward with gratitude and love. And
throughout all of it, seeing His hand truly helping the work and blessing us
for our efforts.
At
first, finding out about a weakness hurts, but I am so grateful that I can
immediately turn to prayer and ask Heavenly Father to help me to know what to
do and how to do it so I can become more like Christ. I am excited to become. I
am already starting to see the Refiner's fire purge and purify. And I have love
some of the studies I have had to help me realize more my potential with
overcoming this weaknesses and on how to do so. It's beautiful, Heavenly Father
doesn't let us stay a pile of coal. He turns us into diamonds.
Another
beautiful analogy I heard this week is about a desk and humility. But I think
it goes right along with the "Refiner's Fire." Picture a desk with
layers of paint on it. In order for the desk to live up to its natural beauty
the paint first needs to be stripped. This is a process that is done layer by
layer. Finally you get down to the raw wood. The wood itself is of great
natural beauty. But once you get down to the raw wood, its not enough. The wood
needs to be sanded and then stained. Once this entire process has been
completed, a beautiful desk of amazing natural beauty stands there. President
Summerhays said the stain is the blood of Christ, the Atonement. Sometimes life
may seem extremely difficult, and we may ask Heavenly Father, why? I was happy
being the way I was. But as we let Heavenly Father strip off all of our
imperfections and weaknesses, and really cleanse and beautify our lives with
the Atonement, then the result is our grandest potential. Something more
beautiful than we could have come up with ourself.
Reminds
me of the talk about the currant bush. http://www.mormonchannel.org/mormon-channel-daily/213
Oh,
the work is hastening. We know have sister misisonary leaders that help sisters
with exchanges (similar to a zone leader). Woah. So cool! I love being a
missionary at this time.
A
highlight of the week, we invited a 102 year old woman to be baptized (the
mother-in-law of the Branch President). She is praying about it :) They said we
have gotten father with her than any other missionaries in the past. I am so
grateful that they prepared her for when we would come and that we listened to
the Spirit and were bold.
Another
highlight, we have one progressing investigator, cute little 10-year old
Danesha. Pretty awesome. When we came to this area there were no progressing
investigators.
Heavenly
Father has blessed our meetings with returning members (less actives) to
be absolutely amazing. We found out we have over 60 returning members in our
area and we are excited to get to work. We have had such beautiful miracles
working with their families - wow!
Also,
that lady who said she wasn't ready to come unto Christ and quit drinking
finally, truly committed to reading daily. We are so very excited.
I
really love this work! I am excited for when I come home and I am entirely a
new person in Christ. Missions are not for ourselves, they are God's missions,
but what a wonderful tender mercy it is that He allows us to benefit immensly
and everlastingly from them.
Your
invitation for the week is two fold: 1. Write a thank you note to a special
woman in your life (obviously Mom), but maybe one that doesn't get thanks from
many people, and give/mail/email it to her. 2. Find someone. Find someone who
is lost, that hasn't been to church in a while, and find a way to show them
that you love and care about them.
I
love you so much!!
Sister
Jenkins!
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