A better understanding

Date: Thu, Jan 22, 2009 at 1:48 PM

Familie!

So, I just wrote an email but then I lost it, so I am going to write another one really fast. :) I can't even remember what I said in my other one, but I was in the middle of a neat story about how I was doing a "street approach" and pretty much the "investigator" (another elder in my district) could choose to be whoever he wanted, Christian or not, and have concerns about anything and we would have to address his needs and teach him the gospel all in German. Well I was really nervous because usually I teach with two other elders (since I'm a solo sister) and they were both gone to the doctor so it was just me. Anyway, the spirit was there and I was able to teach him in German all by myself! It was such a tender mercy from the Lord. I've been feeling so slow in learning German, but after doing that I had renewed faith and I know even more now than before that the Lord will help me in my time of need. We taught our first actual lesson auf Deutsch this week and that was nerve wracking, yet exciting. WE definitely can improve, but it went pretty well. Our teacher told us she was pleased with how well we were all doing. That made me feel better.

Anyway, my time is running out, but I also wanted to say that this morning I was thinking about sacrifice and consecration during personal study. I realized that we sacrifice a lot to come on a mission and our families sacrifice a lot (Thank you family for all you do for me and for all your support!!!!), but then once we are on a mission how we need to consecrate ourselves completely to the Lord. this is His work, on His timetable, with His children. This work is not about us whatsoever, it's all about bringing others to Christ and glorifying God. And I realized that now I belong to the Lord. Everything I do and say and think should reflect the Saviour. This time of my life is not a sacrifice, it's consecrated time to the Lord. The time I have here is not mine, but the Lords, and I need to truly and completely do as He would do. Our Branch President was telling us last week that we all need to repent, and in the MTC and in the field it's usually for not big things, but little things like sleeping in a few minutes late, or not going to bed right at 10:30, or thinking about friends and family back home and getting distracted. And I just thought wow this really is the Lords work, I need to put myself behind me and do whatever He would have me do. It was a great inspiration. I am grateful for the Spirit.

One last thought, Our devotional speaker last week (I forget who it was now) but He said how the Atonement is not just for the sinners but for the saints. It's not just a redeeming power, but also an enabling power. And we can call upon the Atonement in what ever our need, to be redeemed from sin or to be enabled to do what the Lord has called us to do. I loved that!

Bye! sis. Fitzgerald