Faith and Humility

Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2009

Hello Family!

It was so good to hear from you again this week. That is fun that the Flakes were there. I am sure that was such a treat, well more like a feast. :) They are so wonderful. It is great to get the up date and hear how everyone is doing. This week has been pretty full of a lot of things. :) I will start with the highlight. It was Shan Pan. We met with her this week and asked her what she thought about "The Living Christ" (we gave it to her to read our last appointment) she told us that it was so great to learn more about Him and what He has done for her. She proceeded to tell us that she not only read the Living Christ but all the verses of scripture that it listed in paranthesis and not just the verses, but the whole chapter that went along with the verses. She did all that on top of reading in the Book of Mormon everyday and praying. We have only known her for three weeks and she is making huge progress and is so thirsty for the gospel. But anyway, we taught her about Gods plan this last week. And after we got done teaching it we asked her if she had any questions and she said, "So what do I need to do to go live with Heavenly Father and my family?" We told her she needed to be baptized and then asked her if she wanted to do that, and she said"Yes"!!!! IT was so great. The spirit was there and it really touched me. Her humility and faith and desire is humbling and inspiring. She is so ready and it fills me with so much joy. I know Heavenly Father prepares His children to hear His word and feel of His Spirit.
Another highlight this week was Zone Conference. We haven´t had one since before Christmas and I was truly hungry to be taught and feel of that Spirit that comes with Zone Conference. This conference was a special conference because Elder Texiara (Europe Area President) did a mission tour and we had the opportunity to teach and learn from him and his wife. IT was also humbling and inspiring. He spoke a lot on faith. How we can strengthen it. I was humbled and realized I needed to do those things that would strengthen my faith. He gave a whole discourse on faith, that was truly enlightening. He explained it in a way I had never really thought of before. He said that faith is not faith unless you step into the dark. Faith is something that "you cannot see," but "is true." He then talked about faith in missionary work and goal setting. He said that the average number of new investigators is 1 or 2. Then he said, "What if your goal was 10 new investigators in a week. Would you work differently?" As I have thought about that I thought, when I set the goal to find 2 new investigators I feel like I can do it with the Lords help. But when my goal becomes 10 new investigators, I can no longer do it, I must rely totally on the Lord. It reminded me of Elder Hollands quote, "We must go to the edge where miracles happen! We must say to ourselves ´Lord without thy help I will fall, help me fly!´" At the end of Zone Conference Elder Texiara said, "I am not asking you to increase your numbers, I am asking you to increase your faith." It was really powerful. I have a lot more thought on the subject, but my time has come to an end.

Family I love you and pray for you. I hope you know that Gods plan includes your every day life. It includes every struggle he gives you to come closer to Him. It includes feasting upon the love that He has given. It includes receiving of His strength to help in absolutely whatever situation we find ourselves in. As I have read in the Book of Mormon I have realized that God is there to help us in our lives. That is what He does. He is there to help us overcome all things, whatever the "all things" may include. Probably all things. :) As we do things that build our faith in Him, that we may think we can´t do, we will find out we can, because God will help us overcome our fears and doubts.

I love you! Til next week!

Love,
Sister Fitzgerald