Sister Elle Jackson's Adventures in the Washington Everett Mission: Week 77: Realizations

Sister Lindsay and Elle at Deception Pass

This last week has been an interesting one. First off we were sick, I mean really sick and I didn't like that at all. I have never asked Heavenly Father to make time go faster until Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; and the time did not go faster by any means. The Elders in the district were really helpful in making sure we had everything we needed. So I consider myself very blessed and lucky to be where I am at this moment. I think though I was supposed to get sick because there were a couple of things I learned from this experience. First I learned I truly can't run faster than I have the strength. Sometimes there are just somethings that I can't do and this is okay, because what I can do at that moment is a WIN. Because there are people around me who can help me and do for me what I can't do for myself. I also was reminded of how lucky I am go have such an amazing mother. I would really have loved to be with her for those couple of days but obviously I was unable to. This whole sickness situation made me love her even more!

Sister Lindsay, Des, and Elle

We were able to get a lot of things done despite our limitations. We had another baptism on Saturday for Des. Her son was supposed to be baptized as well but was unable to because he had slipped and drank some coffee the day before. Not going to lie I didn't want to say anything because of how excited he has been and all the arrangements that were made. But I realized that there is no justification for breaking a covenant that you make with God and if JJ didn't realize this now then who's to say that he wouldn't go back to it after he was baptized. So we talked to him and he is going to have to wait a little bit longer. I think it was a good lesson for him but an even better lesson for me. There is no justification for breaking a covenant and I now know this now even more then I knew it before. Something really cool about Des is she is doing this kind of all by herself. Her husband was not really thrilled about her taking the lessons or getting baptized. But she decided she knew it was true and it was something that she was going to be doing for herself and not for him. He was not too happy about her baptism day but the ward has fellowshipped her and her son so well and there is a support system for her here that she doesn't have anywhere else. There is a reason people are led to the church at the time they are in their life. The Church is true and there isn't anyone or anything that is going to change this.

Deception Pass

We had Zone Conference on Wednesday, one of the days that I was sick. This didn't matter because Sister Lindsay and I had to instruct. It was one of the funniest things in the entire world. I am so grateful for the Spirit and the fact that the Spirit is the real teacher and not me because I probably looked really pathetic up in the front of everyone. We talked about the importance of understanding our divinity and who we were as individuals. We can learn through the Spirit all of those things we need to know and at the time we need to know them. In the talk Elder Scott says, "WIth all my capacity I encourage you to discover who you really are. I invite you to look beyond the daily routine of life. I urge you to discern through the Spirit your divinely given capacities. I exhort you to prayerfully make worthy choices that will lead you to realize your full potential.." I thought that was a really good invitations. He talks about how there are somethings that we can do that will help us understand this. One of the first things that he tells us is to study the First Vision and gain a better understanding of the Restoration of the Gospel. The second thing that he invites us to do is to read the Book of Mormon because we want to and not because we have to. Also that we must remain worthy. "When you really understand who you are, it is not difficult to resist Satan's temptations. Then he can't thwart the development of your true potential....You are of a singular generation with exceptional potential. No wonder Satan wants to cripple that potential by tempting you to violate the laws of God. He knows that he has no power over a righteous individual. Yet he is a master at making sin appealing to the undecided." Then I love this part, "If you have made bad choices, repent now. Remove any such barrier to your progress and happiness." Repentance is such an amazing thing and it is something that we can use and take full advantage of right now so that we will be prepared to stand before our maker one day.

I love you all so much and hope that you have an amazing week!!