May 7, 2012

HOLA FAMILIA!

So... Iowa is pretty much the best place to be, especially if you like thunderstorms! The weather here is crazy. Sunday morning we woke up and by 7 there was rain POURING DOWN!!! so very hard! And there was a river (well, maybe a very heavy stream) that was racing down the driveway. it was so cool! Then, by 11, when we left to go to church, there was no sign that there was rain... haha! It was crazy. I sure do love it here. It is starting to get humid....well... haha we will see if i like it or not.

 

Well, enough small talk... haha! We just got a new branch Presidency. We are super excited for the change! Missionary work is so very good. This past week we found another one of the less-actives in the branch. I just feel so much excitement for this work! AW!!!! It is so great! This past week we went to visit one of our members, Ana. She is one amazing woman! She was asking us so many question about missionary work and like what a day is like in the life of a missionary. She told us how she wants to go on a mission (all of her kids are grown up and she is single) and she is just on fire and is so excited. I am not sure how close she is to actually putting in her papers, but she just beams when she talks about it. I cannot remember what exactly she asked us, but it was something to do about giving things up to go out. She really got me thinking about this.... one of the things i gave up coming out here was movies and music. I have realized something in the time i have been out, music and movies, to me before my mission seemed pretty harmless for the more part. Well, I dont think we really realize how very much media affects our spirits.

 

One of our less-actives, Rebecca, told us that she went through all of her movies and music and gave away anything that was dark or made her feel bad having. There have been a lot of movie quotes or song lyrics that come into my head that are not always good. We really need to evaluate everything that we watch or listen to because it really does have an effect on our spirits.

 

On Saturday our whole Zone did a service project, it is called "Hoopin' at the Dome" We were outside all day keeping score for basketball teams, it was pretty fun and we met some great people, and i might have received a lovely sunburn.... haha! But the whole time while we were there there was music playing and really, most of it was music that I would listen to before my mission, but after the service was all over, i did not feel the spirit. We were in a place were the spirit couldn't be because of the bad lyrics of the songs. It was really sad.... I hope that we all will seek to have the Spirit more than anything else. I would like to invite all of you to think about the movies or the music that you listen to and ask yourself, is this something "virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy" and then see what the difference makes to your spirit. I can promise you that you will see a difference. :) I really have in my life.

 

I sure do love being a missionary! And teaching and inviting others to come unto Christ. I know that this Church is true. I love all of you and I am so very thankful for all that you do for me. :)

 

Have a great week!

 

Love, Hermana Wadsworth