When You're On God's Team, It's Always A Win!

Dear Family and Friends,

This has been a great and difficult week. I'll start with the difficult part of the week. We had to stop meeting with two of our investigators this week which broke my heart. I've grown so close to them and it was really hard to accept. I was reading in the Book of Mormon today and stumbled upon a scripture which describes how I feel about the work I am doing:

Mosiah 28:3

   "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble."

I love the people I teach. I love the people of this area. I love all of God's children and the thought of not being able to be with them all for eternity causes me great sorrow. HOWEVER, I know our Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us and it just isn't their time yet. Now for the GREAT part of the week. We have been meeting with a young adult, Kate, for the past few weeks and she is making such great progress. I love meeting with her! She comes prepared to lessons with questions and concerns and is so honest about her thoughts and feelings. It is a true pleasure to teach her.

I have felt the love of my Heavenly Father so abundantly this week and I know He is just anxiously waiting for us to come to Him and ask for what we need. I also know asking for help can sometimes be the hardest part of finding peace and comfort, but as we humble ourselves and accept the fact that we can't do it on our own we are able to be strengthened by the love of our Heavenly Father. I know we can do anything with His divine help. I love you all.

Love,

Sister Williams

 This is a statue on the street we live on. I pass it everyday! It is pretty fun. It is painted like starry night and if you look closely it is Van Gogh; the head is wrapped in cloth because its ear is "chopped off".

Remember...

Dear Family and Friends,

I had my first baptism this week! It was so wonderful to be a part of. Our investigators name is Mark and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to teach him. It was amazing to witness the power of the gospel inspire Mark to change and grow. He was so happy after his baptism and when he was confirmed on Sunday he was just glowing and said he was so full of happiness he might burst.

What a wonderful knowledge to have. When we are able to comprehend our true identity as sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, to fully comprehend the divine potential we all possess, it changes your perspective; it helps us develop an eternal perspective, His perspective. As we strive to understand our divine potential it allows us to see that potential in others. Everyone you see at school, on the bus, in the grocery store, the person who cut you off on the freeway, they all posses this divine potential. How great is that?

I want to leave you with a scripture from Doctrine and Covenants 18:10

                           "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God."

As you go throughout your week internalize this scripture and as you remember we are all divine sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father allow that knowledge to change you and how you view others.

I love you all so much and hope you have a great week!

Love,

Sister Williams

                                            Mark got Baptized! He is standing next to me.

                                          This is the street I live on...isn't it beautiful!!

                                           My apartment building.

 My bedroom...if you look very closely you will see I made my bed the "right way" =D

                                           This is where I study every morning.

                                           Another beautiful sunset in the country.

A Week In Pictures!

Dear Family and Friends,

I decided I would send a bunch of pictures this week instead of a typical post. Know that I love you all so much and I love doing the Lord's work. Have a great week and read from the scriptures daily. The strength and power I receive from the scriptures everyday is too priceless to miss out on. I love you all and email me how you are doing with the commitments I've left you all in the past weeks. I love you!

Love,

Sister Williams 

This is my Sister Training Leader Sister Alder. We went on exchanges together this week and I just adore her. We love doing accents together.

This is a photo of my district and the Metallos!

This is a less-active member we are working with she is so fun and sassy! 

A beautiful park we walk through to get home.

The Refiner's Fire

Dear Family and Friends,

This past weekend we all had the opportunity to watch and listen to God's chosen Prophets, at General Conference, and what an amazing experience it was. For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about go and see for yourselves at LDS.org where you can watch all the sessions of Conference.

One of the most common questions I get as a missionary, besides where are you from, is why did I choose to serve a mission. Why did I choose to leave my family, friends, education, my dog Brody and come to an unfamiliar frigidly cold place for 18 months? Well, yesterday God answered this question for me perfectly, through a man He has called to be one of his prophets. So, better than me telling you why I am serving a mission, listen to the words of God through a modern day prophet of why I am here and then pray. Pray to know if these words are the words of God and accept the invitation God is extending to you through a prophet and through me.

I love you all so much. I know these are the words of God given to His prophets. Please accept the invitation to come to this knowledge for yourselves as well. I know the happiness and joy it will bring to your lives and that is something I want for each and everyone of you.

Love,

Sister Williams

 

 This is the link to Elder Bednar's talk from Conference. Click here and then click on the video.

 

 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/come-and-see?lang=eng

      Me being silly on P-day in Hobby Lobby!

Left to Right: Minh, Amy, Yuzhu, Me, Sister Rodriguez.

We had dinner at Amy's house who is an awesome member and always comes out to lessons with us and hosts lessons in her home. It was her birthday and we celebrated with a dinner! It was a lot of fun and I love her and Minh and Yuzhu so much!