This week has been crazy to say the least!!! WOW! My heart is breaking right now for our new investigator, Kristina. She has so much faith and such a strong testimony, but her husband won't let her go to church and now he isn't even letting her meet with us. My companion and I are kind of at a loss of what to do to help her. She won't let us meet with her husband for fear of what he will say to us because he is so hostile towards the church. So today, Sister McLelland and I are fasting that a miracle will happen! That we will be able to continue to teach Kristina and that the Lord will help soften her husbands heart. We are bringing families unto Christ, after all.
On a happier note, Last P-day was so much fun! Elder Drysdale, Elder Jarman, Sister McLelland and I went bowling. I almost won!!! But Elder Jarman beat me by 2 point on the last frame.LAME! haha. Then they came to our apartment to do their laundry since the place that they usually go, the washer and dryer don't work and they have to pay a lot to do their laundry anyway.. so we decided to be nice and let the Elders come and do it at our apartment for free since we have a washer and dryer. While they did their laundry, we played Phase-10 on some mini Uno cards! It was a blast! Thanks Heavens for P-day! It is good to unwind and to let go of some of the stress from the previous week! Today, I think we might go to Grennsville to see the other Sisters in our district or we might go to Kingsport to see the Elders in our Zone. Should be fun either way!
Yesterday was Stake Conference. I loved it! President Griffin spoke! He is so amazing. He reminded us how important baptism is. It really is the key to the door of the Celestial Kindom and you cannot get in without it. I have learned how important it is not only to teach about baptism and the importance of that saving ordinance but to teach of the Atonement. Everything in this life and the next revolves around the Atonement. I am so grateful that the Savior loved each one of us enough to follow through to the end. I cringe at the thought that I caused him to suffer so much pain that blood dripped from his poors. In the MTC my teacher, Brother Snyder, told us about a Civil War soldier who got his leg shot off by a cannon and had to have the wound cleaned by fire. That alone cause one drop of blood to fall from a pore. I cannot imagine how much suffering Jesus Christ had to go through to cause him to bleed from every poor. It makes me really want to do all that I can to be the best that I can so that I don't ever have to hurt him again. I know that I have hurt him in the past and that I have used the Atonement to overcome the decisions that I once made. Oh, how grateful I am for the miracle of forgiveness. I love the Savior for that great sacrifice. So my challenge to you, dear family, is to use the Atonement. To share that miracle with others and be grateful that the Savior would suffer, bleed, and die for us that we might return to our Fathers presence one day.
It's just about fall here and with all of the trees, it is going to be beautiful! I will try to send you all some pictures once the leaves change!!
Please keep me and the people here in your prayers! Please pray that not only will we find people that are prepared to hear our message, but pray that we will find people who are ready and willing to make and keep covenants and work toward the temple. Because that is where we are truly sealed to our Father in Heaven forever!
love you all so much!! I miss you and think of you often! Thanks for supporting me and supporting the people here that I have grown to love!
Love, Sister Shaylyn Christiansen
