Throughout my mission the topic of a
"mighty change of heart" has come to my
attention freakily frequently! This week I dived into the
doctrine of this change. Maybe because my dear Sara was baptized
this past Saturday and I witnessed the most mighty of changes.
We've been teaching Sara since I got here almost 5 months ago. She is my
heavenly friend. She tells me everyday that I was sent to Georgia for her and
her family. I believe that.
When she emigrated from South Africa
to the States she made a promise to her Catholic priest she and her family
wouldn’t change religions when they move to the "bible belt". When Sara is committed, she is
committed! Changing her religion has taken months of countless
witnesses from God that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is
true. The change that Sara has experienced is entirely in her heart. In
Alma 5 it says that "their souls were illuminated" with the joys of
the gospel. I testify that our souls can literally be illuminated. I see it in
others and I feel it in myself every single day.
In Ezekiel 11:19 we read about how we
can receive an entirely new heart through Jesus Christ. Then it hit me! Every
single stellar human in the scriptures all experienced a change of heart!
Peter...Paul...Alma the younger...Sons of Mosiah...Anti Lehi Nephis...King
Lamoni and his father! They all were sinners on varying degrees and then become
that greatest followers of Jesus...ever! And what were all these incredible
Biblical/ Book of Mormon hero's commissioned after a change of
heart??.............
MISSIONARY WORK!!
The commission of every heart changed
is always to go declare the gospel of Jesus Christ. Peter is commanded to go
"feed My sheep." Alma and his buddies become the most kick butt
missionaries there ever was! Our very DNA must be converted. Who we are changes,
sure! But it is a change that brings the greatest of all God's blessings,
eternal life!! Sara has entered the gate of baptism and now she is
"pressing forward with an eye steadfast in Christ." Witnessing this
mighty change in Sara over the past few months has allowed my heart to be
changed. We must let our hearts change daily! Allow ourselves
to become the best we can possibly be!
This week was awesome. I have a new
MTC trainee, Sister Sullivan from Sandy, Utah. She's cute! We live with Mataele
and Richardson (now companions). We have so much fun together!
What a week of celebration for y'all
at home!! Happy graduation tomorrow Blakey boy!! Happy 52nd birthday Daddyeo!
Happy Father's day Paps! Happy days, all is well! Wish I was home to squeeze
you extra tight! I have the greatest family. Thanks for sending that photo
album thing! I LOVE IT!!
All my love,
Sista Ave Dawg Miya
A quote I lala loved!
"Christ says, ‘Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so
much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to
torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t
want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree
down. … Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think
innocent as well as the ones you think wicked—the whole outfit. I will give you
a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become
yours.’” (Mere Christianity, New York: Collier Books, 1960, p. 167.)
 |
| Gnarly hike up Kennesaw mountain with my lady Sista Richy on our last P day as companions |
 |
| Oh to be outside and smell the glorious Georgia Air! Happy Day!! |
 |
| Lost Mountain District got some changes this week! So long my friends |
 |
| My sweet Claudia. We chatted together, prayed together, cried together and we will be together again someday! |
 |
| My new companion.......ha! I think I'm gonna like her |
 |
| So much love!! Happiest of days!!! |
 |
| My FAV FAM!!! |
 |
| So much love!! |
