Week 42 (Cont'd) - "Behold, I will send you Elijah.."

"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart
of the children to their fathers.." Malachi 4

HI FRIENDS!

Remember the question I posed in my email about Brother Briggins last week, about how we can have confidence in God's love for us? Well I think I found
an answer in my studies this week! I love the Ensign, and truly consider it a form of scripture. I've had many prayers answered through various authors around the world. What an incredible tool. Here's the first few paragraphs of an article called Self-Reliance and Gospel Learning in the June 2017 Ensign.

*A kindergarten teacher was once observing her class of children while they drew. As she walked around to see each child’s artwork, she asked one little girl, “What are you drawing?” The girl replied, “I’m drawing God.”
Somewhat surprised, the teacher said, “But no one knows what God looks like.” Without hesitation, the girl replied, “They will in a minute.” *(Haha! so cute.)

*Wouldn’t it be nice to have such confidence? In actuality, Heavenly Father wants us to become confident in our knowledge of Him *(and I would say, His love for us)*. The Lord told Jeremiah that we should not glory in our wisdom or in our might or in our riches. Rather, He said, “let him that
glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me” (see Jeremiah9:23–24).*

*The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) taught, “God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them, for the day must come when no man need say to his neighbor, Know ye the Lord; for all shall know Him … from the least to the greatest.”1*

Two things that have repeatedly been brought up in my studies, in trainings and meetings, and in a letter I received from my dear friend this week (❤) are 1. increasing faith, and 2. FAMILY HISTORY.

Satan has always used my lack of confidence against me, but lately he's been a real turd about it. I'm going to continue to increase my faith through scripture study, and praying to know how to apply my strengths to this work. I hope to gain the confidence that comes from feeling Christ's love for me, and being filled with His love for others. I hope this will help me to face my anxiety's about talking to people, and being bold. Oh, another article that was totally an answer to prayer is The War Goes On by Elder Larry R. Lawrence, in the April 2017 Ensign. I'm just going to put the link here so you have no excuse not to read it :) Seriously, everyone who has struggled with feelings of self worth and doubt needs to read this.

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2017/04/the-war-goes-on?lang=eng

I feel really strongly that I need to figure out how to implement family history work into my missionary work! A few weeks ago we were given permission to use 2 hours a week (this transfer only) to learn to use familysearch.org, and get a complete 4 generation family pedigree chart for
ourselves. Sister Sainsbury shared with us a miraculous experience she had a with her own family history work since being in Alabama, that prompted this decision. Then I received a letter from my dear friend on Friday, which told of another beautiful experience involving family history! It
reminded me of the sweet feeling both Sister Wright and I had after our lesson with Emma a couple weeks ago, when we sensed so clearly that there were people on both sides of the veil pulling for her, guiding her to the truth.

We've been using the 2hrs/wk to learn how to index and work on our 4 generation family charts.. which proves difficult with the lack of communication with family. But I'm praying to know how else Heavenly Father would have me use this tool in my work. I want to be able to teach people how to use familysearch.org, so I'm trying to get familiar with it.. I'm not sure what else to do, but I definitely have a testimony that it's going to be a powerful tool out here.

Well I love you all so much! I hope you have a great week.
Love Teirs

OH I forgot to say how excited I am for Alison's baptism this Saturday!!!!
It's finally happening!!!!! Expect pics next week 😊🌊