I am sad to say that we are no longer in our trio. We absolutely loved being able to spend a week with Sister Leha' Uli and are happy that she is still serving around us. She stayed with us all the way up through Thursday this week and I'm so glad she did. A lot happened with the three of us.
One thing that happened was that on Tuesday we had an earthquake! I have never been in one before so it was kinda terrifying. Thankfully it wasn't too bad where we were at. Nothing was damaged and we are all doing good here! That will be an experience I remember forever though!
We had to make an emergency run to Mountain Home for Sister Leha Uli. So on Wednesday we made a quick trip there and back. Well, on the way we were in an awful storm. I mean crazy wind, rain, hail, and tumbleweeds comin at you down the road everywhere! Well we had a really cool experience. Sister Anglin was driving and I was in the passenger seat with Sister Leha Uli in the back. We were in the very right lane going 80 mph down the freeway. We were about half way there and Sister Anglin noticed our car was almost about to hit the rumble strips on the side. She turned the wheel to move over but the steering wheel would not turn. She was so confused and kept trying to move it but it was locked in place. She looked over and on our left, the car next to us veered into our lane. If she had corrected we would have collided right with the other car and things would not have ended up very good. I didn't realize all of this while we were driving. Sister Anglin called out to me and said, "Sister Beutler....ummm something just happened." When she told me I was in shock. We were literally being protected! I think I am realizing more and more every day that the Lord is watching over us and he is actively involved in this work.
Transfers were kinda interesting this week. Because of this virus we could not meet up like usual and get everyone moved around so we got to be the transfer van! All of the Zone Leaders and STLs were given a road map of who we had to take where and what times to meet. This was actually kinda fun and was a super efficient way to do it. I actually think I liked it better. We were just in charge of driving Sisters from one spot to another and would pass off the missionaries to another vehicle. It was like this underground missionary transport system :)
Ok, so remember Natalya from last week? Her mom was the one that texted us saying that she wanted to meet with us and be baptized! We set up a lesson with her for this week and it was so great! We are going to be meeting with her twice a week. She told us that she wants to be baptized as soon as she can (after all this virus stuff gets a little better). She shared with us some really cool experiences that have happened in her life that have shown her God loves and is aware of her. I am so impressed with her desire to learn and know that this is going to bless her life.
One of my greatest highlights of the week was General Conference!!! I seriously look forward to this so much! I am already looking forward to October when we get to listen to our Prophet and apostles again! So, something always stands out to me during conference, but this time I felt like every talk spoke to my needs. I felt like I learned so much about revelation and how to receive it. I am being honest, I am really struggling with figuring out what to do with my life when I get home (because it is coming up). I felt so comforted as I listened to the speakers this weekend. I felt so strongly that Heavenly Father trusts me to make a decision and wants me to rely on him. So, I am making a plan on how to do that better and I know that as I do that answers WILL come. The whole theme of General Conference was the Restoration of the Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that my prayers will be answered. The Restoration teaches me that and that God is actively involved in the world right now.
We have been seeing miracles left and right! During conference, we got a text from a member in one of our wards and he told us about a woman that wants to meet with us!! We reached out to her and have a video call set up for tomorrow. Today, like just barely... we got a text from another woman that we have been trying to meet over and over again. She literally just texted us in response to a message we sent over a month ago and said she wants to meet!!!! We are blown away with how this work is increasing! The world is going crazy, but this is just beginning. I got the feel during conference that God is not backing down. This is a time that God is needed more than ever. How wonderful is it that we get to celebrate this weekend His life, death, and resurrection! I think there is so much to be learning right now in these times.
Sister Anglin and I got a call from President Nygaard this week and he extended a calling to us to be the Sister Social Media Specialists in our mission!! I was a little taken aback at that. I mean, I do not do technology. These past few weeks have been rough on me enough, but to be called to teach other people about it and be an "expert." I was at first a little skeptical that I am the right person for this job. President told us that he prayed about it and felt that it needed to be us. So, we are taking off on another assignment and are going to balance this and being STLs at the same time. We had a 2 hour call with the area presidency this morning and other missionaries and mission presidents around the region. I feel a little more hope now and I think this is going to be a fantastic opportunity to grow.
Speaking of growing, I've come to a few conclusions this week. I realized that Heavenly Father is answering my prayers PLAIN AS DAY WOW. Okay so Sister Anglin and I are best friends right?? We've been together almost 7 months and we've never argued or anything. Well it's a blessing and a curse. Because we are so comfortable around each other it's easier to get distracted and stuff. Sometimes it feels like I'm in college with an awesome roommate haha. So we have been praying to grow more. Because when I'm in a new area with a new companion, I pray so hard and I study like there's no tomorrow. But when I'm with a companion for so long and in an area for a bit, it's easy to forget to pray and study like that. So we have both been praying to grow more. (That's a risky prayer haha) And then we find out that we cover one extra set of sisters than all the other STL's and we were called into this new social media calling which is a FAT responsibility. But Sister Anglin and I were talking about it, we are growing so much with all of this! Heavenly Father is providing us with a ton of ways to grow and stretch! And then the prayers and study I have to CHOOSE. He wants me to choose to pray with all the energy of my soul even when my circumstances are comfortable and I'm not really struggling. He wants you to choose to do those things too.
I would also like to extend an invitation for everyone to join in the worldwide fast this Friday that President Nelson announced yesterday. We are being given this opportunity to join together and plead with Heavenly Father. As I said earlier, He WILL answer our prayers. He has done it over and over again and he is not going to leave us alone during these hard times.
I love you all so much! Keep going and being faithful!!
Love,
Sister Beutler
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| Serving at the Bishop's Storehouse |
