Melbourne Mission Moments
I can't
believe it's September 2014 and I've been out for 17 months now. It has gone so
incredibly fast. As I've started my last transfer this week, I've been doing a
lot of reflecting on where I've come and who I've become over the past 17
months. I have truly been changed. The mission has been my ultimate refiner’s
fire, shaping me into what my Heavenly Father wants and needs me to be. I'm so
grateful for the time that I have left. There's still more changing that I want
to do. I feel like it's time to really turn up the heat and do everything that
I can during this time. A mission is an experience unlike anything else and I
don't want to waste a single second that I have left. That being said, it was a
bit of a slow week because both me and my companion got sick which forced us to
slow down a bit. However, Heavenly Father made it up to us with the time we had
to spend taking care of ourselves.
Monday was my last day with Sister W.
We spent most of the day running errands, getting her final things packed, and
saying a few final goodbyes. The members here are so wonderful and really loved
Sister W. After our last appointment, we left to drive in to Wantirna to stay
at the mission home for the night. I love President and Sister Maxwell so much.
They are such wonderful people. When we got to the mission home, Sister W went
straight to bed but I stayed up until about 12:30 helping Sister Maxwell in the
kitchen with some food that she was preparing for the following day. I love
spending time with Sister Maxwell. In many ways she reminds me of mom.
 |
| My last day with Sister W |
Tuesday morning we got up early and
got ready then went to the temple with all of the departing missionaries and
their companions. There were about 16 missionaries leaving so it was a very
full session. We saw the third new temple film which was really good. I find
that each film highlights different things and I learned so much. More than
anything I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of Heavenly Father's love that I
felt. I love that I always feel that when I am in the temple. I felt reassured
that Heavenly Father loves me and is proud of me and that this is where he
wants me at this time. It was really special to be in the Celestial room with
so many missionaries that I love so much. As I hugged Sister R, we both just
cried. I love that girl so much. I know that we needed to meet each other. She
has impacted my life for good and I will be forever grateful for her influence
and friendship.
 |
| With my new companion |
After the temple session we had our transfer meeting. Because
there were so many departing missionaries that needed to bear testimonies, the
meeting went quite long but it was so good. My new companion is Sister V from
South Africa! I love her! She's a new Sister Training Leader so after transfer
meeting finished we had to go to the "train the leaders" meeting.
After that we had to figure out who was going where, and how everyone was
getting there. We ended up having to hook up a trailer to our car to put
everyone's luggage in so we could fill the cars with bodies. Before we left, I
said final goodbyes to the missionaries that were leaving. It was
especially hard to say goodbye to Sister R, Sister H and Sister W (the sisters
that were in the MTC with me). We had to drive all over our zone that night
dropping off missionaries and luggage and by the time we finally got home, it
was time to plan and go to bed.
 |
| I love these sisters from my original MTC group-- so hard to say goodbye. |
Wednesday morning I woke up feeling
really sick and I was in bed the entire day with a fever. I felt miserable. I
was hot then cold then hot again. We had to cancel a lot of our appointments
but luckily we were able to get a hold of everyone. I knew I had a fever but I
didn't know how high it was until that night. About 6pm I finally found my
thermometer and I was running a fever of 103 degrees (and that was with taking
ibuprofen). When I saw how high it was, we called the Elders and they gave me a
blessing and then we headed off to the doctor. The doctor gave me some
antibiotics. I've had a bit of a cold the rest of the week but I am feeling
much much better now! Sister V got the same thing so we both have been a bit
under the weather. It's really going around-- Sister Maxwell was sick too and
she said about 30 missionaries all had the same symptoms. Fun, huh?
Thursday we had district meeting in
the morning. That afternoon we had a lesson with F from NZ. We taught him the
Restoration and the spirit was so strong. We invited him to be baptized on
September 20th and he accepted! We're having FHE with him at a member's tonight
and we're really looking forward to that. After F, we went and saw K and had a
good lesson about how much God loves us and why he gives us challenges and
trials. Then we went and had dinner with a family in the ward who are straight
from Samoa. I'm grateful for the members and their goodness. After dinner we
went to Bishops so he could meet Sister V.
Friday morning we had to get up early
and head to the mission home for MLC. I am so grateful for the opportunity I
have to attend MLC. It is so uplifting and I always feel so blessed to be in a
room with such wonderful Elders and Sisters. Just a few highlights of things I
learned:
- We should have
an eternal love affair with learning of the life of Christ and trying to
emulate Him.
- It's better to
be respected than to be liked
- Great leaders
are always asking "Who can I serve now?"
- Spiritual
weariness is a result of spiritual malnourishment
- Help people to
let Christ change their hearts.
- God can use
people like us.
 |
| Me and Sister S at MLC |
By the time we finished MLC and
traveled back through all of the traffic, it was about 7:45 pm. We went
straight to the chapel for the ward RS activity. The theme was "When Life
Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade." It was really good! At the end they had
all sorts of lemon desserts and treats which was fun!
Saturday we got to be involved with a
mini-mission for one of the wards in our stake. I love being able to work with
youth and have an influence on them. It was a really good day! We got to bring the
sweetest young women out with us to work.
 |
| With the YW for the mini-mission |
Sunday was so full of miracles. With
everything that happened during the week, we didn't have time to do much
finding during the week so we went out expecting to see miracles before church!
We also got to do a bit of finding after church and we ended up with a total of
10 new contacts and 5 new investigators in one day! Numbers wise, it was the
best day of my entire mission. Heavenly Father guided us to the very area in
which we needed to tract and put people in our path who were prepared to accept
the gospel! It was so awesome.
I am grateful for the way that
Heavenly Father blesses us when we do all that we can! I have seen so many
miracles throughout my mission. Have miracles ceased... Nay! I am so grateful for
the time that I have left to continue to do the Lord's work. I am so grateful
to have Sister V as my final companion. She loves the work as much as I do and
her faith inspires me. I know that we are going to continue to see big miracles
this transfer!
Love y'all heaps!
Sister Baker xxx
P.S.
The weather this past week has been
AMAZING!
No comments:
Post a Comment