One year ago on August 24th 2016 I reported to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, preparatory to entering the Florida Orlando Mission. The year that passed has been filled with spiritual enlightenment and testimony building experiences through miracles of the Lord, as well as many emotional peaks and valleys in between. Back in the June Ensign of this year, President Monson put it perfectly:
"As you serve, you will build rich eternal memories and friendships. I know of no field which produces a more bounteous harvest of happiness than the mission field."
In the MTC, I had what I now call the quad. It comprised of my MTC companion, Sister Padgett, and I as well as the other sister companionship in our district; Sister Staten and Sister Day. The first three going to the FOM and the last, Sister Day, heading to Brisbane, Australia. I've been blessed enough to see my remaining quad sisters at Zone conferences, but I've never served around them, until now! Sister Staten is the newest STL on the force and she's mine. Not only that, but we got to go on exchanges on Saturday!
We were able to contact a few choice people, including a cool guy named Jeremy who owns and operates his own little family portable barbecue. They set up a tent on a corner in our area every Saturday and barbecue. He was at the grill and we got to talk to him for a minute. He was a super chill guy, chillin and grillin. It's the end of the month, so we were too broke to stay and purchase anything, but we promised we'd stop back by the first weekend of September 😊
Sister Staten and I also got to stop by a baby shower for a member of our relief society presidency which was adorable and fun, as baby showers tend to be. There was a multiple choice game where you guessed what the moms answer to various questions were and whoever knows her best and got the most same responses won. I ended up winning. I shouted, "Sister Becker, I know you, I've been to your house!" and someone else said, "Once?" and I said, "Yep." and so I got an extravagant gift bag and felt a little guilty. But now our apartment has cute little oven mitts and a refreshing citrus candle we can't light. Woo hoo!
Our investigator, Gladys, is the light of my life. She is so prepared! We taught her the plan of salvation this week and she understood and accepted so readily. She asked inspired and insightful questions that showed she was thinking and learning. She started reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning and was so touched with Joseph Smiths testimony and account of obtaining the record. She came to Sacrament and Gospel Principles on Sunday and participated in class. Wow, she's amazing. I love her. She's a single mother of now adult children, the youngest being 24, and moved to Florida from Venezuela 10+ years ago. One of our members has been a long time friend of hers and has carefully awaited the time that she was prepared to hear the Gospel. The time came a few weeks ago when Gladys asked to learn more!
She's so funny, when we finally got to the part of the plan of salvation lesson where final judgement happens she said, "oh they better be ready!" and did that drop snap thing that all the youths are doing nowadays. It was classic.
As for Jimmy, we got to do a video chat lesson not once, but twice this week with him! We've been allowed to have video lessons for a few months, but this is the first time someone has finally agreed to have one with us. Unfortunately, his brother Curtis wasn't able to join either time. On Wednesday we had a brief call with him and Brother Watson joined us (our Ward Mission Leader) and it was neat. He didn't have a lot of time and we had poor connection, but He and Brother Watson were able to discuss where he's reading in the Isaiah chapters of the Book of Mormon. (He's so good at reading!) Friday we had our regularly scheduled lesson over video chat as well due to my suffering from allergies. (I get over a stomach virus one week, and get horrible head cold symptom allergies the next. C'est la vie.) We had much better connection and were able to have a nice direct lesson.
He's praying about coming to church but has not received an answer. We finished talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ. We focused on baptism being a covenant that we renew through the sacrament. He remembered all of it and followed along. He was able to answer all the questions really well. He even bore his testimony about the importance of the sacrament! We talked about these things have power because of the priesthood. HE connected the dots about the answer he's received that the Book of Mormon is true and knowing the priesthood has been restored! But when we invited him to church (especially gospel principles class because he likes smaller groups), he said no. He admitted he doesn't like meeting new people, and gave various other reasons but we think it really boils down to social anxiety.
He's so close and Satan is cracking down on him. Every time we feel like we are on track and moving forward a wrench gets thrown. But he can do it, we know he can, we're just praying so hard he will choose to.
I am so blessed to be learning and growing everyday and to be able to touch and uplift lives and build eternal relationships while I do so. What an honor. Sometimes I sit back in disbelief that the Lord calls such weak and simple servants to do His work, and wonder why. It is because He loves us so much, and that this work is such a wonderful joyous labor, that He shares it with us. He does not need us for His word and His work to go forth, but because He loves us that much, He let's us be a part of it.
That's why Alma 29 has come to be one of my favorite chapters of scripture, because it encapsulates so perfectly how I often feel:
"1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!
2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.
3 But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.
9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.
10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me. "
I am grateful for this past year I have been blessed to labor in the full time service of the Lord and I look forward to many more in and out of the field. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God. I know that He lived, died, and lives again for us. I know He established and organized His church while he was on the earth with God's authority. I know that same church has been restored to the earth today in its fullness with the same Priesthood authority by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God through His prophets in the ancient Americas, and that their purpose and the purpose of this record is to testify of Jesus Christ. I know that the Prophet Joseph Smith found and translated this record by the power of God. I know that this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is the only church where the ordinances required for salvation are done by God's Priesthood authority. I know this is true. It's all true. I know this because I prayed, and Heavenly Father answered my prayer.
We are not forgotten, we are not alone, and we are not unheard.
Fear not little flock,
-Sister Olivia Petty📘
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