Sister Olivia Sparks: Week 63

Hello!

This week was so great! Sister Sibley was emergency transferred to another area, so it's just Sister Hadzik and me here! We had to do a lot to get Sister Sibley ready to go. We went through the area book and wrote down her whole brain haha. It's sad to see her go, but I'm confident she will do wonders for the people in Greensburg. Sister Hadzik and I are doing well alone here so far! Of course it's a bit stressful to have such area and not know where anything is, but the ward is a wonderful help! Funny story though--we got lost on the way to church and finally realized we were driving away from our house for a good 10 minutes...oops!

President Donaldsen from The District came and gave us a training....wow. I've never filled up a notebook so fast!!! We immediately implemented the things we learned, and now we have someone who is SO SINCERE set with a baptismal date of May 30!! He is seriously so cool. He reads so much, and he prayed about the Book of Mormon and said he's never felt anything like what he felt before. We're so amazed at the rapid progress he's making! It's honestly because he's sincere in his efforts....it's as if we literally do nothing as missionaries except show him pictures in a pamphlet haha. Of course we do more than that, but it has been so smooth!

Something cool has happened today! We met a boy a few weeks ago who was pretty interested in learning about our message, but didn't have a working phone and didn't know of a specific time we could set up an appointment. We continue to see him places and share little bits of our message. As we started emailing, he walks into the library and tells us he's had a horrible day so far. We ask him about what's going on, and he shares with us his desires to support his daughter, but is just having a really hard time. We just turned to him and bore our testimonies of God's love for His children. We promised obedience brings blessings spiritual and temporal. We promised God would take care of his family's needs as he accepts and acts on our message. We told him it's not a coincidence that the day he needs help most he runs into us. God put us in his path. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to build my brothers and sisters up. There's a special feeling that comes when we strengthen our brethren. :) I am so happy!!

Something I loved learning about is how we access the Atonement through ordinances. In D&C 84:21-22 we learn this. Substitute the word "Atonement" for "power of godliness." "Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the Atonement is manifest. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the Atonement is not manifest unto men in the flesh." How powerful is that? A man must be called and ordained of God in order to perform saving ordinances such as baptism. This Priesthood was restored to the earth when Joseph Smith was visited by John the Baptist and later Peter, James, and John. This is true!!!! For those who have received these ordinances through the Priesthood, listen to the Lord's advice to Emma Smith in D&C 25:13, "Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made." May we CLEAVE to the sacred promises we have made with God. Cherish them, remember them, and LIVE them.

I love you all!

Love,

Sister Sparks

newspaper clipping from community cafe.