I call you friend

Zebulon missionaries


 

July 10, 2022

 

Dear family and friends,

 

It has been one year since I was set apart to be a missionary.  I’m not gonna to lie; it’s been hard and not at all what I expected.  At District Council last week our district leader, Elder Moulton, had us read our mission call letters.  I had only read mine once before and at the time I was so focused on where I was going that I didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the letter.

 

The mission calls of the young missionaries and mine were very similar except that while theirs said that they would be blessed for their service, mine said I and my family would be blessed! This surprised all of us and made me feel super happy and hopeful!  I had just found out that my step-mother (and other family members) have Covid L and I had been contemplating going home to take care of my family.  This caused my mind to do a complete turn-about--like Alma when he returned to the City of Ammonihah to finish his mission there. (See Alma 8:18) I feel confident that I can finish what the Lord has sent me here to do and that my family will be blessed.

 

ice cream

Someone once said, “Preach the gospel always; use words if necessary.”  Most of my preaching is the second type.  But on Tuesday, I got to use words! Hermanas Morales & Johnson and our friend Omar and I went to visit our new friend Saul where we taught a lesson about God’s Plan of Salvation.  It was inspiring, especially to hear Omar (who was baptized just 2 months ago) testify of the truthfulness of the gospel and how it has blessed his life.  I know we have a loving Father in Heaven who is mindful of us and wants to bless us.  It is a privilege to be an instrument in His hands as I serve others.

 

On Thursday afternoon I helped deliver food to refugees.  One woman invited me in and showed me her English lessons.  She had filled many pages in a notebook with English words and phrases that she was learning.  I had met her a couple times before, but I couldn’t remember her name.  Just as I was about to ask her name, I heard myself say it!  “Habiba.”  (That was minor miracle🙏)  I told her my name and she said, “I call you friend.” 😊 This made me think of what the Savior said to his apostles, “I have called you friends…” (John 15:15) I can’t think of a greater compliment!

 

It started raining as I was driving to my last stop.  By the time I got there, it was a downpour💧💧💧.  Just walking from my car to the front door (less than 10 feet) soaked me!  And the porch had no covering!  So, all the rain that hit the roof ran down the roof and onto me!  I got soaked through and through!  

 

Caught in the rain

I think that God’s blessings are like rain--it depends on where we’re standing.  Maybe that’s why the Lord tells us to “stand in holy places.”  

 

I love you all!

 

Sister Manwaring


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