Obedience Blesses Our Lives
July 28, 2017

Hobit Land

Last week, Sister Lewis and I, as well as the Zone Leaders and some District Leaders had a meeting in a Manchester, NH.   When we travel far, we stay in the  mission home. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love staying at the mission home with President and Sister Blair!! You walk into their home and you feel like you are worth more than anything in the world. I hope to acquire that skill someday.   Making others feel loved, valued and needed is a special talent.

Dinner

District PDay Fun!

Yummy Food

In our meetings we discussed how we can get members involved with missionary work. So I guess I'll pose that question to you! What gets you excited about missionary work?    For me, it comes down to the "why".  Why is the the Gospel of the Good News?  Why is our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ so exciting?  How does it change us? Change our lives?  Our reaction to pain and suffering? When we get down to the "Why", we remember that the gospel is a glorious gift, and as members, if we pray for a desire to share it,  and are willing to follow promptings, Heavenly Father will put us to work.

Now, to the highlight of the week. SHERRY WAS BAPTIZED!!!!! I can't even begin to explain the spirit that was there.  I don't think I can ever explain Sherry in words that

would do her justice. She's like a mom away from home, a friend in the gospel, a beloved sister.  She is reading the Book of Mormon, and I love how excited and inspired she is as she experiences the power in that great book. I just love her, and her testimony. This last week we asked her what she would say to someone struggling in life and her reply was, " To read
the Book of Mormon. If that doesn't change your life I don't know what will."

Back the the baptism -- let's just say that after the font had filled up for and over an hour, the water was ice cold, but we couldn't figure out how to drain the water. So, we improvised and drained it , bucket by bucket, just to find out there was no warm water in the water heater. BRRR!! Despite the freezing water, Sherry was baptized.  Most of the audience was filled with nonmembers, and Sherry bore her testimony of the Book of Mormon and the truthfulness of the church. I hope those in attendance were able to feel the Spirit testify of the truth!

Other than the Baptism, we started teaching two little girls this week, and I don't think I have ever heard a more sincere prayer.  As one of the little girls was saying the closing prayer she
said " God, please let me know if you are there. Even if it's later. I just need to know you are there and that you love me. "  She is 10 years old, and has more faith than most twice her age.

Because Sister Lewis and I are over two zones of Sisters, we had two Zone Conferences to attend and teach at, and two exchanges this week. We have been living out of our car. ( Not really, but close)

Exchanges with the Saco Sisters and the Cornish Sisters went really well. I love being able to go and find new ways to be a missionary.

Being obedient, even to the little things, blesses our lives.  I'm not sure if it is just because we were traveling so much this week, but I've been conscious about going the speed limit.  ( For those of you who know me, let's just say that isn't a talent that comes naturally.) But I've been doing better.

We had an opportunity to play softball at our ward BBQ, but half-way through the game, I felt as if we needed to go. I'm not sure why. I just felt a big urge to be out proselyting. So we left. We were driving down Maine Avenue, and I put the car on cruise control to make sure I wouldn't speed.  Right in front of us a woman was T-boned.  I feel like had  I been speeding, Sister Lewis and I could have been entangled in a pretty nasty wreck.  Instead AND because I was being obedient, we were able to stop the car in time.  We were able to call 911, although we were in a dead zone where we never have cell service, and we were able to grab the girl out of the car and get her to safety.

In these moments, I realized how God's plan is much bigger than mine. I had a urge to go and find people to teach, He had us be there for a single mom who was in a car accident. We were instruments in His hands as we talked and calmed her down, and in the end, we now have an invitation to her home, and an opportunity to teach her and her children. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

I am forever grateful that I don't need to understand the who, what, and why of everything, but that I can take comfort in my FAITH and move forward.

I am so grateful to be apart of the work here in New England. I love every moment of it.

Below is a video that demonstrates my "WHY".  I love this gospel , I love my Savior, and I know this gospel is true.  The Book of Mormon changes lives and is the Word of God.

Love you all!

Sister Scherzinger