Monday, May 16, 2016

Weekly Email May 16, 2016

Hey y'all!
so this week was overall good. honestly the days all run together..i don't know if thats a good or a bad thing. we went finding a lot this week! we are just trying to find people who are prepared and i feel at times were looking in all the wrong places but i know that we are planting seeds. sister nau and i got uber hungry after emailing so we went to ihop and i got the cupcake pancakes. I LOVE BREAKFAST. it is the BEST. 
 we were able to do service for a less active member this week and that was super awesome. she really just helped us out more than we did her! its nice to get to know the members better and to be able to do work for them! its also really hard for me not to hurt when the members are going through really hard things. There are a few people in the wards that are just struggling big time and i cant help but cry out to heavenly father for them and ask that i can know what to do for them. 

okay on to my favorite part of my month!!! I WENT TO THE TEMPLE!!! It was such an incredible experience. I was able to take my family names and i had a few sisters and elders do them too. What really stuck out to me was that Christ sacrificed so much for each of us and we too are going to have to make some heavy sacrifices. whether that be our time, comfort, materialistic things , family etc. i am very grateful for the sacrifices i made to come out on a mission... and the definition of a sacrifice is to give something up of value for something of greater worth or goal. we are going to have to sacrifice a lot to become like the savior but we must remember that he did it so he can succor us. sister Austin at the temple told us a scripture in Malachi 3:2-3
"..for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers’ soap:
 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." she said that they talked to a blacksmith and he said that you cannot just leave silver to refine it you must watch it while the heat purifies. They also asked him well how do you know that it is ready? The blacksmith said...when i can see myself in it. The savior is our blacksmith he is refining us and is watching over us. he loves us! he wants us to become more like him, that is the goal!
HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, thy dross to consume,
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

The lord sees past all of our dross and he will allow us to access his grace because it is sufficient for all. I testify that the things that we go through are for our benefit, they are so that we can better see the savior in ourselves, and along the way we help other recognize as well. I love this work. I know the gospel is true. This is Jesus Christ church restored back onto the earth in these latter days. I testify that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They live and because they live i know we can too! Have a great week and i'd invite you all to draw closer to becoming more like the Savior in whatever way you worship him! 

Love,
Sister Russell









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