Sweet Is The Work: "Go Do It!"

Hello!

This week was so good. So many happy things.

First, we had a meeting for all the sister training leaders down in Richmond! We drove down Tuesday evening and I got to spend the night proselyting in Chippenham!

So I got to see lots of people from my first area and go street contacting at VCU.

Love that place with my whole heart.

Then we got to spend the night at the mission home!

Then the next day we had our meeting and it was just such a spiritual boost! I learned a lot about how to be a more Christ-like leader.

And I've learned a lot about weaknesses lately.

President asked me to share my testimony at the meeting and I read this scripture:

Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

I love that. And I know its true. Missions seem to show you all of your weaknesses.... like a lot. And sometimes it can be a lot to overcome.

But I'm so grateful that His grace is enough. Even when we mess up or fall short or don't live up to our potential.

He is always there to lift us if we are humble.

I also hit my year mark on Thursday.........WHAT. That is so weird.

But I had a letter that I wrote to myself in the MTC to open on my year mark and I wrote on it, "Open July 16, 2015" so I did!

And it made me cry haha.

I typed it up, here you go!

"Dear Sister Fowers,

When you read this you will have been on your mission for a whole year! Gosh, that is crazy to imagine. I hope it's been the best year of your whole life.
I hope you have learned so much and are still working to be the missionary the Lord wants you to be.
I'm writing this letter in my last class at the MTC. I am so excited to leave in two days and just get into the field! I can't wait to meet my mission president, companion, and all the people there. I'm also nervous though! It's scary and it's a big leap of faith. I don't feel totally ready but honestly is anyone ever ready?
I don't think so. So, I'm just going to go out there and work my hardest with a big smile on my face. I hope that I can love the people I serve and teach with my whole heart and give everything I have to them.
I can't wait to see the hope in their eyes as I tell them about this gospel. I can't wait to see the peace on their face as they enter the waters of baptism.
I know it's going to be so hard, and there will be days when all I'll want to do is quit. But don't quit! Keep going until the very end because you'll never get this opportunity again.
People are counting on you and watching you, so be an example.
Don't get discouraged when things don't play out like you want them to.
Just give it your all and leave the rest to God. He will make everything right in the end.
Don't turn back on your testimony and never leave someone wondering if you have one.
I know that this mission is what God wants me to be doing and I know He is preparing people for me.
So finish strong.
Make Him proud.
Because He has given you everything and now it's your turn to give back to Him.
Enjoy the journey, especially the hard times because they'll teach you the most.
Love the people and keep smiling.
This gospel is true and you have work to do!
Go do it.

Sister Fowers"

It is so crazy that it has been a whole year since I wrote that sitting in my little MTC classroom.

But its been the best year :)

I'm so grateful I chose to serve. Best decision ever :)

Anyway, we celebrated Austin's birthday on Friday! He chose his baptism day specifically, so that it would be the day after his birthday :) We gave him a little gift and a cupcake and had an awesome lesson on Mosiah 18 and baptismal covenants. He is the most prepared person I have ever taught! I feel like I've done nothing, he was just so ready and accepted everything from the start.

Then on Saturday we had his baptism!!!!

It was such a spiritual experience for me.

We had some stresses leading up to it (including not being able to unlock the sliding door thing to the font....) but it all came together at the last minute! His friends Chris and Ty, that introduced him to the church baptized and confirmed him and spoke at his baptism.

Sister Johns and I played and sang "Savior, Redeemer of My Soul" and it went great.

When Austin came out of the water he just put his hands together like he was praying and just had the biggest smile on his face.

It was definitely a moment I'll never forget.

Then it was so cool because Austin has always struggled with depression and anxiety, but ever since he started meeting with us, he's been so much better. When he gave his testimony during the baptism he got up and said, "I have been stressing over what to say during this for days. Today I was just laying in bed thinking and praying and I just realized that..... God wants us to be happy. He just wants to bless us and we just need to stay on the path." Then he talked about how ever since he started living the Word of Wisdom and keeping the commandments that his anxiety has been gone and that it was a miracle that he could even stand there and share his testimony in front of people and feel calm. Then at the end he said, "I not only know that this is all true, but that it brings us closer to God."

There is nothing like the pure joy that you feel as a missionary :)

Then on Sunday he said he felt so much peace as he was confirmed!

Miracles are happening! Its so exciting!

Funny tidbit of the week: I cut my companion's hair. With craft scissors. Hahahaha. It turned out pretty nicely, surprisingly :)

We also had a huge miracle with a former investigator that Sister Johns taught when she was here at the beginning of her mission! Her name is Nana and she is from Africa! We just happened to be able to find her, because she's super hard to get in contact with. But we talked with her and she wants to be baptized! But her dad won't let her :(

So we said a prayer with her and she asked God to soften her dad's heart and said that she wants to be baptized on August 9th!

So it will take a miracle, but I have faith :)

Pray for her!

Other than that, we've just been trying to find new investigators and been stressing because we got the Area Book app on our ipads and have to put every single teaching record in........ its going to take ages. But whatevs haha :)

I hope you all are doing great! Keep sharing the gospel and being awesome! Love you!

XOXO,

Sister Fowers

pics: year mark and my favorite multi-colored tree