Monday, September 21, 2015
Familia
y Amigos,
Wow, what an excellent
week! It started out with an awesome P-day hearing from my family and receiving
support and love from them. I was especially touched by some news from my mom
about an aunt I have who has always been a shining example to me. Her name is
Sherri and right now she is battling stage 4 cancer in her brain, eye, and
spine. On Monday my mom told me that they´ve now found it spreading into her
lungs. We found out about her cancer before I came on the mission and I told my
mom to keep me updated on how she was doing. Even though she is fighting for
her life, her attitude is exemplary. She has completely put her life in the
Lord´s hands and is using this trial as an opportunity to learn and grow closer
to the Lord. She frequently posts about her faith, how it´s helping her to
continue on every day, and the things she is learning from this whole
experience. She always talks about "her miracle" and really believes
that the Lord can heal her. This week however, my mom sent me what she has written
recently about how she´s doing. My aunt talked about how for so long she has
had such firm faith that God would provide her "her miracle" and she
would be able to beat this cancer, however recently she has been realizing that
the miracle has been happening all along. She talked about how her relationship
with Christ has increased dramatically, she understands the atonement in a
whole new light, and most of all she has seen that she herself has completely
changed and is becoming more and more like Christ. She said that for her, this
is the greatest miracle of all.
It reminded me of a quote that I have from
Elder Dallin H. Oaks that says,
"Changing bodies
or protecting temples are miracles, but an even greater miracle is a mighty
change of heart by a son or daughter of God. A change of heart, including new
attitudes, priorities, and desires is greater and more important than any miracle
involving the body. I repeat, the body will be resurrected in any event, but a
change affecting what the scriptures call the "heart" of a spirit son
or daughter of God is a change whose effect is eternal. If of the right kind,
the change opens the door to the process of repentance that cleanses us to
dwell in the presence of God. It introduces the perspective and priorities that
lead us to make the choices that qualify us for eternal life, "the
greatest of all the gifts of God."
It got me
thinking so much about how good God is and how great his plan is. Then we got
to go and listen to Elder Godoy from the 70 on Wednesday talk about
our worth and potential as missionaries and as children of God, and about how
we should not only be in the process of changing lives of others, but of our
own, it really made a profound impact on me. Then to add the cherry on top, we
got to go to the temple with the ward on Friday and bring our recent
convert as well as 2 more from the other Hermanas. What a beautiful experience
to bring these precious souls to the house of God and let them taste of the joy
that is there and what they can feel as they continue on this path and draw
closer to him. As I sat and talked with L..., our recent convert, she kept
expressing to me how happy she was but yet how sad that she hadn´t accepted the
gospel into her life sooner. Almost all of her kids are members and she just
recently decided it was her turn to join the church. It´s so amazing to see the
love and mercy God has for each one of his children and the great plan he has
for each of us. We are here to become like him, to grow, to learn, to change.
And that is the greatest miracle of all, the most important miracle to
him.
I love being a
missionary and I receive so much joy from seeing the changes in the lives of
the people. We really saw miracles this week and know the Lord is with us in
our work. Please keep praying for J...y, J..., and Y.... Also I... Q... and her family. They are recently activated members and she is separated
from her husband and struggling to make ends meet. And it doesn´t help that her
husband keeps coming around to cause trouble.
Hope you all have a
great week! Remember to keep the eternal perspective in mind and look for how
the Lord is working his miracles in your life. How is he changing you and how
are you becoming the person he created you to be. Love you all!!!
Hermana Cox
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