Miracle of the Day... Every Day

Area: Valley Hi/Heritage
Companion: Sister Sara Risenmay

You will not believe the miracles that have transpired! Let me just say that the Lord IS gathering his children from the four corners of the Earth. And he is gathering his children here, in the Texas San Antonio mission. To be even more specific, here in our area. I am not kidding when I say that EVERY DAY we are seeing miracles. We have so many investigators right now.

On Saturday morning (two days ago) at 11am, one of our Bishops called us and said that he had a referral for us. He told us that this young man had gotten in contact with some sister missionaries at the Independence, Missouri visitors center via Mormon.org. He is not from Texas, but has been here for several weeks for military training. He has took all of the lessons in his home town and he wanted to be baptized as soon as possible. We told the Bishop we were on it. You can imagine our excitement after receiving that phone call. We called this young man, right away. When he answered the phone we said, "We heard that you have taken lessons from missionaries before and that you would like to be baptized as soon as possible. Is that correct?" His response: "Yes ma'am." We set up an appointment to meet with him at 2:00 that day at the church. Sister Risenmay and I were aware of the possibility of him being baptized the next day, but we figured it would probably take a week. We had no way of knowing until after meeting him. Sure enough, at 2:00 we met him and his fiancé. The spirit immediately filled the room and we both received a witness that it was time for him to be baptized soon. We talked for a little bit and found out that he had received and interview to be baptized before coming to boot camp, but it wasn't quite time. He still had some questions about prophets. But while he was away he felt a witness of the truthfulness of the gospel. We had a bit of a lesson on the sabbath day, and asked him the baptismal interview questions to see where he was at. By the end, we asked him, "So when do you want to get baptized?" His response: "Today." There was no way to arrange it any other way. We couldn't do it on Sunday because he needed to be back on base by a certain time. We called up the district leader to come interview him, called President Slaughter, and moved forward. We excused ourselves to another room. We now had one hour to organize and plan a baptism. The first thing we did was kneel in prayer. Everything was moving so fast. It was not humanly possible for us to do what we were doing in the time we were doing it. Plus we were unsure about whether it was the right thing to do. After praying, we got up and called the Bishop. Amazingly it all came together. We were able to call the zone leaders to come help us, Bishop gathered some people, we called people and created the program on spot. Our district leader and his companion told us that they were available any time during the day to help us, except for 4:00. Which was when it would be happening. Right after the interview however, their appointment cancelled. It just so happens that Elder Reimsheusul already had a talk prepared on baptism, and his companion, Elder Atagi, had been studying the Holy Ghost. Two talks, done. We had some ward missionaries help with the prayers, and a few ward members were able to drop everything and be there. It was a small, but powerful service. We both had a very peaceful feeling that this was right. Our Bishop just got back from being away, and was able to share with them some things they really needed to hear. It was perfect, and so miraculous. I have to say, I have never experienced meeting someone then planning their baptism in less than an hour. I have seen the majesty of our almighty God parting the Red Sea to allow this young man to be baptized right when he needed to be. He leaves in a week or so because he's being transferred. There was literally no other way, and it happened! It was incredible!

{T} and {A} are doing amazing. We taught them three times this week and they are really progressing. I don't know if I've ever seen someone so prepared. They came to church on Sunday, which was huge. {A} loved it so much, that she went up and met the Bishop afterwards. This was the perfect sacrament meeting to have investigators at. Which is a blessing, because an entire pew  and more was filled with people that we have been teaching over the past week. Both less active, and investigators. {K} was confirmed by the Bishop on Sunday. Getting people to church is usually a struggle. So that, in and of itself was incredible.

To put it simply, my jaw is no longer dropping each day when someone incredibly prepared approaches us. I have simply decided to be grateful for the trust God has placed in us, and get to work baptizing all these people. We are here to baptize, and baptize we will. Because the lord has blessed us with multiple miraculous opportunities literally each day. There is no doubt in my mind that his work is moving forward full speed. We are preparing for the second coming of the Savior, and he is gathering his people. I am humbled to be an instrument in his hands, and will accomplish all that he asks us to do, whatever it may be.

Sincerely,
Sister Record

P.S. I've been studying the tree of life in depth for a couple weeks. It has everything to do with the gathering of Israel. I was going to go into depth about what I've learned with that, but I do not have time. Hopefully I'll get to share that with y'all soon. Here's one thought: In Revelation 22 John sees the vision of the tree of life. It so amazing!! You should read it with that in mind. :)

I love you all!

Pictures

At the church after our first evening of bike riding. Sister
Risenmay hasn't ridden her bike yet on her mission. It was so great!
(Don't worry, we do not bike at night. The church is home base for our
car when we put up our bikes and go home.)

Sister Risenmay and Sister Record: More bike riding. This is right after a meeting with one of our ward mission leaders. He took a few pictures.

Sister Risenmay and Sister Record: At the ward party, 1 hour after the baptism.

We were also exhausted. Completely wiped out. Ha ha.

After nightly planning, we were so happy from the miraculous day!

Walk Out the Door

Area: Valley Hi/Heritage
Companion: Sister Sara Risenmay

Dearest family and friends,

My heart is overjoyed as I reflect on this past week we've had. The miracles have been overwhelming. Every day we meet people who are so prepared and who recognize us as servants of the Lord. Almost every single person we meet is looking for a church and desires more. I wish I could share with you each miracle we have seen, but there is way too many. Sister Risenmay and I have focused on and discussed three main things this transfer:

1. Creating a culture of consecration. Or in other words, to love God.
2. Inspiring, rather than simply motivating or dictating
3. The power of unity

I have learned much about companionship unity on my mission. I can honestly say that every single one of my companions and I have become unified, and I love each of them dearly. What does it mean to be unified?

The Lord so beautifully instructs us in D&C 38:27, "...be one; and if ye are not one, ye are not mine."

That is pretty straight forward. If we are not one as disciples of Christ, we are not his. How can we properly represent Jesus Christ if we are not one? It doesn't work very well. The solution to any such struggle is this. We have the power to choose. Choose to love God and his children. Choose to be unified with those whom we serve with. Whether it be a spouse, a family member, a companion, etc. God has instilled in each of us a power that can be used to inherit all that he has, or abused to lead us into spiritual bondage. We are agents, not objects.

I have never experienced unity to the extent that I have with Sister Risenmay. I don't know what it is about Sister Risenmay, but we literally share the same vision in everything we do.

Yesterday we had three different classes to teach between the two wards we cover. As we set our stuff down in the gospel principles class after our second sacrament meeting, we needed to take a restroom break before teaching. We did not have a chance to get to the restroom because a member of the ward called from the other direction and told us that there were some people outside who weren't members that wanted to talk to us. We followed him outside and met a couple who were dressed in regular clothes. The woman, {A} was overwhelmed. She told us that she needed to be here. The man, {T}, was standing close behind and seemed very supportive. As we got to talking with them we found out that they had never been to our church before. They have both been going through a lot, and somehow just knew that this was where they needed to be. We looked at them and assured them that they had been led here by God. The moments those words left my mouth, {A} broke into tears and Sister Risenmay hugged her for a long time. {T} piped in and said that they just wanted to be a part of a good community and that he felt this is where they could find it. They explained that they're looking for a place to raise there family. {A} emphatically stated that she knows this is where they need to be because she could feel it. She was very adamant when she said, "I want to be here every single Sunday!" They didn't want to go inside right then because they felt uncomfortable with how they were dressed. We talked with them for a good 10 or 15 minutes. We are very excited to start teaching them tonight. They are incredibly prepared! When we walked inside we could barely contain our excitement. We looked at each other and whispered with a big smile, "What just happened??" and gave each other a big hug. Ha ha! Sister Risenmay and I were quite late to gospel principles. The regular teacher went ahead and got started.

Needless to say, we shared with our gospel principles class the miracle that had just occurred and testified that the Lord is truly preparing his people to receive the gospel. All we did was WALK OUT THE DOOR, and they were there. We shared that with the Elders quorum as well.

{H} is doing amazing. She has had some trials, but she isn't letting that stop her. It's been hard to set up appointments because of all that's been going on. So we just pop in on her and we're able to have a lesson that way. She is so ready. Her family who are the members are coming into town today. She's going to talk to them about a date for her to get baptized. She wants them to be there. They have no idea yet. We are planning to have a lesson with her while they're there, and we're thrilled to meet them. We just know that they will be thrilled to hear that {H} is finally ready to take that step! Despite some arthritic pain, she made it to church on Sunday, and was deeply touched during the sacrament, as we had left her with the sacrament prayers in Moroni 4 and 5 to read before coming. She told us just before they started passing the bread that she read the chapters.

There have been countless moments every single day that we just look at each other and stand amazed at the Lords hand guiding us. At one point last night we both wondered why there are so many miracles. Through the inspired words of our mission President this morning in his weekly email, we now know that it is very much a direct result of our unity and faithfulness to God that is opening the windows of Heaven in such a powerful way. There is indeed power in unity.

I love the Lord. I know that my companion loves the Lord. And I couldn't be more happy.

Sincerely,
Sister Record

Pictures

This is after an exchange with Sister Gagon, one of the new lead
sister training leaders. The sun was super bright...

After we went on exchanges with the Palo Alto Sisters, who live with us, Sister Risenmay and Sister Fullum (far left) made us a delicious breakfast of German pancakes and fruit.

We finished inputting one of our area books in the area book planner app. It is a lot of work. We celebrated with Sonic ice cream. Yum!

The Miracles of technology! We were able to be present at Sister Risenmay's investigators baptism. He lives up past Austin, while we're here in San Antonio. It was wonderful.

Sister Risenmay and I shortly after MLC the week before last.

Look at what my hair did, naturally! It looks like I curled it with a
curling iron, but it did that all by itself. I must have wrapped the
towel around my head just right or something... I wish it would do
that every day.

God Invites and Entices Us

Area: Valley Hi/Heritage
Companion: Sister Sara Risenmay

My dearest family and friends,

What a delight it is to serve God! He lives! The Spirit is very much at work in this part of the Lords vineyard. There are miracles happening left and right, every moment of every day.

The other day we were going to visit a less active couple. Bishop asked us to go see them a couple weeks ago but we were unable to access their neighborhood until we had passes to get in. Sister Risenmay and I got the passes and finally went by. As we were looking up the address she looked at me and said that there was a woman named {C} that she taught at the beginning of her mission who got baptized. And she married a man with the last name we were looking at. They moved, but no one rally knew where. Come to find out when we arrived, it was them! This woman was one of Sister Risenmay's first recent converts. They were so happy to see each other. They ran and gave each other a big hug. The power of the original missionary is real. What a tender mercy for Sister Risenmay to be here to help {C} regain that spark for the gospel again.

One night we were driving with a young couple in the ward because we are saving on miles for our car, and they came with us to {SR}'s home. They have been investigating for a long time, and would be baptized by now if it weren't for something they're working towards. We haven't seen them in a while, and decided to at least try and set up a return appointment. Luckily, the couple who came out with us have been fellowshipping {SR}. They're pretty good friends. When we knocked on their door, no one was home. So we wrote a note on a sticky note. As I was about to finish the note, they pulled up. It was perfect timing. They had been gone all day, and {S} just felt like they needed to go check up on the house. Rudy was initially resisting, but {S} kept thinking about it, so they came and we were their. They let us right in and we had a great lesson. {S} offered the opening prayer and said something to the effect of, "Thank you for sending the Watsons and the missionaries. I find it strange that the Watson's came and I've been thinking about them. I've been thinking about the Book of Mormon and want to get back..." Etc... Talk about a miracle!! First of all, we asked the Watsons two hours in advance if they could come, and they did. Two of our appointments fell through that evening, and the timing was perfect for us to be there right when they pulled up. And they both want to be more diligent in learning and accepting the gospel! Amazing! The miracles have been countless this week. There has been so much progress in such a short amount of time.

This is right after MLC. We have a lot of Sister training leaders this transfer. :)

We also had the wonderful opportunity to attend MLC and learn from our leaders. We talked a lot about creating the culture of the mission. The culture that has been established by leaders before us and the culture we are striving to nurture and grow is that of steadiness, obedience, and love for God. In one word, consecration. This transfer Sister Risenmay and I are focused on helping our sisters establish that culture not just now for the mission, but for the rest of their lives. We have come in contact with too many return missionaries who forget the message that they once bore, and rather than trusting God, put their trust in the arm of flesh, and completely set aside what they once knew. It does not matter how far along we are on the straight and narrow path. Once we lose sight of the tree of life, which is Christ, we are no longer clinging to the rod of Iron., but lost in darkness. We want our sisters to understand the great importance of being obedient, steady and loving God forever. While remaining focused on our purpose here, there is also a greater purpose as to why we are here. A mission prepares us for life. We want our sisters to start thinking about life, and choose now whom they will serve. With all that is going on in this world, they cannot afford to forget who they serve.

To love God above man is true humility. When the time comes for me to find my own eternal companion, he must love God above me and above all things. For example, quite some time before I came on a mission I was reading a book that I was very drawn into. It was an exciting fantasy novel. I couldn't put it down. When I realized that I wanted to read that book more than my gospel study of the scriptures I knew immediately that it wasn't of God. Everything that is of God invites and entices us to love and serve him. Well, this book was actually drawing me away from studying the scriptures. Therefore, it was drawing me away from Christ. So I sent it back to the library without finishing it. The spirit taught me a powerful lesson from that experience that I will never forget.

Moroni 7:13
"But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God."

It brings me great comfort to know that as we rely on Christ and we are sound in his doctrine, we can have a perfect knowledge between good and evil. That is the righteous use of agency. Ultimate freedom comes from keeping Gods commandments and living in such a way that we have perfect agency. Or, perfect freedom to act for ourselves and not be acted upon. When we choose to sin rather then obey, we are actually limiting our own agency. That is abuse of the gift God has given us.

2 Nephi 10:23-24
"Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves--to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved."

We have the power to choose. I choose Christ.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love,
Sister Record

All in! Now, and forever. :)

New Companion

Area: Valley Hi/Heritage
Companion: Sister Sara Risenmay

This has been quite an eventful week. I have had five companions in one week. We sent Sister Powell home on Tuesday. It was really sad to say goodbye to her. But the sadness was short lived. I got to be companions with Sister Smith and Sister Martin for two days. It was delightful! Luckily they live with us so I didn't have to pack things up. We had some wonderful studies and had some great lessons.

I was anxious to see who my new companion would be. On Thursday was our transfer meeting. I was thrilled to find out that Sister Risenmay would be coming from Austin to be my companion. We served near each other before I came here. Since she was coming down from Austin I stayed with Sister Angulo who was also waiting for her companion to come from Austin.

Sister Risenmay and I are seriously almost the same person. Her and I are so much alike. In 24 hours we were already finishing each other's sentences. Ha ha.

The moment we arrived together in Valley Hi we had dinner with our investigator, {H}. She is the most prepared person I have ever met. She's the one who we invited to be baptized after the general woman's meeting. She is currently preparing for that day.

Watching General conference this weekend was a spiritually exhilarating experience. What blew my mind is that Sister Risenmay and I were having the exact same impressions. We felt so deeply of the need to be all in, all our lives. This mission is not just about now. We as daughters of God are preparing to be mothers. We must cling to the word of God. Because if we do not, we will not survive the storms of the world. As we cling to the rod of iron, we will be able to be the righteous mothers that the church needs. I am not afraid to raise my children in these last days, because I know in whom I have trusted. As was so beautifully taught in word and song, "All is well!" My trust and confidence in the Lord and his message has deepened. I will be faithful to him no matter what storm comes. I will not fear, only hope in eternal life. I will be a righteous mother. As Sister Risenmay and I talked in the car between sessions we were on fire. We realized that it's not just about now, it's about eternity. "Moments are the molecules that make up eternity". Neil A. Maxwell.

How grateful I am for the restored gospel. I know it's true.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love,
Sister Record

Pictures

Sister Powell and Sister Record: The day before Sister Powell left. Orange leaf selfies!

Sister Record, Sister Martin, Sister Smith: In a temporary trio with Sister Martin and Sister Smith. After dropping Sister Powell off I stayed with them for two days before receiving my new companion. Sister Smith didn't know we were taking a picture. Ha ha! 

Sister Record and Sister Risenmay: My new companion! Sister Sara Risenmay. Her and I are practically the same person. She was companions with Sister Powell a while back. :)

Sister Risenmay, Sister Fullam, Sister Smith, and Sister Record