Happy 17 weeks, y'all!!
I hope y'all had a fabulous week! This week was one of my favorites, that is for sure!
Sister Copeland and her companion in Tallahassee
I don't know if y'all know this...but while I was in St. Johns I didn't get to do much teaching! In the three months I was there, I had maybe 1/2 of a lesson and probs had 3 conversations about Jesus Christ. I will be honest, some days it was very discouraging...I didn't know why God had put me in St. Johns as my first area! Holy it was hard! But, that is what it made it so amazing. But, I must say there were other days where I was totally okay with not teaching anyone. Teaching can be scary, lemme tell ya!
One thing we did get to do in St. John's is teach the members. Today, I got a miracle text from my last companion...Sister Johnson! One of my last nights in St. John's, we were visiting this member. Every time we visit with members, we would always text and schedule a time. On this specific day, we biked 30 minutes to go to this member's house. When we got there, we checked our text and turns out they never texted us back. We weren't going to go because we didn't want to be rude and just show up. But, we had a feeling we should go anyways. We shared our message and invited them to share a Book of Mormon. When we were walking out, Brother Head told us about his friend Zenna that he wants to share this Book of Mormon with. And this is the text Sister Johnson received today:
I wrote a special message to Mark, Zenna's husband, and highlighted Alma's teachings in faith and planting the seed of faith, his recounting of his repentance and why the Lord gives us weaknesses (Ether). I promised Mark that if he asked, the Lord, his family and I would help him overcome this addiction. Zenna was so touched and was going to take it home to Mark. That was Thursday and we flew to AZ on Friday for our grandson's baptism. Thank for your message the other night. I had just had those promptings about Mark and Zenna that same day and your invitation for us to share the Book of Mormon was the answer to my prompting of what I should do to help them. Please pass my thanks along to your comp who was transferred. I'd like her to know that your prompting to visit us and share your message was in response to the Holy Ghost's prompting me to share my testimony and offer hope and encouragement to someone in need. That's how the Lord works. I've experienced it throughout my life and you will too. Brother Head
Wow! This was the best text I could've ever received. I know that each step I take everyday is led by the Spirit. This is the Lord's work.
Since I have been in Tally 2, I have had more teaching opportunities in the last two weeks than I ever did in the three months I was in St. Johns! I have totally changed my perspective on teaching from being scary to the BEST THING EVER!!! There is no greater feeling or sight than seeing someone feel the Spirit for the first time or receiving an answer to their prayers! Wow! God is good! I have learned that I don't need to know every single detail...but if I have a basic knowledge, faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ, and unbreakable testimony, "then shall your tongue be loosed" D&C 11:21
I forgot to tell y'all..but I have some old news! This week, Elder Bednar came and spoke to our mission...WOW!! It was phenomenal! I learned more than I ever expected. I'm going to share one of my favorite points that Elder Bednar shared with us!
First off, when I heard that Elder Bednar was coming to our mission, my mind immediately thought the worst: He is going to be on us about how we need to be better, have more baptisms, and teach more in the Jacksonville Florida Mission. But, that is not how the meeting went at all...if anything, it was completely opposite.
Some of the first words he said were, "What do you think it would take to stop worrying about what the Lord wants?"
That was a BOLD unexpected question. As missionaries, we spend a lot of time worrying that what we are doing is enough for the Lord...and if it is exactly what the Lord wants from us! Elder Bednar said, "How many young men/women are there in the world like you? Young men/women that sacrifice a big part of their lives to give it to the Lord? There are only a handful of you! God is not going to be disappointed, he is not going to leave any of us in the darkness...he will always provide the way once we have the faith to step into the darkness." Wow that hit me strong... I know that the Lord sees my efforts...throughout my mission, I want to be better at not stopping to check my speed...but speed up when I am going too slow! God trusts me and trusts all y'all! Now, it's our responsibility to "forget ourselves and go to work" -Gordon B. Hinckley
My spiritual thought for this week is a combination of all my thoughts and feelings. After Elder Bednar, I've been really trying to focus on who my Savior is.
The Church of Jesus Christ is changing dramatically...the last days are coming! President Nelson has invited us to gain a relationship with our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ! That relationship is crucial in the last days. Some of the changes that the church has made recently are the new youth programs. In the new young women and young men themes they state:
"I am a beloved daughter of Heavenly Parents"
"I am a beloved son of God"
The word that stood out to me was the word "beloved"!
When God the Father and His Son appeared to Joseph Smith...in Joseph Smith's own words:
"When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" JSH 1:17
God referred to Jesus Christ as his beloved Son. Well, God refers to us in the same way. We must all remember to have faith that Heavenly Father has trust in us...just as he did for Jesus Christ!
I am so grateful for my mission and all that I have learned and all that I will continue to learn.
I love y'all.
Remember to be good boys and girls and God will Magnify you.
CTR
<3 Sister Lauren Copeland
Pics of the Week
Road Trip
Sister Anderson (in the middle) MTC Companion
Tally Zone
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