This message has been approved by the manager of the wisconsin cheese factory...in new hamshire

A couple of the Elders and I were studying grace  and the atonement the other day, and I thought I'd share a little tidbit.

 

"The main idea of the word [grace] is divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ. It it through the grace of the Lord Jesus, made possible by his atoning sacrifice, that mankind will be raised in immortality, every person receiving his body from the grace in a condition of everlasting life. It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts."

 

Alma 31:31 "O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people."

 

It is through the Atonement that grace is made possible. And it is through the Atonement that we can receive strength. However, sometimes we ask the Lord, "Please take away this burden" "Make everything get better" "heal him, bring him back, stop this from happening" etc.

Miracles do exist, and that can happen. But we are given trials for a purpose. The whole reason why we are on this earth is to progress and become more like God. If He were to simply take it away, He is taking away our opportunity to become Godlike. And so, maybe, to practice humility and patience, instead of praying for things to automatically be healed, we can just pray for the STRENGTH to handle what comes our way.

 

just my thoughts of this past week.

 

Also, the spirit is the coolest thing ever. It can cause us to do things, that we probably don't think has ANY significance, but really it can affect people so much. If you recieve a promting, thought, random motive to do something {and it's good} it is of God. Even if it is randomly making cupcakes for someone, sending someone a text, saying hi, sharing a scripture, inviting someone to church.

It all makes a difference.

because it did for me.

 

I love you all and hope you have an awesome week. enjoy the rest of September!! (and make sure you all get ready for General Conference!!!)

xoxo

hermana kaitlyn waters

 

 

today my gps told me to drive on the right side of the road.

Let's talk miracles.

 

So on thursday, Lindsey (one of the members) was driving us to a lesson. We see a car driving a little infront of us that was a little beat up, clearly in some sort of accident and we said, "wow, we we're definitely keeping our distance from that one". A few blocks later we pull up to a stop light, about to turn left. We are right behind the car that was mentioned earlier. We were all talking about the lesson and whatnot waiting for a green arrow, and then I hear the this loud crash followed by everyone in the car gasping. We look across the intersection and watch the car infront of us had t-bonean suv. The SUV went airborne, doing 5 flips in the intersection, crossed 2 lanes of traffic, over a median and landed directly behind our car upside down, infront of a bus. Lindsey yelled, "get out of the car! get out of the car!" We all jump out and run to the capsized vehicle, where we see a man miraculously crawl out of the passengers side door. I wasn't so worried about that side, as I was about the driver, because that part was completely crushed in. A few nurses ran on site and we said, "the driver! where's the driver". The guy who had crawled out said, "it's me. I'm the only one. I was the only one in that car!"

This guy somehow went across all lanes of traffic without hitting ANY cars...went over a median, landed perfectly in our lane behind us...and nuzzled perfectly between us and the bus. Not touching either of us. The man crawled out of the car with only a few cuts on his hands from the glass (from crawling out the window).

No one was hurt. Absolutely No one. We all sat there as we talked to the cops, and just talked about the miracle that just happened.

 

needless to say thursday was a little nuts.

 

Then friday we met Elder Ballard. As soon as he walked in the room the spirit came in like crazy. And it was an interesting spirit, not one that would make you cry or anything like that, but pure joy. being in the room with 200 missionaries and Elder Ballard singing called to serve, behold a royal army and our mission song (original version of i'll go where you want me to go and armies of helaman) was the coolest feeling ever.

 

He spoke all about missionary work, and let us ask questions, but something I was really impressed by was he talked all about light. And how light can edify. When we edify ourselves together, we will also rejoice together. And grow together to make the light brighter and brighter till the perfect day.  That which is of light is of God, that which doth not edify is not of God. We cannot go by and miss any opportunity, because we are apathetic or not listening, because the spirit is waiting to introduce us and our glorious message. You can radiate that glad message

 

"Some of you, I have seen your face, because I may have helped select where you were to serve. We feel the power or heaven of where you ought to go. In that moment, YOU were connected with heaven. So always remember "I"ll go where you want me to go, Dear Lord. I'll be what you need me to be" 

 

and my favorite

" You're getting aquainted with Him (your savior), and he's getting aquainted with you"

 

It was an awesome reminder, and getting me super excited for conference.

 

Hope everyone had a great week. Thanks for the package mum--I loved the picture you sent. Funny that you sent that one, cause that's actually the photo I put on my planner. Love you all and talk to you soon!

 

-hermana kait waters 

 

 

SO LISTEN!!

So once again, i'm left with ten minutes to tell a 45 minute story.

 

first off. didn't get transferred. still with hermana hallett. temple was amazing.

ok.

 

So this week, I've been praying a lot. And let me tell you this, the power of revelation is real. And the Atonement can do all. My friend described the atonement as "being thrown through everything, being torn apart, and hung out to dry thinking that you don't have anything else and nowhere to go...and then the atonement takes it all away, and puts you in a place better than you realized you were capable of going."

 

 

The Atonement is the enabling power, that allows us to progress. We are placed with certain people to mold us for the next step, and then realize we need to progress more as a new spiritual being. The moment we stop progressing, the moment we stop becoming Godly.

 

and (like I said, 45 minute story in about 45 words)

but I have felt the spirit more in the past few days than I have my entire mission.

and I can't even describe how badly I want people to feel that.

 

doesn't matter who you are. bring all unto christ.

everyone is in your life for a reason. every one. and most don't even realize it.

 

love,

hermana waters

 

can mexicans be mormons?

So, the other night around 9 we were driving home. Hermana Hallett was looking out the window and said jokingly, "hey that guy walking by in and out looks like he speaks spanish, we could talk to him".

I just look at her and say "ok!". I cross all lanes of traffic and drive across three parking lots (illegally. what?) just so we could "conveniently" get out and pretend like we were walking the other way to walk into him. Because, you know, we are creepy/stalkers at all.

Right as we park he walks infront of our car, we jump out and yell "HEY DO YOU SPEAK SPANISH?". oh so discrete.

He's like "no, but my family does".

"well where do they live?"-hermana hallett

 

by this time, we are hitting exhausted hyper and being complete spazzes. It was great. We start talking a little, and he says, "I have a strange question, but can mexicans be mormon?"

I just start laughing and say, "YA! THEY ARE MY BEST FRIENDS".

 

I'm not awkward.

 

I gave him a mormon.org card with our number. quick contact. goodnight.

 

the next day we get a call. I answer in spanish and he's like "Uhmm...this is the guy who you talked to last night"

"RAY!"

"ya. so I was wondering...are you like, hard core mormons?"

 

We talked for a little bit, and I expained what missionaries do. He said, "I've never really been religeous, but lately I've really been thinking about looking into it. Then I ran into you two..and I was wondering if maybe I could learn more?"

 

*cue happy dance*

 

I did have to explain that we only speak in spanish, but he could meet with other missionaries. We had a few appointments set up, but he was never there. We were kinda thinking that it would turn out to be a dud...but he called the other day and said, "hey, I'm so sorry for all the things that have happened (insert his story). But I would love to hear more. can you meet right now?" we were at a baptism, so we invited him. As soon as he got there, we passed him over to the elders, and they taught him the Restoration. As elder Maughn started to say at the very end "Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ?" he immediately responded, "yes!"...

"and...be baptized?"

 

he still ended up saying yes :P

 

oh it's been good. he's a stud. and I feel super lucky to be even part of that story. hopefully this is just a "to be continued"

 

well, there's your story for the week. I have more, but I"m outta time.

head to the temple on thursday...then some awesome stuff going on this weekend. I'll fill you in later!

 

loves!

praying for you all...

xoxo

hermana aguas

 

ps congrats Jessi!