This week was awesome. And
stressful. And frustrating. And wonderful. Pretty much like every week
as a missionary.
Last Sunday sister Ashcraft and I fasted for referrals
and oh boy did we get referrals this week! Fasting and prayer is
definitely a real thing people! I got to go to the temple three
times this week. The Redlands stake center shares a parking lot with the
temple. It's a pretty good meeting spot for missionaries when they need
things. For example, we met one of the the senior couples that work in
the office there because
we needed a new phone.
We also went for a session this week which was
awesome. And we had Yucaipa
stake conference at the Redlands stake center. (Apparently our stake
center is too small for all of us to fit). Also, going to Yucaipa stake
conference was sooooo weird for me. One year ago exactly I was in the Banning Ward (Banning is in the Yucaipa stake) and went to Yucaipa stake
conference. I got to see some Banningites.
This one laurel that went out with us a lot ran right up
to me and gave me a big hug. That was cute. Anyway. Three of our investigator families that are friends with members committed to come to
stake conference that day. So we planned on doing a temple walk right
after conference. We even had a general authority visiting (Elder Gary
Wilde). He was staying with one of the counselors in the stake
presidency (president Adams who is in our Ward). So we asked President
Adams if Elder Wilde would call our
investigators
to personally invite them. We were pretty dead set on all of these
people coming. Saturday night
we found out that one investigator couldn't come because he was working
for his mom. Sunday morning
we found out that our other investigator is having liver problems and was sick all night
long and the third family decided to go to Palm Dessert for the
weekend. Basically I was devastated.
I was studying for hours about the
temple to
prepare and I really thought it would help all these people progress.
But when we got to the conference, the whole thing was about temples and
families. From all my studies, I was perfectly prepared for the conference.
Want to know what I learned? Well I'm going to tell you. I guess if you really don't want to know you could just stop reading.... Anyway. I'm pretty sure that one of the reasons I came to a mission where I could be by the temple a lot is so I could learn how important the temple is.
Want to know what I learned? Well I'm going to tell you. I guess if you really don't want to know you could just stop reading.... Anyway. I'm pretty sure that one of the reasons I came to a mission where I could be by the temple a lot is so I could learn how important the temple is.
In "True to
the Faith" it talks about how everything we do,
including missionary work, should point to the temple. It says that only
the home can compare to the sacredness of temples. Before my mission I
really believed that the most important thing in this life was how
other people saw me and what they thought of me. Now I know that there
is nothing more important than going to the temple. When we go to the
temple, it means we are worthy and are trying our best to
live a Christ centered life. It shows Heavenly Father that we really love him, have a desire to serve him, and that we are doing all we can to eventually become like him. There is absolutely NOTHING in this life that compares to the joy I feel when 1. I am sharing the gospel and 2. When I go to the temple. Nothing. There is nothing more important to me than to be married there and make sure my family is united so we can live with God again. I love the temple. And honestly, the way I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints contains all the necessary principles for salvation is the way I feel at the temple. I love you all and I am so grateful that mom and dad were married in the temple. It's the best feeling there is in this life and I can't wait for how it feels in the next.
Have a great week!
Sister Ashlee Olsen
California Redlands Mission
live a Christ centered life. It shows Heavenly Father that we really love him, have a desire to serve him, and that we are doing all we can to eventually become like him. There is absolutely NOTHING in this life that compares to the joy I feel when 1. I am sharing the gospel and 2. When I go to the temple. Nothing. There is nothing more important to me than to be married there and make sure my family is united so we can live with God again. I love the temple. And honestly, the way I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints contains all the necessary principles for salvation is the way I feel at the temple. I love you all and I am so grateful that mom and dad were married in the temple. It's the best feeling there is in this life and I can't wait for how it feels in the next.
Have a great week!
Sister Ashlee Olsen
California Redlands Mission
Visiting the California Redlands temple |
Sister Ashcraft and I at the temple |
Temple selfie with other sisters in my mission |
I love the temple! |
Behold my origami skillzzz |
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