Five months has come and gone...I'm not sure where time has gone. The past 5 months have been filled with the hardest thing that I love to do.
Monday night-Thursday morning was spent in the mission home. By Thursday morning I was itching to get out to work. After countless hours and time spent studying, I so badly wanted to share our message with Gods children in Powell.
I've been blessed with two wonderful companions who have the talent and love of singing. We've been using this talent to help move the work along here in Powell. We've had some pretty incredible experiences with it. I've learned the music is one of the fastest ways to invite the spirit. We have sung at almost every single door we've knocked on and almost every lesson we've had in the past week.
We knocked on a potentials door and she said it wasn't a good time because she had company. We asked if we could sing them a song and she invited us in so we sang "Where Can I Turn For Peace" for about 7 individuals. I love where it says, "Constant He is, and Kind. Love without End." Our Savior is CONSTANT. No matter our struggles or weaknesses, He is constantly there for us with open arms. His love for us is so deep and hard to comprehend, but SO very real. The spirit was so strong as we sang this song and you could physically see the people's hearts soften. We were able to testify of the Savior and His divinity. We invited them to share their divine witness of the Savior to friends and family. One of the ladies said, "If you three can knock on random doors and share your testimony with people who think they are older and wiser than you then it should be no problem for us to voice our witness of Jesus Christ." We ended "Be Still, My Soul" and never have I felt the spirit so strong as I sang that song before.
There is a sweet man in our ward who we go visit named Earl. Two Sunday's ago he stood up and bore his testimony. Due to his medical condition you can't understand what he is saying but despite the physical disability, the spirit was powerful and his testimony was piercing to the soul. We went to the assisted living center on his birthday to sing him a few hymns. There was a couple no members there so it was a neat experience to be able to bear our testimonies through music. As we were singing, Earls eyes filled with tears, he took the hand of another resident, and begun to sing to her. It was evident that he so badly wanted to share his testimony to her. Later on, his daughter told us the story of how two young missionaries knocked on his door 50 years ago and how the gospel is now everything to him.
It's so cool to visit and meet people who were once without the gospel. To be able to witness, the missionary work really does change people's lives.
We went to the mission home a couple days ago to grab some things that I needed. There was another companionship there so we sang a song for Sister Daines. We ended up singing a few hymns to Sister Daines and President Daines. It was such a neat experience that I will never forget. The spirit is already so present within the mission home but the feeling of it has we increased it through music was indescribable.
After we sang "Abide With Me; 'Tis Even Tide", Sister Daines looked us with tear filled eyes and said, "That song was so powerful because you all song your testimonies. It is so apparent that you believe in what you are singing."
Yesterday as we sat waiting for sacrament meeting to start, President and Sister Daines sat behind us. We had a couple other set of missionaries throughout the congregation due to a plumbing problem in another building. We were sitting in sacrament meeting yesterday and the intermediate musical number had been canceled. The first counselor in the bishopric said that when we got to that part in the program that we would sing a congregational hymn. Sister Daines and President Daines began to whisper to a deacon in the ward. When it came to that part in the program, the 1st counselor got up and said, "we will now have a special musical number by the Powell and Worthington sister missionaries." Without any notice given, we had the privilege to sing "Where Can I Turn for Peace" accapella in front of the congregation.
It was such an incredible opportunity to, yet again, share our testimonies through music.
It's been such a privilege to represent my Savior Jesus Christ the past 5 months. Our Savior knows us individually and perfectly. Ive seen witness those with the strongest faith in Christ to those who have no idea He is even there. Because of the Atonement, we all can make changes to become more like our Savior and Father in Heaven. We can find peace and hope through the Atonement. James E. Faust testified that, "The unfailing source of our hope is that we are sons and daughters of God and that His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, saved us from death". It's such a beautiful and sacred opportunity to be able to share that with Gods children. I know the our Redeemer lives and that He is present in each of our lives. I testify that if you take a step back and pause, you will see that Christ is evident in your life and that He is aware of you. Thank you for all the support and love that I've been given. Thank you to all the letters, packages, and emails. I can't express how much it lifts me and keeps me going. I love you all. Until next Monday...
XOXO,
Sister Detamore
1. Our sweet, sweet Earl
2. Happy Valentines Day and 5 Months (tomorrow)
3. Sister Scott and I in the snow
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