"Christmas is a Miracle" - Letter, December 29, 2014

I had an excellent Christmas!!!!!  I love Christmas for a lot of reasons.  But mostly because of Christ!  I love the song of the Little Drummer Boy.  He only has a little song on his drum to play, but that is the gift he gives.  He does not walk away, sorrowing because he is lacking, nor does he try to give something he doesn't have.  He just gives what he has.  So, while I have been thinking about Christmas this year, and the coming year, and all of my soon-to-be adventures, I have been thinking about the gifts I will give to my Lord.  I have lots of gifts that I want to give, but mostly, I want to give Him my will.  I want to give him my heart, more fully, broken and contrite.  I want to spend my time helping others know Him.  I want to spend time with my family, and to be an example to them, and to pay attention to the examples they are to me.  I want to be a person who has the light of Christ with them, bright enough for others to see.  And I want to do that in a lots of different ways.  I haven't quite figured that out yet though....hahahahaha

My favorite verse about Christmas comes from the middle of the Book of Mormon.  It's Alma 19:13.  I love it because when King Lamoni wakes from his Spirit Nap, for lack of a better term, he wakes and says nothing more than how he knows he's so blessed because he got to see the birth of his Savior in a dream, and he knows that we are saved through Him.  I LOVE that!!!!  I love how simple it is, and it reminds me of how Christmas is simple.  Christ is the Gift we were given, and when we focus on that Gift, nothing can overcome us.  It's so awesome!!!!

I got to spend Christmas with my bishop, and then another sister in the ward.  I was so blessed Christmas morning, because while we were with Bishop Evans, and his wife, and the elders, we got to be home for a little while.  It meant a lot to me.  It was a tender mercy.  I love having a home and family away from home and family.  That's what this Gospel is all about.  :D  

I love each of you.  May the joy of Christmas keep in your hearts.  And as that joy is in your heart, think on what gift you can give Him this coming year!  

Love,

Sister Worthen

"Hi." - Letter, December 8, 2014

Hi. Oh wait, did I say that already...? Just kidding. How has your week been? That's great! (assuming you had a great week...) Can ya tell I'm just stalling? I am. I don't have much to say, again. I'll be honest. These past 6 weeks have been some of the hardest of my mission. I have had to fight to want to stay here. And I know, I have 6 weeks left, and all that jazz. But it's been hard. I have been so emotionally tired in so many ways, that I just have wanted to curl up in a ball, throw a blanket over the top of me, and sleep forever. And I'm not that physically tired, sorta, it's just emotional stress.

But you know, I have had some really good moments this week. I was having a bit of breakdown the other day, and Sis. Origer says to me, "Have you thought about getting a blessing?" And I say, "I've thought about it. I probably should..." And then a few minutes later, I texted some of the elders, and asked if when I saw them the next day at stake conference I could get a blessing. So I didn't get one that next day because timing didn't work out, but I did on Sunday. My companion was in an exiting interview with President, so I grabbed the zone leaders and sister training leaders. We found an empty classroom, and I had one of them give me a blessing. It was kinda funny because he asked who I want to anoint and who I want to seal. We all just kind of looked at each other funny for a moment, and then one of the other elders said that for a blessing of counsel, I don't need to be anointed. And then we laughed, and they said that they are used to Dayton, where giving blessings of healing are common. Probably a lot to do with drugs and such. Anyway, in the blessing, among a lot of other things, I was told to find the joy in building up the Lord's Kingdom again. I feel like I have lost that here recently. I have been so stressed, that it's not even joyful for me anymore, it's a chore. I don't like that feeling, and I plan on changing it.

And so, this morning, during my studies, I was reading my Patriarchal blessing, and I was told that I would have the desire to share the Gospel. And so between those two statements, I have come to the realization that I have lost my fire, and if I am going to endure faithfully to the end, I am going to have to rekindle it. And I have some very good ideas about how. I am excited to feel excited again.

Now, don't take this letter the wrong way. I am not trying to drag anyone down with my problems. What I am trying to say is that even though times are hard for me right now, I am going to make it. I know that God is personally invested in my success, and because of that, I cannot fail. I think, in summarized terms, I have lost my hope, and I am going to spend the next, and last, six weeks of my mission finding it.

I heard a quote from Brigham Young at Stake Conference, from Pres. Porter no less, and it says, "If the Gospel of Jesus Christ doesn't change you, leave." Well, I am not leaving, so I better start changing. Hahahahaha :D

Also, this was Sis. Origer's last transfer, and she is flying home on Tuesday morning, meaning that I am going to have a new companion tomorrow morning. That is super weird to me...

I want you all to know that I know that the Priesthood is real. There is no power on Earth that can compare. Through the Priesthood, we are able to be saved by the ordinances, and our faithful diligence in keeping our covenants. Our covenants are POWERFUL and they keep us safe. Our covenants are God's way of showing his love. If you have not received all the ordinances that you can/should at this point, do so. Don't wait. This world is so insane, and it is only getting worse. The Gospel, the Priesthood, and our Covenants are what the Lord has provided to make His plan work, and if we are to participate, we must have all of these things in our lives.

I love you. I know that God loves you. I know that Jesus Christ is there to share our burdens.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love, Sister Worthen

p.s. Look up christmas.mormon.org and then share the video. It will be such a blessing.

"Weekly Emails" - Letter, December 1, 2014

I don't know what to say in this weekly email. This has been a hard week for me. I am stressed, and tired, and I don't feel all too good. It's a good thing that I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and that He takes care of me. :D

I had an excellent Thanksgiving. I got to go to the homes of 2 members. I forgot to get pictures the first time, but I sure got them the second time. I spent a lot of time thinking about being grateful this week. In fact, every time I got upset, or thought of something upsetting, I would start listing off the things I am grateful for. I have found that I am grateful for:

Chocolate chip cookies

Lemon meringue pie

Toe nail clippers

Disney movies with funny lines

Beds

Pillows

My Companion

Pens, Pencils, and Paper

The Book of Mormon

Cars with heaters

A warm apartment

Jesus Christ

The Atonement

And so many other things, I can't remember what I said. :D

So really, I am drawing a blank as to what else to say. But, to each of you reading this email, know that I am grateful for you. Each of you have shaped my life in some way. Thanks for being my friend, or part of my family, or both.

Love, Sister Worthen

"A Changing of Patterns...Attempt No. 2" - Letter, November 24, 2014

Apparently I have problems sending emails. Sorry... :0

But this week has been pretty good. So, I have a question for you. What defines a leader? I have an answer for you. Someone who changes patterns. What does that mean? It means that when there is a situation that needs to be changed, they change it, whether it's within themselves or in the world they live in. So, this week, I feel more like a leader. I have had some patterns that have been changed. And it's been really good. The past couple of weeks, we have really struggled with having enough lessons. As missionaries, we are supposed to teach 20 lessons a week, minimum. We have had a super difficult time trying to get those lessons. But this week, we had 23 lessons. I am so grateful. I will be honest, we had some help though. Our Sister Training Leaders came and blitzed our area (meaning they both came here instead of one of us staying and one going, with one coming here, and one staying there). In 1 day, we taught 9 lessons between the 4 of us. And we found 4 new investigators, and we had 8 baptismal extensions. It was fantastic!!! They helped us change the patterns we were living in, and helped us get ready for this week. I was so grateful to have them come. Some of my companions have been of the mind that having them come is a stressor, and sometimes it can be, but I really love my Sister Training Leaders here, and they really help us out. I am super blessed.

I have learned a lot this week. I have been working on changing my prayers from a rote presentation at the end of my day, to being able to have mighty prayers that can secure for myself and others blessings God is willing to grant. I found this fantastic talk on it that really changed my perspective, and since starting to use this pattern, I have had some really interesting insights. This is the link for the talk: https://www.lds.org/ensign/2006/12/what-i-have-learned-about-mighty-prayer

But the first thing I learned was earlier this week after reading another talk about retaining a mighty change of heart. I was really praying about that, and you know how if you listen right, the Holy Ghost will help you pray? Well, He helped me and the thought that came was, "Help me stay the person I have become so I can become the person I need to be." I have thought long and hard about that, that in order for me to keep progressing, I cannot go back to who I was before. That just won't work. The other thing I learned was, "I have absolutely no reason to be grumpy, but I have every reason to be grateful."  And as I have pondered on those two revelations, I have realized how blessed I am, and how much the Lord has molded me.

Also, earlier this week, we were talking about how the Lord, in Malachi, refers to Himself as a refiner of silver. Sis. Origer told me a story of some ladies who were doing a Bible study, and they found that verse. None of them really understood what that means. So one of them called a silver smith, and shadowed him for a day. She asked if he had to stand over the metal the whole time it was in the fire. He said, "Yes. And not only that, but I have to keep my eyes on it the whole time, because if it's left in the fire a moment to long, it will be ruined." Then she asked how he knew all the impurities were out of the metal. He said, "When I can see my reflection in the metal, I know it's as pure as possible." So, while having this story running through my head all week, we found a video on Saturday called "The Refiner's Fire". It's a Mormon Message. Here is the link for it. http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=3897359657001&cid=HPTU111814487

So, all in all, this week has been pretty wonderful!!! Things are changing, both with myself and my companion, and with the Eaton Ward. The Work is hastening, and God is at the helm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

"Mad Revo and Sweet Guidance" - Pictures, November 17, 2014

 ​Don't let the beddy bugs bite.  ​

This is what we woke up to this morning.

"Let's Go Down" - Letter, November 10, 2014

Ok, so this week has been good...and not good...It's been a typical missionary week. Things have been hard, but they have been easy, but they have been...you get the point.

I have seen miracles this week though. We have an investigator family that we decided we needed to go back to the beginning with, and re-focus them on baptism. It was a really powerful lesson. When the mom got home (we, and our member, got there before she did) we had asked her why she decided to meet with the missionaries in the first place. And then we asked why they wanted to be baptized and why they aren't working toward it now. It was super powerful because Jamee got all teary eyed and the Spirit was really strong. We shared 2 scriptures with them about baptism, and then committed them to be prepared by the end of the month, whether the dad is off parole or not. That's also why they quite progressing, because he can't be baptized yet, and she didn't want to do it unless they can do it as a family. I love this family so much, and they make me so happy. I have seen how the Gospel blesses their lives and has changed them, even in the 2 months I have been here. I know it will continue to change them, and help them know how much God loves them.

I know that Heavenly Father truly does care for us, and that he will help us live His commandments.

I say that in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Love, Sister Worthen

"Happenings in the Greater OCM" - Letter, November 3, 2014

This week has been a LONG one. I'm glad it's Monday. But it's also been a great week. Things in the Greater Ohio Cincinnati Mission just got SHOOK UP!!! We had transfers last Tuesday, and most of the mission got changed. Sis. Porter made the joke that if she'd realized how many of us were there, she might have taken a mission picture. In my district alone of 8 people, 2 of us stayed. In the zone, about 18 people, there were about 4 or 5 that stayed. And it was that way in the whole mission. I have a new companion, Sis. Origer. She has been out 1 transfer longer than me, and is going home at the beginning of December. We were neighbors in my first area--she was in Hamilton when I was in Oxford. We get along really well. She's a lot quieter than my last companion, but that's ok. I like the quietness. But we've had some really good moments together.

We had a fast as a mission as well that we would find people to teach and baptize. We fasted that we would be led to people who are ready and be able to put them on date very soon. So, if you would pray for me and for my mission to be able to do that, I know it will happen. We are going to baptize 720 people by the end of the year!!! That is the goal set by our key-holders and because it was set by them, and they receive revelation for us, I know it is possible.

Also, the new elders in Eaton are Elder Chamberlain and Elder Bullen. Elder Chamberlain and I were together in Elwood. For a transfer he was my district leader in Marion, and then he went to Zone leader in Muncie. I am super excited to have another opportunity to work with him. He's a district leader again. Anyway, his new companion is Elder Bullen, and he is brand new--fresh off the plane. He seems like a really great Elder though. It's funny to see how tired he is, because I remember that feeling. It's hard your 1st week. But he's going to do great things.

Ok, I love you and I know that the Lord is personally involved in what we do. He wants to bless us for our obedience to His commandments and is ready to do so. I know that our Heavenly Father is truly mindful of us, and He loves us so much he sent His Son to Live for us. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Love, Sister Worthen

My hair has finally gotten long enough that I can put it in one braid!!!  It may seem insignificant, but it makes me very happy.  :D

This is Sis. Origer and myself.

My nuts and bolts are coming loose--they're falling out of my ears. I can't keep a hold of 'em. Hahahahaha

"Bathrooms Are Grace" - Letter, October 27, 2014

A couple of weeks ago I had an experience where I knew Heavenly Father was 1) Paying attention to my desperate plight, and 2) Chuckling at me. I left a members home, and having been there just a little too long, thought I would be able to make it to my next stop before I really had to go to the bathroom. Little did I realize that I had an hour long trip before I would be anywhere near a decent bathroom. I was about to start crying, when lo and behold, my companion, Sis. Lewis, says to me, "Look, a porta-potty!"

"What? Where?" I responded in desperation.

"Back there."

We were driving past a public park, and I thought, maybe they will have a real bathroom. So I pulled around to look at the buildings. I got out, and the one said, 'No Public Restrooms.' I just about died. And then we got back in the car. But then, we saw another building, which I drove too, needlessly, and they did have a bathroom. Sis. Lewis leaped out of the car, and in an attempt to save me, tugged on the door with all her might (kinda). It opened, and a light turned on!

Have you ever seen one of those movies where the door opens, and the light spills out, and it's absolutely heavenly? This was that moment for me. I turned the car off, jumped out, and ran in.

I knew at that moment that Heavenly Father truly does love me.

The End.