Sorry, but I cannot say much. I am getting transferred today, and I have to go pack. I do not know where I am going. I am doing good, and I love you all. Keep being wonderful and I know the Lord is there for you.
Love, Sister Worthen
Monday, March 31, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
"Walking in the Realm of the Miraculous" - Letter, March 24, 2014
Ok, so this week has been insane. After mourning the loss of
our beloved investigator Sharon, we have moved forward with faith, and have seen
some mighty miracles.
So let me tell you about the Harts. Rick is a member, and has
been since the 1960's, I think. But, he hasn't been to church since the late 1070's.
He got confused and offended and so he quit coming. Later in his life, he married
Linda. And after that, he got into pinball. Not just playing, but the machines themselves.
he has about 10 of them in his basement. It's kinda crazy. He does all kinds of
fundraisers down there for soldiers (both he and his wife are veterans), and he
loves showing the machines and everything else down there off. Saturday night, they
had us for dinner. We were both inducted into the Bigfoot Club, which included going
through Bigfoot U, a series of 3 tests, which both of us passed with flying colors.
And then we got down to the meat of it. It started with Sis. Johnson making a witty
remark about him coming to church. Now, Sis, Johnson is very smart, but not the
witty type. She's the quiet observing, calm one. I'm the one with the smart alec
comments. But she got started, and she just kept going. I have never seen her act
like that before. He would make a comment, and she would bring it back to church.
And I was just there to back her up. He would try and say something, and I would
go to her defense. At one point, he asked what had gotten into her. I told him is
wasn't the hand tricks, hula hoops, or kitkats, all part of the evening, or anything
else we had done or talked about or eaten that night. I ran through a huge list
of things that wasn't what had gotten into her. And then I said, "That, Rick,
is the Spirit. That's why she's acting that way." It was like a rock wall of
Spirit had hit him in the face, which was rather amusing. And all the while, he
was trying to get his wife to help him out. She was telling him that if he wouldn't
go to church with her, they needed to go to his church. And every time he would
try to get out of it, we all were telling him that he needed to just give in and
commit to coming to church. The coolest part is that Linda is NOT a member. But
she is willing to go to church with us because she knows that he needs to come to
church. Also, at one point, he said something and I brought the conversation right
back on topic. He asked me how many segways I had. I asked him how many distractions
he had. He was a little speechless. But he finally committed to coming. We left
there feeling so awesome. And shocked. The way Sis. Johnson had acted was awesome
(look up the definition, and if you need help, ask Bill Engval), and also powerful.
She had not acted like herself, but she had opened her mouth and let the Spirit
speak. I love that feeling!
Next, Dennis. He is about 40, and is inactive. But he's AWESOME!!!
He loves talking about the Gospel to anyone who will listen. Unfortunately, he doesn't
live what he talks about. But he has an amazing testimony of the Gospel. He's just
very apathetic. He tells us that at some point he will come back, and that he loves
being there. He said he loved being the Elders' Quorum teacher. But I have been
trying to get him back since I got here. And this weekend, we had a miracle. He
got Sick! Sounds like a bad miracle, but it was perfect. We texted to remind him
of church, and he told me he was sick and he wanted a blessing and he asked me to
get that set up for him. I was more than happy for him. Anyway, I was looking at
the roster to find someone, and there was a member that kept standing out to me.
So I finally called him. He said he would be more than happy to. So there he was,
standing outside the chapel when Sacrament was over. I got bishop and Bro. Stanfield
over to meet him. They were looking at each other, and then Dennis says, I know
you...And Bro. Stanfield says, I know you. And then it hits that Bro. Stanfield
was a friend of Dennis's father. It was a priceless moment. So anyway, they went
and had the blessing, and then Dennis came to class, which was AMAZING!!! He participated
and he said things that made sense and didn't distract from the lesson. He acted
like he was completely comfortable with talking in class. I was over the moon that
he was there. Man, so happy. Now we just need to get him to marry his girlfriend,
and get his oldest daughter baptized, and his other two girls active, and my life
will be complete, as far as Dennis goes. Mah, so happy!!!
I will say that Rick and Linda didn't come to church...blah. Oh
well, we'll get them anyway. And we also had these two Hispanic guys walk into church.
One asked me if I spoke Spanish. Unfortunately not. Then in broken English he told
me that he brought an investigator. We have one guy in the ward who speaks Spanish,
and he was late. Blah. But these guys came to class, and then Bro. Cardoza translated
for him and he bore the most powerful testimony. It was great!!!! The Spirit was
so strong and beautiful. I had no idea what he said until Bro. C. translated, but
I had such an amazing day!!!!
Ok, also last night I helped with a Stake RS fireside and as
I was helping clean up, I got a charlie horse in my toe. It dropped me like a rock.
I was in a lot of pain, and letting people know, especially the Stake President
who happened to be right in front of me as I was laying on the floor holding my
toe. A rather comic story or epic proportions. But the fireside was WONDERFUL!!!
Ok, I have to go. I love you all so much, and I know that this
is the true Gospel. We have to keep our head up and keep moving forward, even when
life sucks. That's when the sweetest miracles happen. I love you all, and I love
my Savior and my Heavenly Father. I know they are with me and with this work. In
the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love, Sister Worthen
Monday, March 17, 2014
"Ok, Let's Be Honest..." - Letter, March 17, 2014
Let's be Honest. I didn't sign up for this. I didn't sign up
to have my heart beat up like this. And yet, this mission is the most rewarding
thing I have ever done. I have never understood the Atonement on such a clear level,
nor relied on the Savior more. No, I did not sign up for this, but honestly, I am
glad I did.
This week has been a roller coaster. First, I got to go to the
temple. It was so amazing to be there, with people I love very much, and to be able
to have the clutter and confusion fall away, and to just feel the peace that was
present. I have missed that so much. I don't know how people can knowingly go without
the blessings of the temple. There is nothing like it in the world. It is a place
of safety and refuge, and the Lord is very much present. As missionaries, we are
trained to prepare people to be doing baptisms for the dead within 3 months of baptism,
and being endowed a year after baptism. I think that shows the importance. The temple
location doesn't matter so much as the blessings.
The next thing that made life insane was trying to prepare Sharon
for her baptism on Saturday. She was so ready. And she had problems remembering
things, but by Thursday night for her interview, she had so much fire to baptized,
she was remembering things. Thing was, her brother died that morning, and she was
going to do it for him. She was going to make it happen.
And then a hiccup. Friday night, we got a call from her husband,
telling us that he was not going to let us baptize her into our church. When we
talked to her, she said she didn't want to fight with her husband, and that he said
he would take her to another church. She sounded so hurt and broken, but she didn't
know what to do. Like I said before, she is very childlike. She doesn't really know
how to be her own person. We even tried to go see them to be able to talk to him.
He told us to leave or he would call the police. So we left. It broke my heart.
That first night, I was so angry at him. I hated him. And then the next day, when
I came out of shock a little, I realized that I should be angry at Satan. He knew
he couldn't get Sharon. She was determined. So he got to her through other people.
Because of this experience, I realized, in miniscule measure,
how the Savior feels when we don't get to be with Him. How it must have hurt Him,
in the Garden, for Sharon's sake, at least. And I guess, how he felt for me, as
I was hurting for her. I can't say that I know exactly how it felt, but I can say
that I understand what the scriptures mean when they tell us to bear the crosses
of the world. It hurts, and I am still very sad, but I am more determined than ever
to find and baptize more children. Satan may have won this battle, but he WILL NOT
win the war. And even then, he won't have Sharon. She accepted it. Therefore, she
will have access to His mercy. Things will be made right because everything that
is unfair will be made right through the Atonement.
I have learned a lot this week. And it's been very painful. But
it's worth is. It is all worth it. Heavenly Father knew I was strong enough for
this, and so He sent me at this time to this place. He is there with me, and I have
but to only turn to Him, and things are made right, one way or another. I know it.
I know that God lives, and so does His Son. I know that I am a chosen daughter of
God. There is no knowledge more valued to me than this. I say this in the name of
Jesus Christ, Amen
Love, Sister Worthen
Monday, March 10, 2014
"Holy Cow! Life is Awesome!!!" - Letter, March 10, 2014
Ok, so this past week has been sooooo great!!! I have had the
hardest week of my life. And the reason that those two sentences go together is
because I know that I am doing what is right, and Satan does not like it!!!
Sharon is going to be baptized this Saturday, and Satan knows
he will get not be able to get to her, but he can get to us. He has tried so hard
to make us feel guilty and gross and unworthy to help her. But, we have faith, and
hope, and we have a knowledge of my Savior's love for me. That's all I need. She
is so excited to be baptized and she is so wonderful. She loves feeling the Spirit.
She says it makes her feel good. I love her!!!!
Also, I am going to the temple tomorrow!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's going to be so awesome!!! Of my zones, this is my favorite, and this is the
one that I am the most happy that I get to go to the temple with. I am really happy
right now. I can't really explain how wonderful it feels to know that I am doing
what is right and that I am going to be in the Lord's house. I am going to receive
revelation and I am going to learn something. I am going to feel the power of God,
and I am going to feel His love. I am going to increase in knowledge and power,
and I am going to come closer to the Savior. I am so excited!!!
Also, we got a couple of new investigators this week, I am really
excited to teach them.
And, I got a haircut. I went a little bold and got an asymmetrical
a-line. I really like it...so far. It's a lot shorter than I was expecting. She
cut quite a bit off. But that's ok. It will grow back. I am really happy. So happy.
I love you all and I am so blessed to be here.
Love, Sister Worthen
Monday, March 3, 2014
"What a Week for a Sister" - Letter, March 3, 2014
Sing the subject line to the tune of "What a Day for a Day
Dream". It makes a sense. But besides that, it has been an amazing week. I
have had some truly wonderful experiences. I like weeks like this, but I shouldn’t
say that too loud. Something bad might happen. Anyway, I have loved this week.
!. Sister Johnson: She got transferred in here on the 18th of
February. I haven't said a whole lot about her, but I love her. She is really funny,
and of course, taller than me. But she is a really amazing missionary. I cannot
count the number of times where I will say what the Lord wants me to say, and then
I don't know what else to say, so I will look at her and signal for her to talk,
and she has no idea what to say either. But then I can see the Spirit whisper to
her what she needs to say, and she says it. Our lessons are really powerful and
beautiful. They aren't perfect, but I am so blessed to have a companion who can
hear and follow the Spirit. And I know that when things aren't coming to me, she
can be there to back me up. It's so wonderful. She is also really funny and really
sweet. I can laugh with her and at the same time, share feelings and emotions with
her and I feel like I can trust her. I love it.
@. Sharon: Sharon is so amazing and so prepared!!! It blows my
mind. She is the diving accident in finding her. We had a lesson with her at the
church earlier this week and we taught her the Restoration. And then we went down
to the font, which was locked, and we invited her to be baptized. The Spirit in
our lesson was soooooo strong. When we started, we were in the chapel and we started
with the hymn, "Let the Holy Spirit Guide." And it was great. From the
moment we walked into the chapel, the Spirit was wonderful. Sharon can't read, except
basic sight words. And so we used a lot of pictures. But I didn't have one of baptism.
I was kinda praying that I would be able to find one, and when we walked out of
the RS room, there was the painting of the Waters of Mormon right outside the door.
It was so wonderful to know that the Lord knew I would need the painting when it
was hung so many years ago. Anyway, when we extended, she cried and she hugged us
and she told us that she wanted so bad to be baptized because she never has been.
She told us that she wants to get in church and stay in church. The thing with Sharon
is that she is like a little girl in so many ways. She is about 55ish (it's hard
to tell-we know that she doesn't smoke, but the other people in her life do) and
even that can have a hard effect on the skin and the aging process. Anyway, in so
many ways, she is innocent. We got her to pray after another lesson with her, and
by the time she was done, she literally clapped her hands and was bouncing and giggling
because of the Spirit. And when we get her to pray, it's always so sweet. It's like
listening to the prayers of a child. Honestly, I love this woman. She is so ready
for this. And she is on date for the 15th of March. We are going to get her ready
and we are so excited, but I don't think as excited as she is. She was even about
to come to church yesterday, and then because of the storm we got, church was cancelled.
But she was actually getting dressed when she got the call that it was a no-go.
And she was excited for testimony meeting, and she says that when she knows a little
bit more, she wants to bear her testimony. She WANTS to talk about Jesus. I love
this woman!!!
#. Greg: Greg has got me a little down (thankfully Sharon has
got me so high). He doesn't feel like he is getting the answers he is looking for.
Thing is, he's had a lot of witnesses, and he is looking so hard in another direction
that he can't see what's in front of him. But, I am going to try my best to get
him into a member's home this week so that he can really feel the Spirit. That's
the best thing for him, I think. And I think that because Heavenly Father told me,
therefore, I know. Anyway, the point is that he needs a lesson in a member's home.
So, please pray for him. And us so that we can teach him what he needs to hear.
Ok, I am going to go. But I love you all. I miss you and I hope
that you truly understand what it means to be a Child of God. He loves us and He
knows us individually. If you don't really understand that, do some praying and
read your Patriarchal blessing, because that is a written record of how Heavenly
Father sees you. If you have doubts about yourself write them down, and then read
your blessing. You will see that the Adversary is trying to tell you lies, but Heavenly
Father is telling you exactly what you are and what you mean to Him. Try it, I dare
you. :D
Love, Sister Worthen
Love, Sister Worthen
Pictures - March 3, 2014
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