"Hey, I say Hey a lot!" - Letter, June 30, 2014

One of my companions once gave me a little note that said, "Fall seven times, get up eight." It's a Japanese Proverb. I have thought about it a lot over the past while. I have it hanging on my wall where I study to look at it every day. It reminds me of the Doctrine of Christ, to have faith, repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and then endure to the end, especially the last part. Enduring to the end is not about being tough all the time. It's not about dragging yourself to the finish line. It's about picking yourself up every time you fall, and going back to repentance and faith, and renewing your covenants. I think about my covenants a lot. What do they mean to me? How do I keep them the way the Lord would have me keep them? How do I help others keep their covenants? Do I actually remember the covenants that I have made? I think about these things often, and I have come to understand that covenants are not something only to be thought of when you take the sacrament, or when you attend the temple. They are things to be thought on every moment of every day. There is a Video the Church just put out not too long ago called True Christianity about keeping your covenants every day. Below is the link. Y'all should watch it, and then consider one way to renew your covenants between the sacrament or your next temple trip.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=3609934299001
As far as my week has gone, I have had a pretty good week. I have a new companion. Her name is Sister Smith. She is really great. Funnily enough, she was companions with Sister Savage after me. She is just one transfer older than me, so it's nice to work with her because I have a lot to bring to the table, and she does too. We've had a lot of fun this week. I am still reeling a little from Sis. Colton leaving, but it's been a good change. Sometimes, it's too easy to be with someone after so long, so a change is healthy. I am really excited for this transfer. It will be a good one, I know it.

As far as finding people this week, I haven't had as much luck as I would have liked. I have tried really hard to go out and to talk to everyone, and to find my purpose in every area I walk through. But that's ok. I will keep trying. Enduring: maybe that's the lesson God wants me to learn right now. Hahaha. That's ok though. It's good for me.

Hey, so challenge for y'all. What are your favorite scriptures? The challenge is that you send them to me and not forget. All who participate will win with many blessings for cracking the spines of your scriptures. Hopefully they aren't too dusty. ;D Anyway, find a verse that you really like and share it with me, and then share it with someone else, on FB or in conversation, or with your children. The scriptures will bring such a peace into your home. I know it to be true!

I love you, and I love this work, even when it is hard. I love the Lord and I know He loves me. I know Heavenly Father is my greatest ally, and that I can do all things with His help and the help of HIs Son, Jesus Christ.

Love, Sister Worthen

"Well then..." - Letter, June 23, 2014

This week has been insane...literally. Sister Colton and I lost our minds. She got some serious bug bites that wouldn't quit itching, and it was bad. She couldn't think because she was itching so bad. So I had to keep her a little sane, and that didn't happen, but rather, she drove me a little crazy. Really, insane!!!!

To keep her from going too nutty, we made up a story. We have characters, and plot, and backstory, and magic, and everything that makes up a good story. It's kinda' funny that we just made up a world and people and it all makes sense.

Also, it was transfer week, and so we had a lot of opposition. We found out this morning that I am STAYING!!! and that Sister Colton is leaving!!! What? I always leave. I stayed in Oxford for 3 transfers, and since haven't. And this will be my 4th area and 6th companion. I wonder what will happen next....  Anyway, we go to transfer meeting tomorrow and we will find out what happens next then. I am excited and nervous. Getting a new companion is always an interesting experience. People are all so unique with such different stories.

Ok, so we had a really funny moment this week as well. We got a call just as we were about to leave, and we were trying to get some cookies on plates. We got distracted in our rush, and we walked out the door and closed it. I then asked Sis. Colton if she had the phone, which she did. Then she asked about the keys. I didn't have them. I turned around...and the door was locked. We tried to card the door, AND pick the lock. No go. Then we tried all of our back windows...which were locked. We stood there for a moment, and then I realized that the front window is broken, and we never open it because we can't close it easily. So we run around to the front, and lo and behold, it opened!!! Sister Colton tried to go in with me boosting her...but that didn't work. So then I tried, and I just got myself caught on the windowsill. I still have bruises from that. Then Sister Colton jumped at it, and got in almost the whole way, except her foot got caught. She reached back and pulled it in behind her and rolled through onto the floor. She pulled a muscle doing it, but it worked! So, we now know how to break into our apartment if needed. Unfortunately, half the town drove past us doing it, so they know too. Hahahaha!

Well, this is been a good week. I love you all, and I know this church is the true church. That Jesus Christ is the head of it, and that we have a prophet who speaks with our Savior and teaches us His will. I know that.

Love, Sister Worthen

"Grace Raining Down like Fire from the Sky!!!" - Letter, June 16, 2014

Ok, this week was so AMAZING!!!!!! We have had a recent move in named Jim. He is awesome. In the last year, he has had a heart attack and lost all the toes on one of his feet. His mom is a non-member that we promptly picked up as an investigator. Her name is Betty. But we have tried our best to talk to everyone this week-and we literally talked to 23 people last night!!! We found 10 new investigators this week! We also had 3 different appointments with people from Alexandria who have some kind of influence in the community. We put committed a family to be baptized, Friday night. All in all, this week has been awesome!!! We have been so blessed and we have seen so much grace! The Lord has given us so many tender mercies this week, we can't even explain them!!!

I love you all, and I know that the Lord blesses us for all we do. He know our weaknesses, but He also knows our strengths and how to use them.

Love, Sister Worthen

PS Sorry I don't have time to write more, but it's kinda a busy day. We are getting with our zone and having a fun day! Write ya soon!

"Immune Systems Disengaging" - Letter, June 9, 2014

So, this week has been awesomely off. We had a really good night on Monday, and then Sister Colton got sick on Tuesday. I was fine, and was happy, and felt really good, which was hard being stuck in an apartment all day. But then Wednesday, I got sick too. We spent the day asleep mostly. We went out once in the afternoon for an appointment, and then again in the evening for another appointment. But other than that, we didn't have a whole lot of access to the outside. Thursday, we were both ok, but really tired still. We had a zone meeting in Muncie that we went to, and then left pretty quick after.

We did a lot more on Thursday though. It was really good. We found a new investigator named AJ. He has 2 adorable kids. We didn't get to meet the Mrs., but we are going to go back. We set up an appointment, but they weren't back from an outing yet. But we will keep trying.

We also had a recent move-in to the branch. He's 52 and he's had a lot of health problems the past year, so he moved back to live with his mom here in Alexandria. We picked his mom up as a new investigator too. She's really curious about the church, and why we do things the way we do them. So, we are going to try and teach her. If things go right, which they will if I have any say in the matter ;D, the move-in named Jim, will baptize her sometime in the near future. It will be wonderful!!!

We have spent a lot of time being sick this week, and it feels so good to be out and about, and not confined to a toilet or bed. Life is good, and we are going to have an amazing week. I can tell already!!!

Also, this week, I am going to work on talking to EVERYONE!!! I know that as I get better at it, we will find a lot more people to teach. And as we help the branch members progress, we will see even more miracles. I love this area, and I am going to do all in my power to help it move forward. I am going to call down the grace of Christ and I will see miracles!!!

Have fun-remember that you are all children of God.

Love, Sister Worthen

"I will tell you right now..." - Letter, June 2, 2014

I'll tell you right now, this week has been rather uneventful...to say the least. We had zone conference this week, which was really good...but really stressful as well. President talked about working with the members and he told us how to help them and what to do in some situations...most of which, we have tried. Working with other people's agency can be a little hard at times, for sure.

But anyway, we learned some stuff and as a result, we have created a plan for the demise of the Elwood branch as we know it, and the building of the Elwood ward. I know it sounds diabolical, but it's really not. We are going to help these people become a tiny little Zion that will grow and will become a big Zion. It's going to be awesome. I also realized something this week. I have been moved or had a new companion almost every transfer since Oxford. I had this attitude that I am going to leave soon, and not have to deal with problems in an area for very long. I have to quit looking at it like that. I have to be able to look at an area, and tell myself that I am going to be here until the end, and that I am going to help the people become so much better, and in the process be so much better myself. But I can't look at it in a short term way. So, if I am here until next January, I am ok with that because I am going to love these people, members and non members alike, and I am going to not want anything but the best for them. I am going to own it here!

Anyway, we got to go to the branch game night, and us and the elders played a lot of basket-ball. We tend to make up a large part of attendance at branch meetings. Sad, but I am going to change that too.

I love this work, and I am going to be the best person that God wants me to be. I am going to let him change me, and try to be humble so He can.

Love, Sister Worthen