"Singin'...or Runnin' in the Rain" - Letter, August 25, 2014

Hey, this week has been pretty dang awesome! And I mean that in a few different ways. We had a rainstorm that lasted for a couple of days, and it wasn't a light one either. It was pretty intense. There was a lot of lightning, and we actually went running in it one morning. Well, when we left, it wasn't raining, but by the time we got back it was. hahahahaha It was an experience. We saw some great miracles this week too!

We have and investigator Brittany who is 20, has 2 kids, and is looking for a church. Sis. Smith and Sis. Dennison found her a couple of weeks ago, and she is golden!!! She accepted the challenge to read the Book of Mormon, and was really excited about coming to church...but didn't. We met with her twice this week, and she told us at our second appointment that she had told her fiancé about us and that he wanted to come to church as well. Well, they didn't come to church, but still! We have a great new person to teach!!! YYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am super excited, if ya can't tell. Hahahaha

Also, we got to help out a less-active member clean out an abandoned house. She owns to properties right across the street from her. One of them is condemned and she wanted us to help clean it out as much as possible, salvage what she can, and then she is going to have a rummage sale inside where people can buy pieces of the house along with other miscellaneous stuff she will bring in. We got there at about 12:15 and this Sister had been looking for the keys to the house for a while. It took us a good half hour to round up tools, shovels, keys, and a can of lemonade for me. And then she told Sis. Smith that she wanted to go down into the basement and collect as much stuff as possible. Well, Sis. Smith finds the basement door, opens it, sees how black it is, and decides to wait for a flashlight. When we got the flashlight, we went back to the door, opened it, and found that the basement was completely flooded. You could see the water and all the stuff floating in it. It was pretty gross looking. And then Sis. Baugh came over and wanted to look, and we had her 7 year old grandson who is special needs and is almost completely blind. I am holding him back because he wants to go to, and he is freaking out, and all of a sudden I hear Sis. Smith yelp. I look up to see Sis. Baugh holding her up. She went to stand on the first stair, thinking it was concrete, and it broke out from underneath her because it was in fact wood. Oh, man! If she'd gone down, I would have had to go down after her, and we told that we can't swim. Hahahaha. Actually, I was really glad the basement was flooded because I didn't want to really go down there at all. Condemned house, creepy spiders, no lights...get what I'm sayin' here? But, it was great because after about an hour, her husband got home from work and he helped us out. It was really good because he isn't a member and this way, we can really help him become involved. I really want to teach them as a couple, but they have such weird schedules, it's hard to do. Oh well, I'll figure it out.

Also, we had a less active come to church for the first time in over 50 years!!! WAHOOOO!!!! We have been working with him and it's great that he's finally doing something about the promptings he's been getting. We have this member who is having a spiritual crisis, who is his Home Teacher. He has been working on him for 15+ years, and there were others before him. This member hasn't come to church in 3 weeks, and so when we told him that Bro. King had come to church, he was SHOCKED. We had been told several times that Bro. King would never come to church because people have invited him for years and years. But we told this member that we didn't do it all by ourselves. We were only able to help him come to church because of the years spent by others consistently working with him, including this member. It was our Sunday miracle!

Brothers and Sisters, there is a lesson to be learned here. There are people who we have to love consistently and constantly. The fruits of our labors won't always be immediate. God doesn't work that way, and neither should we. If we go in by the Spirit, then we will see the fruits eventually. Faith can move mountains, but sometimes, it's only one shovel-full at a time. I know that to be true, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Love, Sister Worthen

"Grace" - Letter, August 18, 2014

This week, we had a zone conference where I was blessed to hear from 2 of the Key Holders I serve under: President Porter (mission president) and President Burdette (stake president). It was revelatory, as in I got a lot of revelation. I learned some things about how to better work with the Branch Council to increase the efficacy of the work here. I learned about how to invite people to be baptized. And I also learned that Grace is made up of 3 major components, and if we are lacking in one, then we are hurting in all three. They components are Heart, or mind and soul, Might, or physical exertion (diligently acting on our faith), and Faith, which is our mind and strength mentally and spiritually. Without all three, we cannot call down grace. The Savior allows grace to flow freely, as we do His will. We have to try our best to live the commandments. It’s as we do that we are able to see miracles. We here in the Great Ohio Cincinnati Mission call this the Power Triangle. I know it sounds a little complicated, but it’s as simple as this: God gives us commandments, and when we follow them, miracles happen. I also realized that I often lack in diligence or might. I tend to get into this habit of thinking that I can do something and I know that God can bless me for doing something, but I also think that I can do it later, or that I don’t have to work at it. For example, as a younger person, I did my town royalty pageant. I know I can sing, and so I didn’t want to practice my song, because I could already do it. See the flaw there? It’s the same in many aspects of my life. So I learned this week that the Old Man that I have to put down is my undiligence...if that’s the right word to use.

We have had an AWESOME week. We had zone conference this week, and we also got to go on exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders. We both had a lot of miracles. In our area, Sis. Smith and Sis. Dennison found 3 new investigators, and had some pretty SWEET lessons with people. They extended baptism and really shared the Spirit with them. I wish I could have been there. But, I got to witness other miracles in Muncie. I was with Sis. Jacobson, who is pretty boss. We found 2 families that are both really prepared!!! One of them had already been given a Book of Mormon and read it frequently, and also uses the Church’s Bible Videos to teach his kids every night! What! Who does that? This guy apparently! I loved it. We had a super sweet day!

Ok, well, I love you all and I know that I am here on the Errand of the Lord. I know that He is my Master, and that He will take care of the people I meet. I know that I am a Child of God and that I have and eternal family, and if we keep our covenants to each other by keeping them with God, we will all be able to return to our Heavenly Father together.

“And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

“Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.” Alma 5:45-46

I know this in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Love, Sister Worthen

"Simple and Powerful" - Letter, August 11, 2014

This week, I have thought a lot about the little things. I have thought about how simple questions bring out powerful responses. I have thought about how simple actions cause miracles. And I have thought about how Faith like the Ancients is not something to be gained by thinking only on falling asleep during lunch time. I have thought about how walking out into the wilderness like Nephi is something I do every day. I step out my door, and I am wading through affliction, temptation, misery, and trials. I am not just here to teach the lessons. I am here to change myself so much that when I go home, my family will be a place like the tent of Lehi, where visions and revelations are free flowing and permeable. I want my home to be a place where the Spirit is a constant presence and my children are filled with the Love of the Savior. These are the things I am learning in the Elwood Branch, my personal wilderness. And all of these things come from simple moments of feeling the Spirit and making changes to myself necessary for Salvation. I know it is possible.

This week, we found a new investigator. Her name is Melissa. She has 2 daughters, and 3 grand children. She asked us to come back. We are really excited. We have seen so many changes here in the Elwood Branch! I can't believe how much the people are growing. There are a few stumbling blocks in the way, but those are easily overcome through the Atonement. As we, the missionaries, keep focusing on Faith, nothing will be able to overcome the Lord's plan for this area. I can see it now: The Elwood Stake!!! Hahahah. I'm getting ahead of myself. I just want for the Elwood Ward to be a reality right now. But eventually, it will happen.

Oh, so we have been working with this really kind, sweet less- active. She wants to come back to church, but she is hitting a road block with her husband. He is not a member, and while he isn't anti, he is for sure not certain about us. He knows he can feel the Spirit when we visit, but he's just taking his sweet time. Anyway, she wants to come to church, but he wants to do other stuff, so he doesn't want to come to church, so she doesn't come to church. But this week, they were both there for Sacrament meeting. I saw them and I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear. I had the biggest grin on my face. I love this woman so much that sometimes it doesn't feel like I have enough room in my heart. Thankfully, the Savior helps me expand a little. And we had 3 other less actives there! It was so wonderful! And because the one non-member was there, we had an investigator at church! It was a great day!

I woke up yesterday feeling a true sense of peace, and that continued on through my morning. In fact, I have been happy all week. I love feeling this way. Things aren't easy, but I have the Lord on my side. I can do this. I know you can too. All the Savior asks is that we give ourselves over to Him. He will finish what we can't, and change what we need to change. I know this, and I say it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love, Sister Worthen

"Life Lessons Learned" - Letter, August 4, 2014

This week has been a really good, but long one. It was transfer week, and while I don't like to think too much about leaving an area or staying, it was still on my mind. But, I did find out that I am staying in Elwood. So, this will be my record breaker. I have never stayed in an area more than 3 transfers, and this will be my 4th. Crazy! By the end of the transfer, I will have been here for 6 months. What!!! I got here at the start of April. It's now August! I can't believe how fast time has moved.

Anyway, I looked back on where I was 4 ½ months ago, and I realize that I am in a much different place. I have learned so much from this area. I feel like my biggest growth has happened here. I was in Sacrament meeting yesterday, and I was pondering what I had learned. I have learned a lot about being Bold. I am much more bold and forward here than I was before. And I am continuing to work on that. I have learned sensitivity. The people here are great, but I have had to learn how to be sensitive and to be bold, but kind at the same time. I have learned Patience. It seems like I get going really good, and then something happens that teaches me to be patient. I have learned how to speak in the Language of Faith more fully. And I have learned about Grace. I love grace, and I understand it so much better now. It's not about perfection, but about effort. In just 4 months, I have learned so much about so many things. I love it.

So, we have an investigator named Madonna. We are working with her to be baptized on the 23rd of April. I know it can happen. She wants to be worthy of Heavenly Father's love, and I know that through this Gospel, she can learn how to know that for herself.

I love you all, and I know that this Gospel is true. I prayed to know, and I know that a young man named Joseph Smith, at the age of 14, walked into a grove of trees, and DID see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. I KNOW that with all my heart.

Love, Sister Worthen