"What Do I Say?" - Letter, September 29, 2014

Ok, this week has been a long one. I mean LONG! My companion and I kinda feel like we have been through the wringer. We have worked hard, but things didn't quite pan out the way we wanted them to. But it's ok, because we are going to apply the Doctrine of Christ, repent, and be better this week.

The guy we just baptized it a little nuts, and recently, he has been making comments about Sis. Lewis that are not appropriate for our relationship as teacher and learner. Nothing crude, just odd, like calling her the closest thing to an angel he's ever met, and telling her that she is true teacher, and not the Spirit. Needless to say, we passed him off to the Elders. We are not going to put ourselves in that position where he can keep doing that, because it might escalate and then we would get transferred out. Nope, not happening! Anyway, we feel it would be better for the Elders to teach him. Our Ward Mission Leader also thinks it's a good idea, so the transition should be easy.

The Sister's Conference! Wow!!!! Can you believe how powerful it is? LOVED that it was focused on the temple. We must be attending the temple as often as we can Sisters! I have gone almost 9 months without going, and it is painful sometimes. There is no other place like it, and it should be a goal for us to be there as often as we can, which means putting the books away, turning off the TV, and getting rid of all other excuses to not go. I get to go in a couple of weeks, and I am so excited! I am also so blessed. Anyway, I started crying right as soon as that Sister started to pray! It was beautiful. I could really feel the Spirit as they spoke and sang. To all my women family reading this, I would love it if we could go to the April Women's conference together. And get ice-cream. J

I just want to add that there is a family here in the Eaton Ward that are absolutely wonderful! They have 10 kids, 3 of which are biological (triplets). All of the adopted kids have some kind of special need. There is a boy who is 10 named Evan. Evan has a genetic disease that affects the muscle growth in his body, and because of that, he has almost no muscle and no joint movement in his arms and legs. But is mind is sound. He is amazing, and I think we are going to be great friends. He reminds me, personality wise, of my nephew Zachary. But all of the kids are special. They have 2 5 year old downs boys, and they are so beautiful. I got to go to their house, and the Spirit there is so thick, it's almost tangible. It's the kind of home that one might say is a temple, and the kind of home that I want mine to be like. Sure, things aren't perfect for them, but they are for sure on the right path. I would pray that all our homes be temples, dedicated to the Lord in the way we act in them. Also, this family is getting 3 more from Bulgaria. They will be so blessed to live in this atmosphere.

I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and that through Faith, Repentance, Baptism and Taking the Sacrament weekly, Having the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and using it daily, and Enduring to the End we can be saved in the Kingdom of our Father. I know this, and I say it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love, Sister Worthen

"Eaton, Ohio" - Letter, September 22, 2014

Hey, y'all!!! I flew the coop last week, and I landed in Eaton Ohio, or rather New Lebannon, Brookville, West Alexandria, West Manchster (a lot of Wests), And I don't know what other towns. There are a lot of them in my area. The ward, which just became a branch a year ago, is right above my first area, Oxford.

The ward is small, but expanding faster than the building is. They were in line for a new building, but they were told that the members in this area aren't paying their tithing faithfully enough to have a new building, so they are busting at the seams. But it's ok. We are going to work with the Bishop to help the members' faith increase enough to take care of things. I am really excited. I think I am going to be here until I go home in January, and so I think that I can help make a difference here. I am not going to be the deciding factor in anything, but I can for sure help them.

We had a baptism yesterday. His name is Dennis Click, and he wanted to be baptized for the remission of his sins. He's a little eccentric, but he'll change as the Holy Ghost continues to work on him. It was a really good baptism too. There weren't a lot of people there, but we got the job done anyway.

My companion is Sis. Lewis, and she is from South Jordan, UT. She and I get along really well. We both randomly burst out into song frequently, and we make funny noises, and use funny accents all the time. I am really excited for this transfer.

I'm sorry that my letter is so short, but I have limited time now. I love you all. I know that God knows all, and that He puts me where he wants me. I know that I am a beloved daughter of a generous Heavenly Father.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen

 

"Ok, now for words" - Letter, September 15, 2014

So this week has been fantastic. I will say that I am sorry for any typos-I can't type to well today. I had a great start to my week because I got to go to a Reds game in Cincinnati. It was a blast. I got to see some of my old friends and all of my old companions. It was great! We also got to spend time with a member of our branch who is amazing! She drove us down. But I have learned a lot about agency over the past week. There were moments when I wanted to scream or cry because people aren't using their agency in a manner which helps them come closer to their Heavenly Father. But I have come to learn on a little deeper level how the Savior feels about us when we don't do what we need to.  I have come to understand that even though I can make the right choices, and set the example for others, they can still choose to not follow. But even though I hurt sometimes because of other's bad choices, I wouldn't give it up for the world. I know, on a tiny level, what the Savior feels for them, and I know how much He loves them, and how much Heavenly Father loves them. And the hurt that I feel helps me to know how much They love me too.

This week, we have not talked to Brittany and Travis. I don't know what happened, but we talked to them Sunday, and we were still good for a lesson on Tuesday, and then they didn't respond to our txt, or show up to our dinner appointment. They haven't answered the door, or txted or anything. I don't know what is going on, but again, it's their agency, not mine. But I hurt for them. I hurt because I was seeing changes in them, and the Spirit working on them. I could see the power of the Gospel starting to affect them, even in the smallest part. And then they stopped talking to us. I hurt because I love them and I know the Savior loves them, and He only wants the best for them. At the same time, I know that all things will be made right someday. Things will work out and it will we wonderful!

The Branch here is great!!! I love these people so much. I have learned so much from Elwood. It took me a long time to feel like I loved this place, and now I can say that I do. There are still some things that I don't exactly think are right, but then in my mind, we should just all be perfect and then that's that. Hahaha. not really. I have worked with the members here and I have seen their faith increase so much! There are just a few little things that are holding them back from becoming a ward, but when they get over them, BAM!!! Things are going to explode!!! Please pray for the branch.

Oh, and this week is transfers. We haven't gotten a call yet, which is driving me a little crazy. But, as soon as I know, if I'm on, I will tell you. Chances are that I won't be though. So y'all will have to wait for next week's email.

I know that the Savior is there for us. I know that when I am being diligent in my calling, others are blessed for it. I tell people that I don't like rules, but I love blessings. And sometimes, knowing that those blessings are for someone else is more than enough for me. I don't want to give up the pain and sorrow I feel for others, because then I wouldn't be feeling the Savior's love. But when I focus on what He wants me to do, then I feel His love and joy. I know that as each of us serve Him, even in the smallest capacity, we will feel that love. I say this in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love, Sister Worthen

Photos - September 15, 2014

This is me and my mission president, Pres. Porter, in front of the Ohio River right before the Reds game

This is a well that was hit when they were drilling for oil.  The water is supposedly the cleanest in the area.  It tastes pretty good.

 ​This is the corn field next to the church. 

​This is the view from out seats in Great American Ball Park.  That is the Ohio River in the back, and we were right about the run from 3rd to home plate.  We lost miserably- 5-0.  Right as we were leaving, the Cardinals hit a home run, and got 3 runs in. 

This is Sis. Smith and I 

Pictures - September 15, 2104

Pictures taken by Sister Smith.

Picture - September 8, 2014

McKayla's Zone

"Sheep and Goats" - Letter, September 8, 2014

This week has been wonderful!!!! There have been some really hard moments, and there have been some WONDERFUL highs!!! I am so blessed to be a missionary at this time of the Hastening of the Work. It is obviously the Lord's work that I am doing, and I am privileged to be in His service.

We have an awesome couple that we are teaching! Their names are Brittany and Travis. They are so elect! We had a great lesson with them on Thursday night. It was the second time that we taught Travis and it was powerful!!! We taught about the Book of Mormon and then afterward, we asked him to say the prayer. Brittany asked if he knew how to pray, and he said yes. She told him that she asked because she didn't know and we had to teach her. He began to pray, and at first, it was the normal prayer, and as he prayed, he started stumbling over his words, and saying things such as, "This is weird," and, "I don't know what to say," and, "I don't know what's going on..." Finally, Brittany whispered to him to say, "In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen," which he then did. Afterward he told us that he had never felt that way before, and he didn't know what it was. We testified to him that it was the Holy Ghost, and that he would come to recognize and search for the feeling that more that he had it. We committed them to read and pray about the Book of Mormon together. They are not married but are engaged and have a date for the November 2nd. She has an almost 3 year old daughter named Emily, a 5 month old named Denver, and just found out that she is pregnant again. But they have a huge desire to be a strong family and to have the Spirit in their home. Both of them are 21, so they are really young and it's so amazing to see how much they are absorbing. When we told them about the Word of Wisdom, it didn't really even phase them. I was amazed! Like I said, they are elect, or did I say that? Well, they are elect, or 'golden' as some of you might say. It's a great time to be here as a missionary!!!

Tonight, I get to go to a Reds v. Cardinals game, and I am STOKED!!! Wahoooo!!!!

Ok, so, I love you all dearly!!! I know that my Savior lives. He is my master, and He has called me to be His servant. I know that He loves each of us and that He is looking out for us. I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love, Sister Worthen

"I hope you get this one." - Letter, September 2, 2014

This week has been pretty darn great! The work here is really progressing. We have an AWESOME investigator named Brittany. She is really soaking everything in and is really excited. Something that I love about the Church is that we aren't a Sunday church. We don't just come to church on Sunday, say a few pretty things, and then go home and forget everything. We actually teach and learn from one another and from Heavenly Father. We don't just sit back and wait for someone else to tell us things: we have the resources to search things out for ourselves.

Something that Brittany told us this week was that she loved that we are teaching her what we believe. We don't just expect her to come to church on Sunday, or whenever they have church, and then know everything. She likes that we don't look down on her for asking questions. She is really learning, not just hearing what is said. When we taught her the Plan of Salvation, we took Sis. Petty with us. Sis. Petty has 3 little girls, ages 5-3. She bore a POWERFUL witness that the Plan of Salvation gives her hope and allows her to raise her children in a way so that they can all live together again after this life. And then she told her that if she learns to apply what we teach, she too can have those blessings. It was a great lesson, and it made me stop and think about how grateful I am for the Plan of Salvation, to know that I can be sealed to my future family, and that I am sealed to my family now. And then this morning, I was studying, and I read Doctrine and Covenants 11:21, which says basically that if we search out the word, we will be able to teach it, but only on the stipulation that we have a DESIRE to do so. And I realized that I do have the desire for Brittany to learn and to be with her family for time and all eternity. And that is why I am here. I am in Indiana right now because I want to share that message with everyone. And it was really cool because we took breakfast to her to make sure she was up and her fiancé was awake and was ready to come with. After Sacrament meeting, they had to leave, but we picked him up to teach tonight, and she told us that next week, she is going to stay for the classes, even if he doesn't. She has a DESIRE to learn, and when they have that desire, the changes that will come over them are amazing! I am blessed to be a member of this church, and to have the Restored Priesthood Authority that allows me to return to my loving family and my loving Father in Heaven.

Last night, we went to Muncie, and had a Chalk and Talk, like we did on the 4th of July, except there weren't nearly as many people there. But I met this really cool YSA there. He and his girlfriend were there for the FHE (they were the only ones who showed up). But it was really cool because he is Navajo, and as we talked, he told me that his grandma was the first Indian Placement Student. She got to live with President McKay? for 2 weeks. But, I finally met a Navajo on my mission. Goal achieved!!! But the pictures are from that event. Love ya! Bye!

Sister Worthen