Hey family!
It's been a wonderful week with many reunions! We had mission leadership council on Friday, which means we got to go to Pittsburgh. And who did we stay the night with? Sister Hansen! In Bellevue! It was so fun catching up with her and spending the night in my old area :) A few people from my old ward stopped by, including Barb! She looked so good. When she got out of the car, one of the first things she said to me was, "There's something about the missionaries who baptize you...you feel like my mom!" Haha, so turns out I'm a mom to a 69 year-old-woman. Barb now has a family history related calling which she is excited about (It was some long title I can't remember) Anyhow, it was a fun night. After MLC, a group of us met at a church building in the area so we could all walk somewhere for dinner. When we got there, one of the elders I served with when I first came out happened to be there for their Book of Mormon class. So fun seeing him as well! I am so grateful for the friendships you make as a missionary. They make for many joyful experiences!
Because we were in Pittsburgh, we didn't teach as many lessons as we usually do. We did have a good lesson, however, with a guy named Paul. He is from Africa, and he moved here a few years ago. He knows his Bible very well, and he has a sincere desire to know if the things we teach are true.--Specifically, if the things we teach match up with the Bible. I have taught people like Paul before, and I have learned in these types of instances how important it is to focus on the Book of Mormon. Once someone has a testimony of the Book of Mormon, all concerns related to doctrine can be resolved. Once Paul gains a testimony of the Book of Mormon, he can then accept Joseph Smith as a prophet and modern revelation. We have another lesson with him set up for Sunday, and a member in our ward who was recently a mission president in South Africa will be coming with us. I know having him there will be a huge help to us! Unfortunately we have not been able to see Ruth for quite a while. Because of a family emergency she has been out of town, but we do worry that she has some concerns that need to be resolved. We're planning to stop by today, so hopefully we can see her again soon!
That's pretty much what's going on right now! Good things are happening. During our five hour drive home from Pittsburgh, we decided to listen to Elder Holland's talk, "Remember Lot's Wife." In it he talks a lot about having faith in the future, even when it seems uncertain. We do not need to dwell on how things "were" or how they "could have been" because Heavenly Father knows what we need better than we do. As I listened to it, I was brought back to when I first read this talk a couple years ago. I remember feeling unhappy with changes that were occurring in my life, and I remember feeling scared not knowing how things would work out. Then, sitting in the car, I thought about the past two years since that experience. I thought about the many joyful and growing experiences I had at school, and the part they played in me serving a mission. Ultimately, I was able to look back and see that Heavenly Father knew what he was doing the whole time. If there is one thing I've learned as a missionary, it's that all we need to do is trust God by giving our will to Him. Sometimes He asks us to do things that are hard, but as we are obedient, we will be able to look back and see the plan He had from the very beginning. I'm grateful for this new year and the many joyful experiences that lie ahead! The future is bright!
I love you all! Keep writing!
Love,
Sister Denney
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