Mission Life # 61 Zone Conference

Maandag, 30 april 2018.

Hi everyone!
I don't feel like writing today but we had a good week. It's been a kind off rough with John. So he's not on date anymore. But we will still work hard with him.

We had interviews and zone conference. I received a blessing and I cried so much. The Spirit was so strong. That's exactly what I needed. I know God is real and he truly gives worthy man the priesthood to be a blessing for us. I learned a lot about the gathering of Israel, also a lot about Abraham. So in my patriarchal blessing it talks about Abraham, so I understand a lot more what that means now.

We had a cool experience on Saturday. We were biking and we felt prompted to look up a potential. We couldn't find her, but we found someone else who was so so awesome. She asked us how the gospel has blessed us. We all testified. And I want to testify to you that the gospel blessed my live so so much. There is more unity in my family, I know who to turn to and I know Christ. I know why we need Him.

My testimony of kids understanding the gospel grew. We are teaching a couple teenagers. And they just understand so so much. They listen even when you think they don't listen. I know God chose this generation to come to this earth at this time.

We had a lesson with one teenager, Ryan. We wanted to drop him because we thought he didn't understand and he was just not ready. But then he told us everything about the restoration. We were so surprised. Then we talked about the Book of Mormon. The Spirit was so strong and you could see him smile and glow. I feel the Spirit now I talk about it again.

I know there is power in the Book of Mormon. It helps us to help others. It helps us to know the truth. I know the Book of Mormon is true. We can learn from every verse. I'm reading the war chapters right now and I've prayed so much for understanding and I've never learned this much. It's God's word. It helps us to grow closer to Him. President Eyring talked about blessings of the Book of Mormon in his talk in October and he said that we will have the desire to do good to others, to serve others. My desire to help and serve others grew so much. And I know that's because of the Book of Mormon. I know with my whole heart that this gospel is true and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Lobi,

Zuster Spijkerman

ps we went to palmentuin. It's so pretty

Mission Life # 60 Come see the Light

Maandag 24 april 2018

Hello everyone!

This week I want to tell you the many experiences I had. How I came to see the Light. I did forget my planner, so hopefully God helps me out here. 

We are teaching a man, John. (Well we are teaching 3 Johns, but this is John 1). So we think he has autism. But he is really cool and he understands things pretty good. Especially when he reads. So we have a goal of 2 baptisms this transfer. we already have 1, so we need 1 more. We had a date in mind for John, prayed and we weren't sure. So in the lesson I got a feeling we should invite him to be baptized. But then my companion closed with in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. So I thought: 'okay next time', but then my other companion looked at my companion. We all felt like we should invite him. So we did. and he's on date for the 12th of May! We have to teach him a lot, but we know it will happen with Gods will. 

Wednesday was such an amazing day! We had a really good lesson with 2 young women we are teaching. The Spirit was so strong. We invited them to pray with us there to ask God if Joseph Smith was a prophet. And in her prayer the girl said that deep in her heart she knows it's true. It was so wonderful. I felt so light, I was so happy. I think I was glowing zo blij was ik. We were running late for another appointment. But then zuster Barker stopped someone. And the lady was gorgeous, so I'm glad we stopped so we could tell her. She said she has been praying a lot and she just started going to church again. She was so grateful that we met her. She was from Cuba. It was so amazing. I stand all amazed. Well I stood. 

I had a really spiritual personal experience on Friday that I want to share with you.

Lately, I don't feel wonderful and I just don't know why and because of what. So Friday morning in my prayer to start personal study I cried and told Heavenly Father that He needed  to comfort me and help me see what is wrong with me and how I can fix it. Then I got the prompting to just open up the Book of Mormon. And I don't like doing that, because I feel like it doesn't work. It worked once in my life. So I told God that I didn't know if I trusted Him enough right now to open up the Book of Mormon and start reading. But I knew I had to do it. So I did. I opened up to Alma 27. I read verse 27 and the Spirit told me that I needed to tell my companions how I felt.

I needed to be honest and sincere. So I told them. And they helped me a lot. We talked about being exactly obedient, but don't look beyond the mark. I think I'm too focused on being obedient that I forget why I want to be obedient.They really helped me this week. Because I could be honest our relationship is a lot better and there is more unity. I feel happier. I had never felt this way on my mission before, so it was a dark place I didn't want to be. But God invited me to come see the light. Christ is the Light. There is an EFY song 'come see the light'. The shadows flee, His quiet voice, see the light hope, be free. Or something like that... And I just love that song so much. He delivers us out of darkness. Just like He did with Joseph Smith.

Then Saturday we had a beautiful lesson with a member family. Usually we just sit with the wife, but the husband sat with us too. We talked about God being a God of miracles. The Spirit was so strong. I was able to share my testimony of the miracles I've seen in my life. I shared the story of my brother. That the doctors told my parents he would never be able to walk. But now he is running and hij doet mee aan wedstrijden (he is running races). They were amazed!!! 

I am doing good now. I am tired, but missions are the best. Time goes by fast, sometimes slow.

But I know that if we turn to the Light, we can be delivered out of darkness and we can see the miracles that God performs in our lives daily. I want to invite all of you to focus on that Light. Focus on Christ. You will rejoice. I know and I promise you that you will find new life. In the name of our Savor Jesus Christ. amen.

Lobi,

Zuster Spijkerman

Mission Life #59 Talking to Everyone

Maandag, 16 april 2018

Hello everyone!

This week was amazing!! We talked to so many people. We stopped them while biking, walking, talking everything. 

Tuesday we were there and we met a guy, A. He said that he had been praying for someone that could help him come closer to God. But nothing or no one came. But then God sent us to him. Then on Saturday we stopped by to make an appointment and we asked him if there was anything we could do for him. He asked us to pray for him. He really wants to learn more. Finding the elect is so awesome!

We also talked to a lady on the street, and we barely talked to her daughter actually. We had a lesson with her yesterday and she said she really wants to repent and convert (bekeren in Dutch sometimes it's hard to tell which one they mean haha). She was so awesome! We also had 2 other lessons this week with two 16 year olds that are amazing! They can all be baptized! I  know God puts us in the right places if we are willing to follow the promptings. I know that if we learn how to recognize the promptings, revelations, we will recognize Him at the last day.

I read something in the Book of Mormon about recognizing His voice. Revelation helps us to recognize his voice, so we will know Him and recognize Him.

We saw a sloth this week. (luiaard). 

 We have another really cool investigator J. We think he has autism, so we need to go very slow. We took a member with us. And it was awesome! He even invited him to come to church and he could pick him up. He didn't come, but he told us that he really wants to come next week. 

We had another member present lesson with our Guyanese family. The cancelled our two last appointments so I was kind a scared that we had to drop them. But wow. NO. On the contrary. So let me tell you. She used to believe in God, but  is leaning towards science now. We invited them to pray last time. And he prayed a lot actually! That even surprised her! So we committed them to pray every day. Usually she wouldn't be willing to do that, because she doesn't know why and who she is praying to. But now she said that it wasn't a hard thing to do. So they will pray every day. And that's a huge thing! The member shared her testimony and told them to pray. The Spirit was so strong. I couldn't talk after the lesson because I was in shock of their progression! It's so awesome to see the change and progress in people. That is literally the most amazing part of a mission.

My testimony of the priesthood grew this week. Justin received the gift of the Holy Ghost. I was sitting behind the piano still, but he was just smiling and he was grabbing his heart. I knew he felt the Spirit. Another lady got baptized yesterday and received the gift of the Holy Ghost too and my companions told me that Justin said:  'she got the power too?' He said he feels sure ("Ik voel me verzekerd"). Partaking of the sacrement was really special for me too. I was just so grateful for the young man who gave me the bread and water. My heart was filled with the Spirit and testified to me that this is the only true church. I'm so grateful that Joseph Smith restored the Church. Because of Him we have the power and authority to lead this church and perform saving ordinances. Because of the priesthood I can take from the sacrement and start again. 

I know the Church of Jesus Christ is restored on the earth again. Built on a foundation of prophets and apostles, Jesus Himself being the chief corner stone. I know God lives. He interacts with us. We can talk to him every single day. Prayers helps me so much. I love my Father in Heaven. Seek Him an I promise you that you will find Him. He loves you. I love you. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lobi,

Zuster Spijkerman