Mission Life # 48 REJOICE, be the salt of the earth

Maandag 29 januari 2018

Hallootjes!

How is everyone!? I'm doing good! This week was really interesting. I've spent the first half of the week in Kwatta. We had interviews with the mission president. It was really good. While zuster Jordan had her interview, a boy came and asked if we had work for him so he could have some money to buy some food. We were in the church building, so we told him that we didn't know if he good do a chore or something and we can't give money. But that afternoon I was making dinner to take with me for interviews and I felt prompted to take a lot of food with me. I thought maybe for president and sister Egbert, but nope it was for this boy.

Last Sunday I gave away my water to a man who wanted us to buy him soda (but it was Sunday). So Wednesday I gave away the food I didn't eat. It felt really good. I also got the letter from the Gerrits family! Thanks!!

Thursday we had an amazing lesson with a dear family. They always take forever to get ready, so we decided to talk to some people on the street. So we talked to this guy. Not interested, didn't want a pamphlet. But we got to know him a little bit, so at the end he wanted a pamphlet! Gospel changes hearts. So yeah, the lesson with the family we watched the Restoration video. It brought the Spirit. They all felt good and happy. We testified, sister C. testified. THE SPIRIT OF GOD LIKE A FIRE IS BURNING. The Spirit was really strong. It feels so comfortable.

Friday was zone conference! It was so good. Really motivated me to not only be an obedient missionary, but also a diligent and consecrated passionate missionary. I really needed that.

So the other half of the week I was in Rainville. I'm back! It's weird to be back. I started my mission in Suriname here. The area is kind off dead. BUT niet gevreesd. It won't stay like that, because my companion and me are determined to find people and baptize them. We were contacting and we met a lady who didn't live there, but she was just visiting from the Netherlands. But she is having a hard time, so we were an answer to her prayers. She gave us her information so the missionary in the Netherlands can visit her. She lives in Zaandam. It was a really cool experience. She needed us. We said a prayer with her. It's amazing to be the Lord's servants.

I want to share some things I learned during my personal study this week.

I read in 3 Nephi 12:13

13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.

I felt the Spirit telling me, commanding me to be the salt of the earth. God needs me, because wherewith shall the earth be salted otherwise? I know I'm at the place God wants me to be. Rainville is a tough area, but I have faith, I want to work hard. I know that this area will grow. I know God has a plan for me and all of his children. I know this gospel is true. Because of it I have reason to rejoice.

Mosiah 4

11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

My mission theme is rejoice. If we forgive we have a reason to rejoice, if we feel forgiven, we feel happy. We will grow in knowledge. He wants to give us that knowledge. He wants us to know Him. So I want to invite you to get to know God but praying with a sincere heart. He will hear you. He is God. God is love. Nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:35, 38-39). I love Him. I know He loves me. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lobi,

Zuster Spijkerman

Mission life # 47 GOD IS GROOT

Maandag 22 januari 2018

Hello everyone!!! 
I'm so excited to write this email, because I had a lot of spiritual experiences this week. We just had a lot of good lessons again! 

Saturday night I was so tired and we just had a weird God lesson, so I just prayed that either the next lesson will fall through or that it would be a really Spiritual lesson. Well, the lesson didn't fall through. But we had a really spiritual lesson! God always answers my little prayers. I love it.

I've been praying a lot for the Spirit, because I realize how important the Spirit it is conversion. It's the Spirit that will change their hearts. So I've been praying and working on following the Spirit. Sometimes it's just hard to recognize the Spirit. But I realized that if your first thought is a good thought and it leads you to do something good, you should act upon that goo thought. So Wednesday we were contacting in our DCA when I saw this really good looking guy. He was walking towards his house. Zuster Campbell said that they already talked to that house, so we were about to skip the house. But I was like, did you talk to that guy and she said they didn't. So after hesitating, I knew what I had to do. It was a good thought and I needed to act upon it.

So we went over and started talking to him. He said that he was raised Catholic, but he knew it wasn't the right church, but he doesn't know which church is, so he stopped going to church. He was searching for the truth, so we made a return appointment. That appointment was yesterday. He opened up right away. He asked if we could pray for more peace and calmness (rust) around him. So we did. And there were a lot of kids in the playground behind us, but all the kids were gone at the end of the lesson. In the lesson he completely opened up. 2017 was a really bad year for him, so he wants to start over. His story is really sad, but I just felt so happy. I felt like Ammon, when the servants were so scared, and his heart was swollen of joy, because he could show him his power, God's power. This guy is searching. He is just like Joseph Smith. I was just so happy, because I knew that this gospel will and can give him all the answers he needs. The Spirit was so strong. 

I know that God leads me, guides me to those that are prepared by Him. I'm so grateful I can be His servant. I know that I'm at the place where I belong. I know that the prophets put us there where God and his children needs us the most. I know this gospel is the everlasting full gospel. It brings joy, it brings peace, it brings happiness. I know He is a living God who watches over me and all of His children. I know that he knows me, he loves me. And that just makes me so happy. I know the gospel is true, because it makes me happy. In the name of Jesus Christ. amen

I hope you all have a good week. I love you with all my heart. I will pray for you more often. Keep praying for me. That's the best thing you can do for me. Prayer is so powerful!

Mi lobi yu!

Liefs,

Zuster Spijkerman

Mission LIfe #46

Maandag 15 januari 2018

sorry I don't have time this week! It was a good week! Zuster Campbell and I were the only 2 sister missionaries in Suriname last Thursday. We had 4 investigators in church. I just want to testify that I know that God exists. I love Mosiah 4:9

Believe in God; believe that He is, and that He created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth: believe that man doth not comprehended all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

Sometimes we don't understand why things happen,

24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of Him who knoweth all things (2 Nephi 2:24).

His plan is a perfect plan. I learned to accept His plan on my mission. I need to rely on Him. Because this is His work and His glory, not mine. I'm just helping Him. And it's an honor to work together with Him. I love Him with all my heart. I invite you all to read the Book of Mormon, because that helps you understand his plan. You will grow closer to Him. I know these things and I say these things in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Lobi,
Zuster Spijkerman

Mission Life #45 quick update

Maandag, 8 januari 2018

Hello everyone!! 

We just had a lot of spiritual lessons last week.

President Egbert wants us to write down inspired answers. I want to share two answers I wrote down this week. Both from less actives actually. One was 'wonderen komen uit een wond'. Miracles come from wounds. I was thinking about that a lot. If we want to see miracles, we need to be wounded. We need to have a broken heart, so He can heal us. I remember my dad telling me that once. Thanks dad!

If we are meek and humble we can see miracles. We just need the eyes to see. The other one said: 'door beproevingen leren we Zijn wegen kennen.' We learn his ways trough trials. Trials make us more humble. Jesus's life wasn't easy. it was really hard. And He was so humble.

I know that if I'm humble and turn to Him and really inquire of Him in all my doings, I will see miracles. I know this church is true. I'm so grateful to be His servant. I'm grateful for the things I'm learning everyday. I thank my God everyday for this beautiful gospel. It gives me light, above the brightness of the sun. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet. He saw God and Jesus. He restored the gospel. I know Thomas S. Monson was a prophet. I know that he was inspired to talk about the Book of Mormon in his last conference. I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon. Without it my life would be empty. It heals the wounded soul. Because of that I can see miracles. I have the eyes to see. I know these things are true.

I read in Jacob 5. At the end it is talking about that they labored with all their might. This is the last time, these are the Latter Days. Now is the time to shine and help other shine. Let your light shine! Serve one another. That's what brings joy, peace and happiness. in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I love you all!!!!

Lobi,

Zuster Spijkerman

pics: We got a package from zr Hendricks!! Thanks!! Dragon fruit is so pink