I read this phrase in my personal study this morning and it really stood out to me. It is found in 1 Corinthians 15:10. I've been reading the New Testament every day and I started off going straight through from the beginning, but when I got past the gospels I decided to read the epistles in the order they were written in rather than longest to shortest the way they got arranged in the bible. Anyway, so I finished 1 Corinthians today, and I spent some time pondering this phrase. Our mission president came up with a mission motto which is "become God's instrument". We also got a training by president Bean (a new member of our mission presidency) on Joshua 3:5 which talks about sanctifying ourselves so that the Lord can work wonders among us. This is the Lord's work and if we are willing to do it the Lord's way He will work wonders. Our job is to simply be worthy, sanctified vessels. I especially love Paul's phrase that "by the grace of God I am what I am". It is neither boastful nor apologetic, but simply a statement showing that he is better than he used to be and has become what he is through the grace of God.
That scripture took on even greater meaning for me about 20 minutes later when I got a call from President Taggart calling me to be a Sister Training Leader. All sorts of thoughts and emotions ran through my mind. First off excitement about being companions with Sister Brown! She and Sister Clarke have been my STL's the last two transfers and they are awesome! Sister Brown is basically a legend of a missionary and flippin hilarious so I am stoked to be companions with her. Also I have been on exchange to their area twice and have met some of the people, and I hear their ward is mostly full of old people. I LOVE OLD PEOPLE!
Shortly after the excitement however; came the feelings of inadequacy for the calling. I have had amazing STL's who have set a very high bar showing what a difference they can make in the lives of the sisters they are over. And it is pretty intense to know that I will have to be on my A game all the time to set a good example in my area and help other sisters in theirs. But all of that balanced out by remembering that verse in Corinthians and realizing that it really isn't about me. I am what I am, but through God's grace I can become what he needs me to be in order to fulfill this calling the way he wants me to.
I will miss the North Hanover ward dearly. There are so many amazing people here and I have been blessed to be able to serve them. Sister Gattud and I feel better though because Sister Clarke will be coming into this area and she is awesome so our people are in good hands.
We had one of the most powerful lessons of my mission this week with a woman named Sister Henderson. Long story short, she was endowed about 20 years ago but went inactive shortly after that and hasn't been to the temple in over 15 years. She recently decided she needed to get active in the church again and has been active for the last 3ish months and has started taking temple prep. She has great desires to return to the temple, but unfortunately a huge financial emergency sprang up by way of a septic system that needs to be replaced and could cost up to $50,000. So the thought of starting to pay tithing right now is pretty terrifying to her. As a missionary it was a real testimony check for me, because I love this woman and if I don't fully believe in the principle of tithing and its promised blessings there is no way that I am going to be able to ask that of her. But I realized quickly that I do have a rock solid testimony of the principle of tithing.
As I studied for her I was led to share the story of the prophet Elijah and the widow. This is the story where there is a huge famine, Elijah is brought food by ravens, but is commanded by the Lord to go to this woman and ask for food. She only has enough food to make a small cake of flour and oil which she is planning to eat with her son and then they will both die because there is literally no more food. I could relate with Elijah as I was reading this story. How do I ask this old lady to pay her tithing when she doesn't even have enough money to keep her house functioning? But the Lord didn't send Elijah to this woman because Elijah needed the food more than she did. He sent him because this woman needed the miracles that come with great acts of faith. When 100% of what you have isn't enough the Lord blesses us with the opportunity to show great faith and give 10% to him. Not because he needs our money but because we need those blessings. And they come. One way or another they come. And I was able to testify of that to this wonderful, faithful woman. And even more powerfully, she was able to testify to us that she knows that principle to be true. Her faith in the midst of crisis was so humbling to me. It was a powerful reminder of the privilege it is to be a representative of Jesus Christ in inviting others to repent and come unto him and partake of the priceless blessings he offers.
I love you all! Sorry to the people whose emails I wasn't able to personally respond to this week! I spent too long on this one!
Love yous!
Sister McConkie
That scripture took on even greater meaning for me about 20 minutes later when I got a call from President Taggart calling me to be a Sister Training Leader. All sorts of thoughts and emotions ran through my mind. First off excitement about being companions with Sister Brown! She and Sister Clarke have been my STL's the last two transfers and they are awesome! Sister Brown is basically a legend of a missionary and flippin hilarious so I am stoked to be companions with her. Also I have been on exchange to their area twice and have met some of the people, and I hear their ward is mostly full of old people. I LOVE OLD PEOPLE!
Shortly after the excitement however; came the feelings of inadequacy for the calling. I have had amazing STL's who have set a very high bar showing what a difference they can make in the lives of the sisters they are over. And it is pretty intense to know that I will have to be on my A game all the time to set a good example in my area and help other sisters in theirs. But all of that balanced out by remembering that verse in Corinthians and realizing that it really isn't about me. I am what I am, but through God's grace I can become what he needs me to be in order to fulfill this calling the way he wants me to.
I will miss the North Hanover ward dearly. There are so many amazing people here and I have been blessed to be able to serve them. Sister Gattud and I feel better though because Sister Clarke will be coming into this area and she is awesome so our people are in good hands.
We had one of the most powerful lessons of my mission this week with a woman named Sister Henderson. Long story short, she was endowed about 20 years ago but went inactive shortly after that and hasn't been to the temple in over 15 years. She recently decided she needed to get active in the church again and has been active for the last 3ish months and has started taking temple prep. She has great desires to return to the temple, but unfortunately a huge financial emergency sprang up by way of a septic system that needs to be replaced and could cost up to $50,000. So the thought of starting to pay tithing right now is pretty terrifying to her. As a missionary it was a real testimony check for me, because I love this woman and if I don't fully believe in the principle of tithing and its promised blessings there is no way that I am going to be able to ask that of her. But I realized quickly that I do have a rock solid testimony of the principle of tithing.
As I studied for her I was led to share the story of the prophet Elijah and the widow. This is the story where there is a huge famine, Elijah is brought food by ravens, but is commanded by the Lord to go to this woman and ask for food. She only has enough food to make a small cake of flour and oil which she is planning to eat with her son and then they will both die because there is literally no more food. I could relate with Elijah as I was reading this story. How do I ask this old lady to pay her tithing when she doesn't even have enough money to keep her house functioning? But the Lord didn't send Elijah to this woman because Elijah needed the food more than she did. He sent him because this woman needed the miracles that come with great acts of faith. When 100% of what you have isn't enough the Lord blesses us with the opportunity to show great faith and give 10% to him. Not because he needs our money but because we need those blessings. And they come. One way or another they come. And I was able to testify of that to this wonderful, faithful woman. And even more powerfully, she was able to testify to us that she knows that principle to be true. Her faith in the midst of crisis was so humbling to me. It was a powerful reminder of the privilege it is to be a representative of Jesus Christ in inviting others to repent and come unto him and partake of the priceless blessings he offers.
I love you all! Sorry to the people whose emails I wasn't able to personally respond to this week! I spent too long on this one!
Love yous!
Sister McConkie