"It's nice to know the rain is on it's way. As funny as that sounds we've had zero rain in so long that you forget its even Oregon!! It has been really raining though so that has been a fun one to deal with! The rain is always nice to have around though :) So yeah on that!!!
...This has been a crazy week. We did three exchanges this week (usually we only do one, sometimes two) and we've been jumping all over the place. I feel like I have no idea what happened this week or what work even went on! The highlight of the week though probably was last Thursday... So I got a message from a less-active in Rainer who said that her husband was finally getting baptized!!! (We had worked with him for a while and he never would commit to being baptized!) but since then he's had a change of heart and he's decided to get baptized! So Sister Steadman and I arranged it so that her and I found a ride back to Rainier to see this man be baptized :) It was so cool! First of all, like I've said before, it was like coming home to someone you LOVED. Seeing all those people there again and their eyes light up because you were there was so heart warming. It was like, 'Oh man, I love these people..and they love me, too! It was SO nice to be back and to be back with Sister Steadman!! I hope the family driving us didn't get annoyed with us sitting in the back seat taking a trip down memory lane going 'Remember when...remember this...remember that...those were good times...' hahaha! We talked all the way there and all the way back. It was great to be back with her and everything going just as it used to. I love her so much :)
Watching this man get baptized was nothing less than a miracle. No one thought that he would finally enter into the waters of baptism. He was so nervous and even when standing in the water you could see how nervous he was. But once he came up out of the water, the smile and the peace was evident. He knew he did the right thing, He was so on fire after that. Him and his wife were talking about going to the temple to be sealed together and possibly going on a mission! He was so fired up afterwards! He kept talking about how he's now a soldier for the Lord and how he's a disciple of Christ! He was SO excited!! It brought such peace to know that he finally was able to receive the blessings of the gospel fully in his life :) Families are forever and baptism is the first step!
We have several baptisms coming up here in Mount Scott. It's been interesting as there have been none here in so long and how my mission has felt so void of them. And yet now they are coming in abundance. The Lord keeps His promises to the children of men. That's for sure.
My testimony and love for the Book of Mormon grows every single day. I love personal study. I get so lost and spend so much time reading the Book of Mormon. I've been through it several times already and every time it seems I put pieces together and find new treasures in it. Even through the war chapters it's like..what!! this has been in there this whole time and I didn't even know!? I'm sure my companions love the commentary I give while reading it, haha! But what can you say? The church is true! hahaha :) I love the Book of Mormon, I know it's true. I know it really happened. This book is so powerful, it's so real. I just love it!!!
This is probably the last week as the dream team. Transfers are next week and we'll find out what happens this week. President has already told us to enjoy what we have while we can because it won't last and now we are down to our last week. It's going to be a good one so watch out!!
Thanks for all your thoughts, prayer and support. I love you so much, I think the world of you. I know our Savior lives, He loves His children. He know us perfectly, He cares for us and wants nothing more than us to be happy. The Savior lives!!!!
All my love,
Sister Maxfield
- There is nothing cooler than teaching a lesson (like the Restoration or the Plan of Salvation) to someone and the whole time you can just see the lights come on in their minds. And words like, 'I get it' or "this makes so much sense' come out of their mouths. The lights come on and they change, right before your eyes they change. Something after that point is never the same again. I LOVE that moment, the moment where they too understand for themselves, that not only is it true, but they understand, it sounds familiar, they know they're heard this before. That's a thrilling moment :)"
excerpts from Erin's emails 01/27/2014
"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Chirst, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life." 3 Nephi 5:13
A missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Oregon Portland Mission 2012-2013
Washington Vancouver Mission 2013-2014
Oregon Portland Mission 2012-2013
Washington Vancouver Mission 2013-2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Ready for a jam packed week?!
"...it's been a crazy last week but chucked full of miracles. I don't know if I'll have time to tell you all of them but I'll hit some of the highlights.
First of all, the weather here is March. It's too warm for a jacket. The coldest it's gotten is like..30 on the absolute coldest, but it's usually stays between 40 and 50. It's NICE to say the least... there has been no rain. Oregon is in a huge drought right now. No rain whatsoever it seems. So it's been dry, which I can't complain about. The darkness gets to you sometimes so having the sun out and all, well, it makes you happy :)
Alright, ready for a jam packed week? Here we go! Hold onto your hats, it's been quite a ride.
We'll start with Saturday. So we went over to a less-active's home who previously told us that her New Year's resolution was to get more spiritual and that she wants to go to the temple. So she invited us back to help her go through. When we showed up, it was only her and her husband at home. Her husband is a non-member, loves the missionaries and is super supportive to her but has never showed too much interest himself because of different reasons. WELL! We have a lesson, watched a Mormon message with her and talked about the temple, and all through the lesson he kept chiming in about, 'You know I really think that if someone is going to do something in their life they might as well do it sooner than later and not put it all off' and 'I will probably be baptized one day' and he sat there and expressed interest in the church the whole time!!! His wife literally sat there in shock at what he was saying. She kept asking him about some of the concerns he had once upon a time and he was like playing it all off, like they were never concerns for him. It was amazing!!! ...she has been hoping and praying that he will join the church. That was the first time that he's ever sat through a whole lesson with us... she was saying that she wants to go through the temple with him... now it's looking pretty hopeful :) :) :) :)
....Later that evening [another evening] we had about half an hour before dinner that we wanted to go tracting. So we pulled up to where our dinner appointment was and we saw a lady working in her flower bed. Both Sister Ivins and I got the impression to go talk to her. We didn't want to just get out and freakishly go up to her and be like HELLO! so we knocked on a few doors on the way and then finally went up to her. We chatted about her flower beds for a while and then I was like, 'Well, we're missionaries and we are in the neighborhood talking about Jesus Christ.' She smiled for a minute and was like, 'Well, I just came to know who Jesus Christ was.' So I asked her how she came to know. She invited us in right then and there and so went in :) She told us how she picked up the Bible one day out of the blue and started reading it. She read it in a month. She wasn't going to any church because she didn't feel that any of them were right. She was like, 'Why can't they all just follow the Bible and do what the Bible says?' Wow, come to our church, it's a good place!!!!!!!! :D :D :D Anyway, we gave her the Book of Mormon...and asked her to read it. She said she would. She was saying how she has no one to talk about Jesus Christ with. She was also like, 'I've been reading anything that will get me closer to Christ and after I read it I think about it for a long time to know if it's true or not.' Wow!!!! She's letting us come back today to teach her more and I'm so excited!!!!! :D :D :D Amazing.
Later that night we went to a family in the ward who has non-members living with them. When we got there we talked to the non-member for quite a while and shared a message about families. We talked about how their family could be together forever and how they wanted to be a part of it all. Needless to say, we got super stoked again and made a return appointment with her to teach them and their family.
A less-active brought a non-member to church on Sunday, our investigator brought her girl to church, LOVED it! It was the cutest thing. Her little girl (who's four) kept asking everyone, 'Are you a princess?' because everyone was wearing skirts and dressed. Oh, it was soo cute!!!
We went bowling with a few of our investigators yesterday. Didn't do too bad if I do say so myself :) but they have become like family to me. I LOVE them!!!
Needless to say, it's been an amazing week. I cannot express how grateful I am to be here and to serve here. It feel like the blessings are flowing in abundance and the whole 'there's not enough room to receive it' rings true. ...I wish I could share my blessings with those around us who need some. There are so many miracles that happen every.single.day.all the time. It blows my mind. I don't know how or why we've been so blessed but we have and it's just..amazing. It's amazing.
I love our Savior Jesus Christ. I don't know how to express my love for him. It seems like every time I try to use this measly launage we call English, it doesn't quite cut it. He's given us an easy way to return to Him because He wants us back! He wants us to be happy, He wants us to have JOY and through Him we can. I love my older brother. I've come to now Him in ways that I never thought possible. I thought I knew Him before but not like I know Him now. He hears our prayers, He loves us, He wants the best for us and I'm so grateful for Him.
...thanks for all your prayers, kindness, support, love and charity.
Have a GREAT week!!!... I love you!!!!
Sister Maxfield"
excerpts from Erin's email 01/21/14
First of all, the weather here is March. It's too warm for a jacket. The coldest it's gotten is like..30 on the absolute coldest, but it's usually stays between 40 and 50. It's NICE to say the least... there has been no rain. Oregon is in a huge drought right now. No rain whatsoever it seems. So it's been dry, which I can't complain about. The darkness gets to you sometimes so having the sun out and all, well, it makes you happy :)
Alright, ready for a jam packed week? Here we go! Hold onto your hats, it's been quite a ride.
We'll start with Saturday. So we went over to a less-active's home who previously told us that her New Year's resolution was to get more spiritual and that she wants to go to the temple. So she invited us back to help her go through. When we showed up, it was only her and her husband at home. Her husband is a non-member, loves the missionaries and is super supportive to her but has never showed too much interest himself because of different reasons. WELL! We have a lesson, watched a Mormon message with her and talked about the temple, and all through the lesson he kept chiming in about, 'You know I really think that if someone is going to do something in their life they might as well do it sooner than later and not put it all off' and 'I will probably be baptized one day' and he sat there and expressed interest in the church the whole time!!! His wife literally sat there in shock at what he was saying. She kept asking him about some of the concerns he had once upon a time and he was like playing it all off, like they were never concerns for him. It was amazing!!! ...she has been hoping and praying that he will join the church. That was the first time that he's ever sat through a whole lesson with us... she was saying that she wants to go through the temple with him... now it's looking pretty hopeful :) :) :) :)
....Later that evening [another evening] we had about half an hour before dinner that we wanted to go tracting. So we pulled up to where our dinner appointment was and we saw a lady working in her flower bed. Both Sister Ivins and I got the impression to go talk to her. We didn't want to just get out and freakishly go up to her and be like HELLO! so we knocked on a few doors on the way and then finally went up to her. We chatted about her flower beds for a while and then I was like, 'Well, we're missionaries and we are in the neighborhood talking about Jesus Christ.' She smiled for a minute and was like, 'Well, I just came to know who Jesus Christ was.' So I asked her how she came to know. She invited us in right then and there and so went in :) She told us how she picked up the Bible one day out of the blue and started reading it. She read it in a month. She wasn't going to any church because she didn't feel that any of them were right. She was like, 'Why can't they all just follow the Bible and do what the Bible says?' Wow, come to our church, it's a good place!!!!!!!! :D :D :D Anyway, we gave her the Book of Mormon...and asked her to read it. She said she would. She was saying how she has no one to talk about Jesus Christ with. She was also like, 'I've been reading anything that will get me closer to Christ and after I read it I think about it for a long time to know if it's true or not.' Wow!!!! She's letting us come back today to teach her more and I'm so excited!!!!! :D :D :D Amazing.
Later that night we went to a family in the ward who has non-members living with them. When we got there we talked to the non-member for quite a while and shared a message about families. We talked about how their family could be together forever and how they wanted to be a part of it all. Needless to say, we got super stoked again and made a return appointment with her to teach them and their family.
A less-active brought a non-member to church on Sunday, our investigator brought her girl to church, LOVED it! It was the cutest thing. Her little girl (who's four) kept asking everyone, 'Are you a princess?' because everyone was wearing skirts and dressed. Oh, it was soo cute!!!
We went bowling with a few of our investigators yesterday. Didn't do too bad if I do say so myself :) but they have become like family to me. I LOVE them!!!
Needless to say, it's been an amazing week. I cannot express how grateful I am to be here and to serve here. It feel like the blessings are flowing in abundance and the whole 'there's not enough room to receive it' rings true. ...I wish I could share my blessings with those around us who need some. There are so many miracles that happen every.single.day.all the time. It blows my mind. I don't know how or why we've been so blessed but we have and it's just..amazing. It's amazing.
I love our Savior Jesus Christ. I don't know how to express my love for him. It seems like every time I try to use this measly launage we call English, it doesn't quite cut it. He's given us an easy way to return to Him because He wants us back! He wants us to be happy, He wants us to have JOY and through Him we can. I love my older brother. I've come to now Him in ways that I never thought possible. I thought I knew Him before but not like I know Him now. He hears our prayers, He loves us, He wants the best for us and I'm so grateful for Him.
...thanks for all your prayers, kindness, support, love and charity.
Have a GREAT week!!!... I love you!!!!
Sister Maxfield"
excerpts from Erin's email 01/21/14
Monday, January 13, 2014
This week was full of miracles!!!
"First of all, my comps and I are doing good. I love them kind of a lot. We've had no problems and we get along so well. We build each other and strengthen each other, we are completely supportive and I've gotten more compliments from them all the time than I have anywhere else. It's kind of basically legit. And it's nice to not have to be 'the leader' all the time and just kind of take a break. We had interviews with President this week and he was like, 'Enjoy it, Sister Maxfield. You've been the strong one for a long time now. You will be an STL for the rest of your mission. I don't want you to get worn out so just enjoy...' I know it sounds funny but it was an answer to prayer. It nice to not have to be the one in charge all the time. Huge blessing!! :)
Training the other sisters though is fun. I love being an STL. We go on exchanges all the time and it's nice to be the one others can lean on. I love getting to know the other sisters and helping them in their missionary work. It's nice when there are questions or issues and you know who to go to to fix it. I love being an STL! and guess what!!! I just got a letter from Sister Anderson (my baby) [she was Erin's second companion in the Portland Oregon mission] and she is now an STL in the Salam mission!!!!!!!!! I've never been a prouder parent for my child :) :) :) That was a happy day!!!
So my companions have been sick :( Sister Blanch has had some real nasty cold that she hasn't been able to fight yet. And Sister Ivins has had some stomach grossness; on the other hand, I feel great! which is dumb when you're trying to do missionary work because you can't do it by yourself. So that slowed us down a little bit. But the miracles haven't ceased!!! One evening Sis. Blanch couldn't go anymore. So we dropped her off at a member's home where she could sleep and Sister Ivins and I went off to contact a referral. We knocked on the door and a Russian family answered. They let us right in. Mom didn't speak English but the daughter did, so she translated for us as we tried to teach them about the restoration and Joseph Smith. Needless to say it was super simple. However, they were interested!!! We found someone in the other ward that speaks Russian and goes out with the missionaries (because there are a lot of families here that speak Russian) and he teaches the lessons in Russian. So we are going back this week to talk to them!! :D Best part!? Are you ready for this? As we were sitting on their couch, the door would open and a kid would come in. Then it would close. A minute later it would open and another kid would walk in and then it would close. Then it would open and a kid would walk in and then it would close. This happened about 5 or 6 times, one after another! I was like 'Holy smokes, how many kids are there!?' and the 16 yr. old (who is the oldest) was like, 'There are 5 girls and 6 boys.' 11 kids!!! It's crazy!!!!!! hahahahah!!! Who would have guessed?!?!
We picked up 2 other investigators later this week. They were some people that were once being taught but got dropped. So we went over and they let us right in. They are AMAZING and love the missionaries!! We got talking and just started laughing and laughing and laughing! Oh, it was so good!! They invited us to dinner so we ate with them this week. They took us to ice cream and everything was so good! After dinner they were like, 'I know were having fun and everything today, but we want you to come over next Friday and teach us the lessons. My non-member husband and daughter want to talk to you and they want you to teach them.' So we are going back to teach them on Friday!!!! and they are so solid!!! We were suppose to go to bowling with them this morning but the alley was closed. So we went to breakfast instead. It was so good. I stinkin' love them!!!
Other gators are doing so good. Our friend is still on for baptism and has the strongest testimony I've ever seen. He cannot wait for Feb. because he finally gets to be baptized. I love it because he sees the Lord's hand in his life every single day. He always tells us, 'I have to tell you the miracles I saw this week.' It is amazing and he has these amazing stories...amazing things have happened with him and he cannot wait to be baptized!
...There is also a family in our ward, part member less active. They had been on my mind forever and our appointment feel through, so I was like, well, this family has been on my mind. Let's go see them. We showed up and long story short, the less active said she wants to go to the temple and wants us to help her get there. The non-member girlfriend is interested and wants to take the lessons and we have an in with the non-member husband :D
...I feel so blessed!!!!! Where are all these people coming from? Where is all this work happening?? It seems like all these people just keep falling into our laps. I've never felt so blessed, so lucky, so..I don't even know how to describe it. My prayers seem to be nothing but prayers of thanks. That is the biggest thing I love about a mission is seeing the miracles everyday, all the time. They seem to just happen. We expect them to, we have faith that they will, so they do. It's amazing to see it all happen. I feel so blessed I cannot explain it. I am in awe everyday of all the work that seems to be going on, it's almost overwhelming. I understand now how blessed it is to be in an area so fruitful as this one, with these amazing companions and the Lord so close by... I've been reading through Alma lately and I fell in love with Alma 29. I think he's able to say what I feel a little better. He says:
'I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.
And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.
And that same God hath called me by a holy calling, to preach the word unto this people and hath given me much success, in the which my joy is full.
But I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren, who have been up to the land of Nephi.
Behold, they have labored exceedingly, and have brought forth much fruit; and how great shall be their reward!'
I hope you have a wonderful week...You're the best!
Church is true!! Christ lives!!
Sister Maxfield"
excerpts from Erin's email 01/13/2014
Training the other sisters though is fun. I love being an STL. We go on exchanges all the time and it's nice to be the one others can lean on. I love getting to know the other sisters and helping them in their missionary work. It's nice when there are questions or issues and you know who to go to to fix it. I love being an STL! and guess what!!! I just got a letter from Sister Anderson (my baby) [she was Erin's second companion in the Portland Oregon mission] and she is now an STL in the Salam mission!!!!!!!!! I've never been a prouder parent for my child :) :) :) That was a happy day!!!
So my companions have been sick :( Sister Blanch has had some real nasty cold that she hasn't been able to fight yet. And Sister Ivins has had some stomach grossness; on the other hand, I feel great! which is dumb when you're trying to do missionary work because you can't do it by yourself. So that slowed us down a little bit. But the miracles haven't ceased!!! One evening Sis. Blanch couldn't go anymore. So we dropped her off at a member's home where she could sleep and Sister Ivins and I went off to contact a referral. We knocked on the door and a Russian family answered. They let us right in. Mom didn't speak English but the daughter did, so she translated for us as we tried to teach them about the restoration and Joseph Smith. Needless to say it was super simple. However, they were interested!!! We found someone in the other ward that speaks Russian and goes out with the missionaries (because there are a lot of families here that speak Russian) and he teaches the lessons in Russian. So we are going back this week to talk to them!! :D Best part!? Are you ready for this? As we were sitting on their couch, the door would open and a kid would come in. Then it would close. A minute later it would open and another kid would walk in and then it would close. Then it would open and a kid would walk in and then it would close. This happened about 5 or 6 times, one after another! I was like 'Holy smokes, how many kids are there!?' and the 16 yr. old (who is the oldest) was like, 'There are 5 girls and 6 boys.' 11 kids!!! It's crazy!!!!!! hahahahah!!! Who would have guessed?!?!
We picked up 2 other investigators later this week. They were some people that were once being taught but got dropped. So we went over and they let us right in. They are AMAZING and love the missionaries!! We got talking and just started laughing and laughing and laughing! Oh, it was so good!! They invited us to dinner so we ate with them this week. They took us to ice cream and everything was so good! After dinner they were like, 'I know were having fun and everything today, but we want you to come over next Friday and teach us the lessons. My non-member husband and daughter want to talk to you and they want you to teach them.' So we are going back to teach them on Friday!!!! and they are so solid!!! We were suppose to go to bowling with them this morning but the alley was closed. So we went to breakfast instead. It was so good. I stinkin' love them!!!
Other gators are doing so good. Our friend is still on for baptism and has the strongest testimony I've ever seen. He cannot wait for Feb. because he finally gets to be baptized. I love it because he sees the Lord's hand in his life every single day. He always tells us, 'I have to tell you the miracles I saw this week.' It is amazing and he has these amazing stories...amazing things have happened with him and he cannot wait to be baptized!
...There is also a family in our ward, part member less active. They had been on my mind forever and our appointment feel through, so I was like, well, this family has been on my mind. Let's go see them. We showed up and long story short, the less active said she wants to go to the temple and wants us to help her get there. The non-member girlfriend is interested and wants to take the lessons and we have an in with the non-member husband :D
...I feel so blessed!!!!! Where are all these people coming from? Where is all this work happening?? It seems like all these people just keep falling into our laps. I've never felt so blessed, so lucky, so..I don't even know how to describe it. My prayers seem to be nothing but prayers of thanks. That is the biggest thing I love about a mission is seeing the miracles everyday, all the time. They seem to just happen. We expect them to, we have faith that they will, so they do. It's amazing to see it all happen. I feel so blessed I cannot explain it. I am in awe everyday of all the work that seems to be going on, it's almost overwhelming. I understand now how blessed it is to be in an area so fruitful as this one, with these amazing companions and the Lord so close by... I've been reading through Alma lately and I fell in love with Alma 29. I think he's able to say what I feel a little better. He says:
'I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.
And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.
And that same God hath called me by a holy calling, to preach the word unto this people and hath given me much success, in the which my joy is full.
But I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren, who have been up to the land of Nephi.
Behold, they have labored exceedingly, and have brought forth much fruit; and how great shall be their reward!'
I hope you have a wonderful week...You're the best!
Church is true!! Christ lives!!
Sister Maxfield"
excerpts from Erin's email 01/13/2014
Monday, January 6, 2014
You go, sisters!!! Work that area, make miracles happen!!!!!
"This has been a week of a lifetime!!!!!!! It seems that the blessings are being poured out in abundance from on high this week!! I've never seen so much success, so many miracles. So many blessings all in the same concentrated spot. I feel so incredibly blessed.
While at the MLC (missionary leadership counselor) meeting this week my companions were still working in our area. At lunch, one of the office missionaries came over to me and said, 'Sister Maxfield, your companions just called and said that the lady you got from a referral from the elder's quorum, they just put her on date for baptism.' I freaked out!!!!!! I was like, 'What, are you kidding?!! They put her on date?!?!!?!!!!?' I was STOKED!!!!!!! I was like, 'Go sisters!! Work that area, make miracles happen!!!!!!!' They put her on date!! Needless to say I couldn't wait to get home and hear the story!!! So I went back to the meeting floating on cloud 9. After the end of the meeting (it was an all day thing) this office missionary came over to me again and said, 'Sister Maxfield, your companions just called and told me to tell you that they put your other investigator on date." Once again, I FREAKED out!!!!! That's two on date!!!! and they are so solid you wouldn't even believe it!!!!! I was jumping to get home to: a - find out what happened and b - to join in the work!!!!!
I got home and asked what happened. The first lady..they were at her house teaching her the plan of salvation. We had talked to her the week before about the restoration and invited her to be baptized. She was hesitant and didn't really give us an answer. So they were teaching her the plan of salvation and she was being very quiet and the Sister Blanch goes, 'By the way, you're welcome to ask questions any time if you have any.' She was like, 'Well, you remember how last time you asked me if I wanted to be baptized? Well..I want to be baptized.' Holy smokes!!! and she was sooooo excited!!!!! I was so excited! We were all stoked!!! They put her on date for February.... oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!! Then I asked them about the other investigator (we had taught him a few days earlier and invited him to be baptized. He had been baptized before and didn't understand the importance of being baptized by someone holding the proper authority. So he said he would think about it.) So! he called us and was like, 'Hey Sisters, so I've been thinking about it and I want to be baptized.' Once again, I freaked!!!!!!! We went over that night, talked about baptism and watched the restoration DVD with him. The spirit was so incredible strong. It brought tears to his eyes. He's so prepared and his faith is strong. We put him on date for February, too.
Yesterday for Fast Sunday, we as a companionship fasted that our investigators would have the best fast and testimony meeting that they had ever experienced, and that's exactly what it was. It was weird because it was only men who bore their testimony and everyone of them were exactly that, all of them were heart felt and full of truth. The spirit was so strong. I don't know if I've ever been in a more heart felt testimony meeting. It was amazing. Several of our gators were there. The women on date, after Relief Society was invited to dinner with members, the RS activity, church next week and so on and so forth. Our other gator announced in priesthood that he was getting baptized and everyone was so excited!! He came up to us, it was all he could do to keep from hugging us, and with the biggest excitement in his eyes says, 'I can't wait for February because then I can be baptized!"
It's been the best week in the world. I feel so blessed to be here, to serve with my companions and to see this work explode. We have several other investigators that we've found. Many others that still have yet to be found and much work to be done. I'm having fun. I love mission life and I love being a missionary. The Lord answers our prayers. I know that he does. I know He loves us. I love having the spirit with me all the time. You know when you're teaching by the spirit, you can feel yourself saying words that aren't your own. I love testifying of Christ everywhere I go and to everyone I meet. Being a missionary is the best thing that could have ever happened to me. Helping people onto the path to eternal life and showing them the gate by which they must enter....this is the best thing in the world. I love being a missionary!!!!!!!!!!!
THE CHURCH IS TRUE! Our Savior lives. He's my best friend. The scriptures are my most prized possession. I love the world and I love this work. I feel so blessed to play such a small, cherished part in it.
I love you! I hope you have a wonderful week!!!!!!!
Yours forever,
Sister Maxfield
[a small excerpt from an email which Erin wrote to her dad:]
I find it mind blowing to see and to read about all these prophesies and to finally see them being fulfilled, instead of having the attitude of 'they will be fulfilled at a later date.' They are being fulfilled right before our eyes, and how many people are so blind to those fulfillments? There's such a sense of urgency in my soul for this work; there is absolutely no time to waste. When Elder Holland was here he made the comment of, 'There's an urgency among the brethren to get this work finished... and we're running out of time.' That came from an apostle of the Lord. There are big things coming our way. The Lord is wrapping up. I never understood Jacob 5 but then one day reading it on my mission it ALL made sense and I get it. We really are in the LAST time, the 11th hour. The time is insanely short. We must work to bring along all those who will follow and bring them to safety... The time is short, this work is so real...it all attested to the fact that the Savior is coming. He LIVES and he is coming soon."
excerpts from Erin's emails 01/06/2014
While at the MLC (missionary leadership counselor) meeting this week my companions were still working in our area. At lunch, one of the office missionaries came over to me and said, 'Sister Maxfield, your companions just called and said that the lady you got from a referral from the elder's quorum, they just put her on date for baptism.' I freaked out!!!!!! I was like, 'What, are you kidding?!! They put her on date?!?!!?!!!!?' I was STOKED!!!!!!! I was like, 'Go sisters!! Work that area, make miracles happen!!!!!!!' They put her on date!! Needless to say I couldn't wait to get home and hear the story!!! So I went back to the meeting floating on cloud 9. After the end of the meeting (it was an all day thing) this office missionary came over to me again and said, 'Sister Maxfield, your companions just called and told me to tell you that they put your other investigator on date." Once again, I FREAKED out!!!!! That's two on date!!!! and they are so solid you wouldn't even believe it!!!!! I was jumping to get home to: a - find out what happened and b - to join in the work!!!!!
I got home and asked what happened. The first lady..they were at her house teaching her the plan of salvation. We had talked to her the week before about the restoration and invited her to be baptized. She was hesitant and didn't really give us an answer. So they were teaching her the plan of salvation and she was being very quiet and the Sister Blanch goes, 'By the way, you're welcome to ask questions any time if you have any.' She was like, 'Well, you remember how last time you asked me if I wanted to be baptized? Well..I want to be baptized.' Holy smokes!!! and she was sooooo excited!!!!! I was so excited! We were all stoked!!! They put her on date for February.... oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!! Then I asked them about the other investigator (we had taught him a few days earlier and invited him to be baptized. He had been baptized before and didn't understand the importance of being baptized by someone holding the proper authority. So he said he would think about it.) So! he called us and was like, 'Hey Sisters, so I've been thinking about it and I want to be baptized.' Once again, I freaked!!!!!!! We went over that night, talked about baptism and watched the restoration DVD with him. The spirit was so incredible strong. It brought tears to his eyes. He's so prepared and his faith is strong. We put him on date for February, too.
Yesterday for Fast Sunday, we as a companionship fasted that our investigators would have the best fast and testimony meeting that they had ever experienced, and that's exactly what it was. It was weird because it was only men who bore their testimony and everyone of them were exactly that, all of them were heart felt and full of truth. The spirit was so strong. I don't know if I've ever been in a more heart felt testimony meeting. It was amazing. Several of our gators were there. The women on date, after Relief Society was invited to dinner with members, the RS activity, church next week and so on and so forth. Our other gator announced in priesthood that he was getting baptized and everyone was so excited!! He came up to us, it was all he could do to keep from hugging us, and with the biggest excitement in his eyes says, 'I can't wait for February because then I can be baptized!"
It's been the best week in the world. I feel so blessed to be here, to serve with my companions and to see this work explode. We have several other investigators that we've found. Many others that still have yet to be found and much work to be done. I'm having fun. I love mission life and I love being a missionary. The Lord answers our prayers. I know that he does. I know He loves us. I love having the spirit with me all the time. You know when you're teaching by the spirit, you can feel yourself saying words that aren't your own. I love testifying of Christ everywhere I go and to everyone I meet. Being a missionary is the best thing that could have ever happened to me. Helping people onto the path to eternal life and showing them the gate by which they must enter....this is the best thing in the world. I love being a missionary!!!!!!!!!!!
THE CHURCH IS TRUE! Our Savior lives. He's my best friend. The scriptures are my most prized possession. I love the world and I love this work. I feel so blessed to play such a small, cherished part in it.
I love you! I hope you have a wonderful week!!!!!!!
Yours forever,
Sister Maxfield
[a small excerpt from an email which Erin wrote to her dad:]
I find it mind blowing to see and to read about all these prophesies and to finally see them being fulfilled, instead of having the attitude of 'they will be fulfilled at a later date.' They are being fulfilled right before our eyes, and how many people are so blind to those fulfillments? There's such a sense of urgency in my soul for this work; there is absolutely no time to waste. When Elder Holland was here he made the comment of, 'There's an urgency among the brethren to get this work finished... and we're running out of time.' That came from an apostle of the Lord. There are big things coming our way. The Lord is wrapping up. I never understood Jacob 5 but then one day reading it on my mission it ALL made sense and I get it. We really are in the LAST time, the 11th hour. The time is insanely short. We must work to bring along all those who will follow and bring them to safety... The time is short, this work is so real...it all attested to the fact that the Savior is coming. He LIVES and he is coming soon."
excerpts from Erin's emails 01/06/2014
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