Line Upon Line

My Dearest Family and Friends,> So, I cannot believe that it has only been a week since I emailed> last. Last Monday felt like an absolute eternity ago yet, here I am again.> Always very happy to here about the happenings going on at home. Thank you> for the updates!> Man, I don't even know what to talk about... this past week SO MANY THINGS> happened. We had the Fundamentals of Preach my Gospel Training all week> again, but with 6 of the 9 zones. 9-4 Tuesday through Friday. They were> good, but exhausting days and to not be working all that time was a little> bit of a sacrifice, that was well worth it. President did most of the> training, then the Assistants, some zone leaders and then us. We were the> last training, which we realized would be quite a challenge because it was> the last day, in the afternoon... even being attentive missionaries, we get> antsy. But, it went very well. We taught how to teach people and not> lessons. Believe it or not it can get very difficult to focus on teaching> people to their needs. It is amazing because as we prepared and studied I> realized that the very first section of preach my gospel says it best.> There are many people right now who feel a void, who are searching for> something, but they don't understand what it is or where to find it. It> goes on to say that all the answers are in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As I> searched there wasn't a single thing that Ammon, or Alma, or Almulek, or> Christ taught that isn't in the 4 simple lessons that we teach. Its> beautiful how simple it was. Anyways we had put alot of thought and prayer> into our training... and recieved the revelation that we should have the> missionaries think about one of their family members or dear friends who is> either less active or not a member of the Church. Someone that they have> thought alot about during their time as a missionary. That they wished they> could have an opportunity to speak boldly and honestly to. Any one of us> would teach that person so differently than we might teach some random> person on the street. In the end we had them role play teaching their loved> one. They had written down a description of their loved one and the other> missionary pretended to the best of their ability to be that person. It was> incredible. We saw so many miracles. We had warned them they were going to> make them feel vulnerable, but we had no idea. The spirit was able to> direct those who were pretending to be the loved ones, so that these felt> real. Most of the missionaries were crying. It was absolutely amazing and> everyone was able to learn a different lesson about what they could improve> on. Words cannot describe the spirit that was felt there that day.> I am grateful to be a missionary. I am grateful that the Lord is SO PATIENT> with me. That even though its completely uncomfortable and not at all easy,> I am being put through the refiners fire. I am learning and growning VERY> VERY SLOWLY.> Sunday, Rocky Rivera (who is Emilee who was baptized's dad) and Edwin> and Jonathan Gadbilou were there and the ward took them in so lovingly. I am> grateful to know each of them. Each has such an earnest and sincere desire> to learn and to come closer to the Lord. Please pray for them.> Daddy: How does are ward function. What I mean is, that the Windcrest ward> is much like ours. Smallish primary, sometimes there are young women, not> enough young men to pass the sacrament. Young military couples, (Fort Sam> is in my area) who all stay for a short amount. and ALot of older retired> people. We have been meeting with the Elder Quorum and they are struggling> becuase they have very few people and alot of responsiblity. We are trying> to help them out as best we can. But, I was wondering what you do in our> ward?? To see to it that most get visited, even though there are not as> many able bodies?>> Thanks> Love Y'all> Sister Rooney

Answers to prayers

and now for this week...

My goodness, can I just say yet again how much I love first my family. And> second how much I love this WORK!!! It is amazing. I love it. And it just> always works so nicely because its the lord's work and he really has a> handle on, well EVERYTHING!! SO this is kinda silly and a little bit crazy,> but anytime that I have been on my mission and ever thought, hmm it would be> nice to have this or that...but na, I don't need it, no big deal, within> days its been just given to me. It has happen OVER and OVER. I don't ever> express it out loud or even think about it twice, but soon after I get it.> So these are little things, but they are still miracles. And we have seen> beautiful miracles everyday. Its how it works. We only use the term miracle> because we don't quite understand how it happens or works but we do know> that the Lord is taking care of it. SO before I got transferred first, I> just felt like I was getting transferred and I also felt that it would be to> a struggling ward (struggling as far as participation in the missionary> effort.) and that my purpose would be to change that. Its quite an> undertaking. And thats what it has been. The members are wonderful and> they support us, by loving us and feeding us. Their ward just split in may> and they are still recovering a little. But, there is a difference between> loving the missionaries and being missionary minded. So Friday we had> exchanges, and Sister Boyd came and she had served in windcrest for 6> months. We discussed the work and the strengths and weaknesses and the> things that we can do to help. It was so helpful. As we talked we realized> that this little ward has had so many baptisms in the past years that it has> ceased to be a miracle and started to be a burden. SO these beautiful and> excited members are falling through the cracks.> I have realized that indeed the Prophet is inspired, (shocker) but the> recent converts for at least the first few years they NEED the direction and> guidance. They need good friends to be the example of how us strange and> peculiar people live and they need to have their spiritual witnesses they> received in order to want to be baptism increased and supported through the> nourishment of the good word of God and they'll feel included and involved> when they are given a calling. We need good home teachers and visiting> teachers to also be apart of the support system. The organization of the> church is PERFECT. So this hasn't really been happening in this ward. And> we realized that the Bishop (DADDY) sets the tone of missionary work for the> ward. They can be the greatest motivation. The ward should be striving to> meet their own ward baptism goals, aside from the people the missionaries> meet and they should feel ownership for those investigators as well. And it> should be recognized that the new converts or less actives who come to> church need ALOT of love and direction. They are making such HUGE life> changes and its just the norm for us.> SO the miracle. Bishop Coopwood is amazing, but we realized there was a big> gap between us and the ward went and there were many things that could be> improved. I wasn't sure how it would be done because Bishop had been in for> a while, but I knew if the Lord asked for it, it could be done. So we've> been praying and fasting and praying and discussing and praying some more> about what we could possibly do... and on Sunday (and please don't take this> like I don't love and have the up most respect for the Bishop) but BIshop> Coopwood was released. And Bishop Orgull, the former counselor to the> Mission President, was called as the Bishop. I have probably cried 3 times> my whole mission because I just smile when I feel the spirit and when good> things happen, but I started crying. I know that there are a million reasons> why that happened and I know it wasn't just a result of my prayers, but I am> so thankful. I know the Lord answers prayers. I know that there are> beautiful people everywhere who are ready. And I know that when those ready> people change their lives and take the steps necessary we need to take them> in and love them with all we've got.>> MY heart goes out to the Berkline family. But, I can't even imagine how> many people were waiting for her up there, most especially Br. B!!! And I> know she probably has the hosts of heaven rolling with laughter already.> Maybe in all that resting they're doing they've been needing a good laugh.> I love her. And I am glad that she has been reunited with dear husband. I> am so thankful for the plan of salvation.>>> Love all y'all> Sister Rooney>> p.s. Roxanne's Dad sent me a package this week! He's wonderful.> P.S.S. Pray for me... President asked us to teach one of the lessons for> the leadership training conference this week. I'll be teaching 9 of the 11> zones on Friday about the importance of teaching people and not lessons.> P.s. We are at a members house and they are wonderful they've made us> smoothies while we are typing and they are making us shrimp and salmon> and sautéed veges and letting us do our laundry.

By Small and Simple Things...

hello my dear family and friends,> Wasn't conference wonderful. I am so grateful for prophets and apostles on> the earth who can tell us what we need to learn and hear and DO, in our> lives. Today I was reading in alma 37 and I felt that it would be the topic> for this email. It is a beautiful chapter of a father counseling his son.> After he tells him of his testimony and his life changing experiences in> chapter 36. Chapter 37 first focused on the importance of the scriptures.> How at that point the scirptures had already been the means of convincing> thousands of their brethern the Lamanites, of the error of the traditions of> their fathers and brought them to rejoice in the knowledge of their Lord and> Savior. He went on to explain to Helaman that their writting would be used> for a wise purpose for the future generations and that he doesn't even> know how great an impact it would have on the future generations for whom it> is written, but that it would be great. AND oh how great it has been.> The Book of Mormon was perserved and has been the means of bringing millions> and then with genealogy billions to the knowledge of their Lord and Savior,> to partake in the rich blessings that Our dear Father in heaven has in store> for all the faithful that will humbly follow His example.> But what impressed me most about this chapter this morning was the cousel> in verses 38-47 about the Liahona. and how "it is as easy for us today to> give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course> to ETERNAL BLISS, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass> which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land"(v44).> BUT we must NOT be slothful because of the easiness of the way, as it was> for those in the times of moses that if they would BUT look they would> live. YET MANY PERISHED. or as it was for captian naaman to be healed by> washing in the river joradan. It is by the small and simple things that> great things are brought to pass (v.6) Please I urge each of you to take> the cousel of our dear prophet and apostles. How many of them asked us> to study the scriptures and to have sincere heart felt prayer, not only by> ourselves but as well in our families. It is an easy thing. It doesn't> take much time. Do not be slothful because of the easiness of the way. The> temporal and eternal bliss is worth it. I meet beautiful people every day> who have not been taught these precious truths who when they begin to> implement it see the dramatic changes that occur in their lives. We have> all been taught these things over and over, it is for a reason. I love you> all. I say these things because of my own weakness' and I pray that you may> each do what you know you should.>> I love being a missionary.. this is the greatest work because it is the work> of God. The one and only true LIVING God. He is real. I know He is, I see> miracles everyday. I know He wants us to be happy. All I want is for each> of you to be happy. So use your free agency wisely!>> Love> Sister Rooney