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.