Second Area Week 21- Will We Forget (1-6-2014)

Family and Friends!

I can't believe that holiday season is over, it seems like it just started! Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's just flew by. No word on my visa yet, but there is always hope. In the meantime, serving in Pennsylvania has been a great blessing and learning experience. I meant to send this song for my email last week, but with Sister Cohen's departure, it seemed fitting to pay tribute to such an awesome missionary!

First this week has been full of wild adventures and crazy winter weather! My favorite was Thursday in which we spent all day in McDonald, not the restaurant, and then hit a mild winter storm on the way home. Needless to say we decided to go home early. While we were in McDonald we were able to do so much work! We made contact with some less active members and we were really well received. Sometimes its convenient for it to be cold outside because people take pity on the poor Sister Missionaries:D We also visited a member of the ward whose mother was one of the first members in Washington County so we got some great historical background on the ward!

Our recent convert Donna continues to amaze us. She truly has taken the call from 2 Nephi 32:3-5 to feast upon the words of Christ. She has taken it upon herself to read the entire Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants. Her desires to learn more about the gospel and the history of the Church is amazing! I love the lessons that we have with her! We also got to play with her month old puppies this week was such a blast, they are so cute!

I think the greatest blessings of being a missionary is the opportunity that we have to watch as the Spirit of the Lord works on the hearts of men and women. There is a woman that we are working with that has let us into her home, but not her life until recently. She and her son have endured the evils of this world far beyond what should have been. Yet through it all her heart has been touched by the Spirit and she has opened her heart to what we teach. She was so excited to see us this week and also to share with us the verses that she found in the scriptures. As she told us of her faith and how much hope she finds in Jesus Christ, I couldn't help but be brought to tears. She is a very special woman and I cannot help but look up to her. We truly are brought through trials to help us remember to look to our Savior. One of my favorite scriptures is Romans 8:35,37-39 which reads," Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. " We will never be forgotten by our Savior, Lord, and King. Let us all strive to remember Him throughout this year as we move away from the Christmas season!

A heart that's been closed may be opening tonight

A soul that's been lost might believe it's been found

But six months from now on a warm summer night

Will we pause to remember that night in December
When we promised ourselves we'd keep the spirit all year round

Will we forget the promises we resolutely made
Will we forget to thank the Lord for all the gifts He gave

We'll say it's human nature, but something seems amiss

When there is just one time of year reserved for nights like this.

Six months from now on a warm summer night

Will we even remember that night in December

When we promised ourselves we'd keep this spirit all year round

Will we forget the feelings, will we forget to sing
Will we forget the Christ child came and gave us everything

We'll have a hundred reasons why we have set aside

The memories of this season when His spirit touched our lives

But He who came to save for all eternity

Has not forgotten those who need His mercy to be free
And though the number's greater than the sands upon the sea
There is no time of year that He's forgotten you or me.

He has not forgotten us on any lonely night
He has not forgotten that our joy requires His light

He has not forgotten those who are homeless as we He

He has not forgotten you; He's not forgotten me.

Sister Nay