All Things are Possible Through Christ

This week has been super awesome. We are seeing a lot of miracles here
in this area. And transfers are on Wednesday but i am staying here in
Portland with sister Michaud. I am super happy about that. We have a
lot of good things coming up in the next couple of months. We found a
few new people to teach this week but all four of them flaked out on
their appointments so that was kind of discouraging. However we will
continue to go and try and contact them to teach them about the
gospel. Our other investigators are doing amazing and are all going
to be baptized in august or September. One is on August 22nd and then
the others are in September but we haven't secured down a date for them
yet. And all of them came to church this week which was just amazing
to have them there. Debbie brought a few of her grand-kids and they
just loved primary and were participating as if they had been there
their entire life! It was so great. And then in relief society we
talked about Tabitha in the bible...aka dorkus...and that made me
laugh a lot. It was a really good lesson where we learned just how
important women are in the work of the Lord and in this gospel.

We had a lesson with a less active couple and it made me so sad to see
how little faith they have. They left the church a while ago and don't
want to come back because they are holding on to the sins they love.
It makes me so sad because whatever sacrifice is necessary is worth it
to enjoy the blessings of this gospel and to return to live with our
father in heaven again. But on the contrast we have a young man who is
coming to church for the first time in 7 years and is really praying
to know if this is all true. He is finally making an effort to come
unto Christ and we are really seeing a difference in him, even if the
difference is attending only sacrament meeting, by small and simple
things are great things come to pass.

I have been thinking a lot this week about why we do the things we do
in this church. Why we have faith and why we fulfill callings that are
all voluntary and take up a lot of our time. The simple answer is
Christ. When we come to truly love our savior we will want to do
everything we can to become a better disciple and show our love by
serving him and loving others. Our whole motivation should be Christ.
To study the scriptures everyday and pray everyday and go to church
every week we are becoming more like the savior. And then we can
develop Christ like attributes that will help us so much in this life.
I just love this gospel and how much the savior truly loves us. His
atonement is so real!

We are continuing to become better missionaries and a better
companionship. Which is challenging but all things are truly possible
through Christ! I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Love,
Sister Stephens