I'm Coming Home

This is my last Monday in the mission field! I arrive home Tuesday, October 27th, 2015. 

Exciting Moments: 

-While driving, we felt prompted to go and talk to a lady who was taking out her trash. We drove around to find a place to park and she went back inside her home. We knocked on her door, and she didn't answer. We continue to tract until the very end of her complex (which was about 5-6 doors)... when we got to the last door, a man answered and he was surprised to see us. He told us that he has ran into us three times. Sister Brakey and I didn't remember. He said he had one of our cards that we gave him (The 'Because He Lives' card). He told us, "Hold on a minute," and then he showed us the card in Sister Brakey's handwriting. "Yup, that's my handwriting!" And she told him that since he has ran into us so many times, that God is telling Him that [he needs to meet with us.]. This experience was pretty neat!

Two Baptisms! 

Ciara and Skye got baptized! Each baptism was very unique, and I loved being apart of both of them. 

Ciara's baptism was precious! I felt bad that the font  didn't get filled up all the way, though. We filled it up an hour before and the water was shallow. Luckily, Ciara was able to go down all the way in the water. She was beaming, as well as her mom, and family members. Ciara has set a great example for the rest of her non-member family and siblings. So far, only her mom and her are now members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (I can give more details on this later!). 

Skye was my last baptism - it was such a great way to end my mission. Almost the whole ward at sacrament meeting flooded into the Relief Society room. There were so many people, and some were even standing in the hallway. The spirit was strong, and there were so many tears. When we asked Skye if she was baptized, and if she wanted to be baptized, I had no idea how long she had been wanting to be baptized. This meant so much to her family that her grandmother, with her special sewing machine, sewed both sets of Missionaries who have touched sky on a handkerchief; the vision of this handkerchief was for Skye to take this to the Temple when she is [sealed to her husband for all time and eternity] (if I remembered correctly). All sets of missionaries were here: My companion and I with the Goldsboro 2nd Elders , the Goldsboro 1st Elders and Sisters, and the Goldsboro 2nd Hermanas (spanish). 

When Skye's Grandpa was there to baptize her, he got so choked up - he has told us before that he felt honored that he got to be the one to do that for her.

My companion and I got to speak on the Baptism. I tried so hard not to cry, but I did when I bore my testimony about the Holy Ghost and how this world is so dangerous that we need this protection 

Testimony: There is so much to say, with very little time. I truly know that this is the true church that has been restored on the earth in these latter days. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior; I know that this missionary work is real and I know that it is so important to serve with all heart, mind, might, and strength. I know that even though I have weaknesses, the Lord can make up for what I cannot do on my own. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet, and I know that he has been called of the Lord. I don't doubt it for a minute. For anyone who is considering if a mission is right for them, it is. Go and submit your papers now. If you have a desires to serve God, ye are called to the work. 

I love knowing that in order for us to know how to make right choices, there has to be opposition (2 Nephi 2:11). If we lived only in happy places, or made sure we never have to encounter the world, that would defeat the purpose of why we are here in this life (to grow in strength of our Character and to also show to us and to God that we will follow Him, and his Son Jesus Christ). Although it is good to stand in Holy Places, and to do wholesome activities and be with wholesome friends who can uplift us, without those moments of trial when someone offers us something we shouldn't do, or being around someone who doesn't hold the same standards and we have to make a decision, those moments ARE truly what tests are character. We cannot - ever- check our religion at the door, as Elder Holland has put it many times before. When those trials arise, turning away from Satan is what we need to do. 

For example: 

-When friends/a group invite us to watch a rated R movie, we say no. 

-When someone says, "would you like a cigarette?" we say no.

-When someone suggests us to wear immodest clothing, we say no. 

-When someone starts swearing, we politely ask them to keep it to themselves, because swear words dull our spirituality and offend our spirit. 

. . . 

Anyways - I love this work. I love being able to teach people about the gospel, and about Christ. I love watching people grow in the knowledge of the gospel, and how it has truly changed their life for the better. I love watching people change and glow after they have been baptized. 

I love being companions with great people. 

I love serving. 

I love watching myself grow as a better person. 

Quotes: 

President Uchtdorf: 

"My dear brothers and sisters, if we look at ourselves only through our mortal eyes, we may not see ourselves as good enough. But our Heavenly Father sees us as who we truly are and who we can become. He sees us as His sons and daughters, as beings of eternal light with everlasting potential and with a divine destiny."

For any of those who have denied the existence of God, Jesus Christ, or any of the LDS beliefs...

have you prayed about it? 

With a sincere prayer, God will answer you. 

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. 

-Sister A. Marshall 

Re: Investigators, Pick Pickin', Free Cheese, Groceries, Sickness, and Miracles

Also: 

--There was a time earlier this week where I felt prompted to turn around in the car and tract a street near by our last appointment. The prompting was ["There is someone prepared on this street... go now"] and my companion also got the prompting to 'go now' after we had discussed it. We went, and we may have found the person - he was walking around with headphones on and we talked about our message and gave him a card. I tracted with so much diligence and I just knew that we were going to find someone. Having the Faith to Find is real. 

On Mon, Oct 19, 2015 at 12:01 PM, Alissa Marshall <alissa.marshall@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Well, My companion and I have two new investigators this week: Misty, and Tonsel (Tron-sell). 

Misty loves to learn about other religions, and she is Lutheran. 

Tronsel is in high school but is a spiritual giant. He doesn't have a phone and he lives all the way in Grantham (over 30 minutes away?) and so it may be a hit and miss if we come and see him. 

Last Monday, I wanted to by dairy-free cheese over at Harris Teeter. A man came up from my companion and I and he said [he can mark an item each that we wanted for free (by marking off the bar code with a sharpie) and to tell the cashier that it was from Dennis]. It was part of their marketing where people get to try an item for free and see if they like it. He said a lot of people haven't heard of this stuff (this was at a section with a lot of vegan/vegetarian options). My companion got Vegan Bacon (she tried it later and she said it tasted like dog food. But - there are a lot of good vegetarian options out there! I promise!). Heavenly Father blessed me because I was certainly low on my MSF funds. 

On Tuesday, we had a temporary exchange that lasted over 24 hrs; we also had service with a Part-member family, and another service project with an investigator. 

With our investigator Skye, we were able to teach all of the commandments (this is more than just the 10 commandments!) within 4 lessons. She passed her baptismal interview and her baptism date is October 24th. 

Ciara will also be getting baptized on October 24th (She will be a child of record since she is 8). Two Baptisms scheduled before I go home! I couldn't have hoped for anything better. 

We went to the Bishop's Pig Pickin' on Saturday. Skye's grandma brought me food that I could eat, and it was delicious!  Right after that, she took my companion and I out and bought 3 pints of ice cream for me, a brownie mix, some cereal and milk. She also bought Sister Brakey 2 pints of ice cream, red velvet cupcakes and a cake mix, frosting, and cereal. Skye's grandma told us it was the least she could do for us! She is very sweet. 

We did a lot of driving this past week, and we also felt very sick. We feel better now, though, which is good!

I weighed my luggage and I need to get rid of 20 pounds of items in order for me to not go over the weight limit for my luggage (I pretty much weighed all of my items, and also subtracted the weight of the suitcases on how much weight is allowed for the whole suitcase). 

. . .

Sister Brakey told me something wonderful to me a few days ago that has really stuck with me.

"...It seems like that's how it goes for the people who accomplish amazing things, everyone tells them they'll never amount to anything. Sister Marshall if you've experienced a lot of opposition in your life, then it sounds like Heavenly Father has a lot in store for you!" It stuck with me because for most of my life, I have been going through a lot of opposition, especially when it comes to me following Jesus Christ and developing my talents. This just reminds me that the people who matter, don't mind, and the people who mind, don't matter (to a point. God loves all His children and we should too). 

Anyways - I know I should leave with my testimony, and this is also my last full week on my mission. My mission has been very difficult, and very rewarding. It has been hard being out of contact with friends and family, but it has certainly been worth it. I would recommend a mission to anyone who wants to quickly mature, grow spiritually, wants to become a better person, and who wants to find more of a purpose in their life, and to those who wants to grow closer to God. A mission is pretty much like spending one-on-one time with our Heavenly Father.  I feel like I have become a better person from being on my mission, and I have truly come to a larger understanding of the Gospel Principles, the purpose of missionaries, the covenants I've made in the Temple, more knowledge, and I have learned even more so on listening to the Spirit's promptings. 

I may be young, I may be 23 years of age, but I believe that if ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work. I have served to the fullest.

I come home October 27th. 

I may be on emails next week! I'll be sure to have a closing testimony. 

9 days to give my all.

-Sister A. Marshall 

Investigators, Pick Pickin', Free Cheese, Groceries, Sickness, and Miracles

Well, My companion and I have two new investigators this week: Misty, and Tonsel (Tron-sell). 

Misty loves to learn about other religions, and she is Lutheran. 

Tronsel is in high school but is a spiritual giant. He doesn't have a phone and he lives all the way in Grantham (over 30 minutes away?) and so it may be a hit and miss if we come and see him. 

Last Monday, I wanted to by dairy-free cheese over at Harris Teeter. A man came up from my companion and I and he said [he can mark an item each that we wanted for free (by marking off the bar code with a sharpie) and to tell the cashier that it was from Dennis]. It was part of their marketing where people get to try an item for free and see if they like it. He said a lot of people haven't heard of this stuff (this was at a section with a lot of vegan/vegetarian options). My companion got Vegan Bacon (she tried it later and she said it tasted like dog food. But - there are a lot of good vegetarian options out there! I promise!). Heavenly Father blessed me because I was certainly low on my MSF funds. 

On Tuesday, we had a temporary exchange that lasted over 24 hrs; we also had service with a Part-member family, and another service project with an investigator. 

With our investigator Skye, we were able to teach all of the commandments (this is more than just the 10 commandments!) within 4 lessons. She passed her baptismal interview and her baptism date is October 24th. 

Ciara will also be getting baptized on October 24th (She will be a child of record since she is 8). Two Baptisms scheduled before I go home! I couldn't have hoped for anything better. 

We went to the Bishop's Pig Pickin' on Saturday. Skye's grandma brought me food that I could eat, and it was delicious!  Right after that, she took my companion and I out and bought 3 pints of ice cream for me, a brownie mix, some cereal and milk. She also bought Sister Brakey 2 pints of ice cream, red velvet cupcakes and a cake mix, frosting, and cereal. Skye's grandma told us it was the least she could do for us! She is very sweet. 

We did a lot of driving this past week, and we also felt very sick. We feel better now, though, which is good!

I weighed my luggage and I need to get rid of 20 pounds of items in order for me to not go over the weight limit for my luggage (I pretty much weighed all of my items, and also subtracted the weight of the suitcases on how much weight is allowed for the whole suitcase). 

. . .

Sister Brakey told me something wonderful to me a few days ago that has really stuck with me.

"...It seems like that's how it goes for the people who accomplish amazing things, everyone tells them they'll never amount to anything. Sister Marshall if you've experienced a lot of opposition in your life, then it sounds like Heavenly Father has a lot in store for you!" It stuck with me because for most of my life, I have been going through a lot of opposition, especially when it comes to me following Jesus Christ and developing my talents. This just reminds me that the people who matter, don't mind, and the people who mind, don't matter (to a point. God loves all His children and we should too). 

Anyways - I know I should leave with my testimony, and this is also my last full week on my mission. My mission has been very difficult, and very rewarding. It has been hard being out of contact with friends and family, but it has certainly been worth it. I would recommend a mission to anyone who wants to quickly mature, grow spiritually, wants to become a better person, and who wants to find more of a purpose in their life, and to those who wants to grow closer to God. A mission is pretty much like spending one-on-one time with our Heavenly Father.  I feel like I have become a better person from being on my mission, and I have truly come to a larger understanding of the Gospel Principles, the purpose of missionaries, the covenants I've made in the Temple, more knowledge, and I have learned even more so on listening to the Spirit's promptings. 

I may be young, I may be 23 years of age, but I believe that if ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work. I have served to the fullest.

I come home October 27th. 

I may be on emails next week! I'll be sure to have a closing testimony. 

9 days to give my all.

-Sister A. Marshall 

Multiple Interviews!

This past week was full of excitement, focus, and the spirit. 

I also had two interviews with my Mission President; the first one was a regular interview, and then the second one was my exit interview. I have learned great advice from him and he also told me two secrets to a happy marriage. :) 

Some of the questions he asked me, were:

-Do you feel like you have served a successful mission?

-He asked me more about my wedding plans

We also have been keeping ourselves busy with teaching appointments! We have been working to help Skye and Ciara come closer to baptism. 

One of the investigators we found the other week, dropped us and told us she wasn't ready yet for the message. I know she will be ready at some point! The message the restored gospel brings can truly make us happy! 

What would you do if you knew there was more out there about Christ, and about the Plan of Happiness that God has in store for us? 

In Church:

In Relief Society, the lesson was on Pride; I loved the emphasis on how a lot of sin is stemmed from Pride, such as: 

-Contention 

-Feeling like one can be above the other, or feeling like someone is beneath the other

-jealousy 

-competitiveness 

-Critical 

etc. 

. . .

This week was also another sick week for my companion and I. We had a sick day together and I made some home-made soup. It lasted 3 days for the both of us for about 6 meals. It was wonderful! 

. . .

I made some pear-apple sauce this week from boiling the apples on the stove and then putting them and the pears in the blender with some sugar, ginger, and cinnamon. It was delicious, but the sugar intake is way too much. I plan on making it into a filling instead (adding cornstarch and then cooking it on the stove later). 

. . .

This is all I can say for now!

Enjoy the rest of your week! 

-Sister A. Marshall 

15 days left to give my all. 

If Someone Convicted You as a Christian, Would There Be Enough Evidence to Convict You? - Elder Hales

Oh, what a week! 

Since it has been hard to find people to teach, and we weren't having much success, we decided to fast for almost 24 hours. We had hope that we would find success and that we would see miracles. During that day, the first person we encountered was someone who told us that Mormons were Satan Worshipers. He asked us who's car it was in front of his house, and we said it was ours. He asked us if we were married, and my companion and I looked at each other. I don't know if he meant if my companion and I were married to each other, or if my companion and I were married separately to someone else. When we told him to have a good day, he told us "Well, I don't know about a good day.... Have a day!" As if we didn't believe in good things. This was rather a most interesting experience, and something to learn from. 

I love how Faith works. There was a man that we came in contact with, and he said that he doesn't believe in working our way to get to Heaven. Well, this concept alone is missing something. It's missing a deeper understanding of faith, Heavenly Father's plan, the Atonement, and the point of keeping God's Commandments. I love what James says about how our Faith needs to have works. He says in James 2:17-18, 24, and 26 (KJV):  

 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

We need to act on the faith that we have. It has been said in this analogy about turning on the light. We have faith that the light is going to come on if we flip the light switch on. Faith is an action word. Making the effort and finishing the effort to turn on the light switch with a flick of a finger - that is the faith. 

Having the faith that miracles are going to happen during and after a fast - the fast, is the faith. 

Keeping God's commandments is the faith that we are going to be blessed, and have the spirit with us. Acting and keeping them is the faith. Faith is not something that we just hold in our hearts and believe that something is  going to happen. Faith is making it happen (according to God's will, of course). 

Well, because of the faith of my companion and I, we now have 3 new Investigators, and one with a Baptism date of October 24th. We are also feeling the spirit more strongly, and we have a stronger desire to do what the Lord asks. 

We have also encountered a miracle. A non-member, who is married to a member, said he was praying 5 minutes before my companion and I showed up at the door to help. He prayed to Heavenly Father for Him to send someone to help him and his wife complete a difficult task. Well, here we were! He also said that he had the desire to be baptized, and that he would be a member eventually. He also told us that with every member that he's met, they have been so nice. We helped them out in their task, and serving people brings such a good feeling into my heart. 

...

Hurricane : It missed us! We have been receiving a lot of rain, though. 

...

A stumbling block in the work: I pondered for a bit on something I've frequently come across on my mission. I've come across a lot of people who love history, and who have taken many history classes. I've noticed how a lot of these people have learned a little bit about the LDS (Mormon) faith from their textbooks, and also about the Prophet Joseph Smith. The paragraphs written about the LDS church are not written by LDS people, but from a far off standpoint of non-believers. The way these books have worded about the Prophet Joseph Smith have that he have 'claimed' to be a prophet, and then other words have been based on what 'seemed to be the case'. I can testify, right now, that I know that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet of God. He has all of the qualities of what a prophet entails. I encourage each of you to read/listen to this great talk by Hugh B. Brown, titled "The Profile of a Prophet". You can find it here, at: 

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/hugh-b-brown_profile-prophet/

A lot of people have been misinformed about Joseph Smith, and the LDS religion. Many churches today preach against other churches, and the LDS (Mormon) church is one of them. The LDS faith does not ever hold a meeting about going against any specific form of religion - bashing other religions is not something Christ would do. He doesn't stir up hearts of others to contention - that is what the devil does. 

. . .

General Conference: 

Oh, this General Conference was great! Here are some of the highlights I have written on my heart: 

-We all need to have Charity, and love one another; being 'nice' is not enough if we don't truly mean it

- Simplify the gospel - it  doesn't need to be complicated! 

- God's secret weapon in preparing the world for the second coming is Women. Our voices need to be heard! The age change in November 2012 happened for a reason. From last April, we had about 89,000 missionaries across the world; by November 2015, we have over 200,000 missionaries. The Lord is indeed hastening His work. :) 

-The only way we can succor and comfort those, truly, is when we see people through the eyes of a parent - especially through Heavenly Father's eyes.

-Keeping the Sabbath Day - there so much more than meets the eye. This even means being on time to our meetings!

-Ponderize! Study a verse every week and find out ways on how you can apply it daily. :) 

. . .

Oh! Before I forget - on Saturday - it was raining very hard just before the second session of General Conference. When we were driving to go and watch the conference at a member's house, we noticed a homeless man who sat on the ground in a thin yellow poncho, with a sign next to him in cursive that said 'Homeless.' I instantly thought of the scripture which read, ['..if I had, I would give']. Instantly my being was filled with the spirit, and I knew I had to help this man. My immediate thought was to go to the grocery store and buy him some food. My companion, Sister Brakey, insisted that we stopped off at Mc Donalds (because she was hungry). I thought that would be nice, but I thought after that meal, he was going to need another one. I also thought about how the member we were going to see was going to feed us. So - we went to the grocery store, and we bought mixed fruit, a couple boxes of granola bars, allergy medicine (just in case), a toothbrush, a Water Jug, and some candy (just to spoil him). We drove as quickly as we could to the man after shopping. He was at an awkward spot at an intersection, but somehow, with the thick rain, we got to him. He told us that he was trying to save money for a room; we told him that as missionaries we can't give out money, but we bought him multiple meals to last him a while. I felt good about doing this kind act of service. 

Here is one of my favorite scripture passages about helping those in need. It's found in Mosiah, 4:16-27:

"16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

 17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

 18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

 19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

 20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.

 21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.

 22 And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.

 23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.

 24 And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give.

 25 And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received.

 26 And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.

 27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order." 

I love serving others. I love being a missionary. I invite each of you to find someone on who you could serve today, and who you could make someone's burden lighter. 

Christ lives - He loves us, and is there whenever we reach out to him in faith. 

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

-Sister A. Marshall