Hello Again from San Diego,
First of all, Happy Birthday to my
amazing big brother Nathan and also to my sweet niece Reagan! I love you
and miss you so much and am sending Birthday wishes your way and am
hoping that they all come true. Keep being awesome!
So....I am quite the mess right now. Remember how last week I said
that my transfer is coming to an end and I would be sending my trainer
home back to Canada and getting a new companion? Well...the Lord really
loves to surprise you. I dropped Sister Tanner off at the airport this
morning and waved farewell. That was really weird. All I have known so
far on my mission is my work with her. We had a great last week and
especially a great last day. We saw a lot of miracles. Everyone was sad
to see her go...our ward members, investigators, and converts..and we
took lots of pictures with her and she got a lot of goodbyes......well, I
just got a phone call telling me to pack my bags because I am being
transferred out of my area and the Fuerte ward. I immediately started
crying on the phone with my zone leaders....everyone is expecting me
back...no one thought I would be leaving. I feel so attached to this
ward and I have so many we are teaching that I love so much...we even
have a baptism set for Saturday.....I didn't get to say goodbye to
anybody and I didn't take pictures with people either because it was so
unlikely that I would be leaving....Fuerte is going to have 2 new
missionaries in the area now...and my heart is so so broken
today....Even my Zone Leaders were in shock and told me they were so mad
that they were losing me. I am doing all I can to stay calm and "trust
in the Lord with all my might"....but I am not gonna lie...it's hard
right now and I don't understand, but I guess that is what missions are
for...stretching and growing. I really have no words...just tears and
faith to see why the Lord is sending me somewhere else.....I know this
is His work and He directs it and so...I must be needed somewhere else,
and there must be people and experiences that await that the Lord knows
that I need....it's just a little heartbreaking sometimes, but the work
will go forward, and the Lord will take care of those I am leaving.
Thanks for letting me get that out...it just happened so it's all I can
think about! This is one of the reasons I was afraid of coming on a
mission...I get too attached to people!!! ha ha = ) So anyway...that's
all I know for now....tomorrow morning at transfer meeting I will find
out who my new companion is and where I will be serving. Ahh...this is
so weird!
WOW! How about CONFERENCE!!!!! I hope everyone got a chance to watch
it. Conference is seriously better than Christmas to a missionary! I
have never had so many powerful spiritual experiences listening to
conference before...I know it is because I am the Lord's servant right
now. And what an AMAZING announcement from our prophet!!! I totally
would have gone when I was 19!!! This is going to double the missionary
force and the sisters are going to be powerful! And they can still be
getting married at 21! ; ) No fair! What is the greatest is that
announcement really had nothing to do with me...I am already on a
mission and have no family members that are 18 and 19 and could go on a
mission...but when the prophet made that announcement I was filled with
the spirit, head to toe, chills, and just started crying happy tears!
What a beautiful confirmation to me that this was truly inspired! You
should have seen all of us sisters at the Mormon Battalion after he said
that...FLIPPING OUT!!! = ) It will be such an incredible blessing to
millions!!!! How incredible. And as they talked about missionary work so
much throughout conference, I felt overwhelming joy for the fact that I
am here...I am a missionary for the Lord! I am so thankful that I had
the strength and the faith to make sacrifices and trust in the Lord and
come here and serve a mission....had I ignored my promptings and heard
conference this weekend...I would have been so disappointed in
myself....but I was joyful knowing I followed the spirit and it brought
me here and I know without a doubt it is where the Lord would have me be
and what He would have me be doing! You can always regret not going,
but you can never regret going....to anyone thinking of serving a
mission now...with this new change....just GO! As my wise stake
President Shill always said, "Trust in the Lord a little will ya? This
is His work." ...and I add, there is no greater work to be a part of!
The Lord needs a mighty army!!! "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of
heaven!" I promise you will never regret it and it will bring you
greater happiness than anything else in this life ever could! "How great
shall be your joy!!!" Get those papers started and just try and prove
me wrong. ; ) I am so lucky, honored, and glad I am here....you will be
too = )
Sean Pennala is finally getting baptized on Saturday! We met with
him last night and he told us he said a prayer to feel the spirit before
he went to bed. He said that he then had a dream that was like Joseph
Smith's first vision...only he was in the place of Joseph...he said he
saw a light and he could feel in his dream the power of the spirit and
he was so happy...he woke up and said a prayer and continued to feel it
and knew....!!!!!! = ) His countenance was so unbelievably bright and he
was alight with joy! Our hearts were so happy for him.
Tony...our investigator getting baptized in November who's been
really attached to his church choir....turned his keys in to his old
church and said goodbye to his choir so he could be fully committed to
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! What a huge step of
faith!
Jack, our Pentecostal investigator, came to conference and watched
with us and said he felt the spirit as the prophet spoke and started
pointing out all of the different things he liked about the talks...he
looked at the pictures of Christ we have at the Battalion right now
(traveling art exhibit of "Witnesses of Christ" by Liz Lemon Swindle -
amazing and brings the spirit so strong) and took the tour and he is now
texting us to set his appointments = ) The Book of Mormon is changing
his heart and I know he will come to know the truth and be baptized
soon.
I have seen so many miracles and have been so blessed in this
area....I feel many challenges are going to come...I've just had it too
easy!!! ; ) But it's OK...it just means that the Lord trusts me and
knows I can handle a little more stretching and a little more
growing...He must really love me = ) D&C 58:2-5. I can do this!
I love you all so much and hope you are doing all you can to live
close to the Lord. Why would we do anything else? That's just dumb!
Lots of love,
Sister Riggs
xoxo
