Well it was a busy and eventful week as usual! I had some great
opportunities this week to share my talents and develop some! I got to sing with
two Elders from the Islands at the Mission President's Fireside on Sunday. The
song went really well and I was honored to sing with them. A young woman came up
to me after with her Young Woman's leader and said that they had heard me sing
back in September and an Elder had told them I would be singing so they wanted
to come and meet me. I was so honored. The young woman, Ella, wanted to know
what song I sang. I told her it wasn't written anyway but handed her the lyrics
I wrote on a piece of paper so she could have the words because the song really
touched her heart. The YW leader then told me she had asked if I could come sing
for her YW but was told I couldn't unless I served in their ward. These sisters
were just so sweet and I was so touched that my voice meant so much to them. I
was able to give them a CD and I promised after my mission I would come back and
sing for her young women = ). Another sister came up to me in tears and told me
to never stop singing and to never leave a lesson without singing for them
because she was converted by the spirit she felt when 2 sisters sang to her. She
told me she felt the spirit so strongly as I sang and tears just
flowed...again...I was so honored. I also helped an Elder leaving put together a
number...he wanted to play the trumpet one last time and had written a duet for
the trumpet for our mission song...so...yes, I played again, and I have to say
all this trumpet practice is helping me get better and better! It was great. I
had the idea to have all of the departing missionaries sing the song. I stood on
one side of the room and he stood on the other with trumpets in hand. The song
is a duet of "A Marvelous Work" and "The Spirit of God." It was pretty neat and
our president loved it. After, a little 7-year-old girl wanted to meet me and
her parents told her to tell me what she had said when she heard me playing
the trumpet...she told me, "Wow! She is so talented! She plays the trumpet too!
That's so neat!" She told me about her little guitar she had at home that she was
hoping to learn to play! The Elder I played with said on his way out he heard a
little girl say excitedly, "I saw a girl trumpet player! I've never seen one
before!" Ha ha...I thought that was too cute. I am glad I am inspiring little
girls every where to play the trumpet! ha ha. It was also wonderful because our
little China man, David, bore his testimony and shared his conversion story! He
is UNREAL! As he shared his story, scriptures, quoted Lorenzo Snow and testified
that he would spend the rest of his life testifying of God and this gospel...
Sister Rasmussen and I were sitting there with our huge smiles saying, "He's
UNREAL!" And I truly felt the scripture from Doctrine and Covenants come
true....how if we bring even one soul unto Christ "...How great shall be your
joy!" Oh how great!!! I love it!!!!
Sunday was a big day...not only did all of that happen but I also was asked
to speak in Sacrament meeting. The topic was: "The Atonement Changed My Life." I
almost cried just thinking of the topic. What an honor to speak on such a sacred
subject. It was weird because I have never struggled more to write a talk....I
spent a whole personal study hour just reading things and trying to figure out
where to begin....with 3 hours more...I finally brought it together. I felt so
nervous about it for some reason...but I felt confident that what I was prompted
to write was what was needed and could be said with confidence. Afterward, a
girl visiting the ward randomly from SLC came up to me with her friend and said
she just had to thank me for my talk...that it was exactly what she needed to
hear and she was so thankful. Her friend nodded and said, "Yeah, as you were
talking I couldn't believe it...it was like you were speaking directly to her."
I told her that meant the world to me because I prayed so fervently to say what
needed to be heard. A few others stopped me in the hall telling me similar
things. I know I have nothing to boast of that...I am only humble and thankful
that the Lord blessed me with the testimony to bear and the words to say. There
is nothing more humbling and no greater peace that comes than when you know you
have been given an assignment, you pray to be able to fulfill it, and you then
receive confirmation that it was what Heavenly Father needed you to do. I love
being His instrument!
We have had interesting things happening with our investigators. We are
teaching 3 young women who are solid...yet have 3 difficult circumstances that
we are praying for help to be able figure out how to help with or how to proceed
with. I love each of these girls so much and know the Lord has placed them in
our lives for a reason and that if anything can help...it's the gospel of Jesus
Christ.
I had the opportunity to take leaders of the Visitor's centers for the
church on a tour at the Battalion. I did my best to be my natural self and make
it great and fun and to my astonishment I was complimented by Steve Allen
(basically the creative mind and ruler of all media and such for the church). He
said he does not compliment in such a way generously...and that he was honest
when he said that it was the best he had ever seen the tour done before...and
he'd been on a lot here. Wow! That was too nice! I was so relieved! Ha ha...glad
I am doing my job right! Funny thing a little girl said on one of my tours as I
asked, "Are you ready to go back in time?" She said, "Well, is it going to take
long? Because we have already been on a plane for 3 hrs!" Ha ha...oh I died! I
just love children! They are the light of my life!!!!
I had a cool miracle but will have to share it next week!
I have been reading in Mosiah about Abinadi ...who has always been my
favorite...I learn so much from him every time...I invite you to read it and
just stand all amazed at his unshakable faith in the Lord and how he will not
cease to do His will until it is done...even if it costs his life! I just love
him! I love the Book of Mormon! Oh! Speaking of!..2 of our Ghana friends came to
the fireside...the ones that don't accept the Book of Mormon...and that was all
ANYBODY talked about and bore testimony of! It was powerful = ) We are anxious
to meet with them this week and hear their thoughts! = /
Ok! Love you all! Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Love,
Sister Riggs
