I am in awe as
I look at the calender and see November just around the corner....if
that's not scary I don't know what is! Knowing I only have four weeks
left has weighed on my shoulders as we have had some terrible struggles
this week and as I teach and come to love people and realize I won't be
here to see things through with them! Ugh! Heartbreaking! But the Lord
blessed me with an amazing miracle this week at the Mormon Battalion
that reminded me of His awareness of ALL of His children... So I walked
up to the front of the Battalion just in time to be asked to take the
next tour. Sister Patterson came with me and we began our journey with
our group. There was a couple from Arizona and they mentioned something
about a temple and I said, "Yes! The temple being built in Gilbert! Have
you seen it?" They said they had and it was beautiful! I told them to
watch for the dates so they could go and walk through. We then went on
with the tour...these two were so into the tour...particularly the
husband and he was just having a ball and making everyone laugh as I
dressed him as as our soldier. Sister Patterson and I whispered to each
other in agreement that they were so prepared! At the end of the tour I
stayed at the camera to take the family photos. When I walked out to
gold panning the member couple from Colorado that were on my tour were
standing there with this man and were explaining about the Book of
Mormon to him. The wife looked at me and said, "Could you please get
this man a Book of Mormon?" I looked at her a little bewildered and
said, "Sure!...I'll be right back!" I came back and handed it to him and
continued to listen to these amazing member missionaries bear their
testimony on the spot to this man about the truthfulness of the Book of
Mormon. The man, Armando, then said, "I have been looking for something.
I just need something. I lost my daughter 2 years ago." The member
looked at me and said, "Do you have a Plan of Salvation pamphlet?" I
said, "We sure do!" She said, "This Sister will take good care of you!" I
walked back with him and as we talked and he told me of his loss and
his search I thought of how the temples mean families can be together
FOREVER....then I thought: "Wait! The Gilbert temple open house is in
January! I will be home! I can take him and his wife through the temple
open house!" I turned to him and told him my desire to do so and he said
he would LOVE that! THEN, as I was getting his phone number, I asked
where in Arizona he lived....He said, "Chandler." I said, "Oh me too!
What part?" ...."Oh on Gilbert and Riggs Rd." I stopped him in
astonishment as he told me of the neighborhood he lived in by
Alberston's and I said, "Armando, you did notice my name was Sister
Riggs right?....you know one block up on Gilbert and Chandler Heights
where the Bashas and CVS Pharmacy are? (He nodded) ...and that random
farmhouse on the corner? (yep!) That's my family!!! You literally live
less than a mile away from my house!" He stared at me speechless and we
just said "Wow!" I told him that it always amazes me when things like
this happen! He said he knew it was no coincidence and he would never
forget this day! I told him then that I would personally keep in touch
with him and his wife and then I said, "You know what! Will you call my
dad and ask him if you can go to church with him this Sunday?" He said,
"Wow! Really? I would love to go to your church!" I gave him my dad's
number and told him he'd love to go with him! Ha ha sorry dad! I
volunteered you because I know you are a perfect friend for him! = )
Armando was so grateful and knew without a doubt he was lead to the
Battalion that night. All this time, Sister Patterson was talking to his
wife and learned that their son was diagnosed with cancer at age 14 and
beat it....then, not many years later, their daughter was diagnosed and
it took her life 2 years ago. The wife has become a bit hardened
because of it and the husband has been softened. I left that experience
on Cloud 9! Alma 26: 37 "Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of
every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his
people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my
joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God
forever!" So true! I am so excited to have missionary work to continue
with this sweet man and his wife when I get home! Until then, Dad! You
and the missionaries got this!
Well, I also mentioned some struggles this
week. I can't say much, just that Satan must not be very happy with the
strengthening, unity, love, and rescuing that has been happening in our
branch over the past few months. His opposition was seen and felt this
week and I experienced one of the most difficult days of my mission on
Friday. Praying for the power of Paul in my speech and for the gift of
discernment....having to stand up and be bold and even rebuke a little
bit....then comfort, heal and try to save those who were hurt. All I
have been thinking is that I have been living a Book of Mormon story
this week. All the times when the scriptures say there was peace in the
land and no contention and then someone comes to stir up the hearts of
the people and there begins to be divisions among them. Or like in Alma
12:3 "Now Zeezrom, seeing that thou hast been taken in thy lying and
craftiness, for thou hast not lied unto men only but thou hast lied unto
God; for behold, he knows all thy thoughts, and thou seest that thy
thoughts are made known unto us by his Spirit;
And thou seest that we know that thy plan was a very subtle plan,
as to the subtlety of the devil, for to lie and to deceive this people
that thou mightest set them against us, to revile us and to cast us out
Now this was a plan of thine adversary, and he hath exercised his
power in thee. Now I would that ye should remember that what I say unto
thee I say unto all.
And behold I say unto you all that
this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this
people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might
encircle you about with his chains, that he might chain you down to
everlasting destruction, according to the power of his captivity."
It has broken my heart to have all of this happen in
my last few weeks...but there must be opposition in all
things....Friday night I came home and in my prayers I felt prompted to
open my scriptures. I told Father in Heaven that I needed comfort, then I
stuck my thumb in my scriptures and opened to these verses. 2 Nephi 4:
1 "And now, Jacob, I speak unto you: Thou art my firstborn in the days
of my tribulation in the wilderness. And behold, in thy childhood thou hast suffered afflictions and much sorrow, because of the rudeness of thy brethren.
Nevertheless, Jacob, my firstborn in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.
Wherefore, thy soul shall be blessed, and thou shalt dwell safely with thy brother, Nephi; and thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God.
Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness
of thy Redeemer; for thou hast beheld that in the fulness of time he
cometh to bring salvation unto men.
And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh;
for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And the way
is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free.
And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil.
For
it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so,
my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to
pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad..."
The bold parts where exactly what I needed to
hear and I was comforted as the spirit spoke to me through the
scriptures and Heavenly Father answered my prayers. This is a real
battle out here! And Satan is hard at work!
D&C 10:24 "Yea, he stirreth up their hearts to anger against this work."
Through all of this though, Heavenly Father blessed us with a new investigator!There is a girl who has been coming to church with her cousins who isn't a member and I am PRAYING fervently to have another baptism before I leave and I have asked her about meeting with us before...but I have 4 weeks left and this is it! After Sacrament meeting I just started another conversation with her and basically said, "you have followed the example of your cousins in coming to church....do you like what you have learned and felt here? (yes) Do you believe it's true? (yes) Then will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized?" She said she has been thinking about it but wants to learn and understand more...I said, "Well will you let us do our job and teach you?!" We added her and are meeting with her tonight for the first time = ) I hope she accepts our invitation for baptism on Nov 23rd...the weekend before I go home. That'd be the best gift ever!Love you all so much! Have a happy and safe Halloween! Send pictures!!!
Love,
Sister Riggs
