1-5-12

"Wow, this week has been thoroughly epic. Satan is working SO hard against us. These are the toughest times....He knows when you are about to do soo much good, and he does everything in his power (plus his devils), to tare you down to the ground. Just imagine the scene of a faithful missionary. He/She is trying to do his/her best. They do their studies, they push forward with faith. They are obedient, kind, try to be selfless and have unconditional love towards everyone. They are patient and have the trust of the President. They are trying to adapt all the Christ like attributes, and be 100% obedient, worthy of the spirit, and fully engaged with an eye single to god. They work hard, and don’t give in. They prepare faithfully for lessons. They keep track of time and make their time meaningful. They have powerful lessons that change their lives. They meet people daily that change their lives or the missionary helps change theirs. Bonds are formed; miracles are witnessed everyday of their lives.

Yet, here awaits the devil, waiting and wanting to destroy the lives of those the missionaries teach. Wanting to destroy them. I can just picture Satan creepily sliding his way to catch that missionary sitting down for studies every morning to try to tempt him to quit. To stop. If Satan can just stop the missionaries, he was won.

This is the biggest battle of all. My entire mission has been about facing opposition. Facing the effects of Satan, and battling him myself. We are the army of God and we hold the truth. We treasure the truth. We fight for the truth to be proclaimed.

It’s time for a lot of miracles to happen in Fallon. Heavenly Father knows we will work hard, and so does Satan. I don’t mean to talk about him so much, but this is my life. Want to know the life of a missionary? It’s a battle.

In my last are in Vegas, 4 months before miracles started to pour from heaven daily, there was a space for a week where I felt Satan and his followers surround me daily. I felt so sad inside. It was the hardest thing i have personally had to conquer. I knew there were so many of the evilest devils cutting at me. Their presence weighed me down daily. I knew I could conquer them though and i told myself, If I’m going to battle for the cause of Jesus Christ, it’s going to be hard. But it’s worth it. I am so happy to say those devils did not take me down!

Here they are again though, possibly trying. I know they are there, and their presence as we walk the streets of Fallon weighs on me. But I’m not going to let them get me. They know that’s a fact too. Fallon is changing for the better! These people here have souls who are crying for peace, comfort, and joy! Here it comes! IM COMING FOR YOU! Just wait a little longer. Hope is on its way, because I get to bear the specific and holy name of Jesus Christ.

Miracles bring me joy! In fact last week my joy was so great i was brought to the depths of exhaustion...that’s how great was MY JOY! I received an update from my last area! In the Lone Mountain zone, when I got there, there wasn’t a lot of work going on....the missionaries serving there had been sluggish and non efficient. The effects of working hard are unparalleled. I did not do ANYTHING in my last area. Heavenly Father did it all! Through tracting and contacting individuals on the street and through referrals, by my second transfer there I had over 100 people listed in my planner has potential investigators. Potential individuals to accept the truth. How outstanding! I am so happy still! You know what happened there, because you have been reading my emails...since I’ve left the work is even more busy! Sister Dillistone is receiving even more investigators then 22. She told me almost everyone is progressing! That is SO wonderful to hear! Investigators are praying and coming to church and are wanting to be baptized. Potentials we found are taking the lessons. I could sit and list names, but it wouldn’t mean much to you. It means the world to me.

I think of how Heavenly Father knows us on a personal basis. I am thoroughly convinced he REJOICES when we choose the right! How happy we are when those we teach read the scriptures! Yes! How sad God is when we break a commandment. Heavenly Father works SO HARD for us, to just get us back to him! He gives us everything we need. How crushed he is to see us reject his son. What more could he give us? HE GIVES US EVERYTHING.
That is why I am so happy to be here in Fallon! It’s such a random place to serve 6 months of your mission!!! It’s about the people. Here, it’s harder missionary work. People don’t flood the streets like in Vegas. The missionary work up here is so epic because all the missionaries across these small cities fast, pray, and plea for missionary work to happen.

Don’t let Satan get to you. You can conquer anything with God’s help, I PROMISE!
This week we had a zone fast. We then had a member of our bishopric call us and tell us "I have a friend that I want you to teach." That’s the FIRST time in my whole mission a member has presented one of their friends for us to teach. (thank you members for doing your job!!) Andy is so cool, so awesome! We are teaching him tonight! He got to see his friend on a mission in South Africa over Christmas on Skype. He is so ready for the gospel!

It doesn’t matter if 1 person or 20 people are baptized on your mission. It’s about souls. It’s about restoring souls, less active, active, non member. Everybody everywhere needs the gospel of Jesus Christ and it’s currently being spread to everyone across the earth! What joy fills my heart!

As we went through our past records of previous investigators, we came across a name that stood out to us. We went to visit Don. He is a biker and super down to earth. Let me tell you, that lesson was SO powerful!!! The most spiritual lesson I have had in Fallon yet!!! He completely opened up to us right away! He poured out his soul. He is so confused. He is around 65 years old. One of his precious questions was " I guess what I am trying to say is, am I worth your time? I mean, do I really even matter?" Those words stung my soul. How joyous it was to proclaim to him "Yes! Don your life matters so much. YOU, mean the world to heavenly father...." It was so special.

The world has it to seem like nothing matters. go ahead, swear! Drink! Have sex with whomever! Sell yourself! You’re ugly, you’re worthless! Smoke that joint, here, kill yourself-the world would be better without you anyway. .. ... ..

I love Don, and as I personally knelt down the night we met with him, after I prayed this poem started running through my head. It is written about the people like don, like all of us. Here it is.

The Conversion

I oft heard of a man, a man to save. Not only me, but the world. This man they say, spotless and pure, gives light and nourishment to all in need. I have often wondered who is God and why is He so great? Yet, I do not know for myself if he lives, is this my mistake?

Am I, an old man, to think I'm worth saving? I've lived my life, it’s been a terrible one, why would he love me for Pete’s sake?!I am a lonely man, encouragement I know not. I sit on this bench and merely wait.

Wait for what you say? Change I hear? Why do I need to change? I don’t think I need the help of another man.

I do have a heart, its softening somehow. I do not know how! For my life is compared to a grain of a thousand sands. Does my life matter? Oh what the pain!

Why am I here, where do I go?Does my life have purpose or do I just go with the flow?Trembling, scary thoughts you must know. I soon will die and know not where I'll go.
Time has come, my mind is in disarray. I see two Mormon missionaries coming my way.Oh do not look at me, just pass me by!They continue to walk towards me, I let out a sigh.

“We are representatives of Jesus Christ, He lives and Loves you.”Their words fill my heart, what is this new feeling?Me, a child of God. Bah! Or could it be?

Read, pray, I do what they ask. Believe. I give it a chance. This chance I gave is making me change. I hold my head higher, I feel less pain.

A conversion is needed? What does this mean? “Come unto Christ and you will see.”Is this really happening? Oh what love! Jesus my Savior, he comes to Redeem!

My tears of pain, my tears of anguish, meet the tears of my missionaries who exclaim, “Your life is not a waste.”Tears in my back pocket, I search the scriptures.

This is true! This is true! My heart sings day by day!My soul has been rescued! Where has this long awaited truth laid?

By the power of God I am converted.Oh what thanks I give day to day. I long for sweet repentance, my baptism was so great!I had no idea of such cleansing power on earth to save.
I am clean! I am free!I grasp the Elder who just baptized me and wrap my arms around him.'Thank you for leading me to Jesus.'

Now I look forward to meeting you, Christ. You are the absolute greatest miracle in my life. My eyes water my pillow by night, my souls reaches towards heaven.I can't wait to meet the man who saved ME, and who gives me eternal life.

Written in Remembrance of Don. Our investigator who questions the worth of his soul. How heavenly it was to exclaim, “YES!”
Sister Jenna Sprouse12-20-11Heavenly Father is awesome! :)

Just like Don, we all wonder. One time in our lives we will feel, "am I fulfilling my purpose? What IS my purpose?'

Coming from Vegas, to here...the worlds problems are the same across the world. We all wonder, we all feel pain, and there is only ONE person to take our pain, and shape it into Joy.
Jesus Christ it is! Serving here, I am so centered now about just helping one person.

There is a quote by Elder Eyring. "True disciples of Jesus Christ have always been concerned for the One." . . . . The one who is missing. The one who is sad. So many times in my life have I passed up a friend who needed a meaningful conversation about hope.

This is long !! YAY!

Three weeks ago, I just felt my trials piling up. You know what I found? Depression as I kept complaining inside. I sat on my bed one night at 950 and stared into space. Who was I being? I completely right then and there changed 180 degrees and instead of praying to get through my trials, I thanked God for all of my blessings.

Ever since then my joy has been FULL! Thanking God has been the best decision of my life! I only thank him and thank him and thank him and thank him. Tears roll down my face. He is so great.

This past week Sister Badger and I had to move (a reoccurring theme amongst missionaries..). (Mind you this has been the epic battle Satan week too!). Our new place is so awesome! But we have been SO tired!!! Our new apartment was SOO dirty!!!! We went to Wal-Mart on Saturday to buy cleaning supplies. I remember that morning in my prayers I said "Heavenly Father I pray that we will be able to clean fast and effectively, but even so, you bless us so much, it does not matter if you grant us this thing."

At Wal-Mart a member saw us checking out, and he bought us our 41 dollars worth of cleaning supplies. Man, tender mercies are so precious and pure!!! We walked out of Wal-Mart in rejoicing awe!

Then, on the SAME DAY, a member we met randomly in Fallon gave us each $20 and said, "have a good lunch!"

Man, Heavenly father DOES know us. He knows when we are having a hard time, He lovesssss it when we rejoice and thank him daily.

I have SO much to thank my Heavenly Father for!!!!!!!! Each and every day! I pray I will find all my faults. I pray I will cleave unto my covenants. My new goals are to ask myself "Do I represent the purity of the temple?" I want to have an eye single to the glory of God. I want to be selfless. I want to be full of love. I want to find that one sheep that needs guidance.
I prayed recently that "my burdens would feel light." WRONG. I immediately stopped progressing.

Take what comes your way. It’s for a reason.

Ask yourself this week, "what makes me rejoice? What makes me desire to serve God?" "Am I happy?"

I am happy serving the Lord.

Love!
Sister Jenna Julianne Sprouse