05-05-2016

Mi familia favorita

This week has been a harder week. I knew it would come eventually.
opposition is necessary in all things but opposition is not so fun.

This whole week I have had my voice lost. It makes missionary work
very difficult haha you don't realize how important your voice is
until you don't have one.

for my 20th birthday I got something good--pneumonia at least that's
what the doctor thought I had. She put me on some antibiotic pills and
I lost 7 pounds in 3 days. I think the antibiotics made me more sick
then I was before. It has not been fun. Nothing stays in me. So now
I'm just living off of saltine crackers and watered down Gatorade so I
can get some energy and some food in me. I'm so used to spending every
moment "go go go" that these days inside have been hard. I just wish I
could go out and get to work.

To make this week even harder, we found out that our recent convert
Ginger who was baptized less than a month ago, is on life support with
a very slime chance of survival. Sister Saavedra and I got very close
to her since I've been out here and have spent so much time with her
and her son. Gosh it just makes my heart hurt. She has a two year old
son and is a single mom. With both of her parents gone, it makes me
want to cry for what is going to happen to her sweet boy, Monty if she
isn't able to pull through. I just saw her last week and then to get a
call that she isn't going to make it made me realize how fragile this
life is.

However I get great peace knowing that this life isn't the end and
that Ginger knows that too. I don't know why this is happening to
Ginger but I know God knows. I know God knows all things. He has a
plan for each of us and perhaps for some of us he needs us more on the
other side then on this side.

I have been thinking a lot about Ginger and I came across this talk by
President Monson from a very long time ago about living in the
present. He shares:

"I recently read the account of a man who, just after the passing of
his wife, opened her dresser drawer and found there an item of
clothing she had purchased when they visited the eastern part of the
United States nine years earlier. She had not worn it but was saving
it for a special occasion. Now, of course, that occasion would never
come.

In relating the experience to a friend, the husband said, “Don’t save
something only for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a
special occasion.”

That friend later said those words changed her life. They helped her
to cease putting off the things most important to her. Said she: “Now
I spend more time with my family. I use crystal glasses every day.
I’ll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket if I feel like it. The
words ‘someday’ and ‘one day’ are fading from my vocabulary. Now I
take the time to call my relatives and closest friends. I’ve called
old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I tell my family members
how much I love them. I try not to delay or postpone anything that
could bring laughter and joy into our lives. And each morning, I say
to myself that this could be a special day. Each day, each hour, each
minute, is special"

Gosh I love that. isn't that the truth. Live in the present. For
although we are on gods time, we have control of what we do with the
time.

Earlier this week we went to go see a referral from a man that lives
in Nebraska. His daughter lives in west Sacramento and he wanted us to
go see her and share the message we have of Jesus Christ and the hope
that comes from Him. What happened next is not all what we were
expecting at all.

She let us in and offered us a seat on her couch. Then-- she yelled at
us she screamed at us she called us horrible names, she said some
pretty awful things. She did not know us but oh she thought she did. I
was ready to get up and leave. But my companion, asked if she could
say a prayer before we left. I thought are you crazy??!! This lady has
just demoralized both of us, screamed at us, said everything possible
and you want to say a prayer.

But surprising to me: The lady agreed.

What happened next took me for a loop. As we started saying the
prayer, a feeling of peace and love came into the room and this lady
burst into tears, for the whole prayer she bawled, and bawled. As we
finished the prayer and got up to leave she said ladies I am so sorry
so sorry for everything, can you come back again at a better time. I
want to feel the spirit again. I'm afraid I won't be able to feel it
again.

I think at times I forget the power in the Holy Spirit and the power
of God. He is mighty oh so mighty.

As we left I turned to my companion almost in tears, what an
experience. I have never been treated so poorly by a complete stranger
but at the same time felt the overwhelming power of the spirit. As we
sat on that couch, the comfort I felt from the savior that night was
real. In doctrine and covenants 84:88 it says  "And whoso receiveth
you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be
on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your
hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."  Those words
are real.

There is nothing quite like being a missionary.

You meet people that curse at you, that spit at you, that cover their
faces when you walk by but then you meet people who cry with relief
when they see you at their door or on the street. Random people let
you into their homes with open arms. You cry with strangers who are
lost and you rejoice with those who finally realize that they are
found. You meet people and you love them SO dang much in such a short
time.

I was telling sister Waite this week that for so long I was
embarrassed of the church of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That for so
long I didn't believe in the one person that gave everything for me.
There are not adequate words to describe how it feels that I get to
wear a badge with His name on it. I love that I am on a mission.

 For 1 and 1/2 years I get to give my all for a small repayment for His all.

Godspeed

Sister Thurgood

P.S super super super excited to see your faces and hear your voices
this Sunday ☺️