This week , I will be going to a new ward, in a new stake. I will be moving to Silverdale, Washington to serve in the Silverdale 3rd ward with Sister Muti. Please refer to the map of my current location on the About page of my blog if you don't know where Silverdale is, or you can google it! It definately seems like a beautiful area, and it will be beautiful this time of year! Sister Muti is polynesian and really fun, and I can't wait to be companions with her! I have found a lot of success here in the Deschutes River ward, and I am sad to be leaving Sister Barker! She has been an awesome companion, and we have had so much fun together bringing people unto Christ!
I will be returning to the Ward here in Yelm for a baptism of a really neat lady named Judy. Judy showed up at church a few weeks ago, and said that she was ready to change her life, and wanted to be baptized. Her husband of about 5 years is a less-active member, who was baptized as a child, but hasn't been to church since then. But Judy told him that she was investigating the church, and wanted to be baptized. He is supportive of her decision and is happy to see her doing so well. Judy is a recovering alcoholic, and when she showed up at church, she was only about 15 days clean. In the last week or two, Judy has really let the gospel change her life. She not only has read most of the Book of Mormon, but also the entire relief society manual for this year. She texts us with questions almost every day and she prayed about a date to be baptized on, and received an answer (June 27th)! She asks us for home work, and anything else she can study, because she says that the gospel just makes her so much happier, and that if there was church every day of the week, she would go!
Judy is what most missionaries might call a golden investigator. Someone who is really seeking to know and better understand the gospel . The gospel can be applied to all aspects of our life, and is there whenever we may need it (which is always!) Judy has been able to overcome opposition in her life, and find peace and joy through the gospel. She was an alcoholic, and her life was upside down, but through reading the bible, she has been able to slowly increase the light of Christ in her life, and that has eventually lead her to the church, and to soon make more covenants with her Father in Heaven. Judy chose to exercise her agency, and seek for the light of Christ In her life. Are we not all like Judy? Seeking but not knowing where to find the light? We can help those who are seeking by directing them to the light.
I love that the gospel and the light of Christ is referred to as, well, a 'light'! The history of electricity and light is very vast, but we know that it was not invented until Thomas Edison came along, and he had all of the right tools to make the light bulb. Just like the gospel was restored and the Book of Mormon came forth when the people were ready to receive it, not everyone was sure about the idea of electric lighting, because they didn't understand how the concept. Just like In today's world, there are so many people who are just not fully understanding the gospel, and what all of it in tales. But we can partake of the blessings of the church simply by making the effort to flip a switch. We have been blessed to live in the promised land here in these latter days, with not only electric lighting, which is awesome! But also the church of Jesus Christ which is here In its fullness. We have covenanted with our Father in Heaven to take it to all the world, but how can we shine his light if we are not willing to embrace it fully in our own lives? When we make the effort to stand up, walk across the room, and flip the light switch, we are able to fully see what is around us we are able to put a whole new perspective on life. We can see more clearly in our lives who we are and where we are going, and that light will shine for others around us to see more clearly as well when we embrace the gospel fully in our lives. Don't take the blessings of the Lords gospel for granted.
One of my favorite quotes that sits framed on my desk, and has been there my entire mission is by Elder Uchtdorf -
"Spiritual light rarely comes to those who merely sit in darkness waiting for someone to flip a switch. It takes an act of faith to open our eyes to the Light of Christ. " I encourage you all to not be idle in the Lords a work. Whether or not it is to shine the light of Christ In your life to free yourself from the darkness, to share the light of Christ with others, or just to simply be grateful for Jesus Christ in your life, don't forget who you are, and what you stand for.
Keep moving forward, Go with God,
Sister Megan Chapple
I will be returning to the Ward here in Yelm for a baptism of a really neat lady named Judy. Judy showed up at church a few weeks ago, and said that she was ready to change her life, and wanted to be baptized. Her husband of about 5 years is a less-active member, who was baptized as a child, but hasn't been to church since then. But Judy told him that she was investigating the church, and wanted to be baptized. He is supportive of her decision and is happy to see her doing so well. Judy is a recovering alcoholic, and when she showed up at church, she was only about 15 days clean. In the last week or two, Judy has really let the gospel change her life. She not only has read most of the Book of Mormon, but also the entire relief society manual for this year. She texts us with questions almost every day and she prayed about a date to be baptized on, and received an answer (June 27th)! She asks us for home work, and anything else she can study, because she says that the gospel just makes her so much happier, and that if there was church every day of the week, she would go!
Judy is what most missionaries might call a golden investigator. Someone who is really seeking to know and better understand the gospel . The gospel can be applied to all aspects of our life, and is there whenever we may need it (which is always!) Judy has been able to overcome opposition in her life, and find peace and joy through the gospel. She was an alcoholic, and her life was upside down, but through reading the bible, she has been able to slowly increase the light of Christ in her life, and that has eventually lead her to the church, and to soon make more covenants with her Father in Heaven. Judy chose to exercise her agency, and seek for the light of Christ In her life. Are we not all like Judy? Seeking but not knowing where to find the light? We can help those who are seeking by directing them to the light.
I love that the gospel and the light of Christ is referred to as, well, a 'light'! The history of electricity and light is very vast, but we know that it was not invented until Thomas Edison came along, and he had all of the right tools to make the light bulb. Just like the gospel was restored and the Book of Mormon came forth when the people were ready to receive it, not everyone was sure about the idea of electric lighting, because they didn't understand how the concept. Just like In today's world, there are so many people who are just not fully understanding the gospel, and what all of it in tales. But we can partake of the blessings of the church simply by making the effort to flip a switch. We have been blessed to live in the promised land here in these latter days, with not only electric lighting, which is awesome! But also the church of Jesus Christ which is here In its fullness. We have covenanted with our Father in Heaven to take it to all the world, but how can we shine his light if we are not willing to embrace it fully in our own lives? When we make the effort to stand up, walk across the room, and flip the light switch, we are able to fully see what is around us we are able to put a whole new perspective on life. We can see more clearly in our lives who we are and where we are going, and that light will shine for others around us to see more clearly as well when we embrace the gospel fully in our lives. Don't take the blessings of the Lords gospel for granted.
One of my favorite quotes that sits framed on my desk, and has been there my entire mission is by Elder Uchtdorf -
"Spiritual light rarely comes to those who merely sit in darkness waiting for someone to flip a switch. It takes an act of faith to open our eyes to the Light of Christ. " I encourage you all to not be idle in the Lords a work. Whether or not it is to shine the light of Christ In your life to free yourself from the darkness, to share the light of Christ with others, or just to simply be grateful for Jesus Christ in your life, don't forget who you are, and what you stand for.
Keep moving forward, Go with God,
Sister Megan Chapple
Sister Barker and I
Cute kids from our area wearing our name tags.