This is my last official email. I can hardly believe I'm writing those words! It makes me so sad to think that I'm entering the last week of my mission. Each week, day, and moment here have been precious to me.
This week Sister Guzman and I were blessed to see a lot of miracles! Sister Guzman has been sick sadly but I've been blessed to go on splits with a variety of different sisters! It's been so much fun! I even got to go on a split with my old companion, Sister Tapon! That made me beyond happy.
This week at church a girl named Ivy just walked in and started looking around. Luckily by some miracle one of her high school friends who doesn't regularly attend the YSA had decided to go this Sunday and just happened to be standing in the door way when she walked in! Coincidence? I think not! She told us that her neighbor had told her mom about the church and that she was curious so she just showed up! It was a miracle! Lately the entire branch has been praying for opportunities to share the gospel and I know that God has been answering their prayers! Ivy just came out of nowhere and is truly interested in learned more! I am amazed by little miracles like that. Many people would say "well, if you already go to a Christian church, why go to another one?" But I know that this is more than just a Church. Coming and learning about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is about learning who you really are, who God really is, and what you can to do to be with Him forever. It transcends this life.
This week we also got to meet this amazing girl named Jamie and her friend Rueben. We taught them a very simple lesson about prayer and then invited them to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it! After the lesson we texted both of them and Rueben responded telling us that he's always searched for God but has felt so empty inside any time he's walked into a church or tried to pray. We were able to promise him that as he learns about our message, that emptiness will leave him. I know without a doubt that that is true. This message fills a whole that many people don't even know they're looking for.
I'm so grateful for my mission. On my mission I have come so much closer to my Saviour, Jesus Christ, and have changed so much because of that. My testimony of Jesus Christ has grown so much. Before I subconsciously considered Him to just be a historical figure that did a really great thing for me and that I would get to see again someday after I die. But now I can feel His presence in a very real way. Christ is very much alive today, directing and leading His church. He is with me in every moment and it is because of Him that I see miracles, and have seen success. He has been there in my hardest moments to lift me up and give me the strength to keep going. Instead of reflecting about what He did thousands of years ago, I also think about what He does for me every day of my life. He truly does live. It's because of Him that I can live with peace, hope and happiness. No matter what situation I may be in, or what may happen in my life I have faith in Jesus Christ. And that is enough. He lives, and this is His church.
I know that the best way to come to know Jesus Christ, is through reading the Book of Mormon. That book truly is the word of God! It's not just words on a page, but it's God's words to YOU. Any question we have, when sincerely asked, can be answered in the Book of Mormon. I have experienced that first hand. After finishing the Book of Mormon a couple of weeks ago, I read Moroni's promise and a new meaning took shape for me. In Moroni 10:3-5 it says
"3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things,
I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the
name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with
a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ,
he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the
Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye
may know the truth of all things."
The line that stood out me when reading
it this last time was the line "the time that ye shall receive these
things" when we read the Book of Mormon we can pray to know if the record
as a whole is true, but also if the things we learned for ourselves are true. I
know that if we do pray, God will answer.
I
know that God is there and loves each of us more than we can comprehend. I have
seen that as He has put the right people in my path. I have seen miracles as
I've been able to share the gospel with those that are truly seeking for it. I
have also felt His love through all of my amazing companions. I know He's
there.
I
hope you all have an amazing week! See you soon!
Sister
Bloomfield
