We All Have Our Ups and Downs!

This week was good!

We met with Sherry twice. The first time we met with her this week, we watched the Restoration with her. It is really hard because the spirit is present, we ask inspired questions, and then she will say something completely irrelevant that will drive the spirit away. You can feel her putting up a wall to the spirit, but we can't figure out why. We also met with her Thursday night and she had some questions about the priesthood and why the blacks couldn't hold it until 1978 and we talked about the purpose and the miracle that IS the priesthood. She asked if it bugged us that women couldn't hold the priesthood and we said no, and talked about our divine role as women. I love her! she has a sincere desire to learn, but she is still hesitant to set a date. I know that if she were to set a date, that she would see the miracles occur in her life. We took her to the APs baptism on Sunday night and they both testified to her that she needed to be baptized and that she knew she did. She told us afterwards that she thought they were a little intense, but I felt that she needed it and that it was good for her. We are going to read the Book of Mormon with her to try to help her receive an answer. She has real intent though. So that is a good start. 

We didn't get the chance to meet with Pat because we had our sister's training on Wednesday. We also didn't get the chance to meet with Christopher, but we will meet with him on Tuesday and then hand him off to the APs [who are in the singles ward] because he is 29 and we think he would enjoy the singles ward.

This week, my faith and my patience has been tested. Well, not only this week, but every week. Let me just be completely honest with you all. The emails I send every week are censured of basically anything discouraging that happens. But being a missionary is HARD! Spiritually, mentally, AND physically. I have days when I struggle more than I have ever struggled before in my life. I have days where all I want to do is curl up and sleep all day because I feel like I can't face anything. But through the struggles and trials and hard times, I know that I am growing. I didn't come on this mission because it sounded like a good time. I didn't come on this mission because I didn't have anything better to do with my time. I came because GOD TOLD ME TO. And that is really it. I never wanted to serve a mission, but when the spirit speaks, you do best to listen and act. So I did, and 10 months later, here I am. I had no idea that I would be a missionary someday. It was never in my plans... but I know that I am supposed to be here. I know that this is something that I promised Heavenly Father I would do. I'm not here because I wanted to be a missionary. I am here because I love my Savior and my Father in Heaven, and if Christ can atone for my sins, I can help bring his children back to the truth for a measly 18 months of my life. I love this Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I know that it is the fully restored gospel. The SAME one that Christ established while he was on the earth. I love the Lord, know this is HIS church. I know that sometimes life gets hard, and unfair, and unbearable... but that it's these times when we grow the most. If life were nothing but easy there would be no point in being here. So, as much as I HATE MY LIFE when I am having a hard time, I'm grateful for my trials. Because I know that through them, I am going to become shaped into the person that God wants me to be. I love you all! 

Alma 38:5

Sorry for the long email! I just felt prompted to share! Continue to pray for me and for the missionaries all over the world. I miss you all and I love you all so much! God be with you till we meet again! 

Spread the Love!!! <3 Mosiah 2:17

Love,

Sister Jacqueline Marie Bauer

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