Sister Rebecca Donaldson

Week 8- April 16, 2012

Dear Family and Friends!

Thank you all for the birthday cards and packages! Holy canoli, you all are the BEST! I'm 22 years old....practically dead, I know...I have more and more wrinkles every day. :) On my birthday, we served a lady who needed help picking up garbage around her fences on her ranch. Then we heard the news that one of the less active people we were meeting with died....that was really sad. Her daughter is having a really hard time. Then, we went to see Rhonda - a less active member in our ward. She brightens our day. I'll attach a pic of her. Then, we went out to dinner.

This week has been crazy. So many highs and so many lows. I'm learning a lot about myself. For example, I over analyze everything and I need to stop it. Analyzing can be productive, but it can also be counter productive. This week, my analyzing was counter productive in a lot of ways. I overwhelm myself and make things a lot more complicated than they need to be. So, I discouraged myself many times this week....because I want to be the best missionary I can, and its not coming as fast as I want it to!

Anyways....I'm learning to be more patient with myself and let the Lord take over. As missionaries (and as people, in general) who we are and what we are is far more important than what we say and what we do. When I catch myself going through the motions, I start to feel like a robot and I tune out the Spirit. So, my goal is to never be robotic! I tried this yesterday while we were tracting. A woman answered the door and she said some stuff - and basically said that she wasn't interested. Being the super stubborn person that I am, I wouldn't take "no" for an answer! So, I decided to leave her with a commitment. Haha.....I invited her to repent. Sister Gillman thought that was funny. I thought it was funny because of the lady's reaction. Her eyes went all big and then she shut the door. :) Oh well. I think that's what Christ would have done in that situation.

We have committed Brother Charlie to a baptismal date of May 5. Sis Gillman and I are so excited about it! He has an amazing desire to follow Jesus Christ and improve himself. It has been a privilege to see how he has changed since we first met him a month ago. His countenance has brightened, he is happier, he sees the Lord's hand in his life, he is reading the Book of Mormon regularly, and is more active than most active members are! I love to see the gospel make such a powerful impact on his life! We are praying that his health will hold up well enough that we can stick with May 5. Keep your fingers crossed! He's a funny man - he asked us on the phone the other day, "So uh, do I have to recite the 10 commandments before I can be christened?" Haha....so funny. That's just like him. Because of his age, he has a hard time remembering things....such as the word "baptism." :) Too funny. He also hates the "no hugging" rule, so he's figured out a way around it. Now, when he shakes our hand, he grabs it really hard so we can't escape and kisses it. Kinda sketchy, huh? He also asks us about our boyfriends at home. Haha....yeah, nope. He says, "I'm much too old for my angels. If I were 30 years younger, I'd be in hot pursuit. But you deserve good men." He's a wonderful man and he (obviously) loves the missionaries. We are trying to get him more friends in the ward so he isn't so attached to us.

Elder Peiper of the 70 came to stake conference yesterday. It was great! Mom, I wore the dress that you sent me!!! Thank you! I love it so much! :)

I love you all sooooo much and I feel so blessed to be here on a mission and have a front row seat to watch this work move forward! We had two tracting miracles this week - both were people who have lost all hope and have been praying for guidance and direction. We have appointments set up with them next week. Nothing makes me more happy than making people cry! Although, I cannot take responsibility, I'm only the mouthpiece.....:) The Spirit is the crucial element in this work. If we don't have it, our investigators and contacts won't feel it. That's why its so important for us to be worthy of the constant companionship and learn to tune in and find out how the Spirit communicates with us.

Oh my, I love Indiana so much! I love being a missionary. I love the people here (no matter how many dogs they have). I love our investigators. I love this gospel. I love the Spirit. I love my Savior. I love LIFE!

Keep smiling everyone! :)

Sister Rebecca Donaldson