We went to the temple on Tuesday and that was just amazing. I can't believe that was my last temple conference of my mission :( The temple in Dutch is just so amazing and I love the insights I get. Dutch is just such a cool language. In the celestial room, I was sitting and praying and pondering about a LOT of things, and after a little bit I grabbed the Bijbel and read Proverbs chapter 3. (my plaque scripture is Prov. 3 5-6) I don't think I've read the whole chapter in a while, so that was really cool to do. It was just choc full of revelation that seemed just tailor-made for me. I liked it a lot :)
The peace and love that I feel in the Temple is unlike any other place on earth. It's indescribable, and so wonderful. I want to go all the time when I get home!
And of course the conference was awesome. We had some great presentations about reaching our potentials and stepping out of our comfort zones. I love our inspired leaders! So good.
It's cool also to see how random people can be the answer to our prayers in totally unexpected ways. On Friday, we had an appointment with this less active man in the library. It was a really difficult appointment, and to be discrete I won't share all the details, but a lot of hurtful things were said, and we were doing our best to keep the spirit there with us. It was the most sincerely (desperately?) I think I've ever prayed in my mind for guidance of what to say and asked for the words we needed. We did our best to help him see the positive side of things, and after the appointment I just felt really crummy. I definitely cried a little.
But the great miracle-part about this whole thing is that right after the terrible appointment, we had another appointment with a different less-active man, and we had the most uplifting discussion and a lot of the things he said put my heart to rest. It was funny because I wanted to cry again, but this time out of gratitude and joy at the mysterious ways that Heavenly Father works. I just know that Heavenly Father is there. It's so cool too, because even in the midst of insult and hurt during the first appt, I could feel love for that man, and see his potential. I think this is just a rough patch that he really can come out of, and I truly believe that Heavenly Father was helping us and putting his love in our hearts so we could see that man the way He sees him.
I just want to also share a few quotes from my planner (someone made me a nice planner with cool quotes on every page) because they've been amazing this week:
Monday: "If you are helpless, he is not. If you are lost, he is not. If you don't know what to do next, he knows. It would take a miracle, you say? Well if it takes a miracle, why not?" -Boyd K. Packer
Tuesday: "God cares about you. He will listen, and He will answer your personal questions. -Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Wednesday: "Every attempt to reflect upon the Atonement, to study it, to embrace it, to express appreciation for it, however small of feeble it may be, will kindle the fires of faith and work its miracle towards a more Christ-like life."- Tad R. Callister
Thursday: "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith" :)
Friday: "Believe in miracles. I have seen so many." Jeffrey R. Holland
Saturday: "You may sometimes be tempted to say, 'will my influence make any difference? I am just one. Will my service affect the world that dramatically?' I testify to you that it will. You will never be able to measure your influence for good." Thomas S. Monson
Sunday: "Dedicated missionary service returns a dividend of eternal joy which extends throughout mortality and into eternity." Thomas S. Monson
today: "If someone only changes his behavior while a missionary, then, when he goes home, he will be the very same person he was when he left, subject to the same problems that plagued him before. But if someone changes his nature, he will go home a new (wo)man, with the power and discipline to conquer his old Goliaths." Tad R. Callister
Anyway, just wanted to share those. I love you guys so much. Missions are a refiners fire, but they're also FULL of joy and love.
I woke up yesterday with a cold, and at church I ran out of my kleenexes just in 1st hour, but this super cute member gave me some hello kitty scented kleenexes and it was magical. I love her :) People are so goooood!
you lost the game
proverbs 3: 25-26 "for the lord shall be thy confidence"
Have a good week!!!!
Zr Watts