Sister Bailey Anne Harrison: God is Good!!!

7/10/17

HELLO FAN CLUB! This week has been a great week here in the Klamath Basin. We have been able witness many miracles, teach many lessons and find many investigators. The missionary work is going very well, and as President Orton said it "the Klamath Zone is very blessed." We all agree, as Alma 26:12 says: "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." As missionaries here in the OEM we are nothing, but with God we are everything, without him we couldn't do the work!

This week we were able to meet President and Sister Orton, when they walked in the chapel we all stood up and sang Called to Serve, the spirit was so strong and that was the moment when I just felt an overwhelming feeling that they have been called of God. We were able to get to know them quite a bit and have short 3 minute interviews with President Orton, and this week they will be planning transfers for next week. Crazy. There was a moment when he asked for comments and Sister Roach and I were able to bare testimony, Sister Roach said "You might be stuck here in Klamath, but you are supposed to be" and that really hit me hard. I think sometimes I feel like I have been stuck here. But this is where God needs me to be and it has been a fabulous experience. President and Sister Orton left Klamath just as fast as they came. But I am excited to get to know them more and more.

Everyone last week was asking how we celebrate the 4th of July on the mission. Well this is basically what happened. We had interviews in the morning, then we went to work like any other day hahaha. Not a lot changes. We were on exchanges so Sister Fiagle and I went tracting and no one wanted to listen to us, but you know what, we were obedient and that is all that matters. For lunch a member texted us and invited us because they had a lot of food, so you know classic American BBQ. Then we continued working and then went to dinner. Then at 7 pm we had to be in our apartment. From 7-9 we studied in our apartment. Then 9-10 we did a puzzle. Hahaha good 4th of July. We ended up sitting on the grass outside for a few minutes and we got to watch some fireworks. It was really fun. So maybe not the normal 4th of July, but it was so much fun in missionary standards. Also because we were on exchanges we were able to have a sleepover with the Lakeview sisters, so that was pretty fun!

This week we were able to go on exchanges with both of the sets of sisters in our zone. So much freakin fun. It was weird leaving it to the end of the transfer but I love being with my sisters. I went with Sister Fiagle (who has been out a month) then Sister Francis another day (who has been out 6 months). Both sisters are really hard workers and I learned a lot from them. I hope they learned a lot from me as well. But let me just tell you about an experience that Sister Fiagle and I had. We were walking down a street that Sister Roach and I had found a new investigator on a few weeks ago. I wanted to go contact her and as we were walking up to the door we saw a paper on the door. It said... in this English and everything "If you are here to deliver you CULT!!! Literature, we don't want it Don't knock on I will open the door & let my PITBULL EAT YOU *on the side Mormons or JWs*" So we left because we figured they were talking about us. But I of course took a picture of it to show Sister Roach. Well we had to go find the Elders to get something from them, and we showed them the picture and realized IT WAS WRITTEN ON A PAMPHLET. So Sister Fiagle and I went on a secret mission to take it down. Well after much effort it is now down and in my journal so I can show my kids one day that persecution on the mission is real, but it is SO worth it. Hahaha

This week Sister Roach and I have been listening to this song from Nashville Tribute and I feel like it goes along so well with our life the lyrics go "God is good, God is good, we've come so much farther then we thought we could, keep walking now God is good", So I just want you to know, that GOD IS GOOD! And he can help us through whatever path we need him to.

We had a funny experience with this lady named Glenda this week. Sister Roach and I had talked to her a couple of weeks ago so we came by to follow up and we ended up talking to her for like an hour and explained the Book of Mormon to her. At one point she was like "you know what, I used to go our with a Mormon once, he was hardcore! Wore the white shirt and everything!" So funny. But she said that she would read it and she had a few misconceptions so she was excited to see what it was really about. We have a lesson with her tonight.

This next week Sister Roach and I are going to put 6 people on date for baptism. We had a goal at the beginning of the transfer to end with 7 people on date, right now we have 1. So we have our work cut out for us, but you know God is Good.

So apparently we are going up to Girls Camp this week to be able to speak to the Young Women in our Stake. We are pretty excited, also a little bit stressed because we only found out yesterday morning. Good thing being a missionary has helped me overcome these stressful situations a little bit better then before. We also get to go up to Eugene tomorrow for a meeting, so many things happening this week and I just cant even wait!

Today for Pday Sister Burton in our ward took us to go Mini Golfing at the Running Y. Which is like the rich part of Klamath Falls, it is literally a Resort. And this mini gold course is like a golf course made mini. It was so much fun, the 1st Ward Sisters were able to come and it was a lot of fun. I love little Pday Adventures with Sister Burton!

This week I had the opportunity to reread the Book of Mormon from the beginning once again. So many different insights come to me as I read the pages, and one particular verse stood out to me at this time.

1 Nephi 1:20

But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

While reading a talk entitled 'The Tender Mercies of the Lord' by Elder David A. Bednar, I found this quote:

"I believe I have come to better understand that the Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ."

Whenever I study about tender mercies I begin to recognize and understand those little things in my life that show that my Heavenly Father loves me personally.

Last night we had a dinner with a family in our ward. This mom is a returning less active and her husband is not a member. Some Sundays it can be hard for her to sit in sacrament meeting with her 3 young daughters, one of whom is in the terrible 2s. She talked about how she felt like she was being a disturbance and expressed that she was going to leave right after sacrament with her 3 kids because of "scene" they had made. But after sacrament many people came and expressed to her love and greetings that made her know she was supposed to be there. When she told this story I talked about these tender mercies. Tears came to her eyes as she expressed that she knew God was aware of her and her situation. How grateful am I for a loving Heavenly Father, who is willing to take just a few seconds out of our day to express his love for us! Take the time to recognize your tender mercies this week. They may be big, or small but I know they are there!

Fan Club, I know I say this probably every week but I just want to say it again! I am so grateful to be an instrument in the Lords hands here in the Oregon Eugene Mission. So many miracles are happening here in Klamath Falls, and we all just feel so blessed! Thank you for all your love and support that you give me. Don't forget to email next week! Love you all and have a safe week!

---Remember who you are and who God expects you to become---

PS. Next week is transfers, and who knows I might stay in Klamath for another round, but just in case I don't please email me the night before, LOVE YOU