Perfectly Perth: Sweet is the Work

Miracles continue to happen in this mission and I know it's by the power of God that they do.

Last Friday I was at the Mission Home and Elder and Sister Pearson came for a mission conference! I was supposed to be picked up by one of the Senior couples but they forgot, so I was still there when they arrived at the Fife's home. We greeted each other and ate breakfast together. Dad, Elder Pearson knows Uncle Matthew! He was his Mission President in the Washington Tacoma mission. Crazay. While we were eating he asked me what I thought the missionaries in this mission needed to hear at the mission conference, or what I needed to hear. I basically told him, motivation to keep going and to never give up.

Enduring to the end is an interesting principle. Sister Fife and I were talking about it Friday morning before they arrived. There are experiences we go through in life in which we must endure to the end. Staying strong and working through the challenges that come help will help us endure to the end for the rest of our lives. I was saying that it is so much easier to give up. It's so much easier to quit. But being the wise woman Sister Fife is, she said, "In the moment it's easier."

Quitting and giving up when faced with something hard, is never easier in the end, because we never learn how to be strong. I'm grateful I am learning how to endure to the end, and to endure joyfully!

The mission conference was AMAZING. Sister and Elder Pearson definitely gave me and I know all the other missionaries motivation to keep going and to keep going strong. He taught us about FOCUS. Focus is a principle of power. Two of Satan's most powerful tools is distraction and deception. If you think of a magnifying glass, if you focus the light on a certain point it creates fire. I'm not the light and I'm not the lens, but I can FOCUS and create fire.

He also taught us about doubt. Doubt becomes discouragement which becomes distraction which becomes disobedience. We can not doubt. We must believe! First desire, then believe then we will hope, then we will have assurance. We will speak and teach and act with conviction. There is no conviction in the eye of the missionary that isn't living the principles of the gospel.

So good. When I get home from my mission just ask to read my study notebook and you will be inspired. I love my mission. I am learning that I can do hard things. I can control my own happiness. I can teach with conviction and power. I have God on my side and He is the one who makes it all possible. I COULD NOT do it without Him.

At the beginning of January, Sister Wiest and I met a woman named Jemma, pulling in the rubbish bins for her neighbor. We were walking along the road and stopped to tell her we were impressed she was doing that in a nice dress and heels! ;) She was so kind and friendly and wanted to know more about us. We had emptied our bags throughout that day and the only thing we had to give to her was an "A Savior Is Born" pass along card from Christmas.

Fast forward to yesterday and Sister Parsons and I (ps I have a new companion Sister Parsons!) decided to go find Jemma. We knocked on some doors and found out where she lived. She answered the door and led us right around the back to where her husband was sitting at a work bench. We taught her about the Restoration of the Gospel, and they were so interested! The husband said he was marinating some chicken and offered for us to stay for dinner! Long story short, they are so interested in learning more, and we will see them Sunday with their Book of Mormons in hand! Sister Parsons and I fasted for the hearts of people we meet to be softened and these people's hearts are pretty much liquid.

Sister Parsons is from Perth but she is visa waiting right now. She has been called to the Orem Utah mission! Ma home town!!! Mom if she is in our area, you should feed her or something... ;) But make sure you have a returning member or potential member present!** Haha.

In life, the more you work, the more you realize the capacity you have to work. I love this work. Sweet is the work.

Love,

Sister Beardall