June 17, 2013

What a miraculous week this has been. I hope you feel the same way! I also sincerely hope that each of you took my challenge to attend the Temple this past week. But if not, it is never too late! That can be an ongoing challenge for the rest of your life :)

Well, I am still absolutely loving the wonderful land of Victoria, BC! I am also loving Sister Hobbs. What a blessing she has been to me in my life thus far. And it has only been 3 weeks! How great. I know that this companionship is inspired of God, as they all are.  We live with the wonderful Broadwood family, as I am sure I have mentioned before. They are an older couple who used to be empty nesters, until we graced their lives with our presence. Well, that is actually the exact opposite of what happened, but you know what I mean! I love them so dearly. Last week we had a few minutes right before we needed to be in bed. So Sister Broadwood invited us to come up and just sing on the piano with her and Brother Broadwood. Sister Hobbs and I are so touched by music, so we graciously accepted. It was so wonderful. We sang many hymns, and each took turn playing the piano. It was such a wonderful night and reminded me of when Megan and my mom and I would sit around the piano and sing. I have so many of those experiences! And I so cherish them. I know that the Lord has sent us to their basement suite for our benefit more than theirs!

So this past Friday night Sister Hobbs and I were tracting this apartment complex that is right by the University (UVIC). We figured there would be quite a few students living there that we could relate to. However, Sister Hobbs and I kind of lose track of what day it is, so we forgot it was Friday night and there would mostly be parties going on. I learned many things from that night. First of all, I reflected on myself and how I used to spend my Friday nights, and how I am spending them now. Although I was doing nothing wrong before, I feel SO much more fulfilled at the end of the day now! Anyway, that is aside from the point. We came across this group of about 6 college kids who had just got together at someone's house for a party. They were bringing out the snacks and the beer and stuff. So, I jumped all over that. Right in front of me God had placed SIX people I could share my testimony with! What a blessing. So I did. Although I will never regret sharing my testimony, Satan worked on me very hard after that moment. After sharing my sincere testimony about how God is our Loving Heavenly Father, they all started dying laughing. Then, one of them shouted "ya, nobody needs that, so have a nice day". Through the laughter I could feel myself questioning for a moment if I was doing what the Lord wanted me to do in talking to them. Then, the Spirit directed my thoughts to Lehi's vision of the tree of life found in 1st Nephi. To the right of the iron rod, we see a "large and spacious building". In this building there are people laughing and mocking those who are holding tight to the iron rod. They are pointing fingers and yelling things from the adversary. I felt myself being put into that situation. Here I was in front of 6 people who were my same age, my peers, being laughed at and mocked. I had the simple choice - do I hang onto the iron rod, or let go of it? Gratefully, the Spirit quickly filled my soul and I held fast to what I knew to be true. I knew I was serving the Lord and I was doing exactly what He wanted me to be doing at that time. Although I shed some tears afterward because I only want them to have the truth, I know that I will never be in the wrong with bearing my sincere testimony by the power of the Holy Ghost.

We continued on that complex, knocking on all 83 doors in a matter of hours. Out of the 83, about 70 of the doors were slammed in our faces. I was left to really ask myself if what we were doing was right for that day. Gratefully, the Spirit continually testified to me that it was. I know I am on the Lord's errand, and that if I put my faith in Him, we can find those that He has prepared for us to teach! So Victoria can keep slamming the doors, but this work WILL move forward. And I am so grateful to be a part of it. I have had many trials of my faith this past week and I could not be more grateful for them. What a blessing to be able to learn and grow each day as I come to fully understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ in my life.

Sorry this email will have to be short today, I don't have much time. Lots of work to do! But this week's challenge is simple. I challenge each of you to give away a Book of Mormon with your testimony in it.  If you do not have a Book of Mormon, then go get one from my mom!  She has a lot to give you!  I promise you, as a representative of Jesus Christ, that if you sincerely pray about who the Lord wants you to share the Book with, that He will tell you who. He will bring a name to your mind, and place somebody in your path. May you be ready when that time comes! I hope to hear about any experiences you have.

May each of you forever know that the Book of Mormon and the Bible are the word of God. They testify of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and Redeemer, and this IS His kingdom here on the earth. May each of you come to know that for yourselves is my prayer.

I love you all and am grateful for your support. May God forever protect you.

Sister Biggs