August 5, 2013

Hello there my wonderful family and friends!

What a wonderful week it has been here in the greatest mission on earth, in the most beautiful place on earth. Literally...if you haven't googled pictures of Victoria, BC yet, it is highly recommended :) This will be a quick email because we are going to help a woman set up her BBQ soon. Duty calls ;) But thank you to all those who have emailed or written recently! I so appreciate the wonderful support I receive from back home :) May God bless each of you!

This past week we had the wonderful opportunity to be trained in person by Elder Christensen of the Seventy. He came to Nanaimo, where the Nanaimo and Victoria zones gathered together (about 30 missionaries) to be trained by him and President Tilleman. Let me tell you, that was a day I will never forget. Before lunch, President did some training on how to be a successful missionary. He made promises to us that I really took to heart. Then Elder Christensen arrived, and we headed in the gym for lunch. Elder Christensen gathered all the tables and chairs close around him, and with pizza in hand said "You have one hour, ask me anything you want". Well brothers and sisters, the next hour was one of the most incredible times in my life. To be seated 6 feet away from a member of the Seventy, hearing him answer questions based completely on the Spirit was incredible. Then, after lunch we were trained by him for another hour and a half. I don't know why President Tilleman chose our zone to have this opportunity, but it is a moment I will cherish the rest of my life. 

He began talking just about us as missionaries and how important we are to the Lord. He said there are people here in BC that only WE can touch. We have our unique testimonies that will bring people to Christ through the Spirit. He says our most precious possession should be our testimonies. I guess I better strengthen it every single day! How can we possibly succeed as missionaries? How can we win a war - 80,000 vs. 7 billion. Or even 15 million vs. 7 billion. How do we win that fight?? Well, the same way that the Army of Helaman did. Through God. To be companions with the Savior at this time in my life is the greatest privilege I could ask for. Everytime we experience persecution, heartache, or anything of the sort, we are shoulder to shoulder with our Redeemer, experiencing our own SMALL degree of Gethsemane. But if we must represent the Savior, how do we expect to do this if we don't experience our own Gethsemane? It wouldn't make sense, would it? One of the hardest nights of my life will be when I am asked to remove my name tag, and my companionship with the Savior is not the same. You missionaries know what I mean. If it were up to me, I would never be released as His literal representative here on earth. But I am grateful for the things that this is preparing me for. May I be worthy of serving shoulder to shoulder with the Savior.

Missions - hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Yet, not even able to be considered a sacrifice. The only thing I am supposed to sacrifice is my desires. Everything else is building up the kingdom of God. How is that a sacrifice? The joy that comes from it is not even fair. May I always remember the wonderful blessing it is to be a representative of Jesus Christ - and may each of you take part in that joy back home. It is your duty as a member of His church.

This week's challenge is to find out your ward mission plan, and do it. Elder Christensen spent about 30 minutes training us on how to make a proper ward mission plan (check the handbook....cause I am sure there will need to be some tweaks!). But involve yourself in missionary work back home in your ward. I can't express that enough. What a sad day it will be when we meet our Maker if we have strived to bring anybody else to Him. We made it, but did we bring anybody else to him? We have the truth - share it!

I love each of you so much, and may you always remember how much I appreciate your support out here. Your prayers have gotten me through the thick and thin. Now, Every Member a Missionary!!!

Love,

Sister Biggs