May 12, 2014

Hello my wonderful family and friends! I certainly do have the best in the world. It was so wonderful to talk to the family and my mom yesterday, and I hope each of you moms out there had a wonderful Mother's Day!  

This week has been absolutely incredible. So many miracles witnessed, I am not even sure where to begin. Along with those miracles, came a lot of tough times, though. But I feel as though tough times usually precede the miracles, as Ether teaches is in The Book of Mormon. How grateful I am for the Atonement to make up for my many mortal weaknesses. For without Him and His sacrifice, I would not be able to become the missionary I have become. Without Him, where is my hope? It is in nothing. How eternally grateful and indebted I am to my Beloved Savior. I have grown so close to Him over these past 16 months, and I pray that I may forever be worthy of His companionship. I know that He is constantly reaching out to me, and that I must do my part in order to reach out to Him. I cannot think of a better way to spend my time than to serve Him full-time, while serving my brothers and sisters. How I hope to be able to touch many people in my time as a missionary. I plead with my Heavenly Father that I may be able to reach out to each and every single person I was sent here to Canada to touch. By the grace of God, I may be able to offer a worthy offering to my Savior at the end of my mission. Then may I allow the Atonement to compensate for all that I could not do. 

Brothers and Sisters, only through the Atoning sacrifice of the Savior can we have hope in this life. As I go door to door, or talk to people on the street, it literally shatters my heart as I meet people who know not the Savior, or who have lost faith in Him. Yesterday, I met a man on his doorstep who said that he was raised going to Sunday School, but since God never did anything for Him, he stopped going. He said that no longer does he believe God is there, because He will not show himself to this man. My heart ached as I heard somebody talk about my dear Father in Heaven in such a way. I bore bold testimony to this older man, and told Him that I know, without a doubt in my mind, that my Heavenly Father is there, and that He lives. I can turn to Him anytime. I know that the Savior stands with open arms each and every day, waiting for us to reach out to Him. I invited this man to pray, and he says he has not tried since he was 12 and he will never try to pray again. I know, for a surety, that this is why this poor man does not know the Savior. We must pray to our Heavenly Father in order to develop a relationship with Him. Before my mission, I knew that God and Jesus Christ were there. However, I have never prayed so much as I have on my mission, and therefore I have never felt closer to them. That is not a coincidence. That is the pattern of how God works. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior with all my heart and with all my strength, and I will spend the remainder of my days in this mortal ministry serving them to the best of my ability, and inviting others to do the same. As a missionary, I have the incredible privilege of wearing the Savior's name on my chest each and every day.  

This week's challenge is simple - PRAY. Pray as if everything relies on God, and then work as if everything relies on you. Because both are true. Pray like you have never prayed before. President Uchtdorf teaches us, "Lift up your soul in prayer and explain to you Heavenly Father what you are feeling. Acknowledge your shortcomings. Pour out your heart and express your gratitude. Let Him know of the trials you are facing. Plead with Him in Christ's name for strength and support. Ask that your ears may be opened, that you may hear His voice." He is literally our Father in Heaven, may we treat Him as such. May we also remember His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in whom He is so very pleased. May each of us forever stand worthy of His sacrifice, starting with sincere prayer. 

I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father. I feel is though I cannot say that enough today. How grateful I am to be in their service each and every day. I hold them each so dear to my heart, and I know that they are forever watching over me. When that great day comes, when I get to meet my Father face to face once again, may I stand worthy of the Savior's grace and mercy. I am eternally indebted to Him. 

Much Love,

Sister Biggs