Jenessa, Week 17: LOVE!

Hey Everyone-

Oh my goodness. This week has been full of discouragement in terms of
teaching and things, but it was definitely a week of learning.

Its been kind of a bumb week in terms of teaching with Sister Ortons
headaches and then being at Zone Conference, which was amazing, and
then some service opportunities that we had this week. Our teaching
pool has shrunk considerably, with many people dropping us or we
dropping them for lack of commitment to anything. It is really sad
when you have to do that, but we know that we are here to try and find
the "low hanging fruit" or those that are elect and ready to hear the
Gospel at this time. It just isn't their time right now.

Our focus here in the Normandy area right now is to fulfill our
Bishops challenge and see less actives through Visiting teaching
opportunities with the Sisters. He has challenged all of us
missionaries to go out with at least 2 sister (or brothers for the
elders) a week to help them with their LONG visiting/hometeaching
lists. Our ward is huge, ON PAPER, we have over 400 families and only
50 or less come to church activily. There is so much work that could
be done with less active and part member families to bring them back
into the fold and bring their family and friends into the waters of
baptism and feel the joy of the Gospel! I am excited for this new
focus that our Bishop has. Its really great! :-) We hope to raise that
number for hometeaching of 11% and the visiting teaching of 23% way
up, and by so doing bring many more wonderful elect people into the
waters of baptism here in the Normandy ward, as well as reactivate
many to have the Joy of the Gospel back in their lives.

I have actually had an emotionally rough week with discouragement
taking over. I was so frustrated and realized this morning that it is
because I was lacking in love. It was amzing to me this morning as I
was reading out of Power of Everday missionary about how "Every time
we take someone figuratively by the hand and introduce him or her to
Jesus Christ, you will feel how deeply our Savior loves you and loves
the person whose hand is in yours." That its all about LOVE! When we
bring others to Christ we feel of his love and this is how/why we find
such JOY in it, because LOVE BRINGS JOY! I realized that i wasn't as
joyful this week, because i wasn't able to do those things that brings
the Love of our Savior into my life. As I then found myself in the
topical guide under love and looking up all these scriptures, I was
overwhelmed by the Spirit and filled with love that I was almost to
tears. I know that my Savior lives and he loves us so very much. He
knows our trials and struggles and he is their to help us, as we turn
to Him. I am so grateful for his mercy and our ability to repent and
come unto him! I love The Lord with all of my heart and all my soul! I
am so grateful for his love!! It is this Love the brings the greatest
joy!! Think about the scripture 1 John 4:16 "God is love; and he that
dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." As we dwell on
love, we will have God with us. Then as we think of John 15:10-11 "If
ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as i have
kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things
have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your
oy might be full." This was so enlightening. As we keep the
commandments and abide in the Love of The Lord we will find a fullness
of JOY!!! :-) This is how true joy comes as we learn to LOVE and be
LOVED!! :-) (How fitting with it being Valentines day this week hu? It
just happened like that)

I dont have much more time to type today, but I did have a lot of fun
at the Zoo, as you will see by all the wonderful pictures that we
took. We got our Ipads....which are awesome and I will write more
about how they are working next week and last but not least....I got a
call from President Craig today and I have been called as a Sister
Training Leader and will be transferred next week on Feb 19th. Sister
Training leaders are like Zone Leaders for the Sisters. I feel
incredibly humbled by this call and hope that I can follow the Spirit
and magnify my calling The Lord has extended! I am so grateful to be
serving a mission. :-)

Talk to ya'll next week

Love ya
Sister Heckel


P.S I will let you know where I am going next week, so if you are
planning on sending something to me....you will have to send it by
wednesday (no later than thursday) in order for me to get it safely
before I leave.