Sister Sabrina Trimble in Canada: Neat Experiences June 27, 2016

Heavenly Father is so mindful of each of us! This week we have had so many neat experiences! To start we went on exnchagnes with some other Sister's serving in Brooks, Sister Tilley and Sister Messick. I went to Brooks with Sister Tilley and we taught the Restoration to one of their new investigators and it was so stink'n amazing! Saul, their new investigator, was so excited to learn and as we were talking he would bear his testimony about how much he loves Jesus Christ! At one point in the lesson after we had talked about the Savior's earthly ministry he looked at us and said, "I love Jesus Christ, because He has changed my life." The Spirit was so strong during that lesson and the Spirit testified to me again how mindful Heavenly Father is us each of us. This experience also made me reflect... do I appreciate how much Jesus Christ has changed my life? It is such a blessing to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints... but I think at times I take for granted how much Jesus Christ has truly done for me. Saul's words mixed with the Spirit truly taught me that I want to show the Savior how grateful I am for His Atonement and The Gospel of Jesus Christ every day the rest of my life! I want to follow the example of our Savior even more by helping others feel of His love and by doing my best to become more like Christ.

Also yesterday we were showed a video in ward council about never giving up on anyone, and it was so powerful! The video really focused on being kind to everyone and taking a genuine interest in the lives of those that are around us us and becoming friends with people and not just inviting them to church and other things because "that is what we are told to do". It was such a powerful video and made me want to work even harder and love people even more like the Savior! Then later on Sunday evening we had an appointment with the Matthew's family who have not been less-active for years. We asked one of the members of the Bishopric to come with us because he knew Brother Matthews pretty well. During our visit Brother and Sister Pierson and Brother and Sister Matthews just had a great time catching and chatting about the good old days. Then we shared a Mormon Message "Earthy Father, Heavenly Father" and the spirit was so strong. We talked about the similarities between our earthly parents and our Heavenly Father. Brother Matthews talked about how he felt about Heavenly Father and bore such an amazing testimony and then he just opened right up to us about why he was less-active. He told us that he has a friend that just keeps on pestering him to come to church. He said that he appreciated the offer but that what he really needed was a true friend.

That really struck my heart one, because that is exactly what we learned about in ward council that morning and two, because people can feel the difference when we invite out of love and friendship and when we invite because we are just told to. Now don't get me wrong, sometimes we go and visit others because we were asked to, and there is nothing wrong with that. But once we meet the people that we are asked to visit we need to take time to get to know them and take a genuine interest in who they are. This experience made me reflect a little... The question came to my mind, "Why does the Savior love each of us so much?" I believe that He loves each of us so much because He knows us so well. He understands out hearts. I want to follow the Saviors example even more and truly get to know people and pray to see others as the Savior sees them. I know that as each of us get to know those that are around us and strive to love them like the Savior does when we invite our friends, neighbors, and family to church or other activities they will know that we are doing it out of love. We can not control if they accept our invitation... but we can invite them out of love. One of my favorite scriptures is Moroni 8:16 "... for perfect love casteth out all fear." As each of us love those around us more and pray more fervently for one another we will be able to see each other more like the Savior sees us. We will be able to have more love for one another and that love will cast out our fear and we will be able to share the gospel with those that we love most. I am so grateful for this experience and that it strengthened my testimony that Heavenly Father is so mindful of each of us and love us all so much more than we can comprehend. I love this gospel with all of my heart and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to share it with so many people.