Week 13 - September 28

What a week!!

I just have to say how GRATEFUL I am for the cooler weather. Never thought I would see the day come where Alabama summer would come to an end, and I wouldn't be dripping sweat all the time. Bring on fall! 

But before we go on with that, here are some HIGHS:

• Exchanges on campus/YSA with my MTC companion's trainer, Sister Isakson! We had so much fun, maybe a little too much fun and called the cops on ourselves. If you want the story time go to my google photos.

• Ate at our favorite little restaurant called Manna!

• The Stansfield's took us to chipotle for lunch after helping us get a new apartment (suprise we're moving again yay)!

• Breakfast at Sister Schlicks!

• Ate at Bojangles for the first time and it was an experience I do not recommend :)

Wow, I am realizing I must really love food.

Ok, now back to why this week was so interesting

On Friday we went to the Urgent Care for two hours and Sister Pinegar found out she had torn ligaments in her ankle, so they gave her some medication and a boot. Turns out that this medication might have been not so good for her because on Sunday we ended up at the Urgent Care again, then to the ER and we were there sitting for SEVEN HOURS. I HAVE NEVER HAD MY PATIENCE TESTED MORE IN MY LIFE. Oh, and after all that waiting we come to find out there is nothing wrong with her even though she is still in so much stomach pain. So, yesterday was a little testing for the both of us. Prayers for her that she can getting feeling better and we can figure out what's wrong!! 

Yesterday was so crazy, but somehow we were able to go partake of the Sacrament in between going to the Urgent Care and the ER. When I tell you I have never felt so close to my Savior than in that Sacrament Meeting, I mean it. Immediately, as they said the Sacrament prayers, I just started bawling (Sister Hanks iykyk ). Being on my mission has taught me and helped me realize the meaning and special importance of the Sacrament. It is the closest symbol that we have to come and experience Jesus Christ. As I partook of the bread and water, I felt a closeness and love to Him like no other, so much that it made me cry. It was a very sacred experience.

The field is white already to harvest - D&C 4

Afterwards, testimonies from the congregation were given, and I was crying during those as well. And to finish it off strong, the closing hymn was "God be with you til we meet again." I lost it!! It was my grandpa Doug's heavenly birthday, and so all I could imagine as the congregation was singing "til we meet at Jesus's feet", was the fact that the next time I see him we will literally be at Jesus's feet. So many emotions came out in that meeting. I have never cried so much at church haha. But I was grateful for that experience. Sacrament is truly one of the greatest gifts we have and I am SO BLESSED I was able to not miss it yesterday. Don't ever take that hour for granted!! 

To end on a happy note, I wanted to share a miracle from earlier in the week. ️️️

We lost contact with one of our friends Rozlon about two months ago after meeting her in Walmart. Well, the elders ran into her on Tuesday in Tuscaloosa at a gas station, and they made the connection that she knew us. She told them she got our number, but since her phone was messed up she wasn't able to contact us, but really did want to meet with us. They set up a time with her the next day to have a lesson with us! She told us how running into the Elders was a sign from God because two days before she had been up all night crying and praying! We taught her all about baptism and the Restoration and she accepted the invitation to be baptized. 

If you made it all the way through this email, I love you!! Thanks for reading, and thanks for all your support and prayers. I hope you have a blessed week!! Go experience the hand of the Lord now and tell me about your experiences with Jesus! 

- Sister Ekins 

Week 12 - September 21

Listen to that still small voice and miracles will happen!

Things my comp and I were called this week: Jehovah Witnesses, Amish, talking losers, and that we can go "burn in hell." Aside from that, everyone else that doesn't give us a stinky look after seeing that we're Mormon is really nice to us. 

Anywho, so many miracles and cool stories this past week!

I am in awe about how acting on the tiniest little prompting can lead to another prompting, and another, and then BOOM, God performs a miracle. 

Listen to the spirit, or that still small voice. God will continue to use you as you act. I am learning that God does not perform his miracles through giving you just one prompting, rather it is a step by step. Line upon line! Here a little, there a little. - 2 Nephi 28:30

I actually starting writing this email earlier in the week when we had so many miracles happen with finding and meeting new people. As I am finishing this email today, I am realizing the week didn't sound like it ended so miraculous because all of those friends blocked us. We found two really elect families so it kind of broke my heart a little to find out they denied the spirit they felt with us. But I still won't deny the hand of the Lord.

One of our miracles is Bradley! He thankfully did not block us haha. The day before we met with him we were talking to our district leader about our baptism date goal and we felt defeated but he said, "Maybe God will send you someone this week you can put on date." Well, Bradley called us the next morning out of the blue telling us he is ready to 100% commit to God, and he wanted to meet with us that day. We met up with him and got to know his story and ended putting him on baptismal date! We set it for this Sunday, but since he didn't come to church yesterday we will have to move it. Everyone pray for him! He is in a pretty low spot of life right now, but his willingness to do anything to get closer to God amazes me. He told us that a few days before meeting with us he thought of taking his life, but he remembered us and maybe it was God speaking to him, so he reached out. As he met with us he told us how we have a light about us and he wants what we have. I was tearing up basically the whole lesson because of the spirit that was felt but also because of the love I felt from God for Bradley and his circumstances.

As fun and as special as the days were, there were definitely a couple of hard days this week. But I saw a video a few days ago that reminded me how every day is a good day. Each day might not be good, but there is good in every day! It is so true. Look for the blessings all around you, even amidst the hard or the bad. Because we live in a 'have a good day' world.

So with that...have a good day. :)

Look for the good in today! Look for God!

- Sister Ekins 

Week 11 - September 14

Northport got a new look

Hello and happy Monday!!

Lots of change happening here in Northport! It's quite exciting! I now have a daughter--her name is Sister Pinegar and she's from Fort Worth, Texas! I also switched apartments! We are now rooming with the hermanas trio that we ward share with! five sisters in one apartment = a nonstop party.  

Also, fun fact for all you piano nerds out there...I am serving next to a piano legend's daughter. Hermana Mcdonald's dad is Marshall Mcdonald!! I was kinda mind blown when she told me that fact because I love playing his music, haha. Also, fun fact--she helped him write some of his songs. 

On another note...

Wow, you guys, training is so fun!  

A little different, a little stressful, but it has been so cool seeing how the Lord has magnified my efforts this week! When you are striving to do the lord's work and you are keeping your covenants, you really do receive power from Him! It's been a blessing for me to watch that power flow from the covenants I have made with Heavenly Father because I sure do need all the help I can get.

On Saturday, Sister Pinegar and I had the opportunity to give our friend Gary a church tour. It lasted for over an hour. When I tell you I have never taught someone so interested and eager to understand everything we were saying, oh wow, I mean it. There was a really special moment during the visit when we invited him to read 3 Nephi:15. We watched him in silence for about three minutes straight as he read the verse multiple times and closed his eyes to envision himself putting his hands on the Saviors hands, feet, and side where the prints from the nails were. That moment is something I will never forget. I had tears in my eyes witnessing the sacredness of that moment of him realizing Jesus Christ really did appear to the people on the American continent. 

After our visit, we were walking out of the building, and the wife of a man that the elders baptized a couple weeks ago was sitting on the couch listening to our conversation. We started talking with her about religion, and she said how she doesn't want to let go of her religion she has known her whole life. It would be very difficult to let go of what she grew up with, and she isn't looking to join the LDS church. But towards the end of our conversation, she had tears and curiosity in her eyes saying how we had something different about us. And she could see how sincere we were with our testimony and how this gospel has really changed us. I told her that the Lord loves her and when she is ready, He is ready for her to learn more truth and add to the things that she already treasures. 

Being a missionary is such a privilege and sacred honor. I am able to tell others about the Savior, Jesus Christ, who has changed my life! It's in those moments of teaching people about Him and His plan of happiness that makes the mission all worth it. There truly is no greater source of joy than the people I am able to interact with every day. Better yet, the ones I get to help be converted to their Savior. 

I am so blessed to know each one of you. Thanks for being a part of my life! And for reading my emails! Love you all and hope you have a beautiful week. 

- Sister Ekins ☆☆☆

Week 10 - September 7

Transfer news...drum roll please...

Well isn't today just an exciting day?? If you haven't been told any of these things yet today, let me be the first to tell ya...happy labor day, happy p-day, happy birthday to my Brinlee Boo, and happy transfer week!!! Wow so many good things. 

Is everyone ready for my transfer news?? Ok, drum roll please...I will be staying here in Northport training a new missionary!!!! I am so excited! Only a wee bit nervous lol. Send prayers for your girl just getting out of training.

Our mission is getting 33 new missionaries and 19 new sisters!!!!!! If that doesn't tell ya the Lord is hastening his work than I don't know what is.

You and I are literally preparing a people to meet the Savior, Jesus Christ. He is coming! This time is precious as we prepare for His return. I feel honored to be His servant in these last days.

☆WEEKLY RUNDOWN☆

︎ Alabama football is in full swing baby! Tuscaloosa was a whole other city on Saturday. It's so fun watching all the fans flood the streets. #rolltide

︎ Exchanges with Sister Spackman! Got to experience YSA life and be on the college campus for a day. So many miracles and tender mercies. ️

︎ Usually we are the ones afraid of someone whipping out a gun on us, but the other day a man thought we were trying to pull out a gun on him haha. We were just trying to pull out a Book of Mormon, sir!

︎ Met Jada and Alerea and put them on baptism date our second lesson! They were smiling ear to ear thinking about getting baptized. They came to church on Sunday and felt the spirit super strong and felt like God was telling them this is where they need to be. Everyone, keep them in your prayers. We may have a couple things we need to work out lol.

︎ Broke our 5-week streak of getting 4 people to church :( God really blessed us in our efforts, though, and it was cool to watch that miracle each week.

︎ Had a really cool opportunity to visit with a lady that we met at Walmart over a month ago and her 19-year-old granddaughter who wrote a 14-page essay about our church. They are both devoted followers of Christ and are searching for truth! Although they do not agree with our beliefs, it was cool feeling the spirit in their home and in our discussion. They had many questions, and at the end of the day it didn't matter what we said in return, because their hearts were not open to letting more truth in. All I could do was share my testimony and my personal witness of the things that I know to be true. Hopefully they will remember that spirit as we bore witness. Because when you are feeling the spirit, that is a confirmation of truth!

♡THOUGHT ABOUT REPENTANCE

I am still thinking so much about zone conference. Sister Galland talked about repentance in a new perspective I have never thought of. This picture sums it up (shoutout Sis Hanks for the pic). I invite you to ponder about this picture and how it portrays repentance. The more I learn about it, the more I have learned to LOVE REPENTANCE. I need it just about every second of every day. When you truly come to understand what it is, you begin to realize it is a LIFESTYLE. It is the constant effort or turning to God to experience the ENABLING POWER OF JESUS CHRIST. Repentance is the WAY to experience the GIFT of the Savior and his atonement. Use it. Learn about it. Get repentance in the marrow of your bones so you can experience the Savior's love power and mercy in your own life. 

That's all from me this week, catch me next time for my trainee reveal hehe. If you have any training advice or good pranks to pull on my greenie lemme know. Also Sister Henry will be so missed and I am so grateful for her as my trainer!!!! Such a good first two transfers, I can't wait for what else is to come for the both of us.

Have a fantabulous week ya'll,

Love Sister Ekins