HAPPY EASTER (yesterday)!
This has been such an amazing week, and a busy one! The Temple open house began this weekend and as a result our schedules have been crazy! We're helping with the open house, as well as working in our area and at the V.C. The Visitors Center has really picked up as well- the last few days we haven't had a moment to sit down. We finish one tour, and then almost instantly take another one. So many miracles occured during those tours. I love being at the V.C. day by day we see the Lord work in miraculous ways to guide people closer to Him. Then on Friday there were over 600 people at Liberty Jail, and we had about half that at the V.C. After our shift, we did our studies (V.C. sisters schedule is different than a normal missionaries) and tried to eat some lunch while we studied. Then we went straight to the temple where we answered questions, talked with people etc. until 10 pm. Our missionary hours have been extended for the open house- so instead of our typical curfew of 9, we now get home around 10.30.
We're really learning the importance of planning every hour a week in advance. The only way we're going to be able to take care of our area and work at the temple and the V.C. is if we have all our appointments and activities scheduled a week in advanced. It's been good for us, we're becoming better, more planned missionaries :) And as a result even though we have less time the Lord is blessing us to still fit in nearly as many appointments- especially as we've tried to combine dinner and teaching appointments.
On Wednesday we were trained by Elder Walker on the temple open house. It was such a special experience and the spirit was so very strong, as we rejoiced in the blessing of having a temple here. Elder Walker implied that out of all events to ever happen in Independence Missouri and the surrounding area, (which is full of so much history for the church) This temple, is, thus far, one of the most important things to ever happen since the world was created. I fully believe that is true. Try as I might, I could never fully express the importance of a temple. It is everything, it is here the power of God unto salvation is made manifest. I love the temple. We carpooled up to the temple with all the Sisters, and as we pulled in we all broke out into song and sang the primary hymn,
"I love to see the temple, I'm going there someday. To feel the holy spirit, to listen and to pray. For the temple is the house of God, a place of love and beauty. I'll prepare myself while I am y oung. This is my sacred duty."
After our training we were given our own special tour of the temple. We walked through the rooms and as we all stood in the Celestial Room, the spirit was remarkable. Many eyes welled with tears which fell freely as we were filled with grattitude and humility for the blessings of a temple. So many sisters have not been to a temple in over a year, even though it's not dedicated yet, to be able to be in a temple again, the house of our Father in Heaven, was undescribable. It was very hard to leave it, no part of me wanted to.
Then on Friday, we were invited to speak for "good friday" to a group of non-denominational christians. It wasn't a very large group but it was still exciting. It was a good opportunity for others to see that mormons are christian! The Savior is at the center of everything we do!
This Saturday we also witnessed so many miracles! It was Sister Atkin's birthday, and one incredible thing happened after another! Saturday was the first day the temple open house was open to the public, and we were on shift! It was busy. We had around 500 people come through every hour- we might have been a little under that but it was relatively close to that number. The church is incredibly good at crowd control, it was all very organized and things ran smoothly. There was one point that we ran out of hosts to take people through the temple, but we didn't fear, it's the Lord's house afterall! We all said a little prayer in our heart and within minutes more showed up and the tours continued. We met some very nice people and except for a few instances, everyone who came was very kind and enjoyed seeing the inside of a mormon temple.
This was so fun for Sister Atkin because it was her birthday, and she felt like it was her present from God to be able to serve at the opening night of the temple on her birthday. But this is not all! She experienced another miracle earlier that morning! Her younger brother (who is also her best friend) is currently serving a mission in Oklahoma. That morning when we were at the V.C. a group came through the center, and as she took them into God's plan she found out that they were from Oklahoma. It turns out they are in the same ward that her brother "Elder Atkin" is currently serving! They told her all about how he was doing, and they took a picture with her to take back and show Elder Atkin. Everything worked out perfectly because I had just finished a tour, and had just a few spare minutes to snap a picture with her camera for them as well- then next thing I knew I was on another tour. The Lord's timing is impecable. It was incredible to see how God gave her one gift after another to make it the best birthday she's ever had :)
I'm so grateful.
I know Jesus Christ is our Savior, I know he overcame death and rose again on the third day. He did all he said he would. His promises are sure. He's always kept His word, even unto overcoming death for us, both physical and spiritual. He always will keep His word. In Him I trust.
Love Sister Lewis!
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