A Game Changer

Hey friends!

Week ten (?) of quarantine done!! The work is still moving forward! The days are still as miracle filled as ever!

I had two very different teaching experiences this week. The first was with our friend Mario, who has been taught by A LOT of missionaries. He's one of those "eternal investigators" and so he thinks he knows alllll about out church. His heart just isn't open to recognize answers when they come. During our lesson, we read a really powerful chapter in the Book of Mormon together. He heard what we were reading, but you could tell he wasn't really listening or internalizing the words. Nothing really got through to him... it's really hard to watch people close up to the Spirit. I know if he would humble himself and search for answers with real intent he would find them! But I guess now is not his time. It's sad, but I trust that someday he will open up his heart to hear the voice of the Lord and future missionaries will be there to help him! 

Now.... let me tell you about Monica!! She is on the completeee opposite end of the spectrum!
Our ward mission leader reached out to us about his neighbor who needed help with her yard. Because some restrictions are loosening up here in Utah, we got the go ahead to do outside service! So on Wednesday we went over and helped her clean up this huge tree in front of her house that turned kind of into a bush haha. We cleared out all the extra branches and made it look all pretty! As we were working, we got to know Monica and talked about her life growing up, her family and even discussed what happens after we die. She opened up about some really hard personal struggles she has gone through and we just listened to her. At one point Monica said, "I don't know why I am telling you girls this, I've never told anyone this before!" I am grateful that she was willing to share such personal things with us. I felt Heavenly Father's love for her, and how much He wants her to return to live with Him! Somehow during this conversation, we stopped working and ended up standing in a circle listening to her with tears running down each of our cheeks. We introduced the Book of Mormon and bore testimony of how it can bring peace into her life. We promised her that reading it would heal the wounds from the past and help answer her questions about where we came from, why we're here and where we're going. Monica's response was powerful. She said that living in Utah she's been offered that book a dozen times and rejected it, but this time was different. She didn't want to reject it because we listened to her and that opened up her heart. In all her eighteen years of living in UT, that was the most she had talked to a member of the church, and the most open she had ever been with any of us. She said she trusted our promises and promised that she would read it!!! She even set our next appointment so we can talk about what she read. Ah man it was powerful. The Spirit just enveloped us all! It was a very sacred moment in her little front yard.

Our meeting with Monica was such a spiritual experience because she was open to hearing the Lord speak to her! It was a reminder to me of how important it is for us to personally prepare ourselves to receive revelation. Heavenly Father WANTS to speak to us and He IS speaking to us, but we need to be in a position to hear Him. When we do humble ourselves and open our hearts, we give the Spirit the opportunity to witness of truth and transform our very nature!

I have used quarantine as a time to really figure out how God speaks to me and it is a game changer!! If you're not sure how He speaks to you, now is the time to find out! It will bless you now and forever ♡

I am grateful to be a missionary (even though I wish I could open peoples' hearts for them and make them see how much the Gospel would change their life sometimes!) I know God has a plan for each of His children. He will give them plenty of opportunities to hear and accept Him! His timing is perfect.

I love you all!! Have a lovely week!

Love, Sister Keeler

The first pic is me at the future Layton Utah temple site!!!!