Sister Stephani Rodriguez: Sacrifice

“a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.” -Joseph Smith

"Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of Heaven"

I can't even tell you how many times I've met someone out here that has left their church because "it was too strict" "there were too many rules" "it was too hard to follow the standards". I always go back to the quote by Joseph Smith. People out here are constantly finding a church that "fits them" or conforms to what they think is easy or right. We met someone on Tuesday who attends the church she does now because it's not as strict as her old one. It blows my mind that people aren't willing to give up something worldly for God. We know our God is a God of order and a God of high expectations. He requires everything of us! If He didn't, how would we have faith unto salvation? I used to think 18 months was a sacrifice. But I realize it's not. That's easy, the sacrifice is giving it all to God. God doesn't want our time, He wants us. He wants our hearts, our thoughts, our desires, He wants us to align our will, with His.

"The best decision I ever made was to give up something I love, for the God I love even more. He has never forgotten me for it" Any small sacrifice that we make for the Lord, He notices and He immediately blesses us for it! (Mosiah 2:24)

I think it's so crazy that some people aren't willing to sacrifice 5 minutes a day to read the Book of Mormon, or one hour of their time once a week to go to church, there are so many small things that God asks us to do, and when we do them we are ALWAYS blessed.

Elder Gary Stevenson from the Quorum of the 12 apostles came to our mission this week!!!!! He shared about how we have the authority to promise people specific blessings. The Lord does it all the time in the scriptures to us! He shared D&C 4 with us (a scripture that every missionary has memorized) and the last verse he said if God didn't promise us blessings it would read: "Ask...knock...Amen." instead of: "Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you, Amen." I've really been working on trying to promise people more blessings. This week I've reflected on how keeping the commandments has blessed my life. I've tried to pin point specific blessings that I receive from following specific commandments. They are COUNTLESS!!! Seriously. When I miss a day of reading the Book of Mormon, something is off. But when I do read, I feel so so so much peace. When I keep the commandment of praying daily, I feel safe and my relationship with God improves. When I go to church and partake of the Sacrament, my entire week is better. There is nothing in this life that has brought me more peace than the Savior has, especially as I feel it as I take the Sacrament. I never want to live without the Lord's blessings and I know that by keeping the commandments (which is sometimes a sacrifice) we are able to come closer to Christ and receive answers to questions we have. I can't even put into words how much this gospel means to me. I have no idea where I'd be without it and I luckily I don't have to know!

Cool experience!!! So there's a Part Member Family in the branch that we've been seeing. They've been taught for FOREVER and they are so close to baptism (the dad is) the 12 year old daughter is the one that's baptized. Last week we committed them to come to church and they didn't :( we were so sad. We didn't know how to help them if they weren't going to come to church. Apparently the dad was super close to baptism a while back. But they haven't been to church since DECEMBER! So this past week we weren't able to see them bc they live 5ever away and we have no miles. So yesterday we were waiting for our investigators to come to church. We had a family promise us they'd be there and they didn't show. Jennifer also promised she'd be there and she didn't show. So we were sitting waiting for the meeting to start, and Sister Jenkins grabs my arm and GASPS SO LOUD and I look up. THE PART MEMEBER FAMILY WALKED INTO CHURCH. WE COULD NOT STOP SMILING!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously all day we kept saying "THE AUMICKS CAME TO CHURCH!!!" So many branch members ran up to them yesterday and just hugged them and welcomed them because they want them to get baptized so bad. Kenny (the 12 year old that's baptized) recently got into Young Women's so the leaders went over this week and welcomed her. I KNOW it was that simple act that got them to church. We had been inviting and inviting but hadn't seen them this week. It was when the branch members went over and saw them that they came! For the first time in almost a YEAR!!!! It was seriously incredible.

I want to invite each of you to think of someone that you haven't seen at church in a while. It could be a friend, a family member, someone in the ward, a non member, anyone that you haven't seen at church in a while. Thought of someone? Now reach out to them somehow! Take them out to lunch, send them a text, call them, like their latest Instagram picture, who cares, just reach out and show them some Christlike love. Let them know how missed they are and tell them you've noticed/felt their absence! We need everyone in God's choir, every voice is needed!!

Okay this email was literally all over the place I'm so sorry but you get the jist of my week. But of course I have some funny stories:

-we left Horseheads at 4:45 am for a 2 1/2 hour meeting and got back to Painted Post at 6:30 pm :)))) on the Brightside the car ride was the funniest thing of my life and we also witnessed Elder Berry punch a bee. Definitely a highlight.

-On Sunday we had fliers for the trunk or treat and this primary girl was like "What are you doing with those?"

me: "We're giving them to people so we can invite them to come!"

her: "Oh that's a good idea! Then they'll see how fun it is and want to join the church!"
me and sis Jenkins: "That's exactly what we were thinking"

- My favorite funny story of the week was last Monday. We email in Corning so we took the bus. Well we left PP and only had enough money to get to Corning, we were like "once we're in Corning, we'll get money to get back on the bus to come back" so of course we're both really stupid and forgot to get more money to get back on the bus and we realize the bus is coming back in 10 minutes. hahah so we scavenge our purse for spare change and found enough money for both of us to get back on the bus!! Except we were .25 cents short. So I start PRAYING that we could find a quarter on the ground somehow and we start searching and searching. Sis Jenkins was like "there's no way we're going to find a quarter" and I was like "yes we will!!" well of course, we didn't. Hahah we looked up and saw a 7-11 and ran over to get cash back! We asked if they did cash back and they said yes so Sis Jenkins grabs the first thing she sees (bubble gum) haha I was like "you can't even use that!" and we got cashback and got safely on the bus. That's the time I witness Sister Jenkins under pressure and it was the funniest thing of my life. I love being her companion.

Okay sorry this email is 5000 years long but I'm doing good and loving life!! Have a good!!

xoxo

Sister Rodriguez

Pics:

1. It's not everyday you get to see SIS CAMP