Psalms 100:4

Dear Family,

Psalms 100:4: “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

This scripture is partially cool because it has the word "thanksgiving" in it, but I also like the idea that if we are thankful to God, we will bless His name. Thankfulness is not just a way of thinking; it is a way of acting. It's the same way with faith. If we have faith, we will act a certain way. If we are thankful, we will also act a certain way. If I am thankful for the Atonement, I will show my gratitude by proving faithful and repenting of my sins. If I am thankful for my family (and I am), I will pray for them nightly by name (and I do). If I am grateful for the chance I have to be a missionary, I will be diligent in the work and show my gratitude for  the short amount of time I have to serve the Lord. In short, I will ACT on my GRATITUDE. Sometimes we get so focused on what we're grateful for that we forget to do anything about it.

What am I grateful for this week (and what I am going to do because I am grateful):

I am grateful for Granny Green. She is just lovely. We went over for FHE, and I wasn't feeling very well.  She just let me lay on her until FHE started. She rubbed my back and gave me some granny cuddles. That was lovely. I adore her! She's also having us over for Thanksgiving. That will be so nice. I am going to make her a wee card that expresses my gratitude, and I am going to remind her how much I love her.

I am grateful for Alison. I know that I talk about how much I love her all of the time, but it's really because I do! She is incredible and has been so prepared for the gospel. I really feel privileged just to have the opportunity to teach her. I remembered this week that while I was in training, I came to Glasgow for something called Smart Start that all new trainees do. Sister Jones was there with her trainer, Sister Robertson. When we role-played, we would introduce someone that we're working with and then someone would pretend to be that person. I remember they talked about Alison, a self-referral from Mormon.org who loves Joseph Smith and knows the Book of Mormon is true. I remember at the time wishing that I could teach someone like that--and now I am!! She is so wonderful. Yesterday she gave me the first piece of jewelry that she'd ever bought for herself and had to pay for by installments--a thistle necklace. It is gorgeous! She is seriously thinking about baptism and will do it before I leave--I just know it! I adore her! I am going to continue to pray for her nightly and do my best to have spiritual lessons with her so she can identify the Spirit and have help knowing when Heavenly Father would have her be baptized.

I am grateful to be training. I am learning so much from Sister Jacques. Most of what I'm learning is how inadequate I am to do everything. I am not the most obedient, most diligent, most perfect missionary. And I never will be. But I am learning that I need to do things differently and that even though I am comfortable with the work and especially with East Kilbride, I can do things and need to do things to change and improve the work rather than staying in my comfortable spot. We taught more street lessons than I've ever taught on my mission this week. She is definitely pushing me to grow and become more. I am just stubborn and selfish and wish that I would have more desire to change. It's hard but it's good, and I know that Heavenly Father has called me to do this. I am so grateful for opportunities to learn and grow! I am going to be more humble and accept criticism and strive to be more obedient. I am going to try to care about her more than about myself.

I am grateful that this week has given me the chance to speak to Sister Nicoll a few times. There has been a bit of drama between her ward and ours, and we've gotten to speak about it. It has been so nice to talk to her. I absolutely love her! I am going to keep praying for her every night.

I am grateful for this work. I am grateful that our investigators are progressing amazingly. Scott is doing really well and is continually understanding more. Alison is doing well. We have amazing people that we're working with here, and I am just so blessed! I am going to be diligent about going out and doing the work, knowing that God is blessing us for trying to be diligent!

I am grateful that Brother S-- came to FHE this week and then met with us once. He told us he'd come to church and meet with the Bishop.  He didn't and then didn't answer our calls, but at least his mind is still more open to the idea of accepting our church and baptism. I am going to phone him and continue to pray for him. I am going to thank Heavenly Father for giving me the chance to teach him.

I am grateful for the scriptures. I love studying them each week. I know that they come from God and that we can feel the Spirit while we study them. I am going to continue studying every day and try to apply the scriptures daily.

I am grateful for inspired leaders who give us counsel that sometimes isn't fun but that is what we need. I am going to honor them by doing the things they say.

I am grateful for hard times that make us grow. Growing isn't always fun but is always worth it when we become a tree of life in God's hands. I am going to offer more gratitude prayers instead of always asking for things. I'm going to make prayer a conversation instead of me telling Heavenly Father the things I'd like Him to do.

Quote of the week: "Keep trying. Don't look for escapes and excuses. Look for the Lord and His perfect strength. Don't search for someone to blame. Search for someone to help you. Seek Christ and, as you do, I promise you will feel the enabling power we call His amazing grace. I leave this testimony and all of my love--for I do love you... I believe in you. I'm pulling for you. And I'm not the only one. Parents are pulling for you, leaders are pulling for you, and prophets are pulling for you. And Jesus is pulling with you" (Brad Wilcox, "His Grace Is Sufficient").

I know this gospel is true! Jesus Christ lives: that is the centre of my testimony. He is our Saviour. He loves us. He knows the things that are hard and the things that are easy. He's been through it all. He is the way to get back to our Heavenly Father. He is the only way. And if we do it His way, we are doing it right.

I love you all! I am grateful for you!

Love,

Sister Ricks/Amanda/Aunt Manda/Pandywidge/Lastborn

P.S. This scripture cracked me up during personal study this week: Alma 55:9. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think this is funny because of the punctuation (or lack thereof). Read it and tell me why!  

P.P.S. I am NOT grateful that Peyton and BYU both lost this week. :( Rubbish! Especially because Peyton lost to Tom Brady. I'll have a word with him when I get home.