Ooft

Dearest Family,

If you were to ask who is the tiredest girl in the U.K. today, who do you think it would be? 

It certainly wouldn't be the queen. 

It wouldn't be Princess Kate either. 

It wouldn't even be the lady who is probably running a marathon at this very moment. 

Nope. It would be me. I take the cake. I win the prize. The gold star is mine. I am the most knackered, shattered, eyes-closey, body-can't-move, tired girl in the world! 

Which reminds me of a great quote I read this morning from Joseph B. Wirthlin:

"It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. With all the pressures and demands on our time and the stress we face each day, it’s little wonder we get tired. Many feel discouraged because they have not measured up to their potential. Others simply feel too weak to contribute. And so, as the flock moves on, gradually, almost imperceptibly, some fall behind.

“Everyone has felt tired and weary at one time or another. I seem to feel more so now than I did when I was younger. Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, even Jesus Christ knew what it meant to be tired. I do not wish to underestimate the weight that members of the Church bear upon their shoulders, nor do I minimize the emotional and spiritual trials they face. These can be heavy and often difficult to bear.

“I do, however, have a testimony of the renewing power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The prophet Isaiah proclaimed that the Lord ‘giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.’  When I feel tired, I remember the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith:

“’Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. …

“’… Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; … and let all the sons of God shout for joy!’

“For you members of the Church who hold back because of feelings of inadequacy, I plead with you to step forward, put your shoulder to the wheel, and push. Even when you feel that your strength can add little, the Church needs you. The Lord needs you. Remember that the Lord often chooses ‘the weak things of the world” to accomplish His purposes."

I pretty much think that's wonderful and am grateful for the uplift that it gave to me. 

So. Other than exhausting, this week was wonderful. It was pretty emotionally trying, if you want to know the truth, but luckily trials are for our benefit, and I will grow. That's a happy thing.

Monday we went and played golf with the Elders. More grass flew in my case than the actual golf ball, but hey, I did my best. Elder Bayles fell down like Happy Gilmore when he was trying to golf. Sister Pugh and I were equally parred (hahahaha). And Elder Holman is basically good at everything, so he killed us all. We were just at a random free driving range. 

Tuesday was good. We did weekly planning. Weekly planning is long. 

Wednesday we got to have our Interviews with President! It was the best thing of my life. I was able to receive a lot of wisdom and encouragement and compliments from President Brown, and those mean so much. I absolutely love President. 

Thursday we had a great appointment--one of our members has invited her friends to take the discussions so we went over and taught the first part of the Restoration lesson. That was pretty great. It was kind of sad though, because that is exactly what missionary work should be--members inviting missionaries to come and teach their friend, the member being the driving force--but because that hasn't happened too often at all on my mission, it was hard to know my place in the situation because it was so unfamiliar. That probably means I don't know how to inspire members to do missionary work, but I have to say that it was a pleasant experience and we are teaching her again this week. I canny wait--she is wonderful, aye! 

Friday we had Nacho Night at the church (although the Nachos that the Elders made were mingin...they even called and apologized after they'd tasted them, haha) and we played some games like put a sticky note on your forehead and guess what you are (I was a helicopter) and some chair football. It was fun but we were all in dresses and my competitive side got the better of me which was kind of bad...but I won...so I guess it couldn't have really been that bad, eh? 

Money can't buy everything, 

Money can't make you a king,

Money cannot bring success,

Money can't buy happiness,

But of one thing I am sure,

Money doesn't make you poor,

Money doesn't make you sad,

Money can't be all that bad!

Something like that, aye. :) 

Saturday we helped Alison in her garden. It was fun because mowers here are really more like hoovers than anything else and you don't mow in straight lines. You just vacuum the grass. It's hilarious and I had a blast. 

Church was good. I gave a five-minute talk on the Godhead. One member said to me after, "Your talk was pretty average today." He was right. It was one-hundred-percent, uncle-monkey, average. I was going for simple and I got it. I was quite chuffed with that, and it was a talk that investigators could understand, hopefully. 

Our friend, Kimberley, came to church again! She's the Family History find and so that was just lovely. She's sweet. 

We also taught the Restoration to a wonderful man named Graham last night. He had so many questions and it made me remember that on my mission, the times I have been the absolute most happy are when I've taught that lesson to someone who's never heard it before. It really doesn't get any better than that. 

The Church is true and has been restored today! My testimony of the Restoration has primarily developed on my mission--and I am eternally grateful for that! :) 

Love,

Sister Ricks

Xx