In Humility

Dear Family and Friends-

Hello! Things are going great here in lakeshore YSA! Sister Webber and

I are working hard and God is blessing us in so many ways. The time

just keeps going by faster and faster... I can't believe we are

already halfway through the transfer. Sister Webber is doing so good

and is catching on to things real quick. Our personalities are very

similar and we both have the desire to work hard and give the lord our

all. I am so grateful for her! Well. Just going to jump right into

this week!

A member referred his friend Jess and has been teaching her about the

gospel. She has been attending institute every week and LOVES it. She

is reading through the Book of Mormon. We had the opportunity to take

her on a church tour and answer many of her questions! We met with her

for the first actual "missionary lesson" on Tuesday evening. We taught

her about the restoration... Wow she has been soooo prepared to hear

about the gospel. She grew up non-religious but lately has felt like

there is something more. After looking into the church she says she

just feels so much happier and knows it's right. The spirit was

incredibly strong. We taught her how to pray for the first time. We

knelt in prayer with her as she spoke to her Heavenly Father... The

spirit flooded the room. It's moments like those that missionaries

just live for. Jess is amazing and has so much faith! I am so grateful

for the opportunity I have been blessed with to help teach her about

the gospel.

On Friday we contacted as a district! It was so much fun! We had a big

map right outside of a train station for people to write where their

ancestors are from. We were able to share a lot about family history

and the wonderful resources we have been blessed with. Family history

is something that I really take for granted. I have come to appreciate

the importance of learning of our ancestors and taking their names to

the temple! Missionary work is intertwined with family history! It is

all one great work! The contacting activity was a huge success and

many people were interested, we were even able to place 12 Books of

Mormon in one day!

On Saturday we attended a refugee training for a program that we are

going to start working with to serve within the community. World

Relief Chicago is one of ten national organizations contracted with

the US State Department to resettle refugees from around the world and

they do a lot of great work in the Chicago region! There are so many

young single adults there from all over and the WRC organization

ENCOURAGES us to share our religion with those around us! What a great

missionary opportunity!! Sister Webber and I are very excited to help

get the YSA more involved in service! There are so many opportunities

to help those in need. I am grateful for the recent I was a stranger

initiative that encourages us as members of the church to serve all

those we can.

So most definitely the highlight of my week was Carleens baptism. God

is so good, everything went perfectly! I don't even know how to

describe the feelings of happiness that come from watching someone you

have helped gain a testimony be baptized... It's incredible. Thinking

back to the first day I met Carleen, watching her learn and grow in

the gospel is one of the sweetest experiences. The ward was there to

support her and her dad and her sister came to the baptism. The spirit

was so powerful... Carleen had tears streaming down her face. The

gospel brings so much joy!! There is no greater happiness than helping

to bring others closer to Jesus Christ.

Sunday was amazing. President and sister Woodbury came to our ward

because President confirmed Carleen. Wow, the blessing was so

powerful... Carleen is such a special girl and the Lord has so many

good things in store for her. I know she is paving the way for her

family to join the church... Her dad is genuinely interested and asked

for a Book of Mormon and has so many questions! It is just a miracle

to see the lord be involved in the very details of this work. Speaking

of miracles.... So we had a random man named Aquila show up to

Carleens baptism... He wanted to start taking the missionary lessons

and coming to the SA Branch.. Which is a miracle, because the branch

has been fasting for more missionary opportunities. So that is pretty

legit. He just showed up to church and came to the branch. So it will

be interesting to see where this goes!

Ahhh. Back to Jess. She came to church on Sunday which was suuuuper

awesome because she was able to witness Carleens confirmation which

was an incredibly spiritual experience. She has so many questions and

truly is a remarkable girl with genuine intentions about learning more

about the gospel. She is soaking it all in like a sponge! We are

meeting with her Monday evening! So excited.. I already love this

girl!

Hmmm. What else... We had another lesson with Matt and Ariel Sunday

evening. We were able to have a very spiritual discussion about trials

and challenges and turning our hearts to God even when hard times

come. They are really starting to open up with us and trust us a lot

more. They are incredible people and I am learning so much from them.

Oh. Another miracle moment. Right before sacrament meeting for the SA

branch sister Webber and I came back out to get a drink of agua... And

a member from another ward  came up and started talking to us. He said

that he felt prompted that he needed to give us a referral for one of

his friends who he felt who benefit from the gospel. Here we are...

Standing there with some member we had never even met and he was

giving us a solid referral! #miracle. That's not even the best part.

We contacted the referral and she was so enthusiastic about learning

more about the gospel! We are meeting with her this week! God is so

good.

Something I have been thinking a lot about lately is Pride. A mission

truly is the MOST HUMBLING experience and it involves enough humility

to give everything to the lord. Annnnd that my friends is easier said

than done. I've been struggling with pride.. How often I

unintentionally find myself thinking that I know best of what work

needs to be done in this area. In essence I have a really hard time

accepting the fact that people have agency.. And that makes me

prideful. TRUST and HUMILITY go hand in hand... We have to be humble

enough to trust God and know that he is ultimately in charge and he

knows each one of his children. Submitting completely MY WILL to HIS

WILL. If we only understood what this truly means. Each day I fall

short.. And catch myself falling into my own selfish thoughts and

desires. But... I am TRYING each day! I desire to serve the lord with

all of my mind, might, and strength.. And that is what he asks of

us... Is the desire to go and to do. He has promised he will make up

for the rest... And he always does! That's why as a missionary I am

blessed to witness so many miracles.. Because each and everyday i

strive and pray for the desire to fulfill gods will.. And as I try to

serve him.. He makes up the difference! I pray that I will not hinder

gods work, rather help it move forward as I humble myself and trust in

him. There is a quote by president Benson that says "We can choose to

humble ourselves by loving God, submitting our will to His, and

putting Him first in our lives." I love it. I know this gospel is true

with all of my heart. I am so grateful for the Savior Jesus Christ and

his patience and Love towards me. I am so thankful for the atonement

that gives me strength and forgiveness of my many shortcomings. I am

so blessed to have the knowledge of the gospel and I have such a

strong desire for others to partake of the happiness that comes from a

personal relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  It is a

remarkable privilege to be able to serve the Lord in his great work. I

encourage each of you to look for oppotunities to serve those around

you and share the light and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Rachel Parke