Iron Rod

I have to start off by saying that I cannot believe that my third transfer is already starting. You don't get too many of those out here! It's going by WAY too fast! It's really the best time of my life! (Too cliche? ... Oh well! ;) )

So let's see... this week was full of missionary work... which means it was wonderful! Of course! It wouldn't be anything else! We're still working with everyone and meeting new people everyday!

Speaking of new people, I have a new companion! (See what I did there? ;)) It was really hard to say goodbye to my trainer, but I guess that's just how life goes. But wouldn't you know it, she's my new sister training leader! So we may get to go on exchanges together! Yay! :) 

Sister Montclair and me emailing up a storm! :)

But anyway, Sister Montclair! She's so great! She's also been speaking Spanish down in an area near the border for the past six months, and I've already picked some up. Who knows? Maybe I'll be fluent by the end of the transfer! ;) I did the math the other day, and she's been out as long as I have left, which is really cool. I've already learned so much from her, and it has only been three days! She isn't afraid to talk to people on the street, so I've been doing a lot of that. And it's getting easier. I've heard it said that the butterflies never go away, they just become your friends. I love that! Because it's definitely been true! We've definitely met a lot of people these past few days! I can tell that Sister Montclair is going to do so much good in this area! 

Oak Hills Zone before transfers.

There isn't much more to report. Geoff, Michael and Matthew, and Rosemary are all doing great. Alana and Jadon are amazing, and Brother Krueger received the priesthood yesterday! Zilker Park never ceases to be amazing! 

I learned some pretty neat things about iron yesterday. 1) Iron is malleable and tensile, which means it can stretch and bend without breaking. 2) Without iron in our blood, we would die. And 3) iron cannot be replaced in any material it is used in. Together, these three things mean that iron is STEADY, ESSENTIAL, AND IRREPLACEABLE. 

In 1 Nephi 8, the word of God is compared to an iron rod. Taking those three things from before, this means that 1) the word of God can be likened (or bent and stretched) to any need or situation. We can take ANYTHING found in the scriptures and liken it unto ourselves for our profit and learning (1 Nephi 19:23). 2) Reading the scriptures is essential to our spiritual well-being. When we don't study the scriptures, our spirits are weakened and we're more susceptible to temptation. The scriptures tell us ALL things that we should do and we have to feast upon them in order to survive spiritually (2 Nephi 32:3). 3) The scriptures are one of the most important tools that our Heavenly Father has given us to learn of Him and His son. When coupled with the Holy Ghost and the words of living prophets, there is no way that we can be led astray! 

Make sure that you are continually holding fast to the word of God (the iron rod). It is STEADY, ESSENTIAL, AND IRREPLACEABLE! :) 

Love, 

Sister Waite