Monday, December 25, 2017

Light the World Week 3 December 17th 2017

I am a big believer in Christmas Miracles! 

Not because God only picks one month of the year to work miracles--the scriptures tell us he works miracles according to our faith. Around this season people draw nearer to each other and nearer to their Father in Heaven, opening their hearts to his love: the greatest miracle.

A wonderful young girl named Lucy is set to be baptized on January 6th. She shared her testimony with us last week, and this week we were able to meet her family as well, who are all wonderful and supportive. Sister Lowe and I are working with the ward to make sure all goes well :)

Another highlight was teaching the Plan of Salvation to Bill, the man we met our first week walking his dog and have been teaching ever since. I love teaching this lesson, and I boldly told him that the things we share will very likely feel familiar, even if they are new. He looked at me a little incredulously! Haha but from the very first part of the lesson and on he kept saying, "Yes, I already know this" and "Yes, that's true, that makes sense." He is praying and reading the Book of Mormon to know if it is true.

Another highlight was a long-time investigator named Stacy who, after many cancellations and concerns about church, finally decided to come! He told us after Sacrament Meeting that he was driving around debating and debating about coming, and suddenly heard the voice of God say "Come as you are." And come he did!

I testify that Jesus Christ lives, and the way to true happiness in this life is by learning of him and following him. Because of his sacrifice, death is not the end, mistakes are not permanent, and love will conquer all fear. He is the matchless gift of Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you all! I was updating this email list and I hope you know how much I care for each of you individually as well. May we remember the reason for the season :)

Sister Fluegel 🐦
P.S. The video is our district's lame attempt at the 'Friends' title sequence, haha
 
 







 

Light the World Week 2 December 11th 2017

One of my favorite quotes this week was from the Book of Mormon (surprise surprise): For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored." Karma is true doctrine, ladies and gents!

To put it plainly, this was an amazing week. We put so much hard work in, and we saw so much progression in those we are teaching! Three of them have committed to a date for baptism! And two came to church this week. The members have been helping us so much, and we've been able to serve them a lot too! 

This week involved cleaning, helping build a door, going to St. Louis for a training meeting, more raking leaves, making cookies, wrapping gifts, hosting a Book of Mormon study, teaching like crazy, and then a moment or two every now and then to sit down! 

In those spare moments, I've written down some of the endless things I've learned on my mission thus far:

1) How to communicate
2) Obedience = blessings!
3) True success is a feeling more than an outward result
4) Your testimony strengthens the more you  bear it!
5) If you rely on the Lord you can't go wrong!
6) First and foremost, fan the flame of your faith
7) How to love everyone! And that you have to start with yourself
8) I can be a leader
9) Exact obedience brings *miracles* (aka this week)

I know that I'm on the Lord's errand right now, and that this is His work, not mine. As it was once so eloquently put: "If this wasn't the true church, the missionaries would have ruined the whole thing a long time ago!" Even when I'm working my absolute hardest, nothing would happen if it wasn't His work, His angels bearing me up. 

I love you and hope you have a great week!

Sister Fluegel​​​
 
 

Light the World Week 1 December 4th 2017

It's been a long week but a great one! Sister Lowe and I have been working hard and seen so many miracles. I have been too busy emailing individually though!!

Basically, we've been nonstop go go going, visiting and teaching, doing service, and helping the ward! From our efforts two people came to church and many are progressing and reading the Book of Mormon! So amazing stuff, basically.

I am so blessed to be here, I love the Lord and I love you all! When you have a spare moment, think about what you can do for someone else today ;) I promise you will not only brighten someone else's day, yours will be brighter!

Sister Fluegel 🐦








Back in the Homeland November 27th 2017

Ladies and gents, they finally sent me to my home state! Hello Illinois!

Its pretty far south of my roots though, haha, so there's plenty new! Jacksonville, IL is a cute old place with beautiful Victorian homes (one of which we live in on the bottom floor), a college, a deaf school, and an industry in making Ferris Wheels! Also, the Mormon Battalion traveled straight through here! Great stuff.

The ward has a few deaf members and an interpreter stood up the whole Sacrament Meeting, signing!! So cool. The missionaries are encouraged to learn ASL here, so Sister Lowe and I have been practicing the alphabet and learning some vocabulary!

By the way, Sister Lowe: the most prepared brand new missionary ever. Love this girl. She's from Idaho Falls, Idaho, turned 19 last month and went straight on her mission! Its crazy to think its been 10 1/2 months since that was me! But I'm glad to be here with her and help her along her way :) 

We met with an investigator of the missionaries here before us, who really connected with the convert member we brought. We hope to be setting a baptismal date with him this week, and finally meet the other investigators the elders had been meeting with! 

We were trying to find one of them and ended up in a tiny town off Jacksonville called "Litterberry", obviously in the wrong place. I still felt like we should take the opportunity to knock a few doors, which allowed us to run into a man named Bill Decker we approached and shared the four minute restoration with--after much practice and roleplay!--and he gave us his phone number and address and wants to learn more. Miracles left and right, basically.

And #lightthworld is about to start! I hope you all take the time to look at the video and check out ways you can make the world a little brighter this Christmas Season. mormon.org is the place to go to see it and download the calendar!​
 











 

I'm Having A Baby! November 20th 2017

Well family and friends, I'm officially leaving Sikeston, MO! 

I've learned so much here and gotten so close to so many people! I forgot my camera so I'll have to send most of the many, many pictures we took next week, haha. But there were so many miracles we saw this past week, and I'm happy with how I'm leaving Sikeston and also happy to leave it in the hands of my wonderful companion Sister Hardy <3 

One of the best parts of this week was the teaching that happened! We taught a man named Terry who we met a while back at the Laundromat, and he can quote the Bible like nobody's business. He was very respectful however, and willing to hear us out on Tuesday and last night. He also likes to talk and make his opinion known, though, which gave me many great opportunities to testify and declare what I know to be true! Especially when explaining the First Vision and reciting Joseph Smith's First Vision, the Spirit in the room grew stronger and reminded me, as it has time after time, that what I'm saying is pure truth. What a privilege to share it!

We met again with Robbie, who I have been working with most of my time here. This week was a big growing week for him. He texted us this weekend that he wants to live "Godly" and give up his life to Him for good. I can't tell you how much I look forward to that amazing day he's ready to be baptized!

We also taught a man named Robert Wagener who's been struggling ever since his wife passed. He received so much hope from our message and wholeheartedly agreed to baptism! I pray that as he continues to be taught and also attends church, he will continue to feel the Spirit he told us he felt as we shared the Restoration <3

Again, I can't tell you what a privilege it is to be out here helping others come unto Christ and receive joy--not as the world gives, but the true and lasting kind. I'm also excited to be going to a new area tomorrow and getting a new companion coming out of the MTC. We'll both be new in our area, which will make things all the more fun! In our mission lingo, I'm 'expecting,' soon to be a mom! Haha.

Love you all!
Sister Fluegel 🐦

A Change of Heart November 14th 2017

Good afternoon, everyone! Its Week 6 (dun dun DUN) of the transfer so P-day is today instead. I'm sure you were all freaking out yesterday.

Sister Hardy and I had a great time this past week. Lots of good stuff coming for the Sikeston area! Unfortunately I'll have to just hear about most of it, because more than likely this will be my last week here! Time flies when you're serving the Lord!

I've been studying about what the scriptures call a "change of heart," losing the desire to do evil but to do good continually. God cannot force us into heaven! He won't rescue us against our will! So it is our job to merely turn to him, to follow him and the path his son Jesus Christ has set for us--not to "earn our way into heaven" as some say, but to become "heavenly" so we feel comfortable there!

But of course we are tempted every day to turn away from God, if even in very small ways. I definitely experience that, and have wondered lately how the Lord can make me that I shake at even the appearance of sin, as Nephi desired! 

I've learned that I am powerless to change myself on my own. Jesus Christ is the only one who can do that. As I've put my trust in Him, act in faith, and pray for a "new heart," I've seen not so much my life improve, but myself improve to handle life! And my desire to do good always has grown.

Through Jesus Christ all is possible! He is the truth that will set us free <3

Sister Fluegel 🐦

Sister Hardy, Sister Anderson and I all hit 10 months together!
 
 

November 6th 2017

I have absolutely no time!
So here's two pictures instead!! Haha the only two I took while on exchanges with the amazing Sister Rindlisbacher. I'll repent next week!
Love ya!
Sister Fluegel 🐦




"Falloween" Jesus Christ! October 30th 2017

Fellow friends and family!

What a week. We kicked it off by picking up a new investigator named Macey Riley, who is ten years old and her family are less-active members. She knows the gospel is true and wants to be baptized! We're excited for her :) 

We then had an amazing lesson with a woman who is friends with some of the sisters in the ward. She told us she isn't sure why she initially let us in, that it must have been the Spirit prompting her--and this week we taught the Plan of Salvation to her. The Spirit was so strong, and the light and hope that came into her eyes as she began to understand her loving Heavenly Father's plan for her was amazing to see. A reminder to me of how precious these truths are and what a privilege it is to share them!

We also have been meeting with Robbie Ison a lot lately, who knows the Book of Mormon is true and wants to change and join the church :) This week we started helping him quit smoking! We also had a great Trunk-or-Treat activity at the church where we saw a lot of familiar faces and met a lot of new faces! 

In general the last week has been packed, and this week we're going to be even busier. Wish me luck!

Love you all :)
Sister Fluegel 🐦
Pictures: Sister Hardy found her street! Brody, a boy in our ward got caught exploring our trunk, haha. I was the missionary version of Tinker Bell this year, lol. There was a cute photo area they set up that we had to take advantage of :D


Happy Monday! October 23rd 2017

Good morning! I spent too much time not writing this email, haha, so my time is about up.

I'll leave you with some awesome scriptures that touched my heart this week about repentance from 2 Nephi 26 (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/26?lang=eng):

23 For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness.
24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.
25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.

And a little later in the chapter:

28 Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.

Another great quote: When there's no peace on earth, there is peace in Christ.

I love you guys!!!
Sister Fluegel 🐦
Pictures of cotton rolls, cotton fields, and Dairy Queen with Cap and Steve. Basically, our life.
 


 

October 16th 2017

This week Sister Hardy and I went to Zone Conference in O'Fallon IL, and had the pleasure to hear from Elder Nattress of the Seventy and his wife! It was a crazy long, spiritually-packed day. I learned so much, I wish I could share all of it!! 

Also this week our ward has really been catching fire when it comes to missionary work! Our bishop has been stressing reaching out to others in love and friendship, active or not active, member or not a member. A member family is having us over tonight to meet and teach a young girl, their niece, and another ward member invited his coworker to hear our message!

There comes the question at one point or another from those we teach: why this church? Isn't faith in God enough? Isn't going to a church at all good enough? Isn't my life good enough?

I've come to understand the answer isn't necessarily 'No.' It's Yes, your life may be good enough--but! Heavenly Father's plan was never meant to stop there. He wants us, his literal children, to always and forever receive *more.* More guidance, more knowledge, more truth, more light, more happiness! That is what the gospel of Jesus Christ restored in its fullness blesses us with (and much more).

That is what I've been blessed with! And I receive even more joy in inviting and helping others receive the same blessings. 

Love you all!
Sister Fluegel 🐦

My camera was dead this week :( Sorry about that!!