Called to Serve

Called to Serve

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

SRETAN USKRS! Mar. 28th, 2016

Bok family. 

SRETAN USKRS! HAPPY EASTER! What an amazing time to be a missionary. Partly because of the weather, partly because there was no school, and it was Easter....people were so happy yesterday! As we street contacted we had two lessons right on the street and are meeting with one of them this week and got a lot of friendly responses. What a great ending to Easter Sunday.
We started it off with a really great sacrament meeting with multiple songs and two awesome talks on the plan of salvation and the saviors atonement and resurrection. We also had two investigators come to church. One is Johanir's neighbor who is an older woman and soooooo funny and great. She already acts like a member, commenting to us about members and their haircuts and saying hello to literally EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. So fantastic. We then went to the senior sisters (Sister Pratt and Davenport) with the whole Zagreb district for easter dinner. We provided a subpar salad, but Sister Halling provided a strawberry cream pie. I will say that again. Strawberry. Cream. Pie. So it all balanced out and we had a good time, good spiritual thought and some good laughs. 
One of the blessings of being on a mission is being surrounded by amazing missionaries. In all their different tasks, they teach me so much. 

Sister Allred hit her 18 month mark this week. Hard to believe that when I came to Zagreb, she was in the same place I am now. Time will not slow down. 

We only were able to meet with one of our investigators this week and turns out she could only stay for 15 min. and then forgot about the follow up lesson. But our other friends are back from holiday vacation and this week should be filled with some great lessons and praying for some hearts to be softened as we meet with them this week. 

We also nailed an easter activity for the branch. Aka we did not know we were in charge and rolled boiled eggs on the floor in a relay race until the only 2 year old in the branch stepped on mine. Haha. Very successful. 

I also was very humbled this week. We are not extremely close to Brussels, but for some reason being in Europe while those four missionaries were injured in the bombing made it feel really close. I have thought about them, their families, all those who have died. It made me ponder on all the unfair things that happen in life and have happened to people around me. How can Heavenly Father bear to watch these things happen to HIS CHILDREN? As I studied and pondered on all the last week of the Savior's life it made me appreciate the Atonement of Jesus Christ in a way I have never felt before, more from the perspective of our Heavenly Father. He KNEW all these unfair things would happen and more importantly He KNOWS what is necessary for us and for all those around us that we can return to Him. And He KNEW that in the last moments of our Saviors life, He would have to withdraw Himself and His presence. Our Father in Heaven knew exactly what would be required of us here and He allowed His son to suffer and feel every possible sin, pain, sorrow . . . that we might return to Him. 
 I receive the following forwarded quote and read it about 10 times: 

"Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays. But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come. No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come."

It hit me very strongly Saturday night in prayer that Sunday has come. All our trials and problem and all the unfair things in life are covered. Sunday came, The Atonement was fulfilled and the path is prepared for us. I know Jesus Christ rose on the third day. I know we will see our loved ones again. I know Heavenly Father has blessed our family in the past 14 months and I have loved seeing it. 

I love you all immensely and I love my Savior Jesus Christ. Stay strong and have a great week. 

Lots of love,
Sestra Rhodes 

A Message to Parents:

Mom, Dad. I seriously cannot describe to you, but I have seen our family spiritually uplifted and changed in the past 14 months. It has been amazing to see from this side of the world and I am so grateful. The times I have cried the hardest on my mission (aside from when I am a baby on skype) are when I am in prayer. Such sweet moments that have been the definer of my mission and I know that my prayers and our prayers are being answered. So thank you for sharing everything with me. I sure love you two. I also think most the times I have cried myself to sleep (good tears) have been here in Zagreb. So Sister Allred may think I am emotionally unstable. Haha. 

Thank you for your emails and updates this week. I think Easter is officially my favorite time of the year. 

Love you both so much. xoxo
Sestra Rhodes 

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