I Love To See The Temple!

Hey Ya'll!!

This week was just wonderful! We got to go to the temple as a zone, which was very much needed to be honest. I loved being able to attend a session and truly feel the Spirit in the house of the Lord. AND! Sister Robison was there! Man it was good to see her. We got to sit by each other in a session, what a blessing. 

This week for Hour of Power we were tracting around a neighborhood. It was pouring rain and door after door we kept getting "No's" and "We're already saved's" etc. AND THEN we met a girl named Jessica. She isn't attending a church because she hasn't been able to find one she has common ground with and that has answers to her questions. We taught her the Restoration and gave her a Book of Mormon. She said she would love to read it and we'll be visiting with her again this week. This was just such a blessing, and a total God thing. He is so good and truly places us exactly where we need to be meeting the people we truly need to meet. I love being a missionary even if it's hard sometimes. But, all is well in Zion! 

I love ya'll so much, keep smiling and know that with God you cannot fail or fall. 

Love, Sister Mason 

Just An Irish Girl, Living In A Southern World

Hey ya'll! 

First off, tomorrow's basically my favorite holiday (next to Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving) so I must wish you all a lovely St. Patrick's day! Think of me back home running around our house singing Celtic woman mom to fill the blank space ;) 

So, I wasn't able to write last week for the very crazy happenings that took place. I am still here in beautiful Amory, my new companion is Sister Castagno from Idaho. She is a firecracker! So spunky and ready to further the work here, just what this town needed!

The first week was a bit rough, I locked us out of our house the first night and the next day I got us lost in the booneys for two hours trying to find a members house in Fulton. But, things shaped up and we've seen many mighty miracles wrought. 

But, this past week (week 2) gotten even harder. We had a very near and dear to my heart investigator drop us after a couple of days committing to baptism. When we got the call from him we did our best to understand why he didn't want to see us anymore and tried to help him the best we could, but he had made up his mind. Afterwards I couldn't help but lay on the kitchen floor and cry my eyes out. I gotta tell ya, for those who don't know, missionary work can be difficult sometimes. But, amidst my cry fest-pity party, I felt an overwhelming feeling of calm and peace. We cannot completely understand why things happen the way they do, but I know that Heavenly Father has a plan. And even though it was heartbreaking to lose someone I love to the adversary, I know that he will come to find the truth. This whole experience opened my eyes and made me turn to my Savior for help. He is the only  one who truly understands what I am going through and the only one who can offer me divine means of help and grace.

Yes, missions are hard. But I have found that things in life that are completely worth it will never be easy. Though trials may come, the Savior remains by our side to help us through it all. I have learned to lean on His ample arm to give me the strength I need when times get tough and I don't feel like I can succeed. 

I know that with the Savior anything is possible. Like Jeffrey R. Holland once said " I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him?"  God has a plan! I trust Him. "No storm can shake my inmost calm." I know that your future is as bright as your faith. We can do hard things! All is well in Zion, and I am not going to "give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go till He stops me." [Fellowship of the Unashamed] 

I love ya'll so very much. Things are going to be just fine :) Have a blessed week

Love, Sister Mason

Re - Cap

This week was pretty crazy and I don't have much time to explain everything, but I want ya'll to get a weekly letter from me knowing that I'm doing well and furthering the work the best I can. So, here's just a quick re-cap:

-I got peed on by a cat.

-My companion lost her name tag in Tupelo and we found it at home sitting on her bed in Amory. 

-We got 10 inches of snow! (that NEVER happens in Mississippi!) We walked through this blizzard to visit an investigator. Luckily we weren't hit by any cars.

-We met a family because of Sister Robison's obsession with huskies (they had some in their backyard). We built a snowman, had a snowball fight and were able to share a message and give them the Book of Mormon

-We could've died cuz of a falling tree

-I passed out twice in one day

-Transfer calls: Sister Robison is leaving and I am training 

Congrats Dad on being called and assigned as the new Bishop of the 13th ward back home. And Happy Birthday Hannah! I pray for ya'll and keep you dear and close to my heart. 

We survived this week because of the tender mercies and grace of our Heavenly Father. We KNOW this church is true and we are going to keep plowing! 

The Book is blue, the church is true and Moroni is on the ball. 

Sorry to keep it short and I know I have a lot of explaining to do, but know that I love ya'll dearly.

Love, Sister Michaela Mason