Sister Alissa Van Valkenburg Mission Blog: February 7,2018 Email :D

The Gong Show Week

Oh my goodness ladies and gentlemen! This week was a gong show!!

Never did I think that so many crazy things could happen in a week..but ya know? When you're in what we here call "the north" crazy stuff happens! I'll start with some cool spiritual stuff, though!

For district meeting this last week Sister Muir and I were able to give a training. The morning of the meeting, I felt prompted to incorporate a trust fall! So during our district meeting, we had two of the Elders come up and demonstrate a trust fall. The one falling was genuinely uncomfortable...but stepped up ready to take the bullet. As we talked about what could make him more comfortable with the fall, (knowing who was behind him, standing closer to his companion, talking to each other) his tension eased and by the time I told him to fall, he did so willingly and without any fear. It was amazing talking after about the little exercise, as he expressed how building that relationship with the person behind dispelled the fear and made him feel more safe. I know that it is the same for each of us, as we learn to trust the Savior. He has our backs! As we gain a relationship with Him, knowing where He is and communicating with Him, we will fall safely in his arms each time we need to be caught. And I promise you, He will catch us. It is like that with each person we are teaching! We are committing them to take a leap of faith, or a fall back into the Savior's arms, as they enter the waters of baptism! Each time we humble ourselves to fall into the Savior's arms, we will recognize the infinite love He has for us and how close He truly is to us at all times! :) It reminds me of a quote from Elder Uchtdorf's General Conference talk: 3 Sisters. "You are in His hands. Very good hands. Loving hands. Caring hands. And nothing anyone ever says can change that."

After our training, we had another from one of our zone leaders! We played charades! It was altered a bit to be a speed charades game. Two teams trying the complete the most actions! It was SO MUCH FUN! And it taught me a valuable lesson. You have to be all in! In everything in life, in missionary work as well, you HAVE to be all in, or you will look the fool. Your team won't be as successful, though you may see success. But when you truly give it your all, go all in, you will see MIRACLES!! The team that went all in more than doubled the amount of points the other team got. Whose team are you on? :D

Fun activity: We are starting a crochet club! We have some signs in windows around town and are inviting all who want to come learn to crochet or work on their projects to join us! It's so fun! We have a sweet recent convert, Ellen, who LOVES crocheting and has been teaching us! Yay!

Another fun activity: We played dodgeball this week with a couple more recent converts who invite their friends to come play dodgeball at the church each week. It's hilarious!! ....I'm not the best...but there is definitely no shortage of laughs when we are all on the court together!

Another cool analogy: I was taught an analogy of the game tic tac toe. The Elder teaching asked someone to come play a game of tic tac toe with him. One at a time they go, cats game. Then he said, let's play again with no rules! Go! Then he proceeded to push the other Elder out of the way and scribble out his marks so he could win. RUDE! Then he talked about how if there are no rules, there is no game. What's the difference between football and soccer? The rules. What's the difference between badminton and tennis? The rules. God has given us rules so there can be a game! So we can win! So we can learn and grow and progress. Aren't you so grateful for the gift of agency and the rules/laws God has given us? Without them, there is no purpose here on earth.

2 Nephi 2:13 And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.

Now. To the gong show.

This last week, Sister Killick, Sister Gallagher and Sister Muir had the stomach flue and I had a cold. Sister Gallagher and Sister Killick were house bound for 4 days, and Sister Muir and I weren't able to go full out with our missionary work for the majority of the time as well. We slept over at their house one night and took care of them. Since Sister Gallagher and Sister Muir aren't able to drive and Sister Killick was the most sick, I was the designated driver for the four of us! I was able to make grocery runs with Sister Muir and Gallagher, I was the ambulance to the ER twice (yes, that happened) and took turns with Sister Gallagher and Sister Muir going out on splits for a couple hours a day. It was crazy! It's an interesting experience not being able to think straight as a missionary. Your desire to go out and serve the Lord is magnified when you physically cannot do it! But it makes the moments so much sweeter when you are trying your best to work through the Spirit. Because if I worked through my own brain in the lessons we had this week, it would have been a mess! I had few lessons, and fewer contacting opportunities this week, but each moment was precious and the Spirit was able to guide me so much more. I'm grateful for the experience I was able to have to be humbled by Heavenly Father to recognize how little I am and how might He is. I love Him and will strive to constantly recognize each moment here as precious!

As part of the gong show week, we were in the Emergency room for the second time, Sister Killick needing to get a couple IV's. She was already there with a senior couple and Sister Gallagher, Muir, and I were there to take over. As we walked up, we realized that she was in the process of getting blood drawn and not doing too well with the process. Sister Gallagher and Sister Muir walked away to give her her space but I felt prompted to stay by her. I didn't know what to do because her one arm was being worked on and she was squeezing Sister Horsely's hand with the other...so I grabbed her foot. Yeah....I know. You know those dramatic moments in movies when someone is in so much pain and is like issuing out their last requests? Yeah, this went down.

Sister Killick: *gasping* "Sister Van Valkenburg! Sing to me!"

Me: "What do you want me to sing?"
Sister K: "What you are going to sing at Zone Conference!"

So in the emergency room I start singing a song about doing Heavenly Father's will, trusting in Him. It went so quiet as nurses and doctors started working quieter, and the Spirit filled the room. Sister Killick was calm and stopped crying as she focused on the lyrics, and I recognized once again the amazing power of the Holy Ghost! It can truly pierce through anything! Wow! SO DRAMATIC and SO SPIRITUAL.

I am so grateful to be here! There is so much going on now as we all regain our health and strength. What an amazing opportunity to be a full time servant of the Lord!!

Love you all! Have an amazing week!

Sister Van Valkenburg

ps. I learned how to do a moose call this week. I will find soon and practice. Stay tuned!

(By the way Zone conference got moved to Monday, so I will be emailing next Tuesday)