The Goodness of God

FAMILY AND FRIENDS. 

This week I was reminded about the goodness of God all over again. Almost like it was for the first time. && I will never forget it.

We had a pretty high and low week. I feel like so much happens everyday and each week that a lot can change for us here in a week haha. So much LIFE gets shoved into 14 hour days for 18 months. Nicol & I started talking during our comp study about what was going on in our heads and we both discovered we're just a little tired. Tired of feeling like we're not making a difference and tired of not seeing much for all we are trying to do. I mean it's been a year of everyday giving all you have, and sometimes it's hard to look back and feel like, "Have I really accomplished anything for them or for Him?" And looking for outwardly measures of that seems to easily always come up short. 

Lately it has felt like the plans and day to day events and meeting goals have been running our days, and we have left little room to stop & listen for the Spirit. We decided that each day in our comp studies, we are going to take at least 15 minutes to just sit and ponder. We are going to just listen. And then we will record any impressions or thoughts we had, and then go out and ACT on them in our day. We know that if we make the time and more room for the Spirit, that our days will be SO much more guided, and we will feel so much more fulfilled. His way is always the best way. 

After we made this decision, we were headed to a members house for dinner. They are a newly retired couple, and I LOVE THEM- really some of my favorite people. We felt impressed to share a little message with them using a quote from Thomas S. Monson. It, going along with the goal we just made, talks about how sometimes life gets so busy, we forget to stop, slow down, and listen. 

So, we get to the members house and we have a delicious dinner. Then as we are finishing up the husband decides to share something with us. He started talking about how sometimes the world is so busy, and we really never take time to sit and listen. HAHA. Nicol & I look at each other like.... no way. 

He goes on about how he and his wife go out on their swing in their backyard- which is in the middle of all these beautiful trees- to just listen and talk to eachother. 

He said, "I woke up this morning REALLY thinking about you two sisters. And God then put this scripture in my mind. He wants you to hear it. 

"Eye hath not seen, nor hear heard the things which the Lord hath prepared for them that love him." 

He then began to tearfully share with us how he deeply feels how much God loves us and is proud of all that we are doing. He talked about how sometimes our efforts feel unnoticed and how it's hard to see all the good we do. He expressed so much sincere love and kindness in his words, I couldn't help but cry and feel like my Heavenly Father was most certainly talking to me. 

THEN, He asked us if we wanted to take however long or short time we needed, to go together and swing on their swing, to listen and to talk. & most importantly he said, I want you guys to remember all the moments you've spent together. Remember all the good, all the miracles, all the lives you've touched and changed. 

......

So we went. And we swung. And we listened. And we felt. And we cried. And we talked. And we remembered. 

It was most certainly a moment I will never forget. Literally I still can't believe that happened! What are the literal chances ? There just is no explanation, other than there's a God who really does care. && not only that, but He cared enough to send Nicol & I an answer that only we would recognize could have only come from Him, and in a way that showed He really knows us and the things we love. 

I will never forget swinging on that swing, with my best friend, in the middle of the most green and beautiful Indiana trees, listening to the birds chirp, and see the bunnies run across the grass. 

I will never forget what it FELT like to remember what the last year has meant to me & meant to Him. I remembered why I came here and why my mission was hand fit for me. I remembered that I came here not driven towards any outward success, but because I loved my Savior. I remembered that I have been able to do the work that my Savior and my Father have sent me here to do. The work of LOVE. Loving His children not because they will change and not because it will make me a successful missionary and not because I want something out of it. But loving His children because I first love Him. 

I remembered all the moments that I didn't pass by the woman crying, alone on the grass, or sitting in unsanitary and distraught homes to listen to someone's plea for help, or choosing to open my mouth and share when it would be so much more comfortable to keep to myself. 

I remembered what being a missionary means to me, and what my mission means to me. I remembered why I am so thankful and privileged to have more time to spend here doing His work. 

I REMEMBERED like it was for the first time that God knows my name. He knows my fears, my sorrows, my insecurities, my questions, my hopes, my heart, & the things I love. He knows how to speak to me as if there were no one else around. & He loves me. 

How could I ever express what that means to me? I don't know. But I surely hope to live my life in a way that shows Him I'm grateful. & I'm on His side. 

That little swing, has become my own "waters of mormon." Where I have come to know the goodness of God which leaves me changed.

And as if that wasn't enough, we walk back in their house to two FULL bags of groceries !!! After this week we literally had no money for groceries and our meal coordinator quit and we were 100% banking on winging it today.......And they hand us two bags of groceries? And we get into the car, and 20 more dollars are in the bag? 

How????????

God is good.

&& He does not forget where we are. 

ALL MY LOVE, 

ox sister rich