Feeling Famous, Thanksgiving, and Strong Leaders!

Hello.


This week I drove Al Fox Carraway and her husband Ben in a golf cart. So I feel a little bit closer to famous. Famous people know famous people right?! They are super nice. I enjoyed the five minute jaunt.


It's been interesting to work at the casting office again. I feel like I get to talk with more people about things that are important to them instead of the passing "How are you's?" in the street. The church is incredible. And I so greatly admire those who seek direction from the Lord in the small and great things.


There are like 12 Youth Mormon messages that are supposed to be filmed by the end of this year. So it will be a payday next year when they are all released.


In other news.... I was just called to teach the 17-18 year olds. Woot! I'm SOOOO excited! I love the youth!-- And it's my sister's class so that's a bonus as well. I sat in the class for the first time yesterday, and felt so much love for each of them. I don't remember all the ways that you can struggle as a teenager, but I know that I was so grateful for strong willed Young Women's leaders who came to my house to bring me to activities, and didn't give me an easy way out. It shaped the foundation for my life, and activity in the church. I am so grateful for them.


It may not be the same, but I am praying that the Lord will teach me and guide me to know how I can relate with these young people. They need a strong foundation. They need exactly what the "Come Follow Me" program and "Preach My Gospel" teach-- they need to be taught according to their needs; not just cookie-cutter lessons.


It's a journey to learn how to strengthen foundations.
My dad was re-building the footing and foundation of his house, and I remember some of the process. It took a really long time. He had to mount half of the house on stilts, stabilize it, cut out the old foundation, create a mold for the new foundation, pour concrete, wait for it to dry, then go through the whole process again on the other half.


I think that we spend most of our lives just working on the foundation. Or maybe that's just me, but either way therein lies an important principle. The foundation must be built thoroughly, with patience, and an eye for detail, just as our lives must be shaped, built and endures on principles of exact obedience, patience, faith, and "eye single to the glory of God", and trust in the Lord. It can't be built all at once, but a step at a time, a day at a time.


During this week of Thanksgiving not only am I grateful for the leaders in the church who helped me shape a strong foundation, but I am grateful for the tools to build that foundation. And I'm grateful that the Lord has all the specific instructions to building a sure, stable foundation I don't have to re-create a less perfect plan, but I can follow His!


I hope that this Thanksgiving you have the opportunity to be leaders in your own sphere of responsibility (within your ward, area, etc...). That you find joy in service, and can lend a helping hand in the work of strengthening, shaping, or re-pouring the foundations of others. :)


I'm grateful for each of you, and send you my love!


-Sister Amber Garvin

Monday, March 24, 2014 - Rocky Mount, North Carolina - LDS Sister Missionaries - Sister Amber Garvin

Sister Felt

Sister Garvin

Today is transfer #5 in Rocky Mount.  I'm so grateful that I get to finish training Sister Felt,  I have loved being her companion so much!  But I'm also pretty confident that this will be my last transfer in Rocky Mount.  We'll look back in 5 More Preparation Days and see if I am right. :)  (Also, I think that Sister Felt will stay here and train a new missionary. :)  That is my hunch.  I have no idea about me.  But I've thought that she would be a great trainer since week one. :) 

This week we went to the Urgent Care for Sister Felt's ear. She woke up and couldn't hear anything and the it started to hurt.  So they cleaned it out for her. 

I thought that was funny because I've gone to the Dr. with every one of my companions and 3 of them had their ears cleaned out.  So it's not funny that they had to go to the Dr. but is funny that I've gone with all of them for that purpose.  Did you know that you are supposed to have your ears cleaned every year (or something)  How many people actually do that?  I had no idea.  What a fun job.........…

It's bright, sunny and 40 degrees outside today.  They are forecasting a possible ice storm tonight.  So that's not too great, but we can't control the weather every day.  Only sometimes when it is in alignment with God's will.

Super excited for Becca's new job, and Mike's recent engagement.  Those are both wonderful things!  Pass on my congratulations. :)

I've recently been pondering a lot about myself, and my behaviors.  I know that I cover up a lot of the things that I am feelings with goofy-ness and humor.  I'll be frank to say that it is probably a way of bearing false witness.  Which, I didn't think I had a problem with honesty, but apparently it goes a little bit deeper than that. 

So I have a new resolve to be more honest with myself, as well as with others.  I will be tactful-- I don't mean that I'll be blunt and just say everything that would hurt someones feelings, or that I'll just be a blabber-face. 

I'm trying to not make exceptions or excuse myself from things.

Last week I wrote a talk (for emergencies) on Diligence and Faith.  And how we have to have both to be member missionaries.

There were 2 quotes from Zone Conference that I wanted to share.

"There is no idleness or indecisiveness in faith." -Assistants to the President

"Don't let your weakness dictate your actions.[What you can and cannot do]...God will compensate for your weakness." -President Baker

These are short powerful statements from which I have learned a lot.

Sister Felt, Elder Belisle, Sister Garvin

If we want to be instruments in the Lord's hands in "hastening the Work"  we must tune ourselves to the promptings of the Spirit.  Then act immediately in Faith.  We cannot afford to be idle or indecisive in the promptings that we receive.  If we do not act we miss the opportunity and we get "out of tune".  The revelation we receive is determined by our willingness to act.

Sister Felt, Brother Armstrong, Sister Garvin

Satan will try to convince us that because of our weakness we cannot be helpful in doing the Lord's work or that we are not enough to do His work.

WE ARE ENOUGH!  And it is because of our weakness that we can be made strong.  

Love, 

Sister Amber Garvin