Family and Friends:
We
keep thinking we will get through one of these letters without crying,
but it doesn't happen. Our sweet Heather soaks up every inch of
Nauvoo. Our Driggs friends know who Cruizer is, for the rest of you, he
was Heather's beautiful Palimino horse that she did 4-H and horse shows
with. They used to run across the fields across from our home, in the
summer, bare back and running full speed, his pretty yellow mane and
tail matched her pony tail.
Heather's P-day must have changed to Thursdays. Enjoy!
Blaine and Nikki
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2012 10:33 AM
Subject: Prepared and Perfect
Subject: Prepared and Perfect
My family and friends,
So
many miracles have been happening!!!! Friday morning, I was serving in
the Lucy Mack Smith Home and I was deep in thought. I was talking with
Heavenly Father and trying to listen to the Spirit. I felt like I needed
to refer someone from back home. I left this person with a Book of
Mormon and the lesson pamphlets, along with a letter. So, with pure
faith, I wrote down her name and information. Then, prayerfully, I
decided on which sister to give the card to... Sister Cook is going to
call one of my precious friends back home and whether she agrees to meet
with missionaries or not, I was determined to be obedient. Shortly
thereafter, the miracles came.
A couple came into the house and throughout the
tour, several items came to my attention that were no coincidence. The
man LOVES family history, teaches it in St. Louis, and just returned
from a trip to the Salt Lake Family History Center. He had
Mormon ancestors in Nauvoo and was curious. Of ALL the places to stop in
Nauvoo, they showed up in Lucy Mack Smith's home first. What are the
odds? As we visited more, I discovered that the woman was a Jew and she
had some bitter feelings against the Church because of the Hollocaust
names that were taken to the temple. (In my family history class last
semester at BYU, they placed a huge emphasis that we only do family
names now.) Sister Brooks came back from the other tour and started
talking with us. I kept looking at her to see if she felt anything,
because from the beginning of meeting this couple, I felt like I needed
to offer a copy of the Book of Mormon, but when I discovered
the bitter feelings of this woman, I was hesitant. Sister Brooks looked
at me like she felt the same thing, but I just didn't know what to do.
The couple walked out the door, but left their car parked right by the
house, then walked down the street. We closed the door and immediately
started pouring over thoughts. I offered a prayer and what I said kind
of shocked me. I said amen, and Sister Brooks jumped to her feet,
grabbed a copy of the Book of Mormon and a Family Proclammation, then
said, "We need to sit outside on the benches to wait. I picked up my
scriptures and we went outside. We waited an hour and I was confident
that they would be back before we left, but I had a feeling things would
not go as we expected. I was blankly staring at my open scriptures
because I was thinking about what we needed to say. I refocused in on my
scriptures, and I realized that Nephi was saying that he has charity
for the Jews because he IS a Jew!!!! The thoughts
started coming quickly and Sister Brooks and I started talking about
what we felt. The woman is Jewish... the Book of Mormon starts off with
this family that left Jerusalem... the man loves family history and
connecting his family lines... oh wow!!! The couple came into view and
my heart started pounding. All the sudden this other car pulls up and a
family jumps out that wants a tour!!!!! Come on Satan, give me a break! I
jump up and tell Sister Brooks that she should wait for that couple. I
felt like she had something that they needed to hear. So I took the tour
(probably the most speedy tour that family has been on yet) and then
with the most convincing look of poise, I walked over with Sister Brooks
as the couple arrived at the car door. The woman was very anxious to
leave and jumped immediately in the car. The man, however, came straight
to us. We had the most quick and intense conversation as the wife
yelled at him to get in the car. She was one
angry woman! The man listened to us intently and we asked, "Would you
like a copy of the Book of Mormon?" A huge grin split across his face.
"My mother gave me a copy years ago as a young boy. I have been looking
for it over the last several years. I WOULD LOVE ONE." He hopped in the
car and little did he know that in the book was a copy of the Family
Proclammation, a pass along card, a referral card, and a picture of the
Savior. Sister Brooks and I waited until the car pulled out of site,
then we collapsed on the bench. WEW!!!!! =)
The next day, I had a really good feeling- someone
would come in that was prepared. Rather suddenly and early in the
morning, these two men walk in the door. Immediately, they start asking
questions about the temple. Sister Coyne and I actually were together
for this tour (usually I am flying solo on these tours). This was an
answer to my prayers because over the last weeks, I have been praying
intently that I could have good experiences teaching with Sister Coyne.
The men started asking really good questions. "So your temples are like
the ones in the Bibles?" One question led into another good question and
soon Bill asked, "So if you are the restored church of Christ, you have
apostles, right?" We said yes and he seemed flabbergasted. WE took him
over to the display of the apostles and prophet. They listened to the
testimony of President Monson, in which he talked about the Book of
Mormon. Bill started asking more questions about
continuing revelation and General Conference, etc. I explained how the
Book of Mormon came to be and he responded, "Well if I'm going to know
that the book is true, I am going to have to ask God myself and ask HIM
if it is true!" I had to refrain from bursting into a huge smile. I
asked if he would like to have missionaries bring him a copy of the Book
of Mormon and they could explain further about everything. HE
AGREED!!!! He quickly filled out the referral card and asked how long it
would take for the missionaries to get there. He left with a beaming
glow and I smiled at Sister Coyne. We went into the Conference room by
ourselves and had a great big high five!!!!! This was the first time we
were together and received a referral!!!! YAY!!!!! I prayed for a long
time that night. My prayers had been answered and I only have one more
week with Sister Coyne in this transfer.
Mother's Day was WONDERFUL!!!! It was so good to
visit with my family and I am SOOO proud of the people that I am sealed
to for time and eternity!!! I feel so much strength inside of me because
of my family. That evening, all of the young sisters and I went to
visit Sister Gilliland. We all gathered around the piano and sang songs
together. It reminded me so much of being at home when I would play the
piano and all of my family would gather around and sing. I LOVED IT!!!!
Next week is the fireside that the young sisters are
in charge of. Sister Cook is in charge of it all and she has done a
GREAT job in planning. All of us are singing a few numbers together,
there are a few special numbers, and a few speakers in between. I was
asked to speak and have been pondering a lot about what I should say.
All of the missionaries in Nauvoo come and it is open to the public.
Also, I was asked to accompany Sister Zibetti and Sister Streeter as
they sing "Be Still My Soul". The song is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. However,
the piano part is really challenging. It has four key changes and moves
around a lot. I have to make the most of the hour I get to practice
each week and I'm praying that somehow it will work. =) The Sisters have
gorgeous voices and I'm really excited for it!!!
I absolutely LOVE the senior couples here. There's a
buzz in town about these cool necklaces that all of the senior sisters
are making.... well... you would never believe this, but I got "hooked"
on it, too. =) haha It reminds me of home and Sister Sims was so nice to
teach me how to make them. The crocheting skills are being revived!
During our 5 minute car rides to and from our sites and the VC, I work
as quickly as I can and I've made 5 of those darn necklaces. I guess
it's part of being initiated as a missionary in Nauvoo. =)
The Terry's are temple
missionaries that Sister Coyne and I made friends with. Last prep day,
we went over and played "Mormon Mad Gab" and we were laughing and having
a good time together. I love them!!! I'm trying to figure out how I can
weasel my way into convincing one of the teamster elders that he could
steal a draft horse for me to ride on preparation day, but... odds are
not looking good since it's against the rules to ride horses as a
missionary. =) One can only dream about such things as a missionary! I
often look out the window and see the beautiful green fields and dream
about Cruizer and racing across fields as fast as we could go. Nauvoo is
SO beautiful!!! We drive past the temple every day and I love it!!!!
I LOVE being a missionary!!!!!!!!! I love running
with some of the sisters in the morning. I love learning about the
people of Nauvoo. I love the visitors that come here. I love the
missionaries. I love my companion. I love feeling the Spirit in news
ways. I love studying the gospel, falling into bed at night with a
content and exhausted heart... Sister Coyne tells me that I bear my
testimony in my sleep and teach about gospel principles. One night I was
talking to someone about the importance of family history and how it
relates to the Plan of Salvation... the next day, Sister Coyne said she
used my speech with someone she actually talked to in the VC. Oh, it's a
good life. =)
I love you all!!!!!!! I am SO grateful for the
righteous influences in my life! Remember that the Savior and His
Atonement give us the strength we need. The Atonement enables us to
perform at the level that we were designed to. The most powerful Being
in the universe is the FATHER of our SPIRITS!!!!
Love,
Sister Heather Ripplinger
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