Sister Ripplinger's Letter, Answered Prayers, June 25, 2013

My dear family and friends, This week, Sister Zibetti and I started working on the schedule during Pageant time and it was absolutely incredible to feel the Heavenly help we received. There are so many details and specific ways that things have to work out and there is no way under the heavens that we could have done it on our own. But somehow, it all came together very quickly and things worked out. I am so grateful to know that we aren't in this alone. Sister Newell is my ever faithful companion and I love her to pieces. She is growing spiritually so much and it is amazing to see how the Spirit teaches us all. She is really learning how to discern needs and to follow the Spirit. It's exciting to see her growing. :) If I had to describe her in one word, I would use LOYAL. She is such a faithful and loyal friend and I absolutely love her. I'm grateful that I have her right now. :) I had a lot of neat learning experiences this week. I'll just share a couple really quickly. Last week, I went into the women's restroom to find a young MAN standing in front of the mirrors. haha I spun around in a split second and went back out in a blink. Sister Newell saw the surprised look on my face and laughed. We then started saying how funny it was that a man was in the women's restroom. I totally judged the young man. A few minutes later, I realize that this young man had a severe handicap and his sweet 18 year old sister was taking care of him. Their parents went to the temple and the rest of their cousins ditched them, even though they were supposed to stay together. This young woman took care of her brother who had the maturity level of a 5 year old, but was in a 15 year old body. They came out of the rest room and sat on one of the couches in the VC. I felt like I needed to talk with them and it was very humbling. She was one of the most patient and Christ-like 18 years I have ever met. I learned a lot from that experience. I met another young woman that was absolutely incredible. She also had a severe handicap all through her life and she had accepted the fact that she would never get married in this life. 10 years ago, she was endowed and made that day her "anniversary". Since that day, she attended the temple on her anniversary each year and had a celebration. She has kept her covenants faithfully and went through life with faith. Then a man came into her life that could see passed her mortal challenges and fell in love with her. They were married on her "anniversary". She told us her story after recently being married in the Nauvoo Temple. It was so inspiring!!!! Her prayers were answered. I had a neat opportunity to serve with one of the senior single sisters that lost her husband years ago. She has served three missions since then and she intends to keep serving missions until she dies or can't go anymore. She also said that once her grandchildren are old enough to serve, she may fund their missions instead when she can't go anymore. I just sat there in awe and listened to her tell her story. There are so many strong people in the world. I had the opportunity to speak in Sacrament meeting this week and I really enjoyed it. A few weeks ago, President Gilliland told me about how he and Sister Gilliland would be prayerful in preparing when they were asked to speak in Stake Conferences or other meetings, but wouldn't write out a complete outline to read their talk from. I can still see his eyes sparkling a few weeks ago when he invited me to give my talk without notes and to just follow the Spirit. I did it!!!! :) At least the part of going without notes... :) My talk was centered around the promise in Preach My Gospel "As your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ grows, your desire to share the Gospel will increase." During my mission, I have truly come to love the Atonement. I am gaining a stronger and deeper understanding of the Atonement. I am so grateful for the enabling power of the Atonement. We really can overcome any weakness and make those things strong through Christ. We can be healed. We can forgive. We can change. Sunday night, President Gilliland talked about temple symbolism and taught me a lot. I had been planning on asking him to teach me more about the temple before I went home, and he answered it in a fireside at his house. Prayers are answered. I am so grateful to be a missionary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THE GOSPEL. Love, Sister Ripplinger