Sister Ripplinger's Letter, Lift, Encourage, Inspire, Bless, August 6, 2013

My dear friends and family, The weather in Nauvoo is beautiful. It feels so peaceful and calm now that Pageant is over. The Spirit is so strong and I am cherishing every last second. This last week is the opportunity to teach the new sisters how to tract and we're giving them the last trainings that we have to give. We are going tracting in Quincy and Burlington this week and having a training meeting on different teaching examples, object lessons we used to teach principles, etc. There is still much work to be done. And I am soooo grateful! Bring it on! I LOVE this work!!!! One night at Pageant, my companions and I were scanning the crowd, looking for the people we were supposed to talk to. Nothing was working out. I said a little prayer in my heart, "Heavenly Father, we will just try to talk with everyone and please lead those that are prepared to us. We'll listen for the Spirit to know if we need to go somewhere specific." We tried to talk with everyone around us and ended up moving to ward the gate area. Then out of no where, these three men walked straight in front of us. They had stumbled into Nauvoo by accident and saw a sign about some show happening this evening called the Nauvoo Pageant. Sister Zibetti was caught in a conversation a few feet away from us, and Sister Umphenour and I were able to talk with these men. They wanted to know about the temple, about the Pageant, about the Prophet Joseph. We were able to teach and testify. They wanted the Pageant CD and missionaries to come to them in their different cities where they were from. I think that sometimes the Lord tests us to see what we will do when we don't seem to have direction in life. We have to make choices and do our best and then He can help us. In this case, we didn't know who to talk to, so we just tried to talk with everyone! Then when the timing was right, he led three men that were prepared for the gospel into our paths. When we come to another trial in life, we can ask ourselves, "What needs to be chipped off or burned away this time?" If we approach our challenges with the perspective that our trials will make us better, if we endure them well and learn from them, life has a lot more purpose and direction. We will improve and progress so much if we will be humble and teachable. We have to allow ourselves to be molded and shaped into what the Lord has in mind. He is perfect and He is our Father. We can trust Him and know that our trials are for our experience and gain. When we went back after Pageant to contact, I again found myself not receiving direction on where to go. I stood in my place for a moment looking at all the faces of people in the crowd. No one was standing out to me. Then the Spirit told me to look behind me. I turned around and a woman was there, with her back toward me. I immediately moved around in front of her and asked about the Pageant. She responded, "It was fine." The Spirit told me to stay there and to not be afraid of silence. So I was praying in my heart that I'd know what in the world I was supposed to say to that. I waited and then said, "You felt the Spirit tonight and received direction from God." She looked up into my eyes and burst into tears. She threw her arms around me in a hug and trembled as she embraced me. She cried, "I am a convert to the church and my family disowned me. I have been praying to know how to help them. The Lord told me to stop worrying about them and be patient. Instead, I need to do the temple work for my ancestors. But I don't even know how to begin doing that. My eyes lit up with joy! "I know how to help!!!" I was able to give her specific instructions of how to get started and what needs to happen. I invited her to attend the temple once a week and to take someone from her ward with her every time, especially looking for those that haven't been in a while. She lives about 30 minutes from a temple, so it is close! She agreed with excitement shining in her eyes. If you criticize me, the Spirit will comfort me. If you love me, the Spirit will correct me. Take your love to your loved ones and your frustrations to the Lord. Let the Savior take His role in your life and heal you. Strive to lift, encourage, inspire, and bless all around you. Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven. This is the work of Salvation. This is my last email as a full time missionary. Next week when I get home, I want to write one last email to conclude my last week in the mission field. I am so grateful for this time that the Lord has granted me to labor in His vineyards in California and Nauvoo. I love this work and I fully intend to continue building the Kingdom all the days of my life. This is the work of Salvation and there are many, many waiting for the blessings of the Gospel. I will finish reading the Book of Mormon one last time this week. I love the Book of Mormon. By reading the scriptures, we come to know our Savior and Father in Heaven. We know their words and will recognize them in our lives. Any one that reads the Book of Mormon with sincerity and truly wants to know if it is the word of God, can pray about it, and know that it is precious truth. Thank you for all of your love and support throughout my mission. I am so grateful for good friends and family. You have been a blessing to me. Love, Sister Heather Ripplinger