Whoo Wee and Wild!

If you're struggling to love someone, take a look into their eyes and then see them as your brother or sister, someone who needs a friend and listener, and you will find Jesus' love within yourself – for that is what He does for you.

Had FHE with two investigators and a member and they came to all three hours of church!! :) A doctor 

​recently ​discovered a hernia I got in Chile that I'll need operated. When I was in Chile, I was also​ 

diagnosed with depression. While I wasn't homesick and working hard, I've learned depression can hit like any other illness and I definitely never thought it would happen to me. Although I had reached out to my mission president and leaders during this time for priesthood blessings​, and after scripture reading​, prayerful pleading, and sleepless nights, I was on a plane within a 24 hour notice. 

Serving in the States has been a humbling and strengthening transition. My stake president called the church missionary department to negotiate me going back out before the 6 month requirement; it was determined that I can send my papers again on August 7th. To try to stay somewhat in missionary mentality, I haven't gotten a phone or job as I continue to study and serve in the MTC, temple, and with the missionaries every day. Anyhow, you who is reading these words have shown me the value of true compassion and support. Sometimes, we need to let others help us. All the time, we must allow Christ to heal us, for He loves us so much that He lets us hurt for a season.

For example, Christ knew that Lazarus was going to die but He didn't visit him until the sisters asked Him to. Similarly, Christ knew the sick woman had thought to be healed by touching Him but did not stop until she did. Because He will not nullify our agency, we must act first to permit our Savior to rescue us. There are no dead ends, ends of the line, or endings for that matter when we always remember Him.

 Love, Hermana Jerman

Ether 12:27

We got to start teaching Jorge again! We talked about that although we don't personally know Joseph Smith nor ancient prophets nor have we seen God face to face, we can personally know their reality through the words of today's prophet, making the effort to see God's hand in our lives, temples, the Book of Mormon. Jorge stopped taking lessons because of his job, but he and Williams (his less active roommate) have been going through hard things. Williams has been coming to church now for three weeks and got a calling! Their other roommate Pedro left for his mission Wednesday. A former atheist, he is now a convert of one year.

Though being strong and dependable is important to me, I guess being weak isn't a weakness at all, but rather an opportunity to rely and trust in the Lord. He is Christ who gives us strength and dependability, He who makes us more than we alone could. The Savior doesn't just make up the difference; He makes all the difference.

Love, Hermana Jerman

Meant to Be

Elder Kearon said in the YSA devotional that when we serve, it is much easier to find ourselves because there is so much more to find. In addition, there is no better way to soften hearts to God than to invite them to engage in serving.

Hermana Miller got transferred (on the left). I love these ladies!

Love Hermana Jerman

You Are Engraved Upon His Hands

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." Plato

"For you know that soft is stronger than hard, water stronger than rock, and love stronger than force." 

At the MTC, I picked up a call from a Christian woman who moved recently to New Jersey from somewhere close to where my brother served in Cote d'Ivoire, Africa. She really wanted to go to a church to feel more at home. When I sent her the address to the nearest chapel, she eagerly accepted a visit from the elders and a Book of Mormon! I sent her contact information to where my ma's friend is serving as the mission president's wife. The elders there had already gotten it that day.

Jill Thomas –––> We live in a world of yellow or a world of blue. 

The world of blue is full of grief, pain, suffering. It's full of new ideas and questions that you never would have had in the world of yellow (happiness, success, safety). Once you have lived in yellow, all you want to do is leave blue. Is that the test? We may think that the test is if you get exposed to blue but make it back to yellow, then you're okay. We think, "If I could just go back to yellow, then I'll be happy again" – but those things that once seemed so yellow to you no longer feel yellow. It's because once you've experienced blue, yellow will never look the same. What do you think now? "Well, I guess my world is always going to be blue. If I can just endure the blue, then one day I'll die and the answers will come." Yellow is a part of you. Likewise, blue is a part of you. So, provide a space for yellow and blue to exist together within you. The Master gave you both. He gives you two contradictory colors so you can see green. Yes, you're happy; and yes, you still suffer. No, it's not just happiness; and no, I don't suffer... at the same time! We must learn to see between the opposing worlds to find green. You were never intended to stay in blue or yellow. See green. Perhaps, springing from the earth as trees and plants, green represents new life, alive in Christ.

“Yea, they may forget, but will I not forget thee... Behold, I have graven thee upon my hands.” // 1 Nephi 21:15-16 

Let's remember... He does; and one day we really will feel His hands!! Yay!

Love, Hermana Jerman