I also had an amazing experience this week, that oddly enough, had to do with music also! I don't ever doubt that our Heavenly Father is mindful but I had a direct experience of my own and it still brings tears to my eyes. My Heavenly Father KNOWS me...
Part 1: A couple of weeks ago my Relief Society president asked if I would sing for a visiting teaching thing in Relief Society. She sent me a text that asked if I sang and if I would be willing to sing for a visiting teaching program they were going to have in Relief Society. She wanted a musical number for it. I text her back and said I did sing and I would be glad to and to let me know what I needed to do and I'd get it done. She said to sing anything about service. So I called Larain and got working on it...
Part 2: I sang the song in RS. When I was done she got up to thank me and give her talk. She said that she needed to tell everyone about the experience she had and why she had asked me to sing. I was kind of wondering why myself because I haven't sang at all since I've moved to Roosevelt, except the National Anthem a couple weeks ago at a basketball game. So she said that she had asked her daughter if she would sing but she said that she didn't want to and she didn't know what else to do. So she started praying about it. She said that she was impressed with the thought to "ask Doni Arnold" and so she started calling our house but the line was ALWAYS busy (there is something wrong with the land line so it is always busy). She tried 5 or 6 times and then kind of forgot about it until she was headed out to SLC for a doctors appointment. She said to her husband that she needed to get a hold of me to see if I would sing in RS and he asked her "Does Doni even sing???" to which she said "Hmmmmm! I don't know! But I know that I need to ask her." He then said to her "Are you STUPID!?!?? You are going to ask someone to sing and you don't even know if they sing???" And again she said "I don't know! But I know that I need to ask her!" So she found my number and asked and I said yes I sing and that I'd love to help. She told everyone that she wanted them to know that Heavenly Father is mindful of us and that he KNEW I sang and that she needed to ask me to sing...
Part 3: I have really been thinking lately about how I haven't sang since my dads funeral and that I feel like I am losing my talent. I don't have anywhere that I am able to use it besides church and I've just felt so sad that I am losing my talent because I love singing!!! So when I was asked to sing the National Anthem I was glad to and I worked really hard on it! It felt good to be working on something musical again!! I was happy that I got to use my talent. Then I got the text from the RS president a couple days later and I thought to myself "how crazy that I am all of the sudden getting asked to sing when it has been on my mind so much lately" I have had this prayer or concern or whatever you want to call it in my heart. I hadn't ever voiced it out loud. I just thought about it. A lot. So when she told that story I sat and cried because I had personal confirmation that the Lord is mindful of me. He KNEW and he worked through someone else to show me he knows. It was an awesome awesome awesome experience!!! I love the miracles that happen all around us, that show us Heavenly father knows our hearts and minds ;) He's listening to you everyday. Keep looking for him around you.
I love the blessings that come to our family and thought provoking experiences that we have, all because of Alex serving and loving others!! He's amazing :)
Enjoy <3
February is gone and another week in the vineyard.
Hey family! Glad to hear that things are going good at home. This week in the mission was a little bit different and a little bit hectic too. It was really something else but it was definitely a lot of fun!
We weren't able to teach a whole lot this week because of certain things, but we did see success with those that we still are keeping contact with. The V. family that we found last week in church is doing amazing! They're really really progressing. They still have struggles with the effect from moving place to place and finding ways of making means, but their desire to learn the gospel and make friends in the church is awesome! Our members are actually taking good care of them when they need something, I bet that's a blessing to them. We actually had the opportunity to take them to a family baptism back in Lindsey (my old area). The baptism was from one of the English members here in Tulare. It was definitely what you would call a preach my gospel baptism! The spirit was strong there, and the V. family said the same thing even though they weren't able to fully understand all of it. Something I learned on my mission is that when a baptism is a preach my gospel baptism, those that are non members or those who are investigating in the church are 80% more likely to be baptized. So it was perfect for them!! I was really happy that we went. Another thing they're doing now is taking notes in church, our investigators taking notes in church! YES!! I'm telling you, this family is golden! How often do you see normal members taking notes in church? B-b-bb-bbb-bbb-b-be baptized!
T. our other investigator has a baptism date for the 29th. He's doing pretty good. We saw him the other day and said he was leaving to Hanford CA for a little while because there was no work for a week. By the way it rained a ton this week! Which was much needed. When field workers have rain their bosses give them a certain amount of days before going back. But anyhow, T. is doing good and still has a lot of good questions. He just needs to come to church now... Y. and K. were doing good for a while, but we had to drop them. We went over to visit them this week and Y. told us that she wasn't going to come to church anymore because she's had bad experiences with the church this past month or so. It's just sad because she was doing so good for a long time. Like nearly 6-7 months I believe, but there's not a whole lot we can do about that so we're leaving her and K. in God's hands... C. and her family are the ones we found through a recent convert and they almost got antied. It was a little scary! The story goes that couple days after we taught them the restoration, something about mormons and Joseph Smith turns on from the discovery channel (and this is also after A.; C.'s daughter, prayed to know if the book of mormon was true and if Joseph Smith was a true prophet) and then BOOM discovery channel. When Elder Corona and I heard that, we warned them of the media and advised them to look elsewhere for sources LIKE The Book of Mormon maybe? The actual words and evidence itself? So we told them to be careful about those things. They're doing good and are close to progressing.
This week was different because there was a musical fireside that our Tulare sisters held here in Tulare yesterday. Elder Corona and I performed but I didn't get any pictures because it was in the chapel. I did get pictures afterwards though. We got some good compliments. I played the guitar while Elder Corona sang. We were going to sing together but thanks to this rainy weather I've been sick for a few days now. We played be still my soul and I know my redeemer lives together. I got the music from a member and improvised it so that we could kind of make it our own. It was fun! But wow we were stressed about it for a while, glad that it's over.
My time is running out short but I'm super glad to have got emails from other family members. Tell Grandma, Carmen, and Buck I appreciate their letters and that I love them! It's so good to hear from them.
Tell West and Mar to keep it up in Sports. Sounds like they're doing great! I'm excited to hear from baseball. And tell Weston I got his letter and that it's far better off getting skinnier than getting fatter like I am haha. I weigh right now about 175-180 if you were wondering.
Well I'm super happy to be here where I know the Lord wants me to be. I'm so glad to hear that everything at home is doing well. Unfortunately I have limited time but I hope and pray all goes well for you this week. I'm always praying for you.
Love ya lots
P.s. thank you for your singing story :) the Lord truly is mindful
P.s.s Tomorrow I'm giving a training in Zone conference, so hopefully that goes well!
P.s.s.s March 11th is our temple trip and it's a Wednesday so I'm supposing that's our preparation day too. March 21st we have a mission conference and an apostle is going to come and speak to us. Should be pretty awesome!
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