Week 14: Stake Conference

Dear Family and Friends,



My CTR ring with the Alaskan Flag in the middle



Anchorage from Woronzoff Point in our area--Lucky Us!!



A mountain that looks like a sleeping lady!



A moose strolling into the Providence Alaska Medical Center.



This week was a bit slow, but still alot going on.  We built marshmallow towers in district meeting.

I learned through the example of a man who is struggling in many ways.  He has wanted us to come by for some time now, and we were finally able to make contact.  As we visited him, I was humbled to hear his testimony, through a broken body, of just how much he loved his Savior.  His spirit touched my heart in a way that I will remember forever.  There is absolutely no trial that cannot be overcome when we have him by our side and every trial is absolutely necessary for us to grow.  John 17:3 says that eternal life is to know God and Jesus Christ.   I know that as we know them, we can know ourselves.  Too often we think of only what is going on right now, our shortcomings, our friends' shortcomings, etc.; but when we realize that God sees us as what we can be, not as what we are, we can see that he loves us enough to help us grow.  He sees us in terms of forever--beyond this life, and he has provided a way for us to be happy.   

Since we as missionaries are out here finding, teaching, helping, and inviting, our purpose is not just to baptize, but it is to help others to gain access to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which is made available to everyone.  What we look toward is the temple--because all things unfair in this life are made fair as we can gain and strive to attain the blessings of the temple, which are for eternity.  "Seek ye not for riches, but seek ye for the kingdom of God."  This scripture in Second Nephi goes on to remind that as we continue, we will want to help others around us, because we understand our nature, we understand that as we serve each other, we are also taking care of the needs of each other, and all can be taken care of.

 The story of Christ walking on the water has been a huge part of the week.  Matthew 14 is a big example of many of us, and even many of those we meet with.

     27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good ^acheer; it is I; be not afraid.

     28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
     29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
     30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was ^aafraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
     31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little ^afaith, wherefore didst thou ^bdoubt?

As Simon Peter saw his Lord, he was overcome with happiness and desired to join him on the water. As he went, it was that faith in Christ, nothing doubting, that held him up; however, as he walked, he began to doubt what he once knew--that God would hold him up.  He started to sink.  Just like us, sometimes we start to sink and doubt what we once knew.  God has not changed, it was always us. Still his hand is stretched out (as he constantly encourages in the Isaiah chapters of the Book of Mormon and outside of it) and he comes to us, and he carries us. Those are the times he is closest to us because he is carrying us; however, how often do we attribute this to ourselves or to some other source?  We cannot recognize him unless we look for his hand in our life.

The woman in her 90's I have visited often passed away this last week.  I am so grateful for her example, and that she did not have to suffer too much; and of anything that is what I am the most grateful for, along with her example which will stay with me always.

Stake Conference was wonderful!  We had two members of the Seventy teach us--Elder Call and Elder Duncan. President Beesley shared his insight of how the Atonement was complex, and even though we don't understand it or why it even works, God has made it so simple to access, even with a few simple steps, which are the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

By the way-- Sister Beesley is doing a new thing-- "Music and the Waking Word" so that it is easier to wake up in the morning :)

Love you All!

Love,

Sister Wuehler

Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 9:8-9

8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.

isms:

1) a "sourdough" is someone in Alaska who has been here forever, and a "cheechako" is someone who has never been through an Alaskan winter- -that's me!!

2) "What drives the Priesthood"  --  "Relief Society!"