WEEK 41: Fear Not

Howdy howdy! Welcome to this week's email rundown!

We did a lot of service this week! A family in our ward is moving out, and they need help packing up. We went over there this week and deconstructed shelves and cabinets. We also spent time helping a woman with some yard work, and we're going back with our district this week! On Saturday we helped a sister in our ward get her garden set up and prepped for the summer. Thursday we spent time serving at St. Timothy's, which is just one of my favorite locations from my mission!

We also had interviews with President Rodarte this week! While waiting for him, I had a nice one-on-one conversation with Sister Rodarte. I adore both of them so much! I love to be around them and just absorb all of their knowledge and goodness and friendship. They are truly incredible people. People say that you're assigned to labor in a specific mission for a reason, and I know that part of that is because of the mission president and his wife. The Rodartes have become one of the largest influences for good in my life. They are amazing examples and have become valuable mentors to me. I love them and just want to be around them literally every single day!

There is some incredible spiritual momentum in the NVLM right now! About two weeks ago, the amount of people who were set for a baptism date increased by more than double within a span of about five days! There were 91 people on date on Tuesday, and by the weekend there were over 220. As of this week, it has steadily increased now to over 260 people! 180 of them are scheduled for the month of April. Over 1,000 new people were found and began to be taught last week across the mission. It's absolutely miraculous! There's just no other word for it. The work is moving forward, and it is clear to see that God is truly hastening His work. The snowball is rolling, and we're just doing our best to keep up! There are amazing things happening, and God's power is truly present. It's an exciting time to be participating in the work of gathering Israel! People are being prepared all over the place, and are accepting Jesus Christ and making covenants with Him, bringing the world one step closer to Christ's return!

Speaking of, William made great progress this week! He showed up at the church on Tuesday unexpectedly, and we had an impromptu lesson with him to reevaluate where he's at and to resolve concerns. He also met with Bishop, and that helped to resolve even more of his worries! William is truly elect! He is so ready to covenant with God, and he has an inspiring amount of faith--both the strong belief in his Savior, and diligently taking action to draw closer to Him. He wasn't able to make his date for April 8th, but he's back on date and is scheduled for April 22nd!

We had a lesson with the Gilberts over Zoom, and invited them to pray as a family about a baptism day for Gavin and Aiden this month! We're hoping for April 29th, but we will follow up about it in our lesson tonight. Prayers for the Gilberts! The boys have been going to the youth activites and have been loving it! We're finally getting Sister Gilbert fellowshipped too, and that's making a huge difference. I love this family!

It's been an exhausting week, y'all. Not for any particular reason, I've just been weary all week. I've been dragging a bit, which is frustrating. It's been hard to find motivation, and it's taken everything out of me just to do my job every day. But, Sister Brewster, one of our sweet members, had us join her for dinner on Saturday and during our dinner conversation, the things she said to us about the work we do were a complete answer to my prayers. I just felt a huge weight lift off of my shoulders, and for a few seconds I just felt an outpouring of Heavenly love and confirmation that what she was saying was absolute truth. Heavenly Father knows our individual needs so well, even the buried-deep-down-inside and never-spoken-of needs. He knows. And He will always show you that He's aware and is guiding your steps.

This week has taught me about enduring to the end, and I know that lesson will continue throughout this coming week. I wanted to include one of my favorite verses in the Book of Mormon, but while searching for it I found a verse from Isaiah in the Old Testament, so I guess Isaiah is just carrying my email this week! I am grateful to have the scriptures to find healing in, and to seek refuge from the storms of life. I'm grateful for my Savior, and for the scriptures that testify of Him.

2 Nephi 22:2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation."

Isaiah 41:10,13 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

That's all this week! I hope you have a lovely week.

Love,

Sister Malmstrom

231 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy #2226 Henderson, NV 89012

P.S. I thought you all would be very happy to know that the hummingbird feeders have been an absolute success!!

Pictures

- Bike mode almost killed us this week.

- Checking the church building...

- Nerf gun war for our district activity today!

- Morning exercise routine: sprint up the stairs in your apartment complex.

- Sunset mode!

- Our hummingbird visitor! We've named him Lawrence!