The Week of Spring‏

On this week's episode of Sister Cale in Columbus-the sisters taught
lots of kids (#forthewin), there was Graeter's Ice Cream (sorry
Buckeye Blitz, you have now lost your place as favorite with the favor
falling to Toffee Chocolate Chip), the Sisters found Wildflower Dr and
immediately had to stop for an impromptu photo shoot, Sister Cale
accomplished another one of her mission bucket list items (help paint
someone's house), there was free BiBiBop (tasted like #campuslife),
Saturday included time in Pataskala and Fairborn, and as is always the
case when engaged in the Lord's work, there were miracles.

Hey All!

It seems to mundane to give weather reports in weekly e-mails but the
weather has been spring beautiful in these last few days. Right now
all our windows are open and we're letting the stuffy winter air out.
It's fantastic.

So transfer calls came last night (because we aren't having transfer
meetings anymore) and I will be staying another transfer in
Pickerington with Sister Clark. As soon as the call came in I felt so
relieved. Though I have grown accustomed to the fact that transfers
frequently have nothing to do with my personal preference, I had
really hoped to stay in Pickerington for at least another transfer
because I feel like I have so much work to do here. I'm excited to see
what we can make happen in this next transfer.

One of the best miracles of this past week happened on Saturday,
though the story really begins last Monday. On Monday I received an
e-mail from Sister Harris informing me that Tabitha, one of the many
amazing people that I taught in Fairborn, was getting baptized on
Saturday. Of course I immediately set about trying to figure out what
would be necessary to best persuade President that I needed to be
given permission to go to the baptism (an hour and twenty minutes
away). Sister Gordon also taught Tabitha when she was in Fairborn, so
we hatched a plan of sorts that included finding a member who would be
more than willing to give us a ride before we even called President.
We called and he gave me permission to go (the member was from our
ward), but said he would have to think about whether or not Sister
Gordon could go. On Friday night he gave us permission to do an
exchange for the afternoon and that is how I got to see not only
Fairborn, but Pataskala on Saturday. Sister Lynch was a total Saint
and drove Sister Gordon and I to Fairborn. Tabitha was so happy to see
us and it was very cool for us to have the opportunity to be there
when she made that very important step in her eternal journey home.

We were as always enabled to do so much more than we would be capable
of on our own this last week. I am always so grateful for the way
Heavenly Father helps us to achieve our goals when we square our
shoulders and get to work. One of my favorite lessons this last week
was teaching the George kids about the Plan of Salvation. Teaching
this family truly helps me to understand why Christ wanted us to
become as little children. They have such a sincerity to understand
and a willingness to try anything that you suggest in order to better
know Jesus Christ. I thought it was particularly sweet when Charles
pointed out that as we live the Gospel of Jesus Christ (faith in
Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and
enduring to the end) that we are doing The Circle of Life. It's true
that we are continually in progress as God's children so long as we
keep moving.

I have been learning so much about how mindful Heavenly Father is of
us in our own personal journeys. There is nothing of this missionary
experience that I would change, not even the hardest moments, in fact
especially not the hardest moments because those inevitably lead me to
my knees where I am able to find the comfort and peace that I am
seeking. This week I have been given exactly what I needed to be able
to be the most effective missionary that I could be. I can't believe
that Heavenly Father loves me enough to allow me to have these
experiences.

The church is true, life is good, God's in charge, and Satan hates you.

Love,

Jessica