forward, pressing forward, as a triumph song we sing!

Hello my dears!

I’ve been looking forward to this ALL week and I was worried that because it’s President’s Day the library would be closed but no worries! The Mayfield branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library ROCKS!

So this past week was probably one of the roughest of my entire mission. We had SO many appointments fall through, only 2 people opened the door for us in an hour and a half of tracting and they were both rude, and Joyce Ely, the fabric lady, DROPPED US. A Bible! A Bible! She has a Bible and she doesn’t need anymore of the word of God. GET REAL. It drives me nuts when people are like that…it’s like “Please God, don’t give me more blessings! No more! NO MORE!!!!” Ridiculous.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Truly it was kind of a heart-wrenching week. But it’s okay because I’m learning a lot of things. I was reflecting the other day on what I have learned on my mission thus far. I think three of the main lessons are:

1) AGENCY. People have their agency. That is the beauty of the plan of salvation…that we aren’t forced to do anything. People are allowed to use their agency in any way that they want and how they use their agency is NOT a reflection on me as a missionary.

2) ENDURANCE. I think a mission is honestly all about learning how to endure….and endure well. Things get hard! As Elder Holland said, “I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience.” SO TRUE. And so it is that I am learning to keep an eternal perspective and to keep pressing forward and looking towards the Savior as a source of hope and comfort.

3) TRUSTING IN THE LORD and HAVING FAITH. It is not easy to believe that Heavenly Father will come through on His promises but He will. Like I mentioned this week has been frustrating and a couple different people have said, “I know this is a hard area!” but here’s the thing: I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT. In the first 35 sections of the Doctrine and Covenants it says, “The field is white already to harvest” about 14 times, and none of those times is it immediately followed by “except in the area of Mayfield in the Ohio Cleveland Mission”. NEVER! That’s because there are people here in this area that are prepared to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. THEY ARE HERE AND I AM GOING TO SPEND THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS FINDING THEM, I swear.

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m so grateful that a loving Heavenly Father reached out again in love in the 1820s and restored the gospel through young Joseph Smith. I love Jesus Christ. I’m striving to become more like Him. I know that He is here with me, and that He is true to His promise that says, “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” I feel it. I know it’s true. Keep on keeping on! The gospel is THE most important thing! I LOVE YOU!!!! -Sister Webb