And that is what nailed it for them..................

Wow this week has been so good:) A lot of really tender moments:) Yes some of it was hard. really hard, but I love it. always. because I am learning so much!

Vicky is our Chinese investigator who has been coming to church for months, but we have only been teaching her for like 2 of them.  She is soooo close to baptism, and is having the most amazing experiences while praying, seriously like it is UN-REAL! We taught her and her atheist husband earlier this week and lets just say...it was a DISASTER! We showed them the restoration DVD and after we asked David how he felt, (cause we were feeling the spirit really strongly) and he was like, "ummm...the director.ummm.did not really do it good,  is very poorly directed" (in his little Chinese accent) we were like, 'nooooooooooooooooooooooooo, you missed the whole point!!  AGH!!!. We can laugh about it now, but at the time, along with so many other things that just didn't go right, in the lesson,  I was SO discouraged! We felt like we had literally tried everything with them, and they still weren't 'getting it'.  My heart was broken for Vicki and David, because they are so close but so...not, at the same time! I want the gospel to be apart of their lives so badly, because i know how much it will bless and help them and their family! What also broke my heart, was when  David told us he is only gonna pray at the VERY end of this trial he is facing (hasn't been able to find a job since he has moved from China) when he knows there is absolutely nothing else, he himself can do...This seriously made me just cry...we encouraged him to just turn it over to God, and pray and ask for help- but he doesn't want to. As a companionship we talked for ages about what else we could do to help them, and we were just stuck. When we realized we could not figure it out on our own, we IMMEDIATELY opened our fast, and decided we would fast for them! I offered the prayer and just as i began...I broke down crying. My soul had seriously felt like it had just been torn apart, and being able to just cry and talk to God explaining our concerns and sadness for Vicki and David as a companionship, ended up being a memorable experience! As soon as i finished the prayer i literally felt like weights had been taken off my shoulders! My heart was healed, and we had faith we would know how to best help them! Well Sure enough, God showed us exactly what we need to do next with them, and now is like..."duh! How did we miss that earlier?" But i know it was god just trying to teach us:) It ended up being such a tender mercy and blessing to be able to completely turn it over to the Lord and just open up to him.  Well our fast and prayers were answered later in the week when we had a dinner and lesson with them and a member! It was the best because we really got to know them on even more of a personal level which strengthened their trust in us, and our friendship, but then we got to have such a powerful lesson! we taught about prophets and THAT IS WHAT NAILED IT FOR THEM! David was admitting at the end, that it has to be true that there is a prophet and Vicki asked so many good questions and then again, offered another prayer that was UNBELIEVABLY STRONG! At the end, we helped her recognize what she was feeling and pointed out that it was the spirit confirming truth. Her prayers are the best because their like creating her own teaching record in a way, because she tells exactly what she is thinking and feeling about what we've taught her, about her family, and about....just everything! but in her prayer she started out and said, "Dear Lord...I now believe in you God" (and this is when i just started crying, because I'm like, 'no way!),  she then said , "I believe that the sisters are telling me the truth, and i know that there are messengers here on earth to help lead and guide us to you" and she just went on, and on, blowing our minds! Afterwards she said how she felt this really strong power going in and out of her, and in her chest and head, and that it was very...PEACEFUL! Ahhhh we just got to the car and were like, "no.way.what just happened?!" she is sooo amazing and really is the sweetest, most tender, loving woman and mom EVER, and it is such a blessing to see her feel the power of God working within her! i just love her so much and care so much about her and her family, they are soooo close and i really hope they keep 'GETTING IT", because I know the gospel with help them sooo much!

 

 

This week Bobkie just like...made my whole week! he went to the Temple for the first time to do baptisms for the dead and wow...seeing this awesome African kid i have grown to love sooo much, dressed in white, in the house of the Lord- just melted my heart! It is soooo hard not to hug our investigators like him (especially because he reminds me so much of hunts), but really, i love this kid so much! He has changed his life, and now is a priesthood holder, who flippin holds a temple recommend, how cool is that!/ Seeing him in the water  being baptized for literally 50+ names (he did family names for our mission leaders wife's family) just made me cry haha. It was literally one of the most beautiful things i have ever seen. Baptisms is not the end, and Bobkie has definitely made sure that it's not the end for him! He also blessed the sacrament for the first time this past sacrament.  Ya i was crying again! ( i promise i really don't cry that much...haha- side note: I actually cry less that i used to back at home, when it comes to spiritual stuff). but ya the spirit was so strong and i was just so happy for him and to see that he is continuing to grow in the gospel:)

 

 

This week has been amazing and i wish i had time to tell you of all of miracles we've seen and experience, but we'll just have to wait for when i get home. we can all will sit all together and share them- love you guys so much!!! xoxooxoxoxoxox

 

 

We also got to teach some sweet Indians this week.  Their accent, and the smell of their home...mmmm, makes me miss India. it's crazy to think that i was there a whole year ago. Time really does fly so much! Does it seem like I've been gone for long, or does it seem like it's gone by fast! for me I feel like it has FLOWN!


Love you,

Sister Diondra Ensign

Big spiritual overload, I was almost made speechless........................

 So on Monday we got to go out to lunch with President and Sister Lindsay since we broke the record for baptisms in our zone for the month of June, which was sweet;) but at lunch President asked Sister Beckstrand and I to train a sister who has been waiting on her Australian visa SINCE JANRUARY! Hahaha, so yes she has been out longer than us, but oh.my.gosh.  SHE IS AMAZING! We picked her up the next day, and it has just been awesome! Her name is Sister Kanee and she is actually from Kevin Mcomies mission (that is where she was born and raised, and also where she  has been serving since January waiting for her visa).  The place she is from is called KiriBati (pronounced Kitty-bus). Where she is from is a third world country, and so she feels so overwhelmed but grateful for the things here- I hope I continue to learn a great sense of humility from her. She is the only member in her family and is a convert of just 2 years...aka...she is PERFECT for all our investigators. With her help (I believe she had the final touch) our investigator Angawain committed to baptism this week!!! She has been experiencing great spiritual experiences for quite some time, and just barely for the first time in 2 months, committed to baptism, something she was unsure about at first. My heart was so full when she told us that she was finally ready to follow Jesus Christ's example and be baptized:) Ahhh..... I just can get over how much I LOVE OUR TRIO COMPANIONSHIP! We are all so different, and have extremely different experiences/backgrounds, but it is so cool to see how between the 3 of us we are able to connect so well with our investigators! Sister Beckstrand is always willing to work so hard and always is so close to the Savior and the spirit- I could not be more thankful for my great companions I love them so much!

 

This week we saw numerous miracles again and it was...just amazing!

 

Earlier this week in one of our lessons with Kathleen, the 12 yr. old Moauri girl, we brought our AMAZING ward mission leader and his wife and Dave (our Ward mission leader) was able to give Kathleen a blessing for the healing of the sick at the end of the lesson. She had REALLY hurt her foot earlier in the week, and so using the beautiful power of God, the priesthood, he was able to bless her. Her mom was able to sit in on it and wow...almost never before have I felt the spirit that strongly in a priesthood blessing. He not only blessed her to be healed (and long story short, she told us the next day that it did not hurt at all that night, whereas the nights before she could not even sleep...#MIRACLE), but also spoke to her as though it was God himself speaking! His tone changed and it really seemed as if it was God, he told her that she was among the "elect" and as a missionary, that just hit me and the spirit just was shooting through my body and I felt so happy knowing that we truly had found and been teaching one of the elect, not just someone that wasn't going to progress/go anywhere...he also told her that it was not by chance that the missionaries met her and just continued to give one of the most beautiful blessings. Afterwards the spirit was so thick you could have cut it with a knife, and us missionaries just had tears rolling down our cheeks.  We let the spirit work in the power of silence for a while, and then I bore testimony of the priesthood. I know that it was not Dave speaking to Kathleen, but that it was TRULY GOD! I was just taken back that God has LITERALLY give us the same power that he holds (in a sense), the priesthood, for our benefit...to help us not only perform saving ordinances, but to help us when sick or in need of comfort! Later that night...I had a really humbling experience as well...One of our recent converts' was in desperate need of help...I hate even typing the words of the horrible things that she had just experienced...but she just was not in a good state, and as a young girl just needed some "love" and could not quite receive it from her family.  We just sat and listened, and cried with her for quite some time, and then Dave (our ward mission leader/ literally the most consecrated member I have ever met in my life) came and gave her a priesthood blessing. The feelings I felt that day and evening, are ones I will never forget. It was such a big spiritual overload that I was almost made speechless. I am just so blessed to have you guys as my family, and so blessed to have been raised in the gospel.  The letter I just sent home expresses my deep gratitude even better...but that night I just lay in bed thinking, "wow...how did I get so lucky". Thank you for your endless love, even when you may have been frustrated with me. More than anything, thank you for allowing me to taste of the sweetness of the gospel. I will NEVER.EVER be able to thank you enough.

 

To quickly wrap this up;( WE had one investigator (a father) commit to baptism *no date yet* but we're working with him and he will CHANGE HIS FAMILY AND POSTERITY FOREVER! HIs children have been coming to church, but now he is ready...i just want to cry I'm so happy! Then 2 of our other investigators, Vicki and David (from China) progressed like crazy this week as well.  David (atheist) prayed for the first time in his whole life...it was amazing to be with him as he talked to God for the first time in 30 years. I can't even imagine how happy Heavenly Father Was. And then Vicki (who has been coming to church for 6 months) committed to baptism as well- but wants to wait to confirm July 27th...those 2 people are miracles because we literally  STUCK with what to teach them, we had absolutely no idea...they just had sooo many concerns. but finally after about 30 minutes of trying to figure out how to best help them, we knelt around our table and i offered a prayer. I told god that was were stuck. totally stuck. that we wanted to help them, but had no idea where to go next...we then just put our faith and trust in him and were led and guided to a new plan and it ended up being PERFECT for them that night, seeing David prayed and Vicki ALMOST/practically committed to baptism ;) It was funny- at the end of our lesson I said to David, "David, will you say the closing prayer" (us missionaries already kneeling/trying to show him we expect him to say yes) and of course, he said, "ahhh.......get Vicki to pray"...all I said back was, "David..." and he started kneeling as he said, "ok teach me how to pray" hahahha. He is so awesome. Leaving his and Vicki's house seeing those great miracles, sister beckstrand, sister kanee and i got in the car and literally just SCREAMED AND HUGGED EACH OTHER, and then offered a prayer of thanks;) I love the happiness from missionary work. it is incomparable:)

 

This week we had another investigator tell us that he feels like God sent us to him and that he thinks it's true. I love nothing more than hearing that, it really is candy to our ears:) There have been so many other miracles and I wish I had time to share them all with you, but just know i love everything right now:) More importantly, I love my Savior! I am so grateful for the atonement, and love being able to share the exciting news of its cleansing power, with others:) I am so happy that i get to be a missionary right now, it is seriously the best thing ever! I love you all and can't wait to read the emails you just sent me of how your doing!  Keep being amazing- xoxooxoxoxooxox

 

Love,

Sister Ensign

 

p.s

we celebrated the 4th of July this week. and even made our companion wear red white and blue with us:) we also got to break our fast with a sweet 4th of July meal with an american member. yaaa....so good;) #godblessamerica

  

by far the best day I have yet to experience in my 20 years..................

I honestly just have no idea where to start! I thought going through the temple to receive my endowments was the best day of my life, but Bobkie, Malad and Blessings baptisms passed it up! I literally have never been happier in my life.  Their baptism could not have gone any more perfect:)

 I will never forget the night that we were walking on the dark street and saw ONE house with lights on, and a soccer ball out front.  As soon as I saw that soccer ball, I said to Sister Parsons, "We have to go to that house, they have a soccer ball so we automatically have something to talk about".  A month and a half later, I call that same house, my second home.  I have grown to love the 3 children there, Bobkie, Malad and Blessing, more than I even thought possible.  They have now entered the waters of baptism and are officially, a part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and there is absolutely not more I could even ask for!!! On Saturday when they were baptized they literally just glowed as they wore the white clothing! I honestly cannot even find any words, literally to describe the feelings in my heart that I felt on Saturday, and that I still feel right this second (as I type). Ya I'm crying...haha.  It was just the happiest moment of my life, and being able to stand at the top of the stairs (of the font) and watch them be fully immersed into the water and baptized by that priesthood authority that Christ himself had, was literally a glimpse of Heaven for me.  Afterwards Malad and Blessing bore their testimonies (Bobkie chickened out;) and oh.my.gosh.......again I just cried (and am still crying) . Malad said, " I know the Book of Mormon is true, I'm grateful I got be baptized today (I love how he says baptized ha), I am grateful for Sister Ensign and Sister Parsons, and I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen".   All we told him, was to speak from his heart, and that's what he did, and the spirit was...indescribable! He sat down next to me, buried his face in my arm and just cried...:)- Then Blessing got up and gave the most BEAUTIFUL testimony. I thought she had written it, but afterwards she told us that she left her written testimony (on paper) at home and that she as well just spoke from her heart. She talked about how before she met the missionaries she just listened to music and went about day to day feeling no purpose in life, and didn't really care about anyone or anything.......but now, she has direction and now knows how much God and Jesus Christ love her.  She also bore testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the gospel...she just cried as well.  I never before have felt this happy...I really cant even say anything else about the baptism because no words will do it justice...I've tried typing my feelings a million times and really just can't say anything else........ but it was by far the best day I have yet to experience in my 20 years. This is the true church, and the ordinance is real...its not only real, but essential...absolutely essential, and wow...it is amazing!

 

There have been so many other MIRACLES, but I really can't even put any of them into words. I'm literally just sitting here at the computer crying! We just got back from the temple (we got to go as a zone for p-day today) and my heart is just about ready to explode.  The reality of the miracles we've seen these past few days, just became more clear and I just feel completely...ummm....speechless.  This week Sister Beckstrand and I have worked SO HARD! It's the hardest I've worked on my mission, and I am so grateful that I have a companion who is wanting to work just as hard as I do! We spend about 10 minutes for lunch, and work through dinner. There is so much to be done here and with our desire to work hard, Heavenly Father is blessing us with soooo many tender mercies and is really moving the work along! As missionaries, we all give our time, efforts, talents, etc. to the work and Heavenly Father, but really. It's not all that great- because we're just giving back what God has given us. but one thing that God does not have, is our hearts...that is literally the only thing...The past month I have tried so hard to really give God my heart, and this past week I can confidently say that I have given it to the Lord. Each day I try to give him my all... my everything...because really, its all his... I have never felt closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in my life, and I never want this to change!

 

Today I sat in the temple and literally just cried as I played out in my head, what I will be experiencing in 15 months time...my badge coming off my chest and the mantle of Missionary work being lifted off of me...I hate the thought of it, and it literally makes me sick.  I want nothing more, than to be a missionary for the rest of my life.  It is the most important thing to God, and has become the most important thing to me as well.  I have never worked harder, and been happier, in my whole life, than I am right now. "IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A MISSIONARY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA"..... what we ALWAYS say:)

 

This week I also received the clearest revelation from God while reading my patriarchal blessing! without talking about this sacred experience too much, I want to share some of it with you.  God told me in my patriarchal blessing and through the Holy Ghost exactly what kind of people I need to work with...the CHILDREN! It may sound crazy, but we have been told over and over again by apostles AND in the scriptures, that the rising generation is stronger than ever- and boy, do I believe that with all my heart or what!? The Book of Mormon tells us to share the gospel with EVERYONE, not just adults...or not just certain races of people...but EVERYONE! All of his children need it.  Meemee, (our 11 yr old dry mormon (believes and lives the gospel, but hasn't been baptized because her parents haven't granted permission)) took Sister Beckstrand and I out to teach one of her friends.  We were able to share the restoration with her friend and her friend's mom and oh man...the spirit was sooo strong and Meemee testified like a member to everything throughout the whole lesson! Afterwards she said, "it feels good to share the gospel, I love it!". I just wanted to cry inside. Hearing an investigator who wants to be baptized so badly, say that, just made my heart melt! When we finally had walked backed to her home to drop her off we said, "meemee we have an appointment with you tomorrow, do you want us to teach you or do you want to go teach more of your friends?" and throwing her arm up in the air she said, "I WANT TO GO TEACH MORE OF MY FRIENDS!". She is amazing. Heaven sent. Perfect. how else can I put it?! Haha, I have grown to love her sooo much, and between her, BObkie, Malad, Blessing (and Kathleen- the other investigator (13 yr.) who is also sharing the gospel with every single person at her school and friends/ getting us a million investigators ), the word is spreading like crazy here in Western Australia:)

 

My time is up but please have soooooo much fun in Powell this week, please strengthen your relationship with Christ and Heavenly Father...they are real. and their love for us is even more real. IF you want a way to strengthen that relationship...go serve others and share the gospel, and I PROMISE, you will be happier than ever before!

 

Love always,

Sister Ensign

 

p.S We have indian investigators...ya I'm dying...I LOVE THEM!!!\

 

p.s.s the picture is of malad and I. We brought them a picture of the Perth temple, and his mom let him put it in their nice frame and now its in their living room. Another tender mercy/miracle...now bobkie and malads dad wants to learn about the church!!! Pray for him please:)

 

 

 

 

Reminding myself that the Lord knows best...

So I just wanted to tell you guys the news I got on transfers this morning...

 

Well, last night presidnet called me... and asked me...to be the SISTER COORDINATOR for this next transfer:) (If you don't know what this is, because I didn't before my mission either, haha it is...pretty much a zone leader but just for the sisters.) Anyways, I feel nervous for this responsibility, but...it's ok, becuase I know God will not give me something I can't handle. This will be a great learning experience so i am super pumped.

 

Fortunately (literally, my heart is at so much peace) I GET TO STAY IN WANNEROO!!! But...I'm getting a new companion!!! You'll never guess who it is either...SISTER BECKSTRAND!!!!! She was my first companion in the MTC, the one who is from St. George and oh.my.gosh. i could not be happier! She is SOLID and is not only such a hard worker, but we got along so well and REALLY pushed each other and shared some very special spiritual moments.  We have both only been out for 3 ish months, and she is only 19...and what the heck right? And the Lord see's both of us fit to be the zone sister coordinators....  She is coming to Wanneroo, and I am the senior companion so....haha, i'm a little nervous to say the least, but I just try to keep reminding myself that the Lord knows best!

 

Sister Parson is devestated she is leaving Wanneroo, and is nervous she may not make it to Bobkie, Malad's and Blessing's baptism this Saturday...but I really hope she can! She is super down in the dumps  about her new area since it has tons of hills and she doesn't have a bike...but it will make her stronger right?!  She is awesome, and I have learned so much from her.  But oh man, I am sooooo excited for this next coming transfer!

 

Well, love you and please keep my new companion and I in your prayers, were definitely gonna need it!

 

I was reminded of the beautiful covenants I have made

So last week the email i sent was like 2 seconds long, and there was so much going on- and i feel really bad that i did not tell you everything wonderful thats going on, so today i'm just gonna bust as much out as i can in the 43 minutes i have left, because wow...this week...i can't even put into words how amazing it was!

 

 

KAYLA GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURADAY!!!! Saturday was probably one of the best days of my entire life! But before I tell you how wonderful it was, i have to tell you of an obsticale that obviously came up, (because lets be honest, Satan is going to try to do everything to get in the way right haha?!) Well we got to the chapel and were kind of crunching for time since we had just came from the temple, and went to start filling the font...but there was no plug...What do you do right? PRAY (after panicking just for a second) haha, anyways, i came up with the bright idea to grab a plate from the kitchen, and put it over the drain, have it suction itself down and then fill the font...did it work? Of course, becuase God will always win, and miracles happen! haha so, yes we used a big glass plate as a plug for the font and everything worked perfectly haha. Anyways, Kayla's baptism was soooo powerful and many of the other missionaries investigators even said how special it was.  After kayla was baptized and she bore her testimony...It was one of the most powerful yet, simple testimonies I have ever heard! She just cried as the shared it, and of course my companion and I were just crying like babies too haha.  Kayla is the one we met 2 weeks ago (referral from the bishop) and is just *golden! She also recieved the Holy Ghost yesterday too, and when the priesthood holders layed their hands on her head and the words, "recieve the Holy Ghost" were said, the spirit was just like dripping off of the walls.  The power of God truly is manifest in the ordinances thereof! My heart has almost never been so full of happiness!  

 

 

Not only was I so fortunate to experience the beautiful and sacred ordinance of Baptism, but also got to go to the TEMPLE and see 2 of Sister Parson's previous investigators recieve their endownments, just before the baptism (and we get to go back on Saturday for their sealing!!!) While sitting in the endowment room, i was just totally overcome with the spirit and felt so much peace and happiness as I was reminded of the beautiful covenenants I have made with Heavenly Father.  While sitting in the celestial room I was again, blown away with the strength of the spirit...what a remarakable place to be while here on earth in this crazy world- temples truly are a piece of heaven here on earth!  As missionaries, when we promise people there is more happiness awaiting them, I immediately think of the temple and how a lot of the happiness comes from within there. The temple truly is such a special gift that SO MANY poeple have NO IDEA about!!! Also, I always bear testimony of the reality of the spirit world and the fact that there are misisonaries there (and of course think of Chels, and Grandma/pa) and I DO...i know with all my heart that many are learning about the gospel...but along with that...many are accepting it, but literally cannot advance up to spirit paradise/receive more happiness until their temple work is done! PLEASEEEE make a special effort to become literal Savior's on Mount Zion for these people who have passed on, and help them with their temple work! They will fall at your feet one day, and this is not just something to think, "oh cute, thats awesome" but they will LITERALLY...FALL.AT.YOUR.FEET. in the deepest of gratitude, and thank you for SAVING THEM! What a special moment that will be! Try your best to go to the temple this week, and I promise you will feel an added peace to your life, and will NOT regret it, regardless of the sacrifices you have to make!

 

 

Bad news...Meemee's parents said she cannot get baptized...AHHH my heart just broke! She wants to get baptized soooo badly, but we obviously cannot do it without the permission of her parents.  Sister Parsons and I have been praying really hard for her and been fasting, but all we can do is accept the fact that God knows best and will make happen, what needs to be done.  It's hard to accept, but we just have to do our part.  We are still teaching her, and she is still progressing, but just not towards baptism...(YET)...I have faith that her parent's hearts will be softened! So unfortunately she will not be getting baptzied this coming Saturday, but Bobkie, Malad and Blessing will be!!!! I am sooooo excited for them and cannot wait to see them make their very first covenant with God! My heart is just pounding thinking about it right now, seriously like these.kids.are.awesome! LIke SOLID! They are the pioneers of bringing the gospel into their's and their families life, and boy are they strong! The like follow up with us on activietes/assignments/church, everything! They love it, and nothing makes my heart happier than hearing them talk about how their lives are continuing to change for the better! They are also being missionaries themselves-I can't rememebr if i told you last week, but we also committed Bobkie's friend, Paul, to baptism!!! He is not in our area, but he wants us to teach him and our ward is willing to help him (even if it means helping him with transportation that may take nearly an hour) just so he can enter into his first coveneant with God, become solid, and then transistion over.  Along with him we committed another one to baptism too...haha...her name is Kathleen. I wrote about her a little while back, but she committed as well- but unfortuantly her dad said No. But we have slowly worked our way in with her dad and are confident that his heart will be softened. They are such a sweet Maori family, and are actually related to some members in our ward, (but lets be honest, all Mauori's are "realated" haha) so we are gonna get them to all work together and then hopefully their whole family will accept the gospel. They really are so close, and I can already see them as a prime Mormon family haha. Anyways, so were working with her- and she too is being a missionary! She has been bringing friends to activites and stuff and has been telling everyone at school about the plan of salvation, and everything else she is learning! The work really is hastening, and it's cool to see our investigators doing the "HASTENING" not just the missionaries and members haha.

 

 

Angwain (the one who sent us that AWESOME text 2 weeks ago about her life changing and how God is working with her)- well this week we shared such a special experience with her! We got there and heard the best thing ever, her younger brother told us he LOVED church and that he loved how happy everyone was (and since he is so little, we were worried he was bored); and then Angawin told us how her LOVED it as well. She said the thought it was a bible study type thging, but how she was so happy to find out that she ACTUALLY could learn stuff! She also said, (in her words), "it felt like home"...my heart just melted...because sedriously, we CAN feel that sense of "home" when we go to church on Sunday's! Sunday's have been my favorite day of the week these past couple of days...mmmm i love 'em.  We are also told to get our investigators to churhc, and let God work his magic with them there/dont worry about it...and it was so cool to see God actually work so much within her and help her soooo mcuh! She then basically opened up to us, and just hard out told us everything!!! She told us how she was really struggling and how one night she finally decided to pray and ask God for help...(as she is telling us this, she is just bawling)...well she then told us, how 2 days later we showed up, and how she believes God sent us! Again we were just bawling with her and testified that God DID send us, and that the message we have CAN AND WILL help! We spent the majority of the lesson talking about God being our loving Heavnly Father and oh man...it was soooo powerful! HEavenly Father seriously loves us SO MUCH!!! I can't even put my feelings of this statefment into words...but i know his love is deeper than any of us realize! he wants to help us so much, but we HAVE TO DO OUR PART AND EXTEND OUR ARM UPWARDS TO GRAB HIS HELPING HAND! I know Jesus Christ is real, and even more than ever- "oh what joy this sentence gives, I know that my redeemer lives!"

 

 

I love you all more than you even realize, i seriously pray for you guys like 2938473987 times each day...seriously haha!

 

Love always,

Your mate, Sister Ensign

What more could a missionary ask for

Ok so take a guess...good or bad week for Sister Ensign..................of course it was AMAZING! Why? Becuase I am a missionary, and God will not let his missionaries go a whole week suffering and struggling without seeing miracles and tender mercies, just like he wont abonden and leave comfortless any of his  children. He truly will  rescue all his children who ask for help, and do their part in difficult times! ;)

 

 

Last week I experienced my hardest week as a missionary, but with that said, my testimony grew IMMENSLEY! I just want to be the BEST I can be, and be the kind of missionary God wants me to be); but sure enough after a few days of this struggle, God finally came and completely lifted me. There were some nights when I just had to talk with him for a while, but finally I spent a REALLY long time talking with him on my knees, and the next day...he lifted me more than i deserved! He lifted me through the Book of Mormon, (which applied perfectly to what struggles I was facing) as well as numerous tender mercies with meeting new people who needed us at that specific time, AND helping our investigators through some struggles as well!  God surely, will NEVER leave his missionaries, just like he will never leave any of his beloved children, he wants to help, we just need to reach up and grab his hand out-stretched to us! This week, truly was a building block for me as a missionary, and my testimony of the book of mormon grew even more! It really is a great time to be a missionary in Western Australia!

 

 

The Book of Mormon really is such a powerful book and I will NEVER be able to deny the power within it! I LITERALLY CHANGES LIVES- and it HAS changed mine and I am still overwhelmed with the spirit it can bring into our lives.  When we open the book of Mormon, it is lieterally opening a door way between us and God, and gives God an opportunity to talk with us and give us revelation!This week God blessed me with a tender mercy, he helped me see how much I have changed since i've been a missionary! I have been praying to "change" and be a more concercrated missioary and no i am not done changing, but I have begun this wonderful journey of having a "changed heart"! #itfeelsgood :) 

 

 

The Book of Mormon has not only changed my life, but this week I asked our 3 sweet african investigators how it has changed their life that wow...their answers just filled my heart witht the most happiness i have (almost) experienced as a missionary! Bobkie said he obeys his parents more and be more respectful, and doensn't swear- Malad said he feels closer to God and has been happier -and Blessing said she hasn't listened to one bad song since she has started meeting with us and reading the BOM! The gospel really does change people and their lives- it makes them more like Jesus Christ! Along with that, Bobkie and Malad's dad had all of a sudden (last week) said he wasn't sure about them getting baptzied anymore becuase he was unsure about the BOM...this broke my heart and sister Parsons and I prayed SOOOO HARD AND SO MUCH for him to have a softened heart...sure enough, several days later we were able to sit down with him and his wife, and answer their quiestions, and now they are soooo all for their kids being baptized! THis work is so important to God and he WILL provide a way, for his children to come into his fold! Ahhh...I loved it! God is amazing!

 

 

Last thing-0 we got the most amazing text from one of our other investigators this week-

 

"Hey sisters how r youz I hope you week has been great and youz are doin fine. i really enjoyed the last bible session we had on wednesday it really changed the way i feel bout myself n how i should act upon things n all week i've been feeling good knowing God's with me and i want to no if u guyz can come back and teach me more because i'm acutally learning a lot from youz  and i've been thinking about the baptizing n i think i should learn a bit more bout the mormon and get a bit of an unmdcerstanding from the start to the end before i rush into something ohhh and thanks from bringing taylah along i've made a new friend now:) with all the love from Angawin god bless youz"

 

What more could a missionary ask for....she is amazing and hopefully we will set a bap date with her this week.

 

 

Well we have another investigator on date! Her name is Kayla and she has been attending church for 7+ years, but finally just got permission from her foster  company to be baptzied, and so she is being baptized on the 15th! OUr ward is AMAZING and we have established such a great realationship with them, I feel sooo blessed to be in this area! I HOPE AND PRAY I don't get transferred in 2 weeks! haha)!!!

 

 

This work truly is something so sacred and as members of the church we have a big responsibility to help God's other lost sheep...we are LITERALLY talking about their eternal salvation...It makes me feel so overwhlemed with the fact that God trusts me to do his work over here in Western Australia,  but with that said, since he has called me, and you guys as well (to labor wherever you are, as members of the church) he WILL provide a way for us to be a true disciples and missionaries- and that is a LITERAL PROMISE from him! He has promised to give us powerful missionary experiecnes if we do our part- and all our part is, is keeping the commandments, and OPENING OUR MOUTH! Sharing the gospel doens't have to be anything big, but every little bit counts!

 

 

My new motto- :) "Assume the good, doubt the bad" -Elder Holland

 

With all the love in my heart,

Sister Diondra Ensign

 

 

P.S

Happy Later Birthday to Uncle Dave, and Happy Birthday (this week) to Abby, and Zachy! Love you guys!