Hermana Shaw's definition of "The Emotional Flat-line: A state of not caring. A state where there is no sorrow, yet no real happiness. Where you can feel no real joy because you have felt no pain. Often this line is ridden because people think it will protect them from disappointment. Upon entering this line, they often don't realize how much they really are missing. They don't see that instead of protecting themselves from disappointment, they are actually neglecting themselves from experiencing the best that life has to offer: deep caring, deep love,and deep joy. This is a story of the appreciation for the lack of emotional flatness. Do you guys remember Petra? She was the lady who we contacted, taught, accepted a baptismal date, and was so excited for everything right on the first visit. Later she called us to tell us she had decided to stick with her church. Well fast forward to this week. On Tuesday we felt strongly we should go visit her and talk to her in person to see what happened. She was so warm when she saw us and she let us in. After a bit of talking, we taught the entire lesson of The Restoration and the Spirit was SO STRONG. Hermana Schmidt and I agreed it was one of the most clearly-explained, well-accepted Lesson 1 we had ever had in all of our missions. The Spirit just guided us and Petra and her daughter, Paloma, got so into it. They were all on board. They said they believed in our words and they felt good. We closed with a prayer and left, just glowing and so happy we had gone. From even the first visit we had developed a special care for Petra and her family so we were extremely glad we went back. Okay. Fast forward three days toThursday. Hermana Schmidt calls and yet AGAIN Petra informs her that we can't come because they feel good in their church and they won't leave it. Later that day we both felt like we needed to go visit them and see what was going on. And let me tell you, this whole process, but especially that last lesson with them, was nothing like riding the emotional flat line. In the lesson the Spirit was so strong. We let Him guide us in asking questions and testifying of the church. Yet nothing we said, nothing at all, could make them change their mind. I felt our missionary authority being exercised so powerfully, yet they did not accept it. And I felt so sad. I felt so emotionally low. Yet at the same time, I could feel the Spirit strengthening me. We sang "Joseph Smith's Prayer" to close and said a prayer. Tears were in Petra's eyes. And seeing it all was heartbreaking. They were very friendly the whole time, but made it clear they would never go to church or join with us. Even though we were taken so low emotionally, we were able to see such a great high, leaving with firmer testimonies of this church and its necessity for our eternal salvation. I am grateful that we didn't chose to ride the emotional flatline. It hurt, but taking off the emotional blinders and letting everything be felt, was worth it. I know this church is true. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know that there is only one true church on the Earth. It is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is guided by Him, through a living day prophet. It is organized after the manner in which Jesus Christ established it. I love you all, Hermana Shaw Hermana Schmidt and I love to make mango smoothies and popcorn. It's our weakness. Today for Pday we went to La Basilica, a cool Catholic church in Higuey. At the Noche Blanca in the Stake Center. Some members of the ward that we love to pieces.
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Letters: Sophia Shaw Santo Domingo East MIssion SDQ 4102, 2250 NW 114th Ave. Miami, FL 33172-3652 Packages: Sophia Shaw AP-000914 8540 NW 66th St. Miami, FL 33195 - 2698 lds.org mormon.org Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East MissionArchives
February 2017
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