Highest of highs and lowest of lows
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us.”
Charles Dickens summed up this last week rather perfectly. Sister Wilkinson and I (and likely the Elders as well) have been through a whirlwind of emotion. We blame Satan, and we give credit to God. Long story short, Shane's been struggling. First with his family. His mom didn't take the news too well, and he's spent the week trying to talk her through it. He wants her support and understanding of how important this is to him. He put his baptism on pause until he she softened up, but on Saturday he felt that we just wanted to take a leap of faith and be baptised on the 9th no matter what. We were so excited, but Sunday morning we woke up to a message from him saying that he didn't want to do it anymore, because he felt that he didn't know the truth of the Church and that he only wanted to be baptised because he didn't want to disappoint us, the Elders, and other members that he's become friends with. We thought that was the end of it until he started texting us again a while later in the day. I'll admit, Sister Wilkinson and I had both been crying lots and lots. It's incredible how much we've come to love Shane. He's like our best friend, and he's so so amazing. It broke our hearts to think that he was done with everything and letting it all go. He KNOWS it. He spent most of the day fasting, praying and studying, and told us later on that he knows in his heart that The Book of Mormon is true and that the Church is Christ's restored church on the earth. And so now he wants to be baptised! Sister Wilkinson and I are emotionally and physically drained. I think this week has taken a toll on all of us. Our hearts have been continuously drawn out in prayer for Shane, and we know God will work his wonders!!
And that, my dear friends and family, is the only thing I can remember. We're happy right now, and'll be spending a few hours with the Elders and Shane in Donegal, one of the most beautiful parts of Ireland apparently :) I'm so excited!!
The Lord is in this work. It's so obvious. We have ups and downs, but I know everything always works in His own timing. His timing is perfect. We experience what we need, not always what we want. I've been learning to be patient and humble. I want to submit myself to God's will and have hope in every circumstance. Alma 31 has been a fab chapter for me this week. "Comfort my soul in Christ." That's been my prayer!
I love you all! Talk to you next week!!
Sister Syphus Xxx
To mom: Thanks for the updates on the fam and extended fam! It's good to know how everyone's doing! So many with girlfriends/boyfriends!! AHHH. I'm excited to hopefully see everyone when I call you next week or the week after! Lucky ducks! I'm so jealous :) I have no idea whether I'm going or staying. We'll find out on Saturday, but I think I'll be going. You never know though! I could do a sixth! It's happened before!!
Let me give you the inside scoop on Shane!! (I wrote this in my weekly, but then I didn't think going into so much detail would be too good, but I wanted to tell you, so there might be some reoccurrences that you'll read in the weekly too)
Satan's been working hard on Shane. Through worry and stress and cloudy confusion. His mother didn't take the news of him being baptised too well. After a couple of days of talking it out with her, he messaged us saying that this wasn't for him at the moment, because it was hurting his family. Our hearts dropped and it was all we could do to hold in our tears till we sat down for lunch. Then we received a text saying that he still wanted to meet with us. So over the next few days we were up in the sky, so relieved and thankful that he wasn't doubting anything. He just wanted his family members to realise the importance of his baptism to him, and wanted them to support him before he went for it. On Saturday we met and started talking about making another goal for a date. He didn't want to because he didn't want it hanging over his mom's head. So we let it drop and went to another subject. A little bit later, he randomly blurted out, with great conviction!, "Saturday. Let's do it Saturday." We were in a bit of a shock, and we kept on asking if he was sure. He said yes, and that nothing could stop him from doing it. He knew it was right, and he wanted to take a leap of faith. So, we went to bed happy and elated, and woke up to a mega drop text from him, saying that he had been praying in the middle of the night and got hit with uncertainty and confusion. We panicked and cried and sobbed a wee bit, but he was still texting us after longish pauses, so that was a good sign. He was worried that his desire to be baptised stemmed from the friendships he has made with us, the elders, and the other members of the church, and not from him knowing it all to be true. Which was ridiculous because from the first time that we met him, everything clicked with him. Before we saw him a second time he knew that the Book of Mormon was the word of God. But Satan can make people forget, and I think that was what happened with him. He didn't come to church, but felt he needed some alone time with God. He spent most of the day fasting, praying, and studying the scriptures, and told us in the afternoon that he knows in his heart that this is what he wants and needs, and that he knows that it's true. He wants to be baptised this Sunday, so we'll see if we can make it happen! But he's also afraid that Satan will get to him again and he won't be strong enough to withstand it. So. We're praying lots, and we'll hopefully be seeing him lots to prepare him. I just need to trust in the Lord's timing!! .
I'm feeling so good! Yesterday we were both wrecks, but sleeping helped. We're still a bit emotionally drained. So much shock in one week. OUr hearts have been torn our multiple times and then shoved back in again. It's really been hurting, but we have hope that all will be well!
I'm sorry I can't call you! (actually after three I maybe could? I don't know) But I love you and will see you next week hopefully!
sorry if the email's a mess. I'm in a rush and can't look over it.
Love you!
Loafy xx
Charles Dickens summed up this last week rather perfectly. Sister Wilkinson and I (and likely the Elders as well) have been through a whirlwind of emotion. We blame Satan, and we give credit to God. Long story short, Shane's been struggling. First with his family. His mom didn't take the news too well, and he's spent the week trying to talk her through it. He wants her support and understanding of how important this is to him. He put his baptism on pause until he she softened up, but on Saturday he felt that we just wanted to take a leap of faith and be baptised on the 9th no matter what. We were so excited, but Sunday morning we woke up to a message from him saying that he didn't want to do it anymore, because he felt that he didn't know the truth of the Church and that he only wanted to be baptised because he didn't want to disappoint us, the Elders, and other members that he's become friends with. We thought that was the end of it until he started texting us again a while later in the day. I'll admit, Sister Wilkinson and I had both been crying lots and lots. It's incredible how much we've come to love Shane. He's like our best friend, and he's so so amazing. It broke our hearts to think that he was done with everything and letting it all go. He KNOWS it. He spent most of the day fasting, praying and studying, and told us later on that he knows in his heart that The Book of Mormon is true and that the Church is Christ's restored church on the earth. And so now he wants to be baptised! Sister Wilkinson and I are emotionally and physically drained. I think this week has taken a toll on all of us. Our hearts have been continuously drawn out in prayer for Shane, and we know God will work his wonders!!
And that, my dear friends and family, is the only thing I can remember. We're happy right now, and'll be spending a few hours with the Elders and Shane in Donegal, one of the most beautiful parts of Ireland apparently :) I'm so excited!!
The Lord is in this work. It's so obvious. We have ups and downs, but I know everything always works in His own timing. His timing is perfect. We experience what we need, not always what we want. I've been learning to be patient and humble. I want to submit myself to God's will and have hope in every circumstance. Alma 31 has been a fab chapter for me this week. "Comfort my soul in Christ." That's been my prayer!
I love you all! Talk to you next week!!
Sister Syphus Xxx
This is Shane. He is the best human being in the world.
He has a policy of not looking the same in any two pictures. So he's being silly
This is my friend Paul. He loves talking about nature and animals and whenever he sees us he talks about his latest adventures. He also bought us cheesecake. He is my favourite.
Yummy burger
This is while we were depressed yesterday, hoping that Shane would let us see him.
We were waiting for him to text us, and my head was pounding
(probably because of the combination of fasting and stress),
so I laid down for a minute or two.
To mom: Thanks for the updates on the fam and extended fam! It's good to know how everyone's doing! So many with girlfriends/boyfriends!! AHHH. I'm excited to hopefully see everyone when I call you next week or the week after! Lucky ducks! I'm so jealous :) I have no idea whether I'm going or staying. We'll find out on Saturday, but I think I'll be going. You never know though! I could do a sixth! It's happened before!!
Let me give you the inside scoop on Shane!! (I wrote this in my weekly, but then I didn't think going into so much detail would be too good, but I wanted to tell you, so there might be some reoccurrences that you'll read in the weekly too)
Satan's been working hard on Shane. Through worry and stress and cloudy confusion. His mother didn't take the news of him being baptised too well. After a couple of days of talking it out with her, he messaged us saying that this wasn't for him at the moment, because it was hurting his family. Our hearts dropped and it was all we could do to hold in our tears till we sat down for lunch. Then we received a text saying that he still wanted to meet with us. So over the next few days we were up in the sky, so relieved and thankful that he wasn't doubting anything. He just wanted his family members to realise the importance of his baptism to him, and wanted them to support him before he went for it. On Saturday we met and started talking about making another goal for a date. He didn't want to because he didn't want it hanging over his mom's head. So we let it drop and went to another subject. A little bit later, he randomly blurted out, with great conviction!, "Saturday. Let's do it Saturday." We were in a bit of a shock, and we kept on asking if he was sure. He said yes, and that nothing could stop him from doing it. He knew it was right, and he wanted to take a leap of faith. So, we went to bed happy and elated, and woke up to a mega drop text from him, saying that he had been praying in the middle of the night and got hit with uncertainty and confusion. We panicked and cried and sobbed a wee bit, but he was still texting us after longish pauses, so that was a good sign. He was worried that his desire to be baptised stemmed from the friendships he has made with us, the elders, and the other members of the church, and not from him knowing it all to be true. Which was ridiculous because from the first time that we met him, everything clicked with him. Before we saw him a second time he knew that the Book of Mormon was the word of God. But Satan can make people forget, and I think that was what happened with him. He didn't come to church, but felt he needed some alone time with God. He spent most of the day fasting, praying, and studying the scriptures, and told us in the afternoon that he knows in his heart that this is what he wants and needs, and that he knows that it's true. He wants to be baptised this Sunday, so we'll see if we can make it happen! But he's also afraid that Satan will get to him again and he won't be strong enough to withstand it. So. We're praying lots, and we'll hopefully be seeing him lots to prepare him. I just need to trust in the Lord's timing!! .
I'm feeling so good! Yesterday we were both wrecks, but sleeping helped. We're still a bit emotionally drained. So much shock in one week. OUr hearts have been torn our multiple times and then shoved back in again. It's really been hurting, but we have hope that all will be well!
I'm sorry I can't call you! (actually after three I maybe could? I don't know) But I love you and will see you next week hopefully!
sorry if the email's a mess. I'm in a rush and can't look over it.
Love you!
Loafy xx
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