Sister Clifford: Week #25 in Alabama: "COLUMBIANA!!!!"

Sister Clifford: Week #25 in Alabama: "COLUMBIANA!!!!"

FRIENDS & FAM!!!

  Yep, last week was transfers and I got transferred to good ol' Columbiana, Alabama! This place is craazzzyyyy. I love it though! SO, Monday night I was packing my things up and got a call from someone at the mission office that there was a change of plans and I wasn't going to be going to the transfer meeting, but I was going to be dropped off in Columbiana on the way there to be with my new companion! Her name is Sister Bond and she is the cutest human! I love her so much! I met her a couple of months ago, and I have been dying to be her comp! She is so awesome! She is also from San Diego, so she completely understands my love for Southern California ;)

   Columbiana is definitely a different kind of area! Sisters only serve here for 2 transfers (12 weeks) and our main assignment here is to serve as family history sister missionaries. It is way cool! Such an amazing opportunity that the Lord has provided. Our schedule is definitely a lot different too! We work in the courthouse, which is downtown, from 10-3 every day! It is the funnest/cutest little place. I love it! It was SO hard saying bye to all the amazing people in Prattville. I love them so much and I learned so much from them. Columbiana is an amazing place though and I am lucky to be serving here these next two transfers. Some days are challenging, but I love it!

   The courthouse is such a fun place to work! I love it! We meet so many amazing people and I feel the hand of the Lord in everything that we do. This town is a super tiny and we are a walking area, so every day after the courthouse we tract around and try to teach as many people as possible! We were able to meet and teach some people this week. There is an investigator here named Mary and she is so sweet! We knocked on her door a couple of days ago and she opens it and is half asleep and looks at us and goes, "Y'ALL WOKE ME UP". We just started dying laughing and Sister Bond goes, "Well good! So we can come in!" :) We ended up having an awesome lesson with her about the blessings that come from the Book of Mormon and we are working on getting her to come to church with us. She also said a prayer at the end and talked about how grateful she was for us. It was the sweetest thing! We have another appointment with her tonight, so we are excited :)

   Saturday we took a trip to Bessemer to have a meeting with our zone and the Stake President there. It was awesome and made me so grateful I am serving the Lord! The theme in the stake for this year is "GO, DO, BECOME" and it is all about how we can continue to be missionaries our whole lives and help people to see the blessings that come from this Gospel. It was an awesome experience! It made me think of one of my favorite scriptures in Alma 29:9:

9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do anot bglory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

I love being a full-time missionary, representing my Savior, Jesus Christ every day. I know that all of us can be instruments in the hands of God in our own special, and unique ways. I have a strong testimony that our Heavenly Father knows our hearts and desires. He knows what we need and when we need it. He is there for us always. Supporting us, encouraging us and helping us move forward. Alabama is my favorite place on earth!!! I AM SO LUCKY.

I think all of you are amazing. I miss you all every day!!! Have an amazing week and remember that Heavenly Father loves you and is always there. I sure am grateful for that knowledge.

love you all! have a blessed week.

all my love,

sister skilllzzz