So Much Good!

"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered, the point is to discover them."

 

Alright, first things first, COPY THIS LINK, AND GO WATCH THIS VIDEO.

 

http://www.byutv.org/watch/90be2679-e6eb-4039-afa1-fee5477b0c20/new-day-for-the-book-of-mormon-new-day-for-the-book-of-Mormon

 

Its awesome. Its a movie about the Book of Mormon from all peoples points of view. Religious professors and scholars, to Baptist ministers, and Catholic priests. Its so cool! Share it online and share it with your friends!

 

This week has been awesome. Main highlights, we had zone training and branch conference yesterday. Zone training helped me receive a lot of inspiration and revelation for the area, myself, and my companionship.

 

Thomas came to church again yesterday and loved it. All our stake leaders made the trek up here to come do branch conference and it was so motivating to see so many people at the branch. It brought a spirit that is hard to explain, I hope it helped the members feel excited about the work of the Lord and participating with us. It brought LIFE to the branch.

 

We have been finding people but not those who are really prepared and ready to make a commitment and find the truth. So that's who we are searching for right now, those that are truly prepared and ready to receive the gospel. No lukewarm's, we want hot!

 

Some thoughts this week:

I am reminded over and over of my weaknesses and I repent everyday to be better. I have realized so many prideful things about myself on the mission. I want to be more loving, more patient, more kind.

 

It is weird how when you get to 10+ months that you are SO used to mission life that you start wondering if your doing enough. I don't want to ever be comfortable with where I'm at.  I want to be better, do better, think better, desire more, work harder, testify bolder.. and not get complacent.

 

In Luke, is says,

"And Christ said unto him, NO man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

 

We all need to do some re-evaluating sometimes. We all need to repent, which simply means change. Its so easy to tell other people to do it, but do we do it?

 

I am grateful for a Savior who not only teaches me to be better but he helps me to be better. I love him with all my heart. I am grateful to serve him. I am grateful to be apart of his army in these latter days.

 

May we all participate and "Come Join the Ranks."  I testify that this is Gods work and his hand is in it. He will do it with or without us, but wouldn't you want to be apart of it?  Go share the gospel. Plain and simple.

 

I love you!  Happy Valentine's Day! 

It's MY BIRTHDAY, It's MY BIRTHDAY!  Happy 20th Birthday to ME!!

Xoxo Sister Flink

 

We are moving this Tuesday!  My new address is:

 

405 North Hundley Street

Apt E

Albany, MO  64402

If you want to be happy, find something else to sacrifice.‏

Hey Dear Ones!

 

Well, this week has been a good one. Its been a cold one! We received 6 inches of snow out here and the roads are extremely icy. On Saturday the cars got "grounded" and we couldn't go out until about 2:00. Then they cancelled church yesterday, the cars got grounded at 7:00 and we had to go home for the rest of the night. Its been a winter wonderland up here. Except I hate being "grounded" I thought that was something that my mom only did, and now I get grounded as a missionary too? Pssh. The weather should be easing up a little bit this week and we'll be rockin' and rollin' again.

 

We put Laura on date for baptism this week. for March 4th. We are excited about her and our teaching her a lesson 2 tonight. Thomas is doing well, he is struggling to feel like he is receiving answers to his prayers, but he is loving church and the gospel is enlightens his mind and life. Keep praying for him!

 

We are working really closely with the branch to share the gospel and be beacons of light to their friends. We are trying to get activities going and the work to pick up in this little town.

 

I was studying this week in 3 Nephi 11 in the book of Mormon when Christ comes to the America's and teaching the people his doctrine, or in other words, the doctrine of Christ. Something profound came to me as I read one of the FIRST things Christ says to these people, in moment on amazement and wonder of these people, when all eyes were on him, and they were solely and completely interested in what he had to say, he said this,

 

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.

 11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning"

 

Do you see what he did there? The FIRST thing he wanted them to know about him was his obedience to his father. The FIRST principle he wanted to teach was that of giving his will to his Heavenly Father and doing a perfect job.  Now what does this mean to us? Think about it. Since this is the first thing he wants us to know about him, is our obedience the first thing he will want to know about us when we stand before him again? Did we obey, even when it was painful? Did we comply, even when the cup was bitter? Did we strive to align our will with his, even if we don't understand?

My lovely friends and family, this is an eternal and celestial principle. The first law of heaven is obedience. The first thing we see of our Savior is obedience. I know the cup is bitter sometimes, I know the path is long, I know sometimes we are required to take up our cross with him and suffer the will of the father in all things. True disciples and examples of Jesus Christ start to live a life that looks like his.

I love you all, this work is true. Have a great and marvelous week. 

Sister Flink

Also, We are going to be moving on the 10th of February to another apartment in Albany! So, write to the mission office address so I can make sure I get your letters!

 

Missouri Independence Mission

Sister Jacqueline Flink

517 W. Walnut St, Independence, MO 64050

Hurrah for Israel!

These weeks are getting faster and faster. Where is the clock to slow it down?

Well, I will start off by saying this week was a little bit rough. I was really sick most of the week, thought it was strep but I am starting to feel better so probably just a nasty flu/head cold. And then poor Sister Davis got sick. We looked and sounded like two walking zombies around the streets of Albany. We were diligent and went out as much as we possibly could, I had to remind myself, the atonement covers it all, even physical exhaustion. 

But we pushed through like champions do and had a great day yesterday! Thomas is still working for baptism, and he came to church again. And he got a blessing to help him to live the word of wisdom. It was powerful! We had an investigator Terry who came and we plan on putting him on baptismal date next time we meet with him. 2 less active families have come a couple weeks in a row now and are working towards the temple, the work of the lord is marvelous.

Sister Davis is doing great. I am so thankful I am privileged enough to be her trainer. It is going so great!  We sure laugh ALOT! We both loosened up a little bit and did a sing along to EFY!  I blasted some EFY and we had a jolly time!  It was so funny!  We were just being us!  You are called on a mission to be YOU!  A better refined, dedicated servant of the Lord, but YOU!  She did her first baptismal invite this week for an investigator named Jacky, he accepted and is on date. She is doing wonderful! I feel like I am just as new to all of this as she is sometimes, I can’t believe I have been out 10 months and am on the downward spiral.

 

 I had a special experience this week. My Mom sent me the number to Roger Kearns and I wrote it down. Well, in district meeting that week I walked in and remembered that the St. Joe Elders would be there.. I wrote down his number and I said, "Roger Kearns hasn't moved, his number and address are wrong on the ward list but here is his number. Go find him!" I left thinking nothing of it and then I came back into the room and Elder Gerrick said, "Hey Sister Flink, Roger wants to talk to you." I was so surprised he called him right away! I spent a few minutes on the phone with him.  He seems like such a sweet guy. I was tearing up as he told me, "Your Dad baptized my whole family. You should've seen him, he was so excited that day! I love your Dad, he sure knows what he's talking about." I laughed and said "sometimes!" Then he was so sad that I couldn't find him when I came to St. Joe, he kept saying how upsetting that was that I didn't get to come see him but he was so happy to hear my voice. I told him that if I don't get back to St. Joe before my mission is over, then you will be sure to see me AND my Dad in 8 months when we both are here! He said, "Oh, that will be a glorious day." 

The Kearns family 30 years ago with my Dad- Elder Flink!

It was a special experience. Think about how 30 years ago the gospel was introduced to Roger and his family and the Lord is still aware of him.  So many tender mercies and blessings. I am so proud to be in the M.I.M where my daddy was and to carry on the work of missionaries in ZION. There is no better place.

Friends and family, I sure love you! I love being a disciple of Christ. My favorite scripture is Helaman 3:35 "

Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God"

Sanctification of heart comes by YIELDING our hearts to God. "He cannot work with what he does not have, and he cannot have you, unless you give yourself to him."

Humility is not weakness. Humility can become strong, we can be confident, not in ourselves, but in our God, who will bless, uplift, and carry us through.  Our will is not our fathers, yield your heart and soul, and then you will embrace the true doctrine of faith, which faith will make you whole.

I love you. 

Xoxo, Sister Flink 

"Sister Flink, Why are you a Mormon?"‏

Howdy Howdy all my dear ones!

Another amazing week in the M.I.M!   I get the privilege to update you on.

We had Zone Training this week, first one in my new zone, the Platte City North Zone. It was awesome. Elder Garrick and Elder Rea gave great trainings, it made me re-evaluate and re-dedicate my myself to what the scriptures call "the process of time" and the Law of Consecration. What it means to put aside everything and sacrifice all I have to my savior for these 18 months of my life.

Platte City North Zone

We have had a miracle investigator, Daniel. He called us off a Mormon.org card when we were tracting in -2 degree weather, (that is the lord blessing us) and asked if he could learn more. We haven't been able to sit down and teach him fully yet, but he has read half of the Book of Mormon in three days and loves it. Thomas finally came to church yesterday and he is still working towards baptism on the 20th of February. Keep him in your prayers! We have so many less active families we are working with that are returning to activity. The branch is being so blessed! I just got a call from Sister Anderson, "Hey Sister Flink, you've lit a spark under my lazy bum apparently. We read scriptures and prayed as a family last night for the first time in 3 years. Church was great yesterday too. Will you sisters be able to come over and do family home evenings with us?" That is just some of the little miracles happening all over this place. ALBANY IS IN ITS PRIME, ready to explode with the spirit.

Poor Sister Davis, mission life is exhausting sometimes!

 Lately I have been studying and thinking about our true and sacred identity as children of God. Do we understand who we are? Often when we rebel, when we have a lack of purpose, when we feel like giving up, when we feel like failures, when we fall into the temptations and traps of the world, it is because we forget our true identity. We forget we are SONS and DAUGHTERS of the most glorious god, the creator of heaven and earth and "all things that in them are" We forget our divine potential to become like him. One of my favorite quotes says, "not only CAN you become like him, EVERYTHING is stacked in your favor TOO become like him." Listen to what he is trying to tell you.. When you understand WHO YOU ARE, it changes you. How can that be? Because you are a daughter or son of god, you need to act like it, you need to think like it, you need to hold yourself to it. But more than that, you will want too because you will understand your potential. And you have a savior who helps you change, to become everything you are meant to become. Romans 8, "Nobody can separate us from the love of god, which is in Jesus Christ, our lord." Nobody, not the world, not your mom, not your friends, not Satan, not any power or influence can separate you. he loves YOU, infinitely and eternally, may we all embrace that love and rise to the standards and potential that comes from it.

 

I love you all so much! I am grateful to wear my name next to my Saviors and to wake up every day striving to remember whose name is more important on my Nametag. We represent him.

Until Next time.

Xoxo, Sister Flink

If you love them today, maybe you can teach them tomorrow!‏

2014 Missouri Independence Mission Photo!

Hello to all of you! This week has sure been a great one!

Good-bye Sister Allred!  See you again soon!

Biggest news, I said goodbye to my sweet Sister Allred, and picked up my new companion/trainee Sister Davis! She is from Portland, Oregon and just a cutie. As soon as I picked her up she said, "I'll warm up over time. I have a big fear of talking with people." I said, "Well, the Lord did good then because you got stuck with me. That wont last for long!" The first day I had her doing door approaches by herself. What a trooper. I love being a bold missionary, if its always out of pure love, their is always room for boldness.

Meet Sister Davis from Portland Oregon - Companion #7!

Thomas Sagan is on date for Baptism for Feb, 20th! Miracles here in the Albany Branch! Also, we had 5 less actives at church who haven't come in years, as well as an investigator. Heavenly father just gives us more and more reasons to be grateful!

Love challenging the Albany Branch to missionary work!

The Bourland Family are a Less active family we have been working with pretty closely. Their 8 year old, Tori, got baptized yesterday and I was able to give the talk on the Holy Ghost. I love that family, they are returning to activity.

The Bourland Family!

Tori loves to call me "Sister F!"

Oh and, Nanny betty got baptized back in Kansas, I taught her for 4 months, miracles all around.

 

My thought this week is this, "Don't Believe Everything You Think." About yourself, about others. It is our job to love and succor those that need us, it is the Lords job to judge and make eternal judgments. I love you all and am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and his infinite love and mercy, I would be nothing without it.

Have a great week!

 

Sister Flink

 

Mom!

It was a good week, Thursday was transfers, Friday and Saturday were the missionary split days (the pictures you saw on Facebook) which went great! and then Sunday was great too.

In the Day and Life of a Sister Missionary!  Knocking doors, teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, companion scripture study, companion prayer, and service!  Love my life!

Sister Davis is a little shy and timid. She said she knows the Lord gave her to me to be her trainer so that I can teach her how to be bold and outgoing. Am I bold and outgoing?  I have been called "Sassy" too!  When we were at transfers, President vest came up to us and said, "Sister Flink, I am so proud of you. You have gone up to Albany and flipped it around. You will be a great trainer." He gives me way too much credit. But I do love training, the goal is for her to be ready to train in 12 weeks. Baby steps!

Often the answer to our prayer does not come when we are on our knees, but while we are serving the Lord and those around us!  ~ Dieter F Uchtdorf

We are going to be moving out of your apartment. Wayne and Norma cant house us anymore. :( We are thinking about maybe moving to Bethany. More people, younger families, more productive town, but we have to be moved before march.

It has been really cold here in Albany, MO!

Please give my sweet gramps and big hug and kiss for me. I love him so much, I cant wait to get home and take care of him. He's been in my prayers every second.

 

 Things are happening here, I want to copy presidents email to me this week.

"Lovingly work with the branch council to make sure the converts have a friend, a responsibility, HT/VT and receive the new member lessons with the right member present for starters.

You and your companion can be wonderful examples to the members of how to reach out to people by being exactly obedient - they are watching you!

Appreciate all you are doing. Love your new companion and help her become an other YOU!

Pres. Vest"

Happy New Year! AND I'm expecting!

Happy 2015 to those I love most.!  Can you believe it? Time is just getting ahead of me quicker than I'd like.

So, big news this week. I got a call on Tuesday from one of the assistants letting me know that I have been called of the Lord to be a trainer. I will be getting a missionary out of the MTC this next transfer to be my little baby! Its exciting, I just hope I can make the Lord proud. When my trainer, Sister Moody, got me, she was 10 months out. And now I'm getting my trainee. Hope I can be half the trainer she was for me.

We've  had some straight up miracles this week. I love this area so much. I love the people, I love my companion, I love the branch. We met a potential a couple weeks ago that said she was moving into some new apartments and would call us when she got moved in. Of course we never heard from her, so on Tuesday she was on our minds. And we were talking about her on our way to go see a less active. In our prayer we asked if we could find her, someway, somehow. Well, when we went to walk up to the less actives door, we turned around and she was standing outside her new apartment smoking. My eyes went so big and Sister Allred said, "Is that Lexi? NO WAY." We ran over and sure enough it was, she gave us a huge hug and she said she was so glad we found her. She fed us lunch the next day and we are going to start teaching her. God is a god of miracles and he answers prayers. I is his work and when we do it his way, he provides.

Wednesday we had to go to the trainers meeting in Independence which is 2 hours away so we spent most of the day in the car. But the meeting was great and i was reminded by the spirit and by President Vest that I am needed as a trainer in this area. 

Yesterday at church, it was stormy so the numbers were suuuuper low, but we had a less active come that we've been working really closely with and for the first time in years she bore her testimony! It was such a miracle. And then she bore it again in relief society. The Lord's work rolls forth. 

This week, in our mission is "Missionary split day" Members will be with us all day, taking pictures of us studying, tracting, appointments, street contacting, planning, and praying. A daily routine of us as missionaries and post it on social media to "flood the earth" it will be awesome. 

Well guys, may we embrace the opportunity to change and become better this new year. "Feed the possibilities, starve the problems." and make the gospel the center of our lives.

I am so grateful to be a servant of the Lord. I am so grateful to wear my name right next to my Saviors, but also to always remind myself whose name is more important on my name tag.  He lives, he loves, and he saves us in all the details of our lives.

I love you ALL. 

xoxo, Sister Flink

P.S. New Years Eve, we had to be in by 8:00 to avoid all the crazies... 

I hope you had a very merry Christmas!

This week was wonderful. I mean, how could it not be? I am a missionary, I am celebrating my saviors birth my sharing his gospel, I get to wear a name tag with my name right next to my saviors, and I get to be with wonderful people. I am grateful for all of you and your emails and cards this Christmas season, it is hard to recall times in my life that I have felt THIS blessed.

Christmas Eve Jammies with the Merseal Family!

It was a wonderful week full of lots of food and laughs. We spent Christmas eve with members and less actives, and.. CAROLING. It was awesome spreading the true meaning of Christmas. Last week, my entire email was my testimony of The Savior Jesus Christ. I just want to confirm that one more time, he lives. He is the savior, he saves. He the bread of life, he sustains. He is the light of the world, he illuminates us. I know that is true and I am a living reality of his power.

Our investigators are making great progress, we finally had someone come to church. This entire transfer we haven't been able to get anyone to come, we committed 4 and 1 one came, it can only go up from here right? Lillie is still working towards baptism and word of wisdom. I am so grateful to have people to teach, I know first hand what its like to have no teaching pool, so with that alone I am counting my many blessings. Its cold out here, but the spirit keeps us warm!

We finally got a Branch Mission Leader, its been about 5 months, and he is just as excited and engaged as we are. The work is going to shoot through to roof over here in Albany. No matter how small the town, their is still prepared souls and we see miracles! Our loving heavenly father is a father of miracles. I do know that. 

We drove 2 hours this week for a pancake breakfast with the stake.. yes, 2 hours, FOR A PANCAKE. Woke up at 5:15. Anything for the work right? Plus, I got to be around other missionaries as well.

The Platte City Missouri Stake Presidency hosted the missionaries from our zone this morning to a pancake breakfast to celebrate their hard work towards baptizing 10 people this month!  If you look close you can see Elder Jeff Hansen from Syracuse.

The Andersons and Bourlands are two less active families that are coming along so well. They are both working towards the temple.  It was a great week folks. The sure are flying by.

I love you all, The Savior lives and he loves unconditionally.

I know someday we will be able to give our Savior and our Heavenly Father a big hug and all the trials, and mountains we climb, will be worth it. I know that.

Xoxo, Sister Flink

Hey mamma.

Can you believe Christmas has come and gone? You just cant say all that we need too in an hour can we? Oh mom, I had just as many emotions as a missionary. Sometimes you think "I don't even want to Skype! I feel like I just want to see them in 8 months that way I don't get homesick." but it always works out. Plus, I would never do that to you! hehe. Sister Allred and I were crying on the way over there cause we were nervous and missed you! It was so great to see everyone. yet hard at the same time because I never know who to talk too!

Off to skype with our families!  We were so nervous and excited at the same time!

It was so great seeing Grandma Kay, I know the Lord has many plans for her when she leaves this mortal life and gains her perfect body and mind again. And cute grandpa.. I love him. Conner is adorable, I am the luckiest aunty in the world. I had to be careful with that one to not get too homesick. Seeing Kenz and Hayden was awesome! I am blessed with such a good mom who wants to make everyone happy.

 I am afraid they will split up our COOL District next week!

It was so good and I love you so much. Grateful I was able to talk to just you and daddy too. By the way, yes, Jeff Hansen is in my district. I remember how  we used to watch W-files with! He is right behind Sister Hall, blue tie!

I had a wonderful Christmas. I was so blessed from all of you. You especially, Kai and PJ, Connor, Kenna and Mitch, Jerrod and Kristen, Grandparents, the Scotts, Mamma Steinle, Mikenzy sent me a package, lots of branch members, Brayden, Mooders, and all those letters! It was so funny, I had opened all the presents and I just kept going back and reading letters. That's what matters the most. Thank you Mamma!

Elder Brayden had a little village lady hand make this for me!  He is currently serving in Malaysia!

We were stuffed, we had meals every two hours on Christmas day. I thought I was going to die, I was in a food coma. I have not been feeling too hot this past week, there is a nasty flu going around but I feel like im drained. Ive been scared I have mono again, sore throat, super achy, exhausted. But I doubt it! Probably just a bug. I never go home early because I believe in working thorugh it but last night I had to go home and go to bed early.

I love you mom, send the family my love and tell them sorry if they don't get letters. I have ALOT of thank you letters to write to people today. Plus a nappy.  Have a fantastic week!

Love,  Sister Flink

I didn't miss one celebration at "home!"  Mom made sure of that!

May all our hearts prepare him room

Have a very Merry Christmas!  

This week was great! I have so much I could say but really I just want to focus on what really matters this holiday season, our Savior Jesus Christ.

As I have studied his life, his teachings, his atonement, and every good gift that he offers us, I have come to know my Savior Jesus Christ more fully. He is real to me, he is more real than he has ever been and I love him with my entire soul. I love him because without him I would never be able to change, and I have. Because of my saviors infinite love, grace, and mercy, I have experienced what the scriptures call a "mighty change of heart" and I will never be the same. I understand now that Jesus Christ came BY the will of his father, and he did the will of his father, and he did a perfect job in all things. He said, "I am Jesus Christ. I came by the will of the father, and I do his will." And when we truly understand the savior we understand that because OF him we can too say, "I am Sister Jacqueline Nicole Flink. I came to serve a mission (or too earth) BY the will of the father, and I strive to do his will." I never cease to be amazed at the submissive humility of the savior. Because he who was innocent suffered SO much, our "Whys" will never compare to his. YET, we can still offer the same submissive response of "Nevertheless.." That is just it. It is not what we want, it not what we think we need, and our purpose in this life is too understand that our will is not our fathers, and we NEED our Savior Jesus Christ for those wills to align. We can be happy and we will find joy in all things through our Savior Jesus Christ, and he is the perfect example. He didn't just come and "do it" to get it over with, he came, he did it perfectly, and he LOVED what he did because he loves us and he loves his father. That is the beauty of the perfect sacrifice of the son.

He is the gift. He is Christmas. He is everything to me and he is my savior. I love him, I want to draw closer to him each and every day. He has filled me with his love and I know of his peace, it is real. He is real, and he can become real to each and every one of us. Heavenly father gave us the gift of his son, give him the gift of your heart.

May we remember this Christmas the true "light and life" of the world, our savior Jesus Christ.

I love you all, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Package from my family!

P.S. Go eat lots of sugar and enjoy family. God bless you all, I will be thinking of you!

Sister Flink

Mom~  Here is a picture for all the people that I didn't send presents too... 

I also need you to print something off for me and send it, a story called "Don't leave it on the desk" its an analogy about the atonement. See if you can find it.



Karen Grant Merseal

We had a great teaching week! Our investigator Thomas in progressing well, as well as Lillie. She wants to be baptized on the 8th, Sister Allred and I will make sure she will be ready! We found a SWEET way prepared investigator yesterday when tracting in the freezing rain.. We're going back to see him on Friday. Last night we gathered up the Senior Sisters and The Sperry family and went caroling around the town. It was a blast. We texted everyone  in the branch and invited them.  

The Sperry Family

I did my "25 Days of Service" for Christmas! Here are a few pictures!

The weeks are flying by here. Its like a blink and then its pday again, that makes me afraid for the rest of my mission!

 

Well, I get to talk to you on Christmas so I'll tell more!

love you! SEE you SOON!