testimony
‘Til We Meet
Dear friends and family,
It has been a long time since I have seen y’all and over the course of a year and half a lot can change. I have pondered what it is I could say this day to y’all. I still don’t really know, so we will see where the spirit takes me. (:
I have learned so much on my mission. I have had ups and down. I was born into the Alabama Birmingham Mission in Hoover, Alabama. It is there that I learned how to be a missionary. I met amazing people, people I will never forget. I spent 6 months of my mission there. When the time came for me to leave, I felt it coming. I was sad to leave, but at the same time, I was excited to try something new. I was a little more experienced, so why not?
After Hoover I had been banished to the wonderful town of Booneville, Mississippi. I never thought I would go to Mississippi because our mission only covered a small sliver of it. And there I was in the boondocks. But it here where I fell in love with country, where I got the full affect of ‘the south.’ I loved it. The area, the culture, and the people. Oh the people, forever locked in my heart. I had spent 4 1/2 months here in Booneville and I did NOT want to leave. How could I leave? Everything was so good, but again, I felt it coming…I only denied it. In Booneville is where I hit my 9 month mark. I was a missionary now.
I was so sad to be leaving Booneville because I just KNEW I was going back to Alabama and that would be it. But little did I know…. I was transferred to West Point, Mississippi!! I was still in Mississippi! I was so excited. West Point is where I became a Disciple of Jesus Christ. It is where I felt the spiritual change. It was hard work in West Point and it really tested me. But I soon came to realize that West Point didn’t necessarily need me, I needed West Point. Here I only spent 3 months, but it was a good 3 months. When transfers came again, I knew there was NO WAY that I would stay in Mississippi now. I had already been here for 7 1/2 months. But the Lord works in mysterious ways doesn’t He. (:
Where did I go next? I think we all know, BACK TO MISSISSIPPI!!! I was in Tupelo! The birth place of Elvis Presley and boy was it fun!! I LOVED Tupelo. It is here where I found the person I knew I was supposed to find. Why are people in the south so wonderful? You just get heart broken whenever you leave. By this time, I really didn’t want to go back to Alabama. I have spent a total of 10 months of my mission in Mississippi, I couldn’t leave. Mississippi is my place! It is MY ‘waters of Mormon’ It is where I came to know my Savior.
Transfers again and guess where I’m going?? NOT BACK TO MISSISSIPPI!!! I am now in Huntsville/Madison Alabama. And boy, has it kept me on my toes. It is has been a challenge because how wealthy people are here, but that doesn’t meant there isn’t anyone here who isn’t prepared. The Capshaw ward is a great place. I can’t get over the people in the South. Really. I’m very grateful that this is where I am ending my mission. (:
I want to end with my testimony.
I testify that there is a God. He is our loving Heavenly Father. He knows us perfectly, he loves us unconditionally and he wants what is best for us. He gave us his only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. I know he died and suffered for us, but I also know that he rose again on the third day so that we may live again with him and our Father. He did it because he loves us. I know that we can pray to receive forgiveness of our sins, but we must show we have forgiven ourselves. I am so grateful for the Atonement and for the knowledge of repentance. I know that Repentance is real. We can repent EVERYDAY of our sins and wrong doings. Christ is there, he will bear our burdens with us. He will be with us EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. HE is waiting for us to turn towards him and ASK for his help. He is the way, the truth, and the light. I testify that the Book of Mormon is true. That it is, along with the Bible, the Word of God. I know that as we read and study from the pages of the scriptures we can and will find answers to our prayers. I know that if you read the Book of Mormon and ask God, with a sincere heart and with real intent, meaning you are truly intending to act on the answer you receive, if the Book of Mormon is true, He will tell you by the power of the Holy Ghost. I testify that prayer works. I have seen God answer my prayers time and time again. God does hear us, and he does answer, in his own time and in his own way. God even knows the prayers that are not said out loud or in our heads. He hears and knows the prayers in our hearts. He knows what we desire and he wants to give us what we want. I testify that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the one and only true church on the earth. It contains the FULL truth, all the missing pieces. I know that Jesus Christ, himself is the head of this church and that he leads the church through a modern day prophet, just like Moses. That prophet today is Thomas S. Monson. We can listen to him and receive guidance from his counsel if we choose to obey it. I know this gospel is true. I love it, I live it, I share it.
I love y’all so much. I can’t wait to see y’all’s shining smiling faces! (:
Have the best week, see y’all soon.
For the last time,
SISTER Jesselyn Drummond
Another Week Down!
Hey y’all! (:
Miracles all around!
So as a mission we have a goal to reach 500 baptisms by the end of the year. We have been praying for the mission to reach that goal of 500 baptisms and that we will be able to find someone to help add to that! When Sister Wittwer and I had our meeting in Birmingham 2 weeks ago an Elder gave us a challenge to find someone BRAND NEW by the 15th who will be progressing. Sister Wittwer and I kinda forgot about that for a week or so then 3 days before the 15th(Wednesday night) we prayed to find someone who would become a progressing investigator. Now before I go on, I need to back up for a sec. So last Monday we went to Wal Mart for the last 15 minutes of the night. Sister Wittwer got out of the car and I see her start walking across the parking lot. I followed, naturally, and we helped this woman put her groceries in her car because she had A TON! We told her we were missionaries and that we shared a message about Jesus Christ that will help strengthen her faith and that will help her build her relationship with God. We asked if we could share this message with her sometime this week and she agreed to meet on Thursday. We got her number and address and we told her we would call/text the day before or the morning of before we came by. So Thursday rolls around and we go to meet Aspen. (: WOW! She is phenomenal! She told us that she has had so many trials in life and that she is ready for a change. She wants a change. She said she wants to recommit herself to God, SHE WANTS TO BE RE BAPTIZED! Y’all, Sister Wittwer and I were so in tune that lesson it was crazy! The spirit did not cease for 1 second during that lesson!! AAAHHHH! (: We shared with her Alma 36:3, on page 298 in the Book of Mormon but we told her to say ‘O my daughter, Aspen…’ Instead of Helaman. It was so cool. After she read it all she could say was, “Wow! That was meant for me!” Y’all it was so cool! Then my amazing companion invited her to be baptized on the 30 of this month! She agreed and we told her we will be bringing by a calendar in the next couple of visits. So we set up a return appointment for Saturday(the 15th) and we were praying that she would read from the Book of Mormon. Turns out she did!!! She even came to church yesterday! (: Y’all, there are so many miracles happening here. The Lord is being very generous and helping us achieve our goal of 500 baptisms! It’s going to happen! (:
Can’t come up with anything creative…
Miracles and more miracles!!! Transfers!?
Transfers, Spiritual Experiences, and 9 Months!?
Anyways, this week has been awesome so far! I can learn so much from Sister Brunner! She literally talks to EVERYONE! I love it. Because that is my BIGGEST weakness. I always feel so awkward, because you know talking to random people on the street or in the store is really really hard, and then add in trying to relate that to the gospel. Yikes. But the experience I wanted to share this week has to do with well, that God puts his prepared children in your path! (:
So we were walking back to our apartment from a less active’s house and the Zone Leaders called us, I answered the phone and was talking to them. Then this man, named Fredrick, walked out of this house so Sister Brunner waved and then it went a little something like this:
(I had walked away for a second to continue the conversation with ZL’s)
Sister Jesselyn Drummond
STAY STEADFAST IN CHRIST
Humidity
Mom’s Email: Cool Experience
Alright, so this is a bit weird because I am on an iPad sitting in the church using its wifi. But, I’m here. (:
So you are out for school now huh? How does it feel? (: I think that is crazy how fast it went by!
So guess where I got to go on Friday!!!???
We went to Mephis!!! That is out of our MISSION BOUNDRIES!! Haha. We went with the recent convert Amanda. She is so great. That is whose iPads we are using. But it was awesome. I do have pictures that I will have to send next week. I got some really pretty pictures. (: but next year we can go to Elvis’s Museum if you would like… (:
It was really cool, but one of the workers, oh it was so dumb, he wouldn’t let us do the baptisms because he said, ‘missionaries aren’t supposed to get wet!’ Missionaries have done baptisms before and how does he think Elders baptize people? Oh it made me a little frustrated but that is okay. Our Recent Convert did it and another member and she loved it.
I love you though! Have a great week!!!
Blessins’ of the Lord
This week was GREAT! We had a lot of blessings and miracles happen! I will keep them short though because well, sometimes you just don’t feel like typin it completely out!
So anyways, workin backwards, yesterday we didn’t have ANY of our 80 thousand investigators show up! I was so frustrated! We had 5 tell us that they would show up. DA GUM!
But the positive stuff that happened yesterday was that we got 4 new investigators yesterday and while we were tracting, every house that answered, let us in! It was amazing. (: We also had a day where everything went according to plan! Now, life as a missionary…days just DO NOT go accordin to plan! But Friday everything was perfect. It was kinda weird haha.
We have been teaching more and bearing testimony to so many more people. I know the Lord is blessin us because of our diligence to the work. We have worked hard and I have keep myself positive and happy everyday. Missionary work is hard, but when you are diligent in the work, you receive blessings.
I love y’all so much and I hope that you continue to stay steadfast in Christ!
Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Jesselyn Drummond
P.S
We were at our recent convert’s house last night and we ended up somehow talking about the dinosaurs and Jesus… and when the dinosaurs were on the earth. And the 11 year old son turned to his mom and says, “Don’t you think that if dinosaurs would have been on the earth when Jesus was, they would have da gum ate him!” It was so funny. I could not stop laughing. It was a good time. (:
Mom Email: Tuckered and Worn Out
Alrighty Y’all!
Remember to stay steadfast in Christ!
Love,
Sister Jesselyn Drummond 