Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Things went pretty good this week… it got COLD though! If I don’t get transferred this next transfer I will need to ask for someone to send me a warm coat! Not my white one though… I don’t want to ruin it. We were walking on Wednesday, it was windy and rainy, and my legs were frozen!!! I could barely feel my shins! It was fun though; we met some cool people that will come unto Christ someday.
I got the little booklet with all the missionaries from the Coalville stake! That was sooo cool! It was so fun to look at all the pictures of all the missionaries who are out. I loved reading about their experiences; it inspired me and made me realize that I am not alone! It really did strengthen me.
This is Mickaela, she lives in Indio
and she came out with us for about 24 hours. Her stake did this activity where
all the laurals had the chance to spend about 24 hours with missionaries! They
had dinner and a devotional and testimony baring after the missionary
experience =) She was really sweet and I really hope she decides to go on a
mission! But isnt' that so cool!? Coalville stake... you should do something
like this!
Random stuff:
I really like singing in the choir! We sung in sacrament this week and I love being up there seeing all the smiles in the congregation. Betty especially had the biggest smile on! She is teaching relief society in 2 weeks! I’m so proud of her =)
We taught Shadrack (the YSA from Africa) on Thursday and he was talking about how he was going to be gone this weekend and blah blah and we asked him where he was going and he said in his African accent “LA, to the awards” we were confused... “What awards…?” “You know... the awards for... The famous people, like JayZ and Beyoncé and Taylor swift..” I was like “uh… the GRAMMYS!?!?” and he said “YES! That’s it! The grammys” ha ha WHAT!!!? Shadrack went to the grammys! His friend bought $400 dollar tickets! How cool is that!?!?
KyLee and I used to be OBSESSED with
gel pens back in the day, we would cover our bodies in gel pens ha ha. She sent
me one of if not the most thoughtful birthday gifts i have ever received =) I
got it last week. I felt very loved and blessed. (gel pens were included..) it
made me tear a few times. I can't wait to show ya’ll when i get home!
Yesterday in sacrament meeting the Davis kids were being rowdy and I looked back at them and smiled, then I imagined saying goodbye to them and I started tearing up! Ah! They are the sweetest things EVER! I love them so much… I hope we are related. Bishop Davis came with us to a lesson this week, he is a great bishop! He is funny, he makes me laugh. A lot of people think he is all serious and quiet and shy…. He is… but once you get to know those people and actually talk to them they are always the funniest!
Me in my cat shirt and blue pants on
our last P-day in 29 palms. We went boooooowling (Jim Gaffigan voice) and
played Frisbee at a park. And this is Utah street... obviously..
This week we talked about forgiveness a lot. There are two ways of forgiveness that the scriptures talk about. Seeking forgiveness from our Heavenly Father and forgiving others. Everyone on this planet has the opportunity to seek forgiveness from out Heavenly Father because of our Savior’s sacrifice. Our Heavenly Father will always forgive us, but true repentance comes when one has a change of heart and truly changes their ways. Our Heavenly Father knows the intent and desires of our heart. When we humble ourselves and turn to the Lord for help we can be relieved from the sorrow and pain from sin. We must go through these things to become like Christ! I know for myself when I have repented I have grown in faith and happiness! Our Heavenly Father wants to forgive us and help us!
We also become more pure as we forgive others. It’s a commandment! There is not a day that goes by that people don’t offend people! Duh. We are mean! I have been wronged many times and I’m sure you have been too. Sometimes we are wronged innocently and sometimes we are wronged intentionally and it’s easy to get angry, dwell and seek revenge… BUT that is not the saviors way, that’s why he teaches us to forgive all men. I remember a time before my mission when I was just heartbroken and so hurt by this person and I just couldn’t understand WHY and HOW this person could do this…. I was consumed by these thoughts and I couldn’t get away from it. I decided to turn to the scriptures (which is weird because I usually turn to prayer…) I read in Luke 23:34 “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.” I felt soooo much better after reading that. I felt at peace and I knew that I would be able to forgive and I did. Now I LOVE that scripture, Jesus Christ is so amazing! I am so grateful for his perfect example. I love him! I know sometimes we feel like it is impossible to forgive someone... but we can pray for the strength to forgive others. Sometimes we just need to remember to leave it to God, he will be the judge.
“forgiveneeeeeesssss is moooore than saaaayiiiiing soooorry!!!!” (from the movie Just Friends, anyone seen that??) I’ve been singing that ALL week!
One night i was just out of
control.... I could not concentrate and i couldn't stop playing with the cat!
Sister Gardner had to take control of the lesson... =/ but.. we were talking
about animals and i was wondering if animals were resurrected and i asked the
member if he thinks anyone has ever asked if they could be sealed to their
animals and blah blah... BUT today Sister Gardner found something
AWESOME!!! On page 763 of the bible dictionary point 4 it says " animals
are resurrected from the dead, and there are animals in heaven, redeemed by the
blood of Christ" WHAT! That is so cool! (Smalls is probably rolling her
eyes while reading this huh..?)
Sooooo I try to talk to EVERYONE, I’m still learning what is and isn’t socially appropriate… but I’m getting a little better! That being said (what the.. I never say that..) we have gotten several really interesting responses. One man we met said “ I’m a Satanist, you don’t want to hear what I have to say” You’re right! We do NOT want to hear what you have to say, GOODbye. Ick! I was freaked out after we talked to him…. Another time a man said to us “ oh yea I know Mormons, I don’t agree with them” I said.. “oh, like what?” “well when your church was organized your people killed a whole city of people and a whole wagon train, you should go read your history” another time… “ I used to be a Mormon” ha ha ha I love that one. Also… “I converted to atheism” hmmm. . .? one time this woman said “ well… DNA shows that Joseph smith isn’t related to the Jews, your religion is all wrong” Oh ha ha another time a lady said “ your church changes beliefs, When I was taking lesson a long time ago you didn’t even believe in Christ” and then people always have horrible things to say about Joseph smith that I won’t even mention! It’s fun =)
This
is me kissing a snake. It is a ball Python! They were so cute and shy.I’ve been reading “the teaching of the presidents of the church: Lorenzo Snow” and I LOVE it! Wow he was pretty cool. But I really liked his teachings on staying faithful during trials. “Every man and woman who serves the Lord, no matter how faithful they may be, have their dark hours; but if they have lived faithfully, light will burst upon them and relief will be furnished.” If we didn’t go through trials, tragedy and hardship we wouldn’t be able to progress and learn and gain experience, and that’s the whole reason we are here! Lorenzo Snow said… “Trials and tribulations help us improve spiritually and prepare for celestial glory.” In Hebrews 2:10 it says “for it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” He said…. You and I cannot be made perfect EXCEPT through suffering. Jesus could not. WOW! “as we remain faithful, the Lord strengthens us to overcome temptations and endure trials. Many of you may have severe trials, that your faith may become more perfect, your confidence be increased, your knowledge of the powers of heaven be augmented; and this before your redemption takes place. If a stormy cloud sweep over the horizon … ; if the cup of bitter suffering be offered, and you compelled to partake; Satan let loose to go among you, with all his seductive powers of deceiving’s and cunning craftiness; the strong relentless arm of persecution lifted against you;—then, in that hour, lift up your heads and rejoice that you are accounted worthy to suffer thus with Jesus, the Saints, and holy prophets; and know that the period of your redemption has approached “ http://www.lds.org/manual/
Self explanatory
Ok this is getting ridiculously long… I love you all and miss you very much, but I know that I am doing the Lords work. I know this is where I am supposed to be, I’m learning so much and meeting the most amazing people! Sharing the gospel with others has brought me a different happiness than I have ever felt in my life! I know that this is the true gospel and it’s been restored for everyone to enjoy!
