July 30, 2012

Hello!

 

The weather has been great!!!!! Usually our mornings start out hot and humid (102*-103*) and then by 5 pm we have rainstorms! 77*!!

 

We are teaching an older gentleman named Had. He is SO sweet and I love him to pieces! Some members are his neighbors and when they moved here last year they became fast friends with him. He lost his wife to cancer just over a year ago, and life has been so difficult for him to face. He's lonely and is constantly looking for something fulfilling. This is the perfect time for the Gospel to come into his life. It was so neat to see a change of spirit come over him in our lesson this week. We initially met with him back in June, but he went on vacation. But now it's back to spiritual business! :) We taught him the Plan of Salvation and he just soaked it all in! His main goal now is to get to the Temple so he and his sweetheart can be sealed for all Eternity. Sister Trub, his friend, said that maybe the reason why it's not his time to go be with her yet is because he needs to be the one to do the work for his parents and her parents and her... and begin the work for their ancestors! He's the link! He was touched by the Spirit and said, "I would gladly do that". OH! :D I love the Gospel so much! I love the truth about Temples and Eternal Families and the Priesthood! We're so blessed to know this, guys!

 

We've started implementing a ward 40 day Fast for Missionary Work in our wards. Saturday we ended the fast for one of our wards (the one Had is in!) Miracles!! Yesterday we gave talks in our new ward to present the 40 day Fast to the ward. I shared with them a quote I heard not too long ago. I love it so much! It says, "MISSIONARY WORK IS NOT EASY BECAUSE SALVATION IS NOT CHEAP". I'm excited to continue these fasts! SO many miracles happen because of them. Some great friends from my last area are a wonderful and miraculous result of a 40 day fast!

 

I know this work is true. I know what we teach is simple and something everyone needs to know! I'm working on being better at spreading the Gospel further and stepping out of my comfort zone... I'm working on it!

 

I love you all so much! As I reflect on this past year I cannot believe how many miracles, trials, trying times, sacred moments, funny times, and wonderful experiences I have had! I cannot believe I've been gone a whole year this week. I have loved every minute of my Mission! I loved the quote you shared with me, mom: We spend 21 years preparing to go, 18 months serving the Lord, and a lifetime to reflect on what we've learned! 

 

Thank you for the 1 year package! I made the TRIPLE CHOCOLATE CAKE last night (ooooo.. you know me well!!). We're definitely going to celebrate my 1 year and Sister T's Half-way mark! She LOVED her package too! When she pulled out the stuffed animal Camel she said it was MUCH cuter than the giant one we have lurking in our house! HAHAHA! She excitedly pulled all the items out, one by one, not knowing why only half of the stuff was there. She said "Oh! I so excited! A new... SHOE!" I explained it all to her and she just laughed! "Oh good. I thought I was crazy!" she said :)

I sent Meg's companion a celebration box for her half-way day. I put in one sock, one flip flop, and some other singles...She got the second part of her stuff on Monday.

Anyway, better go! I love you all so much! Stay hydrated!

 

Love, Sister Sunscreen!