And yes I got to see my mtc comp HEMI!
UMM ALSO I LITERALLY ALMOST DIED WHEN I HEARD NICOLE PADGETT GOT CALLED TO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!!! AND NATALIE MY BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK THE HEAVENS YOU{RE GOIN BACK HOME! MEXICO 4LIFE.... BUT ARGENTINA IS BETTER:))) SO HAPPY FOR YOU!! SISTA MISSIONARY POWER. I SEND ALL OF MY SISTAS MY LOVE!!!! :)))))
Ohh famlia. It was soo nice to see all of your beautiful faces... even if google chat was super slow. :) My heart wanted to jump when I saw how beautfiul and happy everyone looks! GEEZ DONT HAVE TO MUCH FUN WHILE IM GONE!!!!!!! :)Why do you have all the fun when I leave? Very suspicious!
So HAPPY NEW YEARS MY PEEPS!!!! WERE EATING GOAT ON NEW YEARS... SO YA MY LIFE KINDA ROCKS. ;)
My year was kinda legit..not gonna lie. I never thought I would graduate high school, receive my call, go to college, and then leave on a mission alllll in one year!!! Completely crazy!! But seriously I look back and I thank my lucky stars that Heavenly Father has given me all these opportunites. I feel 3853296945872X mature. :) HOLLA.
Sooo I wanna talk to you about Analia. Shes 13 and she reminds me of HANNAH MOCKASINI. So bubbly, so much personality and so happy. We've had about 3 lessons with her and we asked her is she would like to be baptized and she said YES! So now we have to get permission from her parents (who are cray cray catholic). WE PRAY EVERY DAY that they'll say yes.
Oh but seriously... this sweet little girl. I cant even explain how thankful I am for YW because thats where my testimony REALLY began. Thank you YW program. You help so many girls like me.. who just need some extra love in us. Even if were so cranky and teenage hormones all the time. :) SORRY MOM- that couldnt have been easy having three of us in it at the same time, ouch. Anyways... I told her that having the holy ghost with me through out my life... has made me a better person. I feel so much love from our Heavenly Father because of this gift. I want her to have this gift so bad. Because I know whats it done for me.
Anyways in our last lesson, something awesome happened. Her uncle was walking by and saw us and introduced himself. His name is Carlos and he only has his pointer finger and thumb on both of his hands. YAAA KINDA FREAKED ME OUT AT FIRST. Hermana Quintana started asking him QUESTIONS FROM THE HEAVENS. She first asked him if he believed in God. He said yes. Then she asked what does he want from God.. and that question really got him thinking. YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HIS FACE. AND then she asked what do you think your purpose is in this life? AND THEN THAT REALLY GOT HIM THINKING. He thought about it for a while and all he could say was.. I dont know?! My jaw dropped. Hermana Quintana was on FIRE with the spirit. Carlos wants lessons pronto. Hes determined to find out what his purpose is in this life and who God really is. :) GOD BLESS CARLOS!!! And the funny part is that when I told Quintana about how awesome her questions were..... SHE TOLD ME SHE DOES NOT REMEMBER EVER ASKING THEM. NOW }, I KNOW MY LANGUAGE ISNT THE BEST... BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT SHE ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS!! . The spirt was working through her and then into Carlos. Fue INCREIBLE.Today in my study.. I read some profound scriptures. Every time I learn something new in the scriptures... I just wanna scream because Im so excited. :) HAHA.
40 Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot abear all thingsnow; ye must bgrow in cgrace and in the knowledge of the truth.
41 aFear not, little bchildren, for you are mine, and I havecovercome the world, and you are of them that my Father hathdgiven me;
I LOVE THIS BECAUSE we honestly are all babies who only know a tiny bit of the truth. GOD IS SO BIG AND IS FULL OF MYSTERIES. He truly wants there to be many mysteries so that we will seek and ask and constantly come to him in wonder. Then when he reveals how beautiful the answers are to our hearts, we want to be near him even MORE! But the best way to find more truth is through GROWING IN GRACE- understanding the love that Christ has for us, and receiving a knowledge of truth through and ONLY through the HOLY SPIRIT. These two precious things will help us progress in life. ;) And I kinda found my own little scripture reference to these scriptures: 1 John 4:18-19:
18 There is no afear in blove; but perfect clove casteth out fear:because fear hath dtorment. He that feareth is not made perfect inlove.
19 We alove him, because he first loved us.
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE LOVED US FIRST NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING! There are people in this world who act in fear. Who go to church only for the reason to show people that they're perfect. We have to stop the perfect act, it really keeps the most vulnerable away. There are people who dont understand who God is. AND THESE VERSES LEAD US TO WHY, WHY, WHY? WHY do we go to church? WHY do we pray? Why do I love my family? Why am I obeying the rules.. even though it kills the little rebel in me sometimes? Why am I serving a mission? BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT GOD LOVED US IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND WHEN WE HAVE THIS KNOWLEDGE its sooo much easier to give back. To live your life for Jesus. To go to church. To serve a mission. I hooooope I can remember to NEVER FEAR. Yip back on the doubt not fear not bandwagon! Because truly, if I know of that perfect love, theres NO NEED TO FEAR!! A lot like moms famous theory: Theres a monster at the end of the book. We dont have all the knowledge, we're little children, but if we listen to the spirit and feel his grace, we realize its not so scary after all. :) The monster at the end of the book that we are so afraid of is actually the thing that will save us. Thanks for the book lesson my whole life mom. Ok familia....
Carry on carry on carry on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL HERMANA!!!! I miss you! I love all of your amazing letters! I have read every single post:) Thank you and your Mom (wink, wink) for sharing all of your experiences. It's amazing to me that you are so far away, but with every word I am lifted by all the good you are doing. Thank you for that! You radiate love my dear! What a wonderful gift you have for loving people unconditionally. It's a blessing in the mission field how you are able to see others through God's eyes, and feel the love he has for them. Sometimes it would move me to tears to feel the love he had for his children. It was almost to much for little old me to feel that kind of love. I am so grateful for those experiences. Treasure each moment...before you know it...it will seem like a dream. I love what you said about perfection. We all have need of change. That is the purpose of this life. It's best to just get on with it... that feeling of raw vulnerability and open ourselves up to what the Lord needs to teach us. I don't know if you can read this post in the mission field. http://alfoxshead.blogspot.com/2013/12/mormons-tattoos.html
ReplyDeleteI will let your Mom edit this out if you can't read it. She's a convert to the church and has an amazing story. I love what she said at the end about change, and that Heavenly Feather is essential in the process. We can't do it without him. I love you sweet girl! Keep those letters coming:) You are in my prayers always. Warmly, Angie