Letter dated January 21, 2009
I can't believe that I will be in Virginia in one week! The time is flying and every time I blink it gets a day closer! You can imagine my excitement! I leave here on the 28th to head to the airport. First I'll travel to Ohio. I think there's only an hour layover (perfect timing for some contacting :) ), and then on to Richmond, Virginia.
My time here at the MTC has been amazing and I can't believe all that I have learned and gained in such a short amount of time. It's true what they say- while here, they fill you up with knowledge as if you were being fed with a firehose! It's incredible! The study skills that I've learned here and the things that I've learned, both with knowledge and most important, spiritually, have gained. Every day I continue to learn and grow more and more, and continue to hunger for more- not feeling as though I can get enough!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Christmas
Letter dated December 31, 2008
This has been one of the greatest Christmases of my life! On Christmas Eve we had a surprise visit from Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles! It was absolutely amazing!!! :) He talked a lot about the symbolism of Christmas. Afterwards we were all able to go and shake his hand- it was awesome! The Spirit that was there was absolutely incredible.
Afterwards our District went back to our classroom, read about the birth of Jesus Christ and shared Christmas memories and opened one present each. Yeah, we're pretty cool, we set up a Christmas scene in our class with two small shrubby trees & ornaments, put out all of our presents, and hung up socks on the wall- I hung up one of my knee-high nylons! It was great!
On Christmas morning the four of us in our District came down to the class in our pajamas, stole some couches from out in the halls, and had our own little Christmas celebration! It was the best! I absolutely love my District and am so thankful for the unity and love that we all have for each other!
Later on in the morning we were able to have the opportunity to hear from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland! You can imagine I was completely overwhelmed having been able to have the chance to hear from two amazing apostles in just two days! It was absolutely incredible!!! I'll have to send some of the notes that I took from their talks. They were powerful and absolutely amazing! Christmas was absolutely incredible having the both of them come and I feel so honored and privileged to know that the general authorities care about us missionaries that much to spend Christmas eve and Christmas with us!
The rest of the day we had more devotionals, a scripture marking workshop, played Christmas songs with chimes (which was really cool), and watched Mr Kruger's Christmas and had popcorn. people from all around utah county donated money to the MTC to buy us missionaries Christmas presents which was extremely nice of them- we all got a cd, a cool scripture marking pen, a pearl necklace (the elders got ties), and candy. people amaze me with their generosity!
It was so nice to be so focused this year on the gospel and our savior. After all, he is the reason we have Christmas. :) I love missionary work and the chance that I have to be here. This truly was a Christmas I will never forget!!
This has been one of the greatest Christmases of my life! On Christmas Eve we had a surprise visit from Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles! It was absolutely amazing!!! :) He talked a lot about the symbolism of Christmas. Afterwards we were all able to go and shake his hand- it was awesome! The Spirit that was there was absolutely incredible.
Afterwards our District went back to our classroom, read about the birth of Jesus Christ and shared Christmas memories and opened one present each. Yeah, we're pretty cool, we set up a Christmas scene in our class with two small shrubby trees & ornaments, put out all of our presents, and hung up socks on the wall- I hung up one of my knee-high nylons! It was great!
On Christmas morning the four of us in our District came down to the class in our pajamas, stole some couches from out in the halls, and had our own little Christmas celebration! It was the best! I absolutely love my District and am so thankful for the unity and love that we all have for each other!
Later on in the morning we were able to have the opportunity to hear from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland! You can imagine I was completely overwhelmed having been able to have the chance to hear from two amazing apostles in just two days! It was absolutely incredible!!! I'll have to send some of the notes that I took from their talks. They were powerful and absolutely amazing! Christmas was absolutely incredible having the both of them come and I feel so honored and privileged to know that the general authorities care about us missionaries that much to spend Christmas eve and Christmas with us!
The rest of the day we had more devotionals, a scripture marking workshop, played Christmas songs with chimes (which was really cool), and watched Mr Kruger's Christmas and had popcorn. people from all around utah county donated money to the MTC to buy us missionaries Christmas presents which was extremely nice of them- we all got a cd, a cool scripture marking pen, a pearl necklace (the elders got ties), and candy. people amaze me with their generosity!
It was so nice to be so focused this year on the gospel and our savior. After all, he is the reason we have Christmas. :) I love missionary work and the chance that I have to be here. This truly was a Christmas I will never forget!!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Testimony
Letter dated December 24, 2008
I want to bear my testimony to you that I know that God knows each and every one of us individually. He knows our strengths, our weaknesses, all the things of our hearts and souls, and knows exactly what we're capable of. I know that as we put our faith and trust in Him, He will help us become everything that He wants us to be, and will be able to fulfill all that our earthly ministry has in store for us. I am so grateful that He has a Plan for each and every one of us, and that He hears and answers each of our prayers. He loves us so much and wants to pour blessings out upon us. He's always there waiting to do so, if we choose to let Him in. I know that our Savior Jesus Christ is at the center of His Plan and that He provided the precious gift of the Ultimate Atonement for each and every one of us. He did not just take upon Himself our sins and overcome physical death. He also took upon Himself each of our griefs, pains, sicknesses, weaknesses, temptations, and our trials. He truly does understand all that we go through and is there to heal us, to help us through it all. We need to go to Him. We need to apply the gift of that everlasting Atonement in our lives each and every day. I am so grateful for my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the perfect life that He lead and strive daily to pattern my life after Him, the Son of God. I know that as we do so He will deepen our joys and give us the strength that we need to overcome anything and everything in our lives. Trust in Him. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church today, with the fullness of the restored Gospel. I know that through the Prophet Joseph Smith the Priesthood was restored, as well as Christ's true church and Gospel upon the earth. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and truly did see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Through the power of God, he was able to translate the golden plates into what we know as The Book of Mormon. I know that by reading, studying, and applying the teachings within the Book of Mormon into our lives, we will receive direction, peace, and answers to all the questions that we have. I know that these scriptures were truly written for our day and time. I know without a shadow of a doubt that we have a prophet today who is called of God, and that Prophet is Thomas S. Monson. If we heed his counsel and understand that he truly speaks the word of God, we will never be led astray. I leave that with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
I want to bear my testimony to you that I know that God knows each and every one of us individually. He knows our strengths, our weaknesses, all the things of our hearts and souls, and knows exactly what we're capable of. I know that as we put our faith and trust in Him, He will help us become everything that He wants us to be, and will be able to fulfill all that our earthly ministry has in store for us. I am so grateful that He has a Plan for each and every one of us, and that He hears and answers each of our prayers. He loves us so much and wants to pour blessings out upon us. He's always there waiting to do so, if we choose to let Him in. I know that our Savior Jesus Christ is at the center of His Plan and that He provided the precious gift of the Ultimate Atonement for each and every one of us. He did not just take upon Himself our sins and overcome physical death. He also took upon Himself each of our griefs, pains, sicknesses, weaknesses, temptations, and our trials. He truly does understand all that we go through and is there to heal us, to help us through it all. We need to go to Him. We need to apply the gift of that everlasting Atonement in our lives each and every day. I am so grateful for my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the perfect life that He lead and strive daily to pattern my life after Him, the Son of God. I know that as we do so He will deepen our joys and give us the strength that we need to overcome anything and everything in our lives. Trust in Him. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church today, with the fullness of the restored Gospel. I know that through the Prophet Joseph Smith the Priesthood was restored, as well as Christ's true church and Gospel upon the earth. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and truly did see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Through the power of God, he was able to translate the golden plates into what we know as The Book of Mormon. I know that by reading, studying, and applying the teachings within the Book of Mormon into our lives, we will receive direction, peace, and answers to all the questions that we have. I know that these scriptures were truly written for our day and time. I know without a shadow of a doubt that we have a prophet today who is called of God, and that Prophet is Thomas S. Monson. If we heed his counsel and understand that he truly speaks the word of God, we will never be led astray. I leave that with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thanksgiving
Letter dated December 10, 2008
Pretty much every day here is like Thanksgiving! It was so neat- on Thanksgiving we did a huge Humanitarian Project putting together first aid kits (I think we did over 10,00 kits) for those in Cuba, Cambodia, etc. It was wonderful to do something for others on Thanksgiving and truly realize all that I'm thankful for and how much I've been blessed. I definitely plan on doing something like that with my family some day for Thanksgiving!
This week has been really busy, and keeps getting busier. But it's great! I'm realizing that I am on the Lord's time, not my own, and want to do all that I can to make sure that I'm devoting all my time to His work and know that as I do, He will make me an instrument in His hands. I love this Gospel- I love missionary work- I love this opportunity that I have been given to go share His message with those who need that light in their life! Yay for missions!!!
Pretty much every day here is like Thanksgiving! It was so neat- on Thanksgiving we did a huge Humanitarian Project putting together first aid kits (I think we did over 10,00 kits) for those in Cuba, Cambodia, etc. It was wonderful to do something for others on Thanksgiving and truly realize all that I'm thankful for and how much I've been blessed. I definitely plan on doing something like that with my family some day for Thanksgiving!
This week has been really busy, and keeps getting busier. But it's great! I'm realizing that I am on the Lord's time, not my own, and want to do all that I can to make sure that I'm devoting all my time to His work and know that as I do, He will make me an instrument in His hands. I love this Gospel- I love missionary work- I love this opportunity that I have been given to go share His message with those who need that light in their life! Yay for missions!!!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
TOMORROW'S THE DAY!!!!!
Howdy everyone!
My sister Keli helped me set up this blog so that you all can keep up with what's going on while I'm in the mission field. I will send her weekly updates, and she'll post when she gets a free chance. Feel free to leave comments, and Keli will e-mail them to me and we'll keep in touch. Thanks for checking out my blog :) You're all so awesome and I love ya tons! Don't forget to smile big and I'll see you in a year and a half!!!
My sister Keli helped me set up this blog so that you all can keep up with what's going on while I'm in the mission field. I will send her weekly updates, and she'll post when she gets a free chance. Feel free to leave comments, and Keli will e-mail them to me and we'll keep in touch. Thanks for checking out my blog :) You're all so awesome and I love ya tons! Don't forget to smile big and I'll see you in a year and a half!!!
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