June 19, 2013

I just love you so much:) I need to tell you that more, but I do:) Thank you for everything that you have done for me and our family:) But I got my travel plans last friday!! I have to meet at the travel office on campus at 4:30 in the morning, my flight isn't until 8:36 so I'll have time to call you. I'm flying Delta and i'll be flying into the Oakland airport, which I think is weird that I'm not flying into sacramento, but we are flying with a group of 24 missionaries so we'll all be together and it'll be so fun! I am beyond excited, this time next week I'll probably be teaching a family in Espanol!! It's so exciting!!

 

I'm glad that my father's day letter made it in time! did dad wait to open in until sunday like he was supposed to?! I don't think i've ever been more homesick in my entire life than when we all watched music and the spoken word's father's day special. It was so hard to sit there and watch all these little kids talk about their dads and seeing these dads with their little girls. If I didn't have companions I probably would have left. It was like watching that missionary documentary between conference sessions this past april. My heart literally couldn't take it, but I sucked it up and I'm glad I stayed because it was a really good program. But don't worry about me! I love you guys and I miss you but not to the point where I can't focus on anything else or where I cry myself to sleep every night. The Lord has definitely blessed me because I am completely at peace with this decision to serve a mission and he is blessing me with the lack of homesick-ness;)

 

But anyways...I absolutely love to get your dear elders and hear what's going on at home! It's the most exciting thing! How is rachel's class going? That's so exciting that Ty is going to Arizona! Scottsdale is where I send my rent checks for pineview and that's absolutely fitting for Whitney to go to taiwan, doesn't she speak Mandrin already? I can't believe that Aaron got an X shaved into the back of his head! I thought that was so funny!! Did he like it before you mentioned church? I'm just shocked that you actually let him do that;) I'm glad to hear that Jerold got better fast, it would be so hard for both Jerold and Kathy to be down and not be able to help one another. I loved that thought about the founding fathers. Those men were the strongest men to do all that they did. There's no way God didn't have a hand in the setting up of this country.

 

We sing As Sisters in Zion every sunday in Relief Society but Janice Kapp Perry changed the lyrics in response to the massive amount of sisters serving missions, here are the Lyrics:

 

The sisters of Zion are called to God's labor

We willingly serve him with Spirit and might

We go to the nations with truth everlasting

We teach of the Savior our Lord Jesus Christ

 

We thank thee oh God for a prophet to guide us

We trust in his words and our purpose is clear

The angels of heaven are walking beside us

We'll share our glad message with all who will hear

 

We go forth enlisted with Helaman's Army

In numbers much greater than ever before

With power and spirit we'll faithfully witness

The heavens have spoken and truth is restored

 

I can't ever get through that song. By the middle of the last verse I'm in tears. It's the coolest thing ever though. We go forth enlisted with Helaman's Army with numbers much greater than ever before. It's the truth! there are so many sisters here. We will make a difference in the world and it's the most amazing thing to think about! For my whole life I've been told that I'm a part of the group that's been saved for the last days because we were among the strongest of god's children. I never really understood that. I mean yeah life was hard, but it wasn't significantly hard. It didn't hit me until Sunday that God saved this part of his children to go and preach the gospel in the last days of the gathering of the House of Israel. He knew that the age change would happen, he knew how many would respond to his call. He knew to send us here for that purpose. And I am so grateful to be able to know that this is exactly where I need to be. The Lord knows who I need to teach in California, it was by no accident that I was called there. I can't wait to meet the people there! I also had a thought in the temple last wednesday. My mission is not only going to help my investigators on the earth now, but also the ones who are not yet here. My mission is teaching me important priciples and teaching skills to be able to raise my children properly and to teach them the gospel the way I teach my investigators.

 

This past sunday, we were able to watch the testiments movie, the one that kevin and his kids are in because it was filmed in hawaii. But anyway, I was thinking about Kohor and the non believers. I could definitely see their side. It is hard to believe that a man was going to come to the world to save it from its sins and I wondered why it was that I believed this? And as I was thinking about that I watched as Christ suffered beyond all that any physical being could suffer and as they nailed him to the cross, and when he returned to the America's and called Helam by name, It found my answer. It's because it's true. This gospel, the book of mormon, everything the prophet says, it's all true. I've felt the stirring in my heart, I've seen the power of priesthood bless my life, I've heard the still and small voice of the Spirit in times when I need guidance. No, I haven't seen the Lord. No, I didn't meet Joseph Smith. Yes, at times it can be hard to follow in faith, but because of the small and simple testimonies of Christ that I've felt I know the gospel is true. I know I am doing the right thing. I know that if I serve this mission with all my heart might mind and strength the Lord will bless me throughout my life and I will be welcomed at the gates of heaven.

 

Here is what I've been studying about in my personal study. I've been studying the different missionaries in the book of mormon so I can encorporate what they did into what I do. Ammon is one of the best examples. in chapter 17 of Alma: vs 2-3 alma and the sons of mosiah searched the scriptures diligently and they prayed and fasted that they might be able to teach with the power and authority of God. Without showing God that you are willing to work for revelation he will be reluctant to send you any. vs 9 I was set apart to have a portion of His Spirit to be with me (also Alma 18:25) vs 11 it is so important for me to be an example and remember who I represent at all times and in all things and in all places. I wear the name of Christ, I am and example to the world, I have "the power to astonish the world" (Elder Holland) vs 13 along with vs 11 I must understand the seriousness of this calling vs 23 I'm going to dwell with the people vs 25 I'm going to be their servant. Chapter 18 cs 16 It's so important to teach with the spirit. If there is one lesson I don't teach with the spirit, there's one life that goes unchanged. It's not fair to my investigators vs 22 I must be wise and ask questions that are inspired of the spirit and would not be offensive vs 36 the doctrine is the same no matter where we go or what time period it is being taught in. Chapter 19 vs 6 is what the gospel does to an investigator's mind and vs 36 is the promise the Lord has to his children.

 

Also Christ is the best missionary. In 3 Nephi 11, vs 3-6 it took three times for the people to understand the spirit, I may have to keep trying with my investigators, keep helping them. vs 8 sometimes they may not understand, it might be hard for them to recognize that what we're teaching is true v 10-11 Christ testifies of himself, we must testify of Him too vs 12 the people then remembered, our investigators knew of this plan and this gospel before they were born, I must help them to remember that which they knew of before. vs 14 Christ invites all to come unto him, we invite all to come unto him. vs 15 they people then went forth, it's my investigator's choice to accept the gospel, no one can force them. vs 16-17 they witnessed for themselves, when my investigator's witness for themselves, they will be so happy! vs 21-41 Christ teaches his doctrine specifically baptism, look at how many time baptism is mention in these 20 verses, circle them. I must teach the doctrine of Christ too, specifically baptism.

 

I love you so much! thank you for supporting me in my decision to serve the Lord! Tell the family that I love them:)

 

Con Amor,

Hermana Wilcox