1 Year Older and Wiser..

Happy June 6th! Exactly a year ago today I entered into the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah to start my journey as a full-time servant of the Lord. I am FULL of emotions and am flooded with memories as I think back to all of the life-changing experiences I have had in the past year. My heart fills with love and gratitude for all the people I have met because of my decision to come out and serve- they have blessed my life forever.

I remember sitting in a classroom as a new missionary listening to a very inspired teacher talk about the relationship of Missionaries and the Atonement of the Savior. I was so impressed by the strong Spirit I felt as it was confirmed to me that the many trials I would face, I wouldn't face them alone. I knew the Savior would walk right beside me as I went forward on my mission leaving behind family and loved ones for 18 months.

A quote that I remember this teacher saying is, "I hope you set goals and have expectations for what you want to accomplish on your missions. The Lord will exceed all of those goals and all of your expectations. Also, I hope you set high goals and have big expectations...Because the Lord will exceed those too."

Brothers and Sisters, I can now testify that the Lord has done exactly that, He has EXCEEDED my expectations and my dreams for missionary work. I still have 6 months until I return home, but I can truly say the things I have learned during the past year has changed my heart. I am a better person than I used to be from applying Christlike Attributes. I understand more of the WHY of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that will motivate me to press forward. I know who I am, and I know Whose I am. I know my purpose. I know what I want in my life. I have solidified my own personal conversion of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and The Atonement. I know that this work is true. It isn't easy, but it is worth it!

It is a Gospel of HAPPINESS!

 I have grown so much and so has my joy! I will be forever grateful for this sacred opportunity that the Lord has given me. Serving a full-time mission has been the best decision in my life. The good thing is, you don't have to serve a mission to know what I do! You can test out the Heavenly promise in Moroni 10:3-5. If you have the desire to know that God works miracles today and has given us more, I invite you to do the challenge: Read the Book of Mormon, find the closest LDS church building near you, contact the missionaries and ask them to teach you our message. I promise you as you let the desire work in you, when you pray in faith and ask if Joseph Smith was the Prophet of the Restoration, or if the Book of Mormon is the Word of God, or if the Priesthood Power has been restored to the Earth, you will get a Heavenly response. You will feel it in your bones. The Spirit will overwhelm you with peace and warmth.

I hope that ALL who are searching for more peace and happiness in your lives will look to the Lord and believe that God is a God of miracles. He is the same today as He was in Biblical times; He has called a Prophet to lead and guide us in the last days, and has restored unto the Earth the Priesthood Power. He has blessed us with new scripture which gives us the fullness of the Gospel. You can know for yourself that you are a Child of God, and Families are Forever. I hope and pray that you will come to find the happiness and peace that I have found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is all made possible through His infinite sacrifice. If you have any questions--

ASK THE MISSIONARIES! They can and will help.

1st day to 1 year!

The Greatest Work of All!

Hello! It has been a while since I have posted. But I have big news!!

Almost 11 months ago I left my family and loved ones for 18 months to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints here in the Nashville, Tennessee (Spanish) mission. Honestly, it has been the most amazing experience in my life. I can't believe all of the things I have been able to see and learn that the Lord has shown me; it truly has exceeded far beyond all of my expectations and goals from the beginning. Missionary work is AMAZING! Being in full-time missionary service has forever changed my life. I have come to know the Savior's character a little bit more because of the experiences I have been allowed to go through. Some of those being the hardest ones I've ever had, and some of those being some of the most sacred and spiritual.

 So, the big news! Last week my twin sister, Megan, received a mission call! Any guesses where?

  She'll be serving in the NEW ZEALAND, HAMILTON MISSION!!!!!!

I was SO at a loss of words when I found out. She will be leaving Sept. 12, 2013.......and I will be coming home December 18, 2013. This means we won't see each other for about 3 years!

Now I don't know about you, but there is NO way I would allow something to stop me from seeing my twin sister for 3 years...Unless The Lord Himself commanded it.

 I know that the Lord has called her to serve at this exact moment to serve the people in New Zealand and to teach them the "Good News" of the message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. The sacrifice of sending her to the other side of the world and us being separated is Worth It.

How?


Because what happened in the Spring of the year 1820 in a grove of trees has changed the world forever. Us missionaries have the sacred opportunity to share that message with the world, to let it change lives forever.

God is our Father. He has revealed His Gospel to us multiple times throughout history through His Prophets. He sent His Perfect Son to come to Earth to show us the way and to establish the Everlasting Gospel. He gave His Authority to His Apostles to act in His name. He also made it possible for us to progress eternally through His Eternal Sacrifice, The Atonement.


After centuries of being lost, the Priesthood Authority of God has been Restored to the Earth once more, never to be taken away again. God loves us. His Prophets are back. I know this message is true.
You can know as well.

http://mormon.org/restoration


I am so grateful for the opportunity the Lord has given me and my twin sister to share this message, on both sides of the world! It is the Greatest Work of them all. It is the Lord's work! To bring to pass our ETERNAL HAPPINESS. I know that through the Power of the Priesthood that has been Restored, families can be together forever. We can find strength, purpose, direction, and peace in our lives.

I am humbled to be one of His Representatives, I am humbled that my beautiful sister gets this wonderful opportunity of a life-time. And can I just tell you? I AM HAPPY. This work is a great work. Our message is Perfect and simple. If you have questions, please ask the missionaries! :)

 CALLED TO SERVE

Hot off the Press!! Conference with Elder Oaks

WOW. What a morning! I have been anxiously waiting for so long for TODAY. Today the missionaries of the Tennessee Nashville mission got to have a meeting with an Apostle of the Lord, Elder Dalin H. Oaks. This is the 3rd apostle that has visited our mission in the past 6 months. That is so rare! Also with him came Elder Meyers, from the Presidency of the 70 and Elder Hymus from the quorum of the 70.

And another sweet suprise, our beloved mission mom Sister Mckee came to the meeting and bore her testimony to us, and played the piano! It was so good to see her and have her back with us. We love her and have witnessed a miracle with her. 

 It was a very spiritual and revelatory experience, we are so lucky and blessed to have had this special meeting.

I want to share the message of Elder Oaks with you all! This is a special witness of Jesus Christ talking to us, a true instrument and mouthpiece of God.

He talked about going fishing with his grandkids. He has taken them each out to the lake and taught them how to fish! When he came home from their fishing trip, his wife always asks him "did you catch any fish?" The answer is always "No!" He described what usually happens:

They get on the lake for about 4 hours. During that time they are busy getting the bait ready, getting lines out of trees, or getting the hook un-stuck...then after a while the kids get hungry so he has to take care of that...by the time the 4 hours is over, He only has had about 15 minutes to have his own line in the water! But the experience is gratifying and worthwhile.

He compared this to missionary work. Missionaries are fishers of men. He said, " The amount of time spent out on the fishing boat is not proportionate to the amount of fish caught." Coming from a missionary, that is so true!

Missionary work is hard work! He testified that if all missionaries "have their lines in the water" meaning being obedient, working hard, and talking to everyone, we together will find the "fish" who are ready to come into the boat of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Keep your line in the water!

"A good fisherman is determined not by how many fish he comes home with at the end of the day, but rather how long he keeps his net in the water."

Friends, let us consistently keep our nets in the water, searching for those who are ready to "take the bait" which leads to eternal life.

So amazing. Another analogy he gave was being instruments in the hands of God. He pulled out a pen for example. He took the pen apart. He showed us that the important part of the pen is the ink inside the cartridge.
The ink represents a knowledge of the Gospel. If we want to be instruments in His hands, we have to have to have the knowledge brought by the Spirit through diligent studies! It is so important for us missionaries to prepare every morning by having "perfect" studies. Which means being obedient and prayerful to learn the things we need to learn for us and our investigators. This assures that the "pen" will be in working order when used.

I loved the quote he said, "It may be preparation day, but to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord you have to be on duty 24/7!" We have to always be conscious and aware of opportunities to talk to everyone, and share the "Good News" to all who will listen.

The hand using the pen writes his message in his own way, and in his own time table. Who is the hand holding us and guiding us? It is the Lord. We have to do things His way, and we teach His words. And everything will be in His timing. 

I will conclude with His brilliant and powerful testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ! He explained that all churches have truth in them. Our only invitation is for others to come and receive more light and knowledge of the Savior. To come and see if we can add more to the truth that you have. 

The difference of our church: "The things we do here will be recognized after death."

Here are 3 things that makes us different:

 1. We have the fulness of the Gospel 

 2. We have the Authority 

 3. We have a unique testimony of Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. 


Brothers and Sisters!! I testify that this is true. The words of a prophet of God are given directly from Heaven. I promise you can know the simple and pure truths of His gospel, through faith and earnest prayer. I know that the same church Christ established when He was on the Earth is once again on the Earth today! That is why we, missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are here to help you. Please visit mormon.org if you have questions, and find the missionaries in your area to help guide you to more joy than you can imagine. I know this is true. YOU can know too.

Talk about LOVE

FELIZ DIA DE SAN VALENTIN!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Wow. I love this day! So many people can "feel the love" from their families, friends, and loved ones. I love showing my love for the people I care about through acts of service and giving.

But even more, I love showing the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through teaching the Restored Gospel and serving His children 24/7!

Here is a scripture that talks about feeling the "Love":

And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

-Alma 5:26

I have learned that our hearts can be changed through divine knowledge. Knowledge of who we are and our worth, and knowledge of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. There is so much MORE to love than we can comprehend!

I hope this Valentine's Day you can feel the desire to discover the love that a Heavenly Father and His Son have for you. I challenge you to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ and ask. I did it, I felt the Spirit and I cannot deny it!

 23 For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in ^adarkness.

 24 He doeth not ^aanything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he ^bloveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw ^call men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.

 25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: ^aCome unto me all ye ^bends of the earth, ^cbuy milk and honey, without money and without price.

27 Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his^asalvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath ^bgiven it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to ^crepentance.

 28 Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but ^aall men are privileged the one ^blike unto the other, and none are forbidden.

I have a testimony of the LOVE of our Heavenly Father and Savior. I know they have blessings in store for each of us, and we can obtain them ALL through our faith and obedience.

 They know us perfectly, and we can know them.

"Forgiving ourselves and others is not easy. In fact, for most of us it requires a major change in our attitude and way of thinking—even a change of heart. But there is good news. This “mighty change”⁸ of heart is exactly what the gospel of Jesus Christ is designed to bring into our lives.

How is it done? Through the love of God.

When our hearts are filled with the love of God, something good and pure happens to us. We “keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world.”⁹

The more we allow the love of God to govern our minds and emotions—the more we allow our love for our Heavenly Father to swell within our hearts—the easier it is to love others with the pure love of Christ. As we open our hearts to the glowing dawn of the love of God, the darkness and cold of animosity and envy will eventually fade.

As always, Christ is our exemplar. In His teachings as in His life, He showed us the way."  

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Have a great Valentines Day!!

1st post!

The other night I was with my companion and a member friend visiting a lady who is less active in the church. She is absolutely amazing! She has this beautiful spirit and strong faith. I just really love her. She has had her share of trials and lately life for her has been a struggle.

When we were visiting her the other night, I sensed that she was feeling a little hopeless. She talked to us about how she has this friend who doesn't believe there is a God. It surprised her, because her friend is this wonderful person. She said that her family seems to be so content like they don't have any major problems. Then she said, "I can't help but wonder..."

Our friend who was with us gave the most inspired answer. She simply told her, "Well, I guess you could live life without the Gospel, and you could go through your trials alone...but WHY??"

So for my first blog post, I would like to talk about the WHY of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how it blesses us, especially in our trials. Big or small!

This topic has been an answer to prayer in my own life as of late. Something that I have discovered is that my trials are already a lot harder than I ever expected! I have thought to myself, "I did NOT sign up for this!". But really I am starting to realize that is normal. As children of God, we are all here to be stretched, tested, and tried to prove our faith and our love to our Heavenly Father. The question is, how are we reacting to our adversities?

My mission President is a huge example to me of true faith. His wife is recovering from 2 strokes and a heart attack right now. Even though it isn't easy for him or his family, he understands the WHY. Here are some words from his blog:
"I have read the scripture in Matthew over and over where the Savior was pleading to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane as He was coming to the realization of a portion of what He would be going through “And he went a little further and... fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt .” (Matt. 26:39) This has given me peace to know that the Savior of the World prayed to His Father asking Him to remove this cup but always “if it be thy will”. The Lord has His own timing and I am learning that I get to adjust to that timing as well. The natural man in me wants to have it my way again. For each of us the Path of Salvation will at some time go through the Garden of Gethsemane. In order to follow Him we all must experience that Gethsemane Path.
I noticed that the Father allowed His very special Son to experience that path even though I am sure that He wanted to take that suffering away from Him. Each one of us will become “more like Him” as we experience that path. Every experience will mold us to be more like our Heavenly Father, if we let it."

I know that our trials will STRENGTHEN us if we are true and faithful. Our purpose in life is to be like the Savior. He showed us the perfect example. We can do hard things. I know Heavenly Father is there and is always ready to sustain and lift us. We just have to be humble and let Him guide.

I know this Gospel is the only and TRUE way to have lasting happiness. The adversary doesn't want you to be happy! He will do everything to take you away from the blessings that the Gospel brings. Please don't lose hope, your Savior is there. I know as we have faith and endure our trials big or small, the Lord will show unto us His ways, and we will change and mold into the person He wants us to be.