My my my, time is just flying to no end. I don't even understand. Each week gets shorter and shorter where is the time going. I don't even get it. Well so many lessons learned this week. I love this work and I am so blessed to be able to be a part of it. I feel each and everyday the Lord has truly opened my eyes to so many things. We have been teaching a lady named Odilia and it has been amazing. Teaching her the Restored Gospel and how to read all at the same time. It's beautiful! She came to church on Sunday and it was amazing it was as if she had finally come home. I know that that's true. We taught her last Friday and my companion spilled the beans that I may be getting transferred this week and Odilia was quiet for a second and then began to cry. She couldn't understand. She just didn't understand how we can come into her life and then just leave. She was devastated, but we got through it. Our spirits have truly connected. She has told us many things that have lifted us up and made us feel like we are just the best. After her lessons the Lord tends to humble us a lot when we get back into the real world where people don't want to listen, but it is definitely needed. He knows me too well i think. I have learned from Odilia the beauty of obedience. She strives each and everyday to be better to truly understand what it is that Gos wants her to do. I love it. I am indeed getting transferred but its of course about that time since I have been in this ward for 6 months. I figure i have mayyybbeee two areas left on my mission before its time to come home. My companion thinks its awesome to tell me that i only have 1 maybe 2 zone conferences left on my mission. I am sad to be leaving we have learned a lot from each other as you do with all your companions and i really do love her. I will try to update more pics but that doesnt seem to happen to often. Well i want you all to know that i love you and i love the work. I will talk to you all soon and post my new address next week.

Ok this week was quite interesting. We have met some pretty awesome people. We went knocking doors in this neighborhood in our area... also known as "the projects." It was awesome. We met some of the best people ever.
Wait side note, let me say something because I know some people may not understand a mission so i want to lay it out our schedule for you guys. Shouldve been done a long time ago... sorry

6:30 AM Wake up/exercise
7:00 AM Get ready/eat breakfast
8:00 AM Personal Study from the scriptures
9:00 AM Companion study
10:00 OUT THE DOOR... going to appointments with people youve met or go find people to teach. Every minute of everyday is dedicated to the Lord...
Ok so this is basically our schedule.... And somewhere in there you can throw in lunch and dinner. I know a lot of people think that a mission is like a year a half/two year vacation and then in the meantime you teach a few people here and there. Well that would be nice but this is the Lord's work. All your time, talents, efforts etc are focused on finding people to teach and have them try each and everyday to become who God wants them to become. So it's no walk in the park, it's hard and it SUPPPPERRRRR awesome!! I LOVE IT!!! alrighty now that thats out of the way... We found some awesome people that we hope to start teaching this week and have them progress and accept the Restored Gospel in their lives. Oh, i had an awesome birthday yesterday I thank all of you that sent me cards and love you all are great. We ate with a family on the military base and they baked me a cake they are so awesome I love them. More than anything the best gift was the people that we got to teach and introduce to Christ. I don't know if there is anything better. Well i love you all sorry this is so random and scattered... Talk to you soon.

Though our numbers may be few...

Though our numbers may be few...
So I have been thinking about the number of people that tell us there is something different about us. I find it so amazing that people can see and feel the different aura that we bring and how beautiful it is to know that it is definitely not us but the Spirit of the Lord that attends us when we are obedient to His commandments.
The work is coming along great we are continuing to teach people who are keeping commitments and progressing towards baptism. I love when they come to church and say things like "wow i felt the same way at church that I did when you all taught me." How merciful is the Lord to bless us with a portion of His Spirit to abide with us at all times. To be able to testify to those that we teach that this is indeed true, that if accepted it will change the rest of your life. How blessed are we!?!?! I have had the opportunity to teach in Spanish a bit more lately and we will begin teaching a older gentleman whose wife is a member of the church but he is not. He is from Peru. I'm excited about that. He really is awesome. So many miracles that I am able to witness each and everyday. The lord is amazing and infinite. He continues to teach me how to humble myself and become more like Him. Although impossible in this life, I am trying my hardest. I have made a mental list of things i will and will not do when i come home to keep this same Spirit that I have now as a missionary. Boy will it be hard!! But I'm ready. This blog is short but i want you all to know that I'm doing fine. I said i would write more so im trying just be patient.

As I Knelt in Earnest Prayer...

This week has caused me to do a lot of praying, pondering and studying. Which I guess isn't too different from every other day of my life but so much has been going on. Update: I'm still in the same area, Susquehanna and I am really learning more than I can even handle at times. We have had the honor and privilege of teaching so many people from all different walks of life, as always. I have noticed such a popular trend in this area which is the same of course throughout the world. Children truly are their parents. Awhile back we visited a mother and son who havent been to church in a very long time. When we went by her house we tried to commit her to come back to church and in a long drawn out voice she said "I'll tryyyy." We then turned to her son who is 8 yrs old and tried to commit him to come to church as well (if his mother takes him of course) and he said "I'll tryyy," in the exact same voice as his mother. My heart broke. I thought about my mother and how amazing she is and how I'm everything I am because of the time, effort patience and i do mean PATIENCE she had in raising me. As I knelt in earnest prayer I thought "what did I do to deserve such an amazing Mother?" I felt so unworthy and sad for the things I had done to cause her heartache and pain. I also thought about how important parent's roles are in the lives of their children and two famous quotes came to my mind from former presidents of the church. I believe it was David O. McKay who said "No success can compensate for failure in the home." I want you all to know what I know and what I know is very simple. No matter how many college degrees you have, how much money you make, how "high up" of a position you have at work, how many trophies you have it doesn't compensate for quality teaching time that needs to be done in the home. Heavenly Father is very serious about the welfare of His children. If you have had your own children... WHAT A BLESSING!! But guess what they are still His and their spiritual needs need to be met. I believe it was President Spencer W. Kimball who said "the most important work we will ever do will be within the walls of our own home." Our children and families are to know "of the goodness of God." We have the scriptures, we need to use them in our home. The Lord has commanded us to read the scriptures DAILY as a family, pray DAILY as a family. It's not a suggestion it's a commandment. When we do these things we have been given apostolic and prophetic promises that any wayward children will return. They will be able to remember the Spirit that testified to them of the truthfulness of the things they learned as a child. Be patient if it doesn't seem to happen on your time. The Lord's timing is different from yours. Going back to the night I thought about these things I felt so overwhelmed, overpowered and inadequate, but I knew the Lord was there. So as I knelt in earnest prayer, and asked the Lord what I did to deserve such an amazing parents and the answer was quite clear... Nothing it was just one of His many tender mercies. I want you all to know I love this work. I love my family and more importantly i love my Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ. This is their work. I know it because the Lord continues to show to me that its true and that He lives. I know I am blessed to share this message with everyone I meet. I come back to one of my favorite scriptures from the Book of Mormon, 3Nephi 5:13
"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people that they might have everlasting life."
Brothers and Sisters, I testify to you of the divine role that you have as parents, soon to be parents, one day parents and as children of a Heavenly Father period. I know we are to teach those who don't know the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ how they can be happy and receive all the blessings that God wants them to have from it. I LOVE YOU ALL.... UNTIL NEXT TIME... JUST CONTINUE TO BE AWESOME!!!

"NICE TAN!"

This week we we're eating lunch with a very active and amazing family and the wife was telling us about her day. We'll call her Sis. Jones.. she said all day she had been preparing to get the kids to the pool so they could have fun but she also was prepping to get dinner started so when they came back she could throw it in and feed the family and missionaries. She was talking about how she loved seeing the excited look on the kids faces and how they waited and played together in the meantime because they knew they would be going to pool. Finally, she got them ready and headed to the pool. She said when she got to the pool she saw another member of the church there. Unfortunately, this member has not been to church in awhile and this conversation was a real eye opener for me. She was laid out by the pool and she had a beautiful tan. Sister Jones told her "wow, nice tan!" And the lady replied "thanks this is my favorite thing to do." Sister Jones said when she saw her tan she immediately was somewhat envious of how beautiful this woman's skin looked and how she, on the other hand had rushed all day to get ready, and her skin looked like she hadn't seen the sun in years and so on and so on. Then she said wait a minute, my favorite thing to do is spend time with my family which I have done. My favorite thing is serving, making sure the kids and my husband are taken care of. How quick was I to forget that.

Guys, I know this story can seem a little judgemental and I hope that's not how I come off. In life we all mix up our priorities at times and if we didnt we would be perfect. But i want to ask How much time are we spending doing things "we love to do" as oppose to things we SHOULD be doing? What things are most important to us? What spiritual things are we sacrificing for our "beautiful tans?" Do our children, spouses, friends, others around and even more importantly our Father in Heaven know whats most important to us? I think it was Shakespeare who said "they do not love who do not show their love." If we love the Lord let us show him. Let us always seek first the kingdom of God. We can quickly forget because maybe other things seem to have such a beautiful tan when our skin looks like Elmer glue (I'll never have this problem)! I want to learn and grow and do all the things i possibly can in this life. Its so limited. Brothers and Sisters please make sure that we can stand blameless before God. Remember that the things we do effect others around us not just us. Especially when we have children. Their sins will come upon our heads if they are not taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we had it our entire lives. Self evaluate, read Alma 5 can we answer the questions Alma ask the people in Zarahemla with confidence and surety? I love you all. Sorry so long i hope to continue to update and let you know whats going on throughout the weeks. I love love love you!!!!