"Endings are not our destiny."

April 7, 2014

"Endings are not our destiny."

Boom. Conference as a missionary was FANTASTIC! I can't even tell you how excited I was and I was just so alert and listening to every single word! Good gracious. Mom, will you send me a copy of the Ensign when it comes out??:) There was so much goodness that I felt and learned that there's no stinkin way to tell it all but I thought that quote did a pretty good job. Overall Conference strengthened my eternal perspective that I've begun to have glimpses of and that I hope I can strengthen and keep after my mission! It makes every single thing in life that much easier. When it ended yesterday I had this burst of happiness and though, "I know this stuff is true, theses men women just spoke truths!" Sometime I doubt, and sadly I know I will again and again, sometimes it's frustrating, annoying, the answers don't come, certain aspects seem cumbersome but deep down I'll always know that this is true. It makes too much sense, it answers every question. This gospel is beautiful, hopeful and true!

Some points that really stuck out to me:

-Family history work! Man oh man, I think that this will only continue to become a bigger thing! I loved the quote that someone said about Christ performing a vicarious Atonement for us because we cannot do it ourselves, similarly we need to do the vicarious ordinances for our dead. Wow. chew on that! It made think of wherever it is in D&C where it says that we cannot be saved without our dead, neither can they without us be saved. . . exciting stuff.

-The Work of Salvation! Elder's Ballard's talk?? This is something we should all be involved in! Cool beans

-Elder Bednar's talk about the Atonement was beautiful and an answer to my prayers and I cannot wait to read it again:)

Sorry I forgot to mention this last week. . . Yes, we are now in a brand new transfer and. . .surprise! Sister C and I are together for one more transfer, huzzah! At the end of this one I'll either leave with my Visa or she'll leave because she's been here for 5 transfers, yikes, change!

Tayler: TOMORROW is my 1/6 way mark! What the what? Just fyi;)

minha familia querida, I get to talk you in just about a month! How is that for happy?:)

Thank you so much for the mail people! It was all perfect and I was SO happy! Like I told you mom, they held it forever so I got it all at once. I'm going to write back to some of you today but I obviously won't be able to write all of the today:( I PROMISE that I'm picking randomly oook?;)  Dad, btw I got that postcard (solid work haha) right on April Fool's day, how about that?

(Maddie and Mom you'll especially understand this) So Ratesha. . I think I've mentioned her before. She's a less-active and we're trying to work with her and help her get back to the Temple, she wants to go so badly and I want her to get there so badly! She lives in a horrible environment with horrible things around her and has had a pretty horrible life. She's about 24. This past week when we went to go see her she was in a bad way. She was telling us everything that's going on and just broke down, she just kept saying," I'm so tired, I'm so tired. I just want to be the Ratesha that I know I can be, I want to go to college and get a good job, I want to have a man that takes care of me and doesn't take advantage of me. I am so tired." I awkwardly scooted across the car so I could just hold her for a second.  Sometimes we can be the arms if Christ for someone else because He can't hold us all when we cry like we wish he could. I had a thought and a prayer right then that she could feel Christ's love for her and know that He wanted to hold her so badly and fix her. I'm so grateful to her and her example for me. She always holds on to her testimony. In between every other sentence she was expressing her gratitude for her knowledge of her Savior. Miracles.

Like I mentioned last week, I continue to learn so much about the Atonement each day. This past week I had a rough day (surprise!) I was feeling pretty discouraged and actually just fed up with myself and my shortcomings, I just didn't do so hot! Well that night I really, just gave everything to my Heavenly Father in my prayers and told Him that I couldn't change myself by myself. I needed His help and asked for it, really plead for it. The next day I actually felt myself being lifted, and given strength and courage beyond my own. Goodness, these kinds of experiences are hard to relate to others especially via e-mail! Anyway, because of the Atonement Jesus Christ both gave me strength and took some things away that I couldn't get rid of. I'm so grateful for His Atonement for me!

Line of the week: So Mandie came to all of Conference yesterday! It was perfect for her! She told us that already, so many of her questions had been answered! After the last session yesterday right after Pres. Monson's closing remarks she leaned over to me and said," I love that man!" Smiling my face of I just said, "me too." Well there ya go folks, that's a rap!

I love you so much family! Tayler I want to her about tour! Dad, thanks for the pictures! Krey, lookin' good. . . Coltran buddy I love you so much. Kali bear I can't wait to see your new glasses!! Mom, thanks for everything:)

Vamos para frente com fe,

Sister Ventura Mosiah 2:21