Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness.

Hola chamacos!

The good thing about Spokane Valley is that it is beautiful! Majestic, tall pine trees frame every house. Yesterday all the snow melted, and though it was still pretty chilly, there was a glimpse of springtime. And I can tell that springtime will be glorious. I've decided though that it really doesn't matter where you serve. The location is relative. It's really all about the people. Wherever you go, there will be people to love and people to pray for. That's what matters to me at least. And the more people I get to know in Spokane Valley the more I really do love it here. 

My spanish branch and english ward here are in two different stakes even though the spanish branch area covers ALL of Spokane Valley. We cover all the way to Post Falls, Idaho! I don't know how often we'll get out there though 'cause there isn't too much of a spanish-speaking population. One of these days we'll make a trip out there. I'm sorry I haven't taken a lot of pictures lately. It's been a longer week for me. 

Yesterday we had stake conference in the Spanish branch stake. It was perfect. Just an answer to my prayers. It was all about missionary work, like everything is these days. President Mullen and Sister Mullen were there-which it's always a wonderful privilege to hear from them. Sister Mullen said a lot of things that motivated me. She describes this opportunity to serve as the "honor of her life". I feel that way too. I've felt less so this last week, but I do feel like serving this mission means everything to me. It's not a lot of sacrifice and in the grand scheme of things I know I'll look back and realize there hardly was any sacrifice at all, but it has given me a new perspective on every aspect of my life. We had exchanges this last week. Here in the valley everybody works a little closer together so I was still technically covering my Spanish area while on exchanges. We met this member, an older, single sister who has lived in her apartment complex for quite awhile. She served a mission many moons ago in good 'ol Dallas, Texas, Spanish speaking. She is the kind of member missionary I want to be. She lives the gospel of Jesus Christ and she shares her testimony with everyone. She noticed that one of her Doctors was Greek, his last name was Contras or something, and she she asked him about family history. She finally persuaded him to allow her to do some family history work for him even though he didn't think she would find anything. She searched and prayed and searched and found a lot for his mother's line. She printed it all out and put it in a nice binder for him and then left a note that said, "I believe the family unit is essential to God's plan." which is brilliant and true and wonderful. She said he was a pretty straight-laced guy who hardly smiled but at her last appointment he told her how much that meant to him and to his mother. I just thought that was such a great story.

I want to live in a such a way after my mission that I share my testimony with everyone, all my neighbors, and colleagues and my children's school teachers. At our training last week, one of the Brothers asked us who we know that is not baptized. And then to imagine the Celestial Kingdom without that person. I've been thinking a lot about it still. 

Sister Sanchez is really, super great. We are great friends, she says. And we are. We are just two little Hermanitas running around talking to everyone. (to my mom: we are like the same size but she's got really skinny legs like grandma! I tell ya, why didn't i get these skinny Mexican legs??) We speak the same level of each other's language. Which means she speaks pretty good English and I speak pretty good Spanish. 

We eat with members a lot more here I think, actually. We eat lunch and dinner on the weekends with members. During the week we still make our own meals, but it's better that way. Because they make goooood food here. I've mostly had a lot of posole and other taco, chicken, rice and beans stuff. Nothing I've had has been bad. That's the nice thing about being in the US because I know where the food comes from. Did I tell you that I'm addicted to rice pudding now? It started my first transfer after Ana and Walter made some for us and then the next night when Claudia and Genaro had some little store bought rice pudding cups. Then I decided to buy some for myself and I've probably had one every night since. True story.

I love you all. The gospel is true. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. God is our Father in Heaven and He loves us and knows us so well. 

I'm sure there is more I wanted to tell you. 

Con amor,

Hermanita Em

***Dear Readers, I was able to quickly email Sister Judd right after she sent her letter, and asked for an account of her new area and investigators.  So here is a little bonus:

On Wednesday, we tracted long hours, hoping to talk to everyone. The standard of excellence for QGCs is 20, remember? And it's actually a lot harder than it seems. It was around 7:45 and we still had about 5 left for the day. We stopped by to see a less-active guy who turned out to be awesome. He pays his tithing each week and he knows it is all true. He's just not wanted to go to church for awhile. Crazy. We are reading the Book of Mormon with him this week so maybe he'll come around! Anyway, he pointed us to some of his neighbors for us to try so we went and knocked around some more. And we did it! We hit the 20 mark! And then as soon as we did it, the Lord handed us a little blessing. It was as if He was saying, "Here you go, my sweet daughters, after all your labor today, here is someone who wants to listen." And so the very next door we knocked was a young-ish mom who let us right in. She was happy and willing to listen and she accepted another day for a church tour. (Of course, the church tour was while I was away on exchanges, but I heard that she was sitting, parked in her car, with all her kids buckled and ready to go when they passed by to take her to the church). If she is the only miracle we see all transfer, that will be enough. But I have a feeling the Lord has more up His sleeve.

He always does.

That's all I've got for ya. We are teaching a less-active from Uruguay and I love her so much. She says all her "y's" like sha. Loveeee it. "sho me shamo rosa"  :)

yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

Dearest loves,

 

I would be lying if I told you I wasn't devasted when I got my transfer call. GOOD things are happening in Moses Lake. I was so sure I would be there for Francisco and Lorena and Daniel's baptisms. I just loved them so dearly. I'd never met any people more humble and prepared than them. All I wanted was to see someone's transformation from start to finish. So far I've caught the baptism and endure to the end part of the work. And I've seen the faith and repentance part come into play. But I haven't seen the whole gospel work and change and heal someone's heart all the way through. That's all I want on my mission and I know the Lord knows best. I needed to come to Spokane Valley. but I just love and miss my family in Moses Lake. That's what it feels like. Like I just moved away from home to the big city. Where I don't know anyone and where I sometimes feel pretty small.

 

Timing is everything with the Lord. Sister Sanchez got here two weeks ago and since the Lord knows how things work and He knew that Sister Velez would end up going home,  you would've thought I'd get transferred here at the start of the tranfser. But the truth is I needed that last week in Moses. I needed to work and learn more from Sister Tippetts and Sister Smith. There was a training this last Thursday that only missionary leaders were invited to attend. Because I was training I was able to go. And then because I was getting transferred that same day, they invited my new companion, Sister Sanchez to come too. If the circumstances would have been any different, we wouldn't have gone. And we needed that training. It was incredible. The head of prosilyting for missionary work came and spoke and uplifted us. I was pumped by the end of it. Sister Sanchez and I were both feeling excited to get to work in the Valley.

 

And we need that enthusiasm.

 

Because there isn't a whole lot going on in Spokane Valley right now. The sister who went home sick didn't feel well most days so they only left the house for their appointments. They weren't teaching very many people or tracting ever. Since Sister Sanchez only got here two weeks ago, we are both really new, so it's like we are sweeping in. We don't have a lot of investigators to teach right now but we are optimistic. The fun part about being new to an area is that you can go anywhere and talk to anyone because you have never been anywhere or talked to anyone before. This place is huge! I thought my area in Moses was big, but there are just TONS of people here. SO much potential. We have to work really, really hard to see some things start to take place but I know that the Lord sent us here to find the elect, the people ready and willing to accept the message about Jesus Christ. It was tough to leave my Moses, and even still my heart aches a bit, but I know there are people to love and teach and serve wherever I go. I'm so grateful I started in Moses Lake. It's given me hope and happiness and I know the potential of the work. I know where Spokane Valley can end up. I know there are people waiting to hear the gospel here just like any other area in the mission.

 

We will be tracting a lot this next week. A LOT of finding. I'm really glad Sister Tippetts and I had that week of amazing QGCs last transfer because it showed me the miraculous power of talking to everyone. We need miracles here. That's all Sister Sanchez and I want. We want to be so obedient, work so hard, do all we can, so that the Lord pours out His blessings. I want to be worthy of the people He trusts us to teach.

 

Sister Sanchez is the cutest little thing ever. We are both nearly the same size so we're telling everyone we are like dynamite with a mighty punch. She is from Mexico and so my spanish is going to improve so much! We speak Spanish all day one day, and the next day we speak in all English. It helps us both improve our language skills. Sister Sanchez was working in Moses lake with Sister Hicks the transfer before I got there and I think it is good that we've both worked with Sister Hicks. We follow her work ethic. She was a go,go,go kind of missionary and that's how we've got to be in Spokane Valley. Sister Sanchez is so great-truly the Lord knew we both needed to be here right now.

 

Our theme for the transfer is Alma 26:12

 

Yea, I know that I am ^anothing; as to my strength I am weak;

therefore I will ^bnot boast of myself, but I will ^cboast of my God,

for in his ^dstrength I can do all ^ethings;

yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land,

for which we will praise his name forever.

 

That's what we want to say by the end of our time in Spokane Valley.
"yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land,

for which we will praise his name forever."

 

I'm giving it all to the Lord these next few weeks. I want to come home exhausted every day and just know I've done my best. Because when I do all I can do, that's when He comes in to lift us higher. This work isn't possible without our Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Being in the Valley has a lot of perks. Every type of food on the planet is here. Every country, every cousine. There is every store too! Winco, Target, and Plato's closet. Everything! We live 5 minutes from the temple so when we go to the temple this transfer we will still have a pretty full P-day! And we can go visit coeur d'alene on a p-day too! We work in a ward and branch here too. The spanish work is a little different here. In Moses, everyone was from Mexico and they worked in the farms. Here people are from ALL over south america. Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, Guatemala. It's actually pretty awesome but the spanish speakers don't all congregrate the way they did in Moses and so you have to look far and wide to teach them. They are all really spread out.  Oh and also! Elder Legarra is in my district here. He was in my district at the MTC and so he feels like one of my old friends here. I know I'll grow to love Spokane Valley just the same way I loved Moses but it's different. Moses was my home town, where I was born and raised. A part of me feels like my time there isn't quite finished and I can't tell if I'm just dreaming I'll go back or if maybe the Lord has more in store for me there. Only time will tell I suppose.

 

 

Love you lots,

 

Hermanita Em

 

Day 110: the secret of missionary work is WORK

[Editors note: Hermana Em had an emergency transfer to Spokane Valley! If you would like to write her, just send letters to the mission office address for now!]

My dearest dears,

Being a missionary is the best thing I've ever done for my life. Every, every part of who I am feels like it's stemmed from my missionary work. I know that too, who I am and have already become in my life contributes so much to the missionary I am each day. I just love the people we meet each day and that God trusts me to do His miraculous work.

Our new companion, Sister Smith, is the cutest. She is pretty different from Sister Tippetts and I. Both of us are pretty bold and confident in the lessons and she is more quiet and reserved. She is warming up to us though and she cracks us up. She joined the church almost 2 years ago and I really admire her courage to come on a mission even though she's the only member in her family. She knows it's true and she is firmly planted in her testimony. Being a trainer has taught me so much and helped my confidence as well. It's also had me reflecting on my transfer with Sister Hicks and how I'm so grateful she pushed me out of my comfort zone so that I could learn and grow more. It's funny how this transfer will be so different from last transfer and I almost feel like it's when people say, "everything changes when you have kids." but it's true. Sister Tippetts and I are already working differently than we did last transfer, but it's still a lot of fun. Sister Smith adds a little spice to our companionship.

It's pretty freezing here. You may actually want to send me some more hand warmers after all :) But I hear that Provo has had a TON of snow and we don't have any. It's just really, really, REALLY cold. 

We started teaching this guy named Francisco last week and oh, I love him so. He lives in the same trailer park as Daniel and Lorena and so we are basically there everyday finding and teaching new people. Trailer parks are the best. Such humble and kind people. We first met Francisco because we were trying to catch his neighbor, Nicolasa at home and he was working on building a little covering over his door. He called out to us that nobody was home and I figured he was one of those neighbors trying to 'save' his friends from the missionaries but we went over to talk to him anyway. He was interested in how we learned spanish because he really wants to learn english. We set up a time to pass by his house but I didn't have a lot of confidence. People always set up new times but are hardly there when we actually go by to teach again. And wouldn't you know it, he wasn't there when we went back. But, persistence is key in missionary work and we went by the next night. Turns out there was a miscommunication. He had been waiting for us the night before but we showed up at a different time. So we taught him a quick lesson and invited him to be baptized. He said yes! He's preparing to be baptized Feb. 16th. He is so good hearted, I just feel so happy every time we teach him. He had never prayed before and he said that since we've come he's really felt so much more peace in his life.

I love working with the hispanic people so much. They are going to switch the stake here soon so that there is a missionary companionship in each ward which means we will probably only be working in the spanish branch. I'm torn because I love our 6th ward and the members and I learn so much about how I want to be a wife and mother and ward member from them, but I love working with the hispanic people so much. I am so happy that the Rogers can work in the spanish branch at home. We have a lot of members that get called to serve in our branch and they make all the difference. Their solid foundation helps to build these people who live in such instability. We had a couple walk in last week for the first time and they were so nervous, just like little kids on their first day of school. Neither of them speak Spanish and they got called to help teach our "Daily Dose" english classes that we offer Tuesdays and Thursdays. They have just embraced and loved the branch in this week span and my heart is so full for all the good people here. Farmers are my favorite people. Hard workers and kind hearts. Oh, this is my mission.

Welp, I love you all so, so much! Pray for opportunities to serve others and lift those around you. Share mormon.org! Share a Book of Mormon, share your testimony! Member missionary work helps us SO much!

I know this message is true. Each time we watch the restoration DVD with someone, the room is filled with the spirit. "que bonito" they always say. If you look at the logics of it, a movie about a boy who sees a vision is kind of strange. But people always love it. The spirit tesitifies of truth. There is no denying the spirit you feel as you watch Joseph Smith recieve the authority from God to restore Christ's church back to the earth. This is true. There is a prophet on the earth today who leads and guides the church under the direction of our loving, Heavenly Father. What a joy it is to share this truth with those seeking it.

Happy monday!

Hermana Em

102 days: be still and know that I am God

Hola Chamacos!

 

I am staying in Moses Lake! And I'm training! and Sister Tippetts is staying and training too! We are training the new sister together so we'll be in a trio. I am so, so, SO happy to stay in Moses Lake and stay with Sister Tippetts. I just didn't want the goodness to end so quickly. And I'm glad that I get to train with Sister Tippetts. I was super stressed that I would be called to train already and I just wasn't feeling prepared enough. There is still so much to learn everyday! But I am glad that it can be a team effort with my dear friend, Sister Tippetts.

 

I was so touched this week by her kindness. She's really taught me a lot about charity. So remember Chico's pizza, Dad? Long ago you told me that Brother Bouck said that it was the best pizza around and you wanted me to try it out. There never seemed to be time with Sister Hicks and so when Sister Tippetts came I asked her if we'd ever be able to go. She's the best so of course we made plans to go on one of our P-Days. BUT--Chico's opens at 4 pm and our P-Day ends at 6 pm and so we realized it just would be a big hassle to go. I wasn't overly concerned. I figured that someday I'd come back to visit my mission and I could try Chico's then. Then on Friday night, as we were making our plans for Saturday, and trying to fill our time for the 4 o' clock slot, Sister Tippetts suggested Chico's cause we didn't know if I'd get transferred or not and she didn't think I could truly leave Moses without trying this pizza! It wasn't a huge deal or anything momentous. But it was kind of her to think of me. And to remember this little suggestion my dad made to me (because she can appreciate how great dad's are) and I was just touched by her thoughtfulness. It's made me really reflect on the idea of "thinking of others first". That's what I want to do all my mission and all my life. There is joy in bringing others happiness and thinking of them. I'm really grateful for this responsibility to be a trainer to a new sister. I know that the impression she gets from me and Sister Tippetts will really impact the rest of her mission. And so I want her to feel loved and appreciated. I want to think of her and help her transition into the new missionary life. I was just there. I know how un-easy it is and I want to help her so it's not so hard.

 

I'm so grateful to be in Moses Lake to watch Lorena and Daniel be baptized. They are wonderful, amazing! I love them so much. Their desire to follow Christ and choose the right always humbles and surprises me. I feel so blessed to be the missionary to bring them the sweetness of the gospel. Lorena is a fast reader. She reads everyday and she is almost done with 1 Nephi. This is huge. It is SO hard for people to start and continue reading the Book of Mormon. It's hard for anyone-members or nonmembers- to truly get into it and read and ponder it. But she does! She understands and really enjoys it. She was so prepared to recieve the gospel. I am so excited that I can be here for their baptism and I pray everyday that they will make their date of February 2nd. They are excited so we've just got to keep that fire ignited in them.

 

I love working with the Laurels and YSA girls preparing for missions. It makes me think of Jacob and Elder Davis and how he loved going out and helping the missionaries. We love these girls here and see so much good and potential in them. It's helped me to see that the Lord has prepared these younger girls to serve missions now. It's funny because I'm probably the youngest sister in the mission field right now, so many of the sisters of older like 23 or 24 and I love having them around as my big sisters and examples. I hope that there are still older sisters who keep coming out and Sister Tippetts and I figure that it will probably be a while before there will be solid 19 year-old girls, but I know that the Lord trusts all His missionaries. I am learning everyday how much He trusts me and I so badly want to do all that He asks.

 

As I set my goals for this year I realized there is so much I want to do and become as a missionary but I know it's all possible. I can be the missionary I want to be and the Lord sees me to be. There is no time like this in my whole life where I can prepare myself spiritually, mentally and physically. I love it, love it, love it!

 

Welp, here's some pictures from the last little while.

I don't know the order but here's what's going on:

 

1. This was the first time we tried Chicos and discovered it was closed. My eyes are closed and we probably won't ever go back to take another picture so you gotta take what you can get.

 

2. This was our missionary white elephant party with the Moses Lake missionaries. It was really fun/funny. I was glad that the Elders came through and got good gifts.

 

3. This is us christmas morning at 6 am, ready to open are presents by the Christmas tree. Nevermind our glasses and PJs.

(She's wearing the Caine's Arcade shirt we made for her!)

 

4. This is the magic of the Christmas tree and Sister Tippetts opening our presents by the Christmas light. Pure bliss!

 

I don't know how many pictures it will let me send at once so I'll send another email with more.

 

Kay love ju bye!

 

Hermana Em

More pictures:
  

1. This is the aftermath of Chico's pizza. There slogan is "If you can count the toppings, it's not Chico's". Which is true and gross. I let Sister Tippetts pick and she likes meat on her pizza. needless to say, I picked it all off, but this was what was left in the box, even after the whole thing was gone. Pepporoni, bacon and canadian bacon. 

 

2. Here's a district and a funny district picture. Love these peeps. Sad that changes are coming, but I know I will always love working and serving with whoever is around me.

 

3. Brother and Sister Anderson with their Christmas brunch table. So cute. Miss them already. But I love Sister Bruce, our new lady we live with. She's 86 and she's a widow and she's precious. Who knew that I would get this extra bonus on my mission of living with and loving these cuties here!

 

Kay, that's all!

 

There's always more but I never have enough time.

I know this gospel is true. I love testifying of the Book of Mormon and my Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Love you all. Happy Monday!

Hermanita Em

 

Day 96: The future is as bright as your faith!

Welp,

Family and friends,

Happy 2013!

 

Our p-day got moved to today since yesterday was New Year's eve and more people were home during the day for us to talk to. This week has been a whirlwind. I can't believe that it's been a week since Christmas. It feels like a month, or more. So much happens just in one day in a mission that a week feels like forever. We got a call on Saturday night that we were moving on Sunday at 5 pm so that's it! I'm not living with the Andersons anymore :( It was all pretty sudden and strange. I still feel weird about living somewhere different. I guess it's prepping me for some more changes coming soon. We get our transfer calls this Sunday evening and I have one of those feelings that I'm leaving. I can't decide if I'm leaving because I want to stay so badly or if I really am leaving. This transfer has been magic. I've loved working with Sister Tippetts and seeing all sorts of miracles. It's been weird too with all the holidays because we've been having a lot of fun, and sometimes I feel like we are having too much fun. I mean we still work all the time and somehow, even with Christmas, we managed to have 30 lessons last week, but I just am anxious to get back into the swing of mission life again. Holidays are so fun, and working during Christmas has been the best ever. But all the excitement takes away from the missionary feeling.

 

Last night, we were allowed to watch a movie for New Year's eve and so we went to the Davis' house. They are the cutest family ever. Sister Davis is the primary president in 6th ward and she's a bundle of energy. They were all so cute and making the biggest deal because this was the one day for the entire year that we could watch a movie. Granted, it was from approved list and we ended up watching "The Best Two Years" but still, it was a lot of fun.

 

I can't believe it's a new year. On January 1, 2012, I wrote in my church journal, "This year I want the Book of Mormon to change my life." At the time, I didn't know I would be leaving to serve a mission, I just knew I needed to improve my scripture study habits and I really wanted to gain a better understanding and love for the Book of Mormon. I couldn't believe it last night, thinking about how much the Book of Mormon really has changed my life. Yesterday, during personal study I didn't want to put the Book of Mormon down. It was so good. It's so fascinating. I started it over at the start of this transfer and I just started Alma yesterday. Every bit of it is true and good and from God. I've been marking with four different colors: Yellow for whenever it mentions Christ, Orange for Christlike attributes, Green for the doctrine of the gospel it teaches, and Pink for words that the Lord is speaking. I feel like this is the first time I've ever truly read the Book of Mormon and applied it to myself, but all of it applies. Everyday I gain new insight and become more enthralled in the story. It's my favorite book I've ever read. It's evidence to me that the Lord loves us. He loves us so much. The Book of Mormon testifies of Christ and teaches us how to follow him. Have faith, have hope, exercise charity, and trust in God. Always trust in God. He will lead us where we need to be, and where we will find the most happiness.

 

My heart is brimming with joy from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I feel so overwhelmingly blessed by this knowledge and testimony I have. Come what may, what storms may rage, my life has been sweetened by the gospel. Every family we teach has faced so many hardships and they just don't know where to turn for peace. That's what we offer to people: hope and trust in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Yesterday, we had a church tour with Christi Brittain and her daughter Kelsey. It was a miracle we found them. Christi is a less active who lives a in a trailer park way outside of town. We never go over to that area because the owner has kicked us out a few times. But we went to go find a referral and we ended up knocking on her door. I guess her records weren't in the ward because she hasn't been in years and no one knew she moved to a trailer park. But we found her because she was searching for truth. She came on the tour and right at the beginning she said she felt like crying because it just felt so peaceful in the church. All she wants is peace and happiness and she knows she isn't finding it right now. It was a really great tour and at the end we asked her daughter to give the prayer. She said she couldn't remember how praying even went so we helped her out with the start and then she said the most sincer and heartfelt prayer I've heard on my mission. She asked for guidance and direction and help to come back to church. I just felt the spirit confirm to me that Kelsey is a daughter of God. Maybe she's made a few wrong choices and gone down the wrong path, but she was back in the church, in the House of the Lord and that's where He wanted her because he loves her. After her prayer she said she felt butterflies, she just felt so good. It was a really sweet experience. She's going to start going to the YSA ward and I kept thinking about Alma the Younger. Of course, that's where I'm reading in the Book of Mormon, but his story always comes to my mind as I think about the changes some of the people we teach have to make. For some, it means changing every aspect of their live. It's hard. Change is hard. But then I remember how sweet the joy was for Alma the Younger as he left his life of sin behind and repented and healed his heart. I know it's the same for anyone else. The Atonement can change anyone's life. The Savior always has His arms out open. Over and over I think to myself, "Off to the rescue I'll hasten, bringing them back to His fold."

 

I really wish I could stay in Moses Lake to see Lorena and Daniel get baptized. Lorena is a lady we tracted into a few days before Christmas. We asked to share the Luke 2 story of Christ's birth and then we led into the Restoration. She soaked it all up and we've been back nearly everday to teach her. She is so excited to be baptized on February 2nd and she has been reading and loving the Book of Mormon. I've never taught anyone like her. She is so prepared, so ready for the gospel in her life. I know I will just rejoice to even hear about her baptism but I wish I could be here to see it. We kept going back and back to the trailer park she lived in and tracting on different trailers. I knew there must be a reason we kept going back there. There was someone we were supposed to find and we hadn't found them yet. When we knocked on her door I knew. She was who we were looking for.

 

Sister Tippetts says that the entire year you are on your mission is called a "black year". Yesterday was the end of hers and today is the start of mine. It's true. I won't know any other life than missionary life for the whole year of 2013. We talk about changes all the time. For me, I don't see a lot of the changes I'm making everyday, but then looking back over time, I see how much I've grown, how much I've learned and know. I love serving a mission so much. We've been taking out a lot of the laurels and YSA girls preparing to serve missions and so many moms and leaders have come up to us to say how wonderful that experience was for their duaghters. It always makes me laugh because for us, it's just another day in the mission. More than likely, appointments fall through and we're just flying by the seat of our pants during the day. But these sweet girls feel the spirit, they expereience the magic of sharing the gospel with people who truly need it and they taste the joy of a mission. We feel the spirit so abundantly in our mission lives that sometimes I can't quite tell the difference from the everyday to something special. It's a feeling that I can't quite explain but I don't want to ever go home to have it leave. Being one of the Lord's servants, on His side of the work is remarkable.

 

I know this gospel is true and I love laboring beside my Savior in His vineyards everyday.

 

Love you all so much! But really.

 

Love,

Hermanita Em