Hi Richie! I’m such a bad mom! I haven’t even forwarded Steph’s letter yet. I’ve been in the middle of a hot political issue. You get the first forward…but she did send it on Tuesday…and I was already panicking…like “is she OK? Has she been kidnapped?” This missionary mom thing is dang hard! I’ve had to just let go and have total faith in the Lord! Thanks for asking! Here it is!
I’m going to start out with MY VISIT TO THE NAUVOO TEMPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I felt so entirely blessed that my mission is so close to this sacred building. The spirit taught me a lot during my session this time, and I’m starting to see how badly the devil wants us to think we are failures and there’s no hope to change. He acts so immaturely whenever we choose the right, and throws things in our way as a way of “throwing a fit”… But We have the ATONEMENT that gives us all the hope we need. We only had time for one session, and I barely had time to snap a picture of it’s eye-poppin beauty! But I’m pretty sure I’ll get to go at least one more time before the end of my mission and soak in the powerful pioneer spirit there. but it was for SURE the prettiest temple I’ve ever been inside of! The sisters I got to go with are the funnest people ever. A Sister from Brazil barely speaks English, but she goes to the temple every week. She pointed to the Picture of Christ and told me, “I KNOW Him. (then her husband translated for her) Through Knowing him, I hate the word “imperfection.” I strive for perfection. It’s not so hard when we know what Jesus does for us.” Ahh So true!
I had lunch with Julie F. and her 7 kids and we were talking about prophets and how she was related to Joseph Smith’s Grandpa. We freaked out because we’re totally cousins through Jesse N. Smith!!! She brought out the big green book Look her up in the book mom! They are the neatest family!! They all call me “cousin” now!! Teehee!
Well, a slow week in the mission field is 100 times better than a crazy busy week in the real world, so I can’t complain about this week! hehe! But this week was really low in “Key Indicators” numbers and we really only had 3 sucessful lessons with investigators. HOWEVER! We have some sweet lessons set up for the next couple of weeks! :0)
Thank you sooo much for all of your prayers! I KNOW they are working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember that Keeping the comandments gives us more oppurtunities and experiences……not to tie us down and make life boring!
Love you all,
Sister Tobias!