11-18-13

Dear Family,

I am so thankful for all of the prayers and thoughts that have been sent out for the people in the Philippines. I have been in very close contact with members that have family out there, and have been on and reading the daily updates on lds.org on their news feed describing the situations. I am so thankful that the 21 missionaries that were lost have now been accounted for, and that their families have been notified and comforted. I can't even imagine what it must have been like to be there, and to be faced with that big of a difficulty! I have such respect for the elders and sisters who gave of their time and stretched themselves to be able to save lives and families. I have been thanking the Lord daily for saving as many lives as he did. I know that this will be life changing in the life of everyone who experienced it, but it will also be something that they will never forget. 

So we just got back from ice skating as a zone, and we have like NO time!!! I am sorry that I have not been emailing anyone today, but it has just been one of those days. Ice skating was such a blast!! We have a bunch of Missionaries that aren't from the U.S., and have never been ice skating! One of the sisters just stayed glued to the wall and would not let go! It was so cute. haha all the sisters were trying to get her to skate with them holding hands or something, but she would not leave. It was so funny, but she still had a really good time, and said that she enjoyed it. It was a really good time. I am thankful that all of the missionaries are so willing to enjoy the zone and each other. It makes the times so much funner on pday! 

Sorry that this is going to be so short, but I have got to hurry so that we can go give a blessing here in an hour or so. Deniella Parker randomly last night I guess got hit by a car, and wants a blessing. We really don't have any info other then the fact that she was hit, and that nothing is broken and that she is home and resting but wants a blessing. We have a 6 o'clock appointment with her so we need to get over there. 

Tyler Falls is doing sooooo well! He just had ACL surgery, and has been sitting around all week just bored out of his mind. He finally was able to go and meet with us at Courtney's house, and we had just an amazing lesson. We taught the plan of salvation, and it really touched him. He had just lost a really good friend, and had lost his grandpa to an accident when he was like 5. So when we started teaching about the spirit world and how important the temple was for all of that point, he was very touched, and we set a baptismal date with him for the 14th of December. He is working on getting his mom to be ok with it all, but we have faith that it will all work out. It was such a great blessing to be able to share with him the way that I was able to find peace with grandpa's passing, and how it all works into the Plan of Salvation! It was powerful. 

Zhen Guo has a baptismal date for the same day, and it was a good time being able to help him through all of the concerns that he had and helping him recognize the blessings that can come from being in the lords paths! He struggles with the idea of having to come to church every single week, and so we have to really make that a focus this week to get him to church so that he can see just how much fun he will have and the friends that come from being apart of the YSA Ward. It has been fun watching our members step up and trying to get him to feel the spirit, and receive a spiritual witness. That is the thing that is holding him back big time. 

Well I am sorry that I have to cut this one short, but the work of the Lord calls. I am so thankful to be able to email each week and share a few experiences that I have had in the past week. I love this work with all my heart. I am so proud of you all for who you are, and for how much you have helped me in my growing process! Please know just how much I love this gospel, and that I know without a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true, and that Joseph Smith truly did translate it by the power of God! I love being able to receive personal revelation for myself and for the area that I serve in! Thanks again everyone for the love and support you give me! I will be on much longer next week, so if you would like to email back and forth just let me know! You re all my heros!