Words January 26th, 2015

I practically just wrote to you! haha but I'm back! 

This weekend ends up our transfer so fingers crossed I'm here for our friend's baptism!!

Hmm.

I read 2 Nephi 3:5 today which talks about how a branch of the house of Israel will be broken off and then it says, "nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord that the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing them out of darkness unto light..." And it really hit me!  And I had this moment where I flashed back to my ancestors and realized that they were a part of that promise, that they made the choice to follow, and that I am the beneficiary of that decision.  It was very humbling and I got a little emotional...Yes, I was born into this Gospel, but only because of them!  And that promise was kept that the Lord made which said that the knowledge of the Messiah would be brought to them; that they would not be forgotten. And they were not. And we are not.  And I love that.

I had a weird moment yesterday where I saw a familiar face who introduced me to his friends as 'Karlee' haha I was like whoa!! That's not my name! It threw me off.  But it was cool to get to see a friend. Super random! Out of no where.  Kind of freaked me out a little haha but it was cool! it was my friend Spencer.

I just want to share a poem about my life lately (: How much I LOVE this. (:

'Joy'

I never knew I'd be the one,
To live under the Tucson sun.
But here I am on my two feet
Walking in the desert heat.
And I've never known a sky so wide
That held such beauty locked inside.
But in this air I can clearly see
The reasons why God needed me.

I never thought that my two eyes
Would find a deeper joy in life.

But as I've followed my God above,

I've found a better way to love.

And I never thought my heart could grow
More full than I have ever known.

But this desert light fills my soul
And suddenly, I find I'm
Home.

John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

 Love you.

A couple Weeks. January 22nd, 2015

Well, it's been a little fast and crazy lately, but I am here now (:

We didn't get to email on Monday and we went to the temple Tuesday and had exchanges yesterday haha and the list goes on!

hmm... The last 2 weeks:

-I did a training in zone meeting and it wasn't too bad doing so alone!

-I have been seeing miracles on the daily (which should be expected in anyone's life!) and they have really taught me to be aware of God's constant hand in my life.  Also that I should never get too comfortable and think that just because I am receiving blessings now that I don't need to keep working and continuing to do the things I am supposed to.  Whether we are receiving blessings or not (but we always are!), we should still continue in the path of the commandments.

-I have been able to see my dear friend Isaac from my first area many times because we are teaching his neighbor! Sooo great! (: tendermercies.

-I have eaten 2 dinners in one night (almost back to Hispanic style haha but one meal was African and one was Chinese! and neither were by choice hahaha got to love those investigators!)

-Our investigator from Africa is progressing so well! (: He understands everything he reads and he teaches me more as well! He bore testimony to us that he knows these things are true and when we invited him to pray about the word of wisdom, he said, "I don't need to! I already know it's true. It just makes sense!" It was awesome (: We told him to continue to strive to receive that witness for himself.  He will be baptized in 2 weeks! 

hmm...other than that! Just here learning away.  I love the mission. I am so grateful for this time I get to spend to draw nearer to my Savior by helping others come unto Him! (:

The Book of Mormon really is another witness and anyone who reads with a sincere heart really will come closer to their Savior! I know it! (: It's such a beautiful, perfect gospel (although we are not....we will become!) 

Keep shining the gospel light!

Blessings!!!! January 12, 2015

I ran myself out of time...but I just want you to know that God knows us!
We have been seeing miracle after miracle. I know they come after we
exercise our faith! (: Wow. we are just so blessed.
The most important things to know in life are that God loves you and knows
you! And that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ,  we can be new. We can
be whole. We can be cleansed. I know this with everything in me.
Nothing brings more happiness than this knowledge.
Have a great week! (:

New Year's Week! January 5th, 2015

This last week has been fun (:
The weather has almost been as bipolar as UT!

It snowed! What...haha love it!

On New Year's day the entire mission got together and we had what we called a Mission Unity Day (M.U.D.) as our President liked to refer it as haha.  It was so fun! We got to play games and see all of our old companions! Not that I saw many...considering they're all home except for Hermana Dominguez and my current companion...but I saw all of my friends (: We had a good ole time!  We played a giant mission-wide game of Simon says...and guess who won! Yep (: Before they started they said the last 2 standing would be the next APs (almost perfect) haha small joke...but it ended up that a bunch of people got out at once and I was the last...so you know what that means...(; just joking!!! I am learning much of humility out here, do not worry.  The mission does well to teach you that you really are lower than the dust.....but also that the enabling power of the Atonement is what lifts us back up again and encourages us to keep improving.

I got to attend another Mission Leadership Council.  My favorite meeting in the mission!  It is full of inspiring leaders (who are my friends (: ) and a spirit of desire to learn!  And oh, what we do learn (: It is joy.  The longer I have these great experiences, the more I learn that everything goes back to love!  And how appropriate because everything is possible because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, who is love.  

I got to train in district meeting last week haha that was a little random! And I get to train solo in this upcoming zone meeting since I am now a single leader haha pray for me! This is the only thing that makes me nervous in life!  (:

One sad experience and then a cool one, okay?:

So we talked about baptism again with our Chinese friend.  He has many fears of what would happen if he is baptized.  They are very realistic and it would take immense faith to overcome them! I do understand...but when he told us this again, I couldn't help but burst into tears.  I was so sad.  

I spent the rest of the night (as this was our last appointment) pondering why...why it is like this in some places of the world and why it is so trying for our faith to accept.

I came to 2 conclusions.  #1. we HAVE the Gospel here and we can accept it in its fullest here so I better share it with EVERYONE who has the blessing of freedom to freely accept if it be the desire of their hearts.  #2. God's timing is perfect.  We are here to become and one of those things we learn through the journey of becoming is patience.  We do not need to be discouraged because God loves us! He has promised that if we are faithful, we will be lead to the promised land....and that promised land for me will be when the Gospel fills the whole earth. (: I can't wait!!! 

 SO trust in God, who is mighty to save.  In His wisdom, and not man's. 

The cool experience we had happened because I am just haha me.

I smiled and waved at this guy walking in a crosswalk as we drove by.  A couple days later we were eating with some members at inn and out burger haha and I looked up to make eye contact with this same guy! I could tell that he recognized me as well.  I wasn't sure at first why he looked familiar, so of course I got up and talked to him.  He did remember me! And because of it, we were able to invite him to learn. 

~a testimony of waving (:

Have a beautiful week (:

(sorry I have been wanting to send pictures, but I can't figure this computer out and so next week?? like I said, still learning patience) (: haha