Exchanges With Sister Wang

  Last week I had the wonderful opportuniy to be on exchanges (a term used for when we switch companions for 24 hours for trainning purposes) with  the wonderful Sister Wang. She is origanally from Taiwan and is our only Mandarin speaking  missionary in the entire mission. She is awesome! Not just because she is Asian, but because of her integrity, faith and dilligence.
   I was amazed at her courage as she unashamedly shared her testimony of Jesus Christ and  was continually impressed with her enthusiasm for the work. She works dilligently as if there was nothing  better or inportant in the world to do. I knew in those few hours that she loves absolutely everything about  being a missionary.                                  
  We were able to talk about the wonderful companions, the people we serve, and how our mission has changed us.
  Every time I am on exchanges I learn something new that I need to apply into my life. Sister Wang taught me to not give up even though our weakness may be great. We all have challenges in this life: personal, spiritual, and physical, but is up to us what we do with them.We can rely on our own strenth and ignore them or we can trust in the Lord for strength The Lord says in the Book of Mormon,   

  "I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." ( Ether 12:27)

  Hevanly Father gives us weakness  so that we may  learn and grow, He does not give us weakness so that we might be humiliated and consider ourselvesn failures. I know He helps us overcome challeges. It has been through my challenges that I have seen the hand of the Lord in my life. It is in the those things that I found unbearable, or extremly difficult that I have also found the biggest change in me. I know that as we seek for His help He will stengthen us.

                       

My Kindness Shall Not Depart From Thee

This is a song that is adapted from one of my favorite scripture stories. The prophet Joseph Smith was imprisoned unjustly, living in the worst conditions imaginable, and unable to help his family and friends that were being persecuted. I can imagine him alone in the mist of darkness and enemies; praying profusely for the welfare of his dear family and loved ones. In the mist of praying he says "Oh God where are thou? "

   We all have times in which we feel alone and with no where to turn for peace. I remember a few times before embarking on a mission, where I felt burdened by my circumstances and like I no longer could carry on. It seemed to me that I was doing all that I could do, but it just seemed to never be enough. I kept hearing that God doesn't give us anything we couldn't handle... but it seemed to just bounce off me. Until one day I could no longer take it. I was humbled and for the first time in a long time, I poured out my heart to the Lord. Even though I knew that God had known my troubles all along, I felt the need to tell him everything. My heart cried out for his companionship and for answers. As I finished my prayer, I remained unmoved and realized that I now had peace. I didn't receive a solution in that precise moment, but I was overwhelmed  by the Spirit bringing peace and comfort to my heart.
   The Lord said to Joseph Smith,
       " My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.
9 Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands."
...9  Therefore, hold on thy way, .... Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever."

  I know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and that He is aware of us, especially in our times of need. I know that He has His hands outstretched for us and as we come unto Him.  He will uplift our burdens and give us the strength to keep holding on.

Christmas Tamales!

This has to be the best tradition ever! I have made tamales only a few times in my life and this Christmas I had the opportunity to make them with the wonderful Enriquez family. I saw how they all worked together to make this delicious meal for their family. It was awesome! Everyone had a specific job that was equally important. I looked back at the traditions in my family, and even though we didn't make tamales every Christmas, we had a tradition that brought us those same feelings. We had family night every Monday in which we shared a small spiritual thought, sang songs, played a game and ate a sweet snack. We each had our own job to fufill and I can remember that those were the moments where I learned the gospel of Christ. What we did brought us together as a family and helped us to grow closer to the Lord. Making tamales at Christmas is a tradition that I think I may want to have, but I know that without a doubt, one tradition that I will have is to create those sweet moments with my family, moments in which we read the scriptures, sing, and humbly pray, growing together in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Together Forever By: Hermana Haslam

 I think of my family a lot, as I'm sure you do too. I especially think of them around this time of year: Christmas time! A time when families get together to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Everyone has their way of celebrating. My family has many: exchanging gifts among the siblings, acting out the nativity ( in which my dad always plays the donkey), doing the twelve days of Christmas, or the jar we fill with coins all year long and then give it to someone in need at Christmas time. Each of these traditions help us to remember the true meaning of Christmas and become united as a family. Being on a mission makes me unable to participate in these traditions this year. Being far from my family is not easy, but if there's one thing that brings me peace, it's the knowledge i have that we are sealed together as a family for eternity. My best and most memorable Christmas was last year. I got what I consider the best Christmas present ever! I got to be with my family in the celestial room of the temple. I've never felt such joy as i did that day. To walk in that beautiful, peaceful room and see all my family there was an experiance beyond words. If I were to try to describe it I'd have to say " Eternal Joy". It brings me eternal joy to know that my family is worthy and willing to be in the temple together. It's one of the things I'm most grateful for and that's really why I'm on a mission. I know what joy the Gospel of Jesus Christ has brought my family and I want to share that with others. I want others to  feel that eternal joy I felt that day in the temple. Families are so important. They are central to God's plan of happiness. This is a time of family Christmas parties, buying gifts for the great aunt, and baking the cookies for the kids to leave for Santa. But let us also remember it's the time to read of Christ's birth as a family, to pray and give thanks for His life and atonement, to sing hymns of praise to our Lord and Saviour. Let us also remember that uniting the family in celebration of the Savior should happen all year long.
   Daily prayer and scripture study, attending church and the temple; those are the things that will unite and strenghthen our families not only for the moment, but also for the eterneties. I am so grateful for my family. I love them so much. I'm greatful that I am able to live with them for ever. I'm grateful that, just as this picture shows, we are able to go to the House of the Lord together and grow closer to our Savior together. I'm grateful for Jesus Christ, His birth, His life, His atonement, and His resurrection. Through Him our families can be together not just at Chritmas time, but they can be TOGETHER FOREVER!

The Most Inportant Thing i Know

I am a very simple person. I love life and enjoy the simple, small things. I think I can say that I find joy in finding the good in everyone. I am extremly grateful today for the knowledge of who God is to me. As a missionary we teach everyone about the Restoration of the Gospel of Christ, and that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be cleansed of sin and return to our Father in Heaven. I have come to discover that maily my testimony revolves around this, the most basic thing of all, which is something that I have known for so long.  God is our Father. We are literarly His children.We are all loved by Him and we are precious in His eyes. I know that with every fiber of my being. We all have inherited divine qualities that give evidence of our divine heritage. After all that He has created we are His work and glory and His purpose is " ...to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses I: 39) There is no greater truth than that. To those that are still wondering, I invite you to humbly kneel before your Maker and pray with a sincere heart for this knowledge. He will answer you.

A Change of Heart

As a missionary in the California Santa Rosa Mission I long to see a miracle. I want to see a change of heart. the truly beautiful thing about being a missionary is that I get to see it all the time. The gospel of Jesus Christ can bring a change of heart. It can bring hope, peace and ever lasting happiness.  When I think about change I think about an event or decision that alters and makes a difference in one's life. A change of heart is when we decide to cast out sin and follow the will of the lord because we love him. Yes,  that kind of a change is hard, and almost always painful, but I know that sweetest feelings of peace and pure joy proceed it.  This change can only take place through our Savior Jesus Christ.
In Mosiah 5:7-8 (http://new.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/5?lang=eng)
7And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
8And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.
We can all be freed of past guilt and shame, sorrow or pain that holds us back from becoming who we have the divine potential to become. It is through the sacred name of Jesus Christ that as we take upon us His name and make sacred covenants that we are freed from the bonds of hell. Oh how beautiful the plan of God in which we can change and become new creatures in Christ.
The video clip below is the testimony of a beautiful young woman who has had a mighty change of heart.

When we choose Christ we choose to change. In my own life I have seen how I continue to change as I live the commandments of God. I am a weak servant of the lord but and I am stained by mistakes  I know that "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. " (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Paris Thomas

I love Paris' story. I think he is awesome for overcoming the hardships that he had in his life. It is amazing what the gospel of Jesus Christ can do for us. My favorite part is when he shares how he felt when he prayed. He felt love and peace in his heart.