5 May 2013

 “It was further necessary that [Jesus Christ] should descend below all things, in order that He might raise others above all things; for if He could not raise Himself and be exalted through those principles brought about by the atonement, He could not raise others; He could not do for others what He could not do for Himself." - President John Taylor

“Music is what feelings sound like.” (Don't know where I got this, but I LOVE it.)

Important dates

7 Kimball

7 Ole and Dena's wedding anniversary 1976 LA temple

9 MaryAnne

12 Vincent (Brooklyn's) 2006

12 Mother's Day

Missionary updates-

Easton. Wrote such a long detailed letter that I had a hard time deciding what to share.  I finally settled on this story of a new investigator, just because it made me smile.

" Wayne was a referral from a member in Detroit. He is in his late 60's/early 70's and he is sweet. His brother was a Catholic Monk who found a Book of Mormon, read it four times and then called the missionaries to baptize him about ten years ago. He (the brother) is very intent on getting his whole family into the church. When we met with Wayne he told us that he's "not a Mormon..yet. We'll see what you can do." :)"

Liam also wrote a long letter filled with home for his investigators, in his old area and his new.  He writes of his new area, " ...hope you all had a great week. I had a pretty exciting one with the move and all. Big changes! I have learned to really enjoy changes, even when you are sad to see something you loved go here so it's really good.

Tamatave, or Toamasina (malagasy name for it), is really beautiful. It is super rainy here. It rains a lot everyday. That is what makes is so beautiful. It is so green here. The drive was spectacular! I have some pictures I am sending. It doesn't even begin to capture the beauty, but it is a little taste."

 

Robbie got to attend a baptism of someone he taught earlier.    He also says a pair of missionaries needed housing unexpectedly, the mission president "couldn't find them a new place to live,, and we have a two bedroom apartment.. so our Mission President decided to move them in with us! yippie!  And one of them is the missionary that me and him have followed  each other around for a year now.  So he's basically like family, and now he lives with us!  We're all pretty excited!".   What a positive guy!  

At the end of his letter, he writes this testimony, "When it comes down to it.. For someone to find out whether the church is true or not it has to be their decision.  We can't force them.. But anyone that sincerely tries to find out and really works towards it always finds out it is!  You just can't give up half way through without finishing your search.."

Nothing from Cameron this week...

other news....

Dave writes the following.." Mariah was looking for a job.  She was nervous etc. because it is her first job and first attempts at getting a job.  She dropped off an application on Saturday.  Got a call on Saturday for an interview.  And interviewed for 10 minutes on Monday, and walked away with a job offer! " Of course, we all know Mariah is great!  And she is so hilarious!   This was her Facebook post on her first day of work.

" First day of work=success! If you were gonna comment and tell me how good I look in my uniform, don't bother. I already know."

now, to be fair to Mariah, I also added a picture of her usual happy self.  (here with her brother, Easton, who is the one on a mission in Canada.)

No other blogs or letters.

But since I am the writer of this, I can editorialize a bit. So I will write two small notes.

First, this Sunday is Mother's Day.  I no longer have my mother to honor.  It will be a very very hard day for me.  Especially since I could have done so much more for/with my mother before she passed.  While I was NOT a bad or in-attentive daughter, I regret daily that I didn't put more effort into the long distance relationship, while my siblings that lived closer sacrificed often to spend that time with her.  Everyone who still has a mother, make Mother's Day a time to put more into your relationship with her.  Find what works for you, visits, calls, letters, service, etc.  We all have a limited time here on earth.  Make your relationship with your mother as important as it was when you were little.

Second, and this connects with editorial number one.  Today was Fast Sunday. The second or third testimony of the meeting was an older gentleman, the father of one of our ward members, visiting for the week.  While bearing his testimony, he had a major heart attack and died.  Died.  Right there at the pulpit.  We have an Air Force doctor/surgeon, and tons of nurses (including a cardiologist PA) in the ward and they all sprung into action while others called 911.  But after the EMTs worked on him and rushed him to the ER, they pronounced him dead.  It was such a shock! 

My message is to remember that you never know what today or tomorrow will bring.  We need to put our lives in order.  We are told that a lot, but in our ward, we are all really feeling it today. 

*Prioritize.  What is truly of purpose and what is just filling/wasting time? 

*What are you doing now that you tell yourself, "I will change and do better some day!"? 

*What areas of your life need a kick start? If you died today, what should you have done?  Do it!  (I am channeling Mom/aunt Verna/Verna here!....)

A quote from RS today,

"Following His Crucifixion and burial in a borrowed tomb, Christ was resurrected on the third day. This Resurrection  reunited Christ’s physical body with His spirit.

The Resurrection from the dead is a most beautiful aspect of the Atonement and truly a part of the plan of happiness; the Resurrection is universal and applies to the entire human family. We will all be resurrected.....This is an unconditional gift from God.

But to be resurrected does not overcome the second death. To gain eternal life and live in the presence of the Father and the Son, we must repent and become eligible for mercy, which will satisfy justice."

Work hard, study hard, pray hard,

Carol