So you're going to the Historical Sites of the Church soon? 

HERE ARE A FEW TIPS!!!!!!!!! 

ONE. Go Humble and ready to be Spiritually FED. Each of those Missionaries have been set apart to help YOU come closer to Christ. They are not only there to tell you which shirt was Joseph Smith's favorite as you primarily thought! They are there after studying all morning, praying, prepping, filled with the Spirit!! DID YOU KNOW! That each tour is literally DIFFERENT?! Yes, that is because those Missionaries listen to what God wants you to know. If you go with the Spirit, you will feel it.

TWO. Ask a lot of questions! Participate! These tours are alll about YOU! Feel FREE to ask if the plates were made out of Led, or if the herbs hanging up are real! (They are not :() You can also ask them deeper questions like how Joseph Smith felt about his oldest Brother, Alvin, and how Joseph Smith's family was one of his biggest supports.

THREE. Have Fun! Feel the Spirit. It will be great.

Sorry, not much advice, but hear you me!!!! You will love it.

This Christmas we were allowed to watch one movie. 

Guess what we chose.

Just guess.

TANGLED.

Of course. (We are so sorry, Elder Gurr. We hope you quoted Emperors's New Groove to yourself before you went to sleep)

If it makes any of you feel better about Elder Gurr's disappointment, I had a superb realization that actually brought little tears to my eyes!! Whaaaat.

They are all cute in the boat, right? And she says 

"I've been looking out of a window for eighteen years, dreaming about what I might feel like when those lights rise in the sky. What if it's not everything I dreamed it would be?"

and Flynn is all like "It will be"

And Rapunzel says "And what if it is? What do I do then?

And Flynn is all like "Well,that's the good part I guess. You get to go find a new dream."

And IT HIT ME.

I have dreamed, and dreamed, and dreamed, and... dreamed!!!!! about serving a Mission ever since I can remember. That has been my focus, that has been the end goal, the huge finale to growing up!! WHAT IS NEXT. 

I don't have to worry about it. Now, it has been more than I could have ever dreamed. Someday, I will have to find a new dream.

We'll keep on dreaming. Dream big and live your dreams. 

So happy He came. 

Merry Christmas.

Companeras

This is definitely a girl post. WHAT I'M SAYING IS, I highly doubt any boy would like the things I will talk about. hahaha (Unless you want to marry one of these Sisters, then I guess you might. BUT DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.)

"Learn from the past, prepare for the future, live in the present." PRESIDENTMONSON

President Eyring once asked his father, ONE OF THE MOST BRILLIANT MEN, why he asked a man at the gas station a question, he said "you can learn from everyone."

This blog is NOT about what I have learned I want in a husband, even though all Sisters naturally have an internal/subconscious list. I dare you to ask one. Missions prepare you for life, what can I say. FINE, I will say that he cannot be mean because I can't play Bball like the people in Space Jam. It wasn't in the cards.

ANYWAYS.

Here are things I have learned from my Companions!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

SISTER FETULI 

She works like a fien. Feen? However you spell that. She is fearless; SO BRAVE. She was still united with her family, even though they were literally thousands of miles away (YA, SHE'S TONGAN) She also loves Candy. She taught me to work, even when we don't feel like it. She was consecrated, even if she had a lot of odds against her and even when people in Newark were mean, she'd share her message! You can bet on that. She also liked to laugh... really hard and out of no where, which I love so YAY. 

SISTER PARK

The LEGEND. She is the epitome of Patience and Diligence. I can't even believe how brave she is, as well. SHE IS KOREAN, and she LEARNED ENGLISH. the Mission was hard for her, BUT SHE STAYED. She is sooo amazing. She puts the Lord first, and something I will forever be grateful for is her example of IMMEDIATE Repentance. She serves to no end, and she shares her talents with everyone. She is so reliant on the Lord, which has given her miracles. She continually, to this day, amazes me at how strong she is. Ya, and she really is as hilarious as everyone thinks. Weasel. 

SISTER CARLSON 

She will hate that I said this, but she is the most selfless servant EV.ER. DID YOU KNOW She had 13, YA THIRTEEEEN, Kidney Stones in the MTC?!??!?!? and she STAYED. She would literally walk for 7 hours like every single day in Newark. She didn't care, and she refused to stay inside. She is sooo spiritual, too. I learned so much from her every morning in Companionship Study and just being with her. She is hilarious, too. AH I ALWAYS GET THE FUNNIEST COMPANIONS. Anyways, she is so thoughtful and so loving to all people. She is an incredible missionary. 

SISTER HARLINE

Is amazing! She is not boring. She is thoughtful, as in she carefully thinks things through which saved a lot of situations. haha She is an incredible and love-filled teacher, and everyone fell in love with her in Victor. She is a great friend. AH I ALWAYS GET SENT COMPS WHO ARE ALSO GREAT FRIENDS :,) She is humble, and open to learning and changing. She is a great listener, and suppper loyal. She also talks in a super real baby voice. So cute. :,) hahahahhaha anyways, she is a great Missionary. 

SISTER JOHNSON

She is... remarkable. I am running out of words and how many times can I say amazing. Anyways. She is so type 3. She honestly has the best poker face of anyone I know. I don't know anyone who has pummeled through as much as her like a BOSS. She is completely selfless, like ONE TIME when I knew she was notttt ok, she totally turned out and she made it all about me and how I felt. Wow. She sees people as who they truly are, and in turn gives the best compliments that can make anyone feel good. She is supportive and completely on your team (I say you, but I really mean me) She is a hard worker, and works SMART, not just hard. She also has the best ideas. 

SISTER NOBLE

She is true to her. That is a strength. She also is one of the best teachers on the block. She is hilarious. She is BEAUTIFUL. When we are teaching someone, it is allll about them. She allows the Spirit to teach her, and she learns so much. She is super Organized, and that is not my strength :) hahaha She speaks eloquently and, even though some Elders here would disagree, her grammar is superb. hahaha We make a good team, because her strengths are my weaknesses, and she hasn't allowed my weaknesses to become her own. She will be a great mom. Weird compliment? Whatever. She will be. She loves her Savior so much and mourns with those that mourns. She is great. 

These people have become some of my greatest friends.

I am blessed! We can learn from EVERYONE! Everyone has more strengths than weaknesses. Thank. goodness. 

One Year.

12-12-12 not only was obsessed with the numbers 1 and 2, it was the day I drove to the Missionary Training Center, jumped out of my mom's Van without giving her a hug, and called everyone beautiful. I was a little excited. Don't worry, I did eventually give my mother a hug 10 seconds later when the Elder helping me with my bags said that I could. IT WAS ALL A RUSH, JUDGE ME. I love you, mom.

It has been a year of work, laughter, tears, goood night's sleep, incredible people, frolicking, and essential LEARNING. These lessons have shaped my life, the first being:

Do not ask someone if they are a door model for a door approach. They WILL ask you on a date. Sometimes things just come out of my mouth.

I quote myself when I say these have been essential lessons, but it doesn't mean I have mastered them. HOWEVER, I quote myself again when I say they have shaped the current of my life.

-I have learned that love comes first. Love first, and love with your whole heart. That is most important. There is ALWAYS room to show love.

-Heavenly Father thinks I am beautiful! He thinks YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL, He thinks everyone is beautiful. YOU ARE BEAAUUTIFULLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Success isn't counted in the number of Baptisms you have, it's counted in the consecration that's in your heart.

-Hope always has the final word. Alma 26:27? TRUE. Ether 12:6? TRUE. Hope on, JOURNEY ON. He is aware of us.

-The world needs good Mothers; I will be one.

-When people are mean, they are wounded on the insides. The Book of Mormon will heal their heart.

-Exact Obedience = richest blessings.

-Promptings will be small most of the time. Following them will bring miracles.

-Work will bring happiness, especially when you don't feel like working.

There are too many. I CANNOT WRITE THEM ALL! Go on a mission, God will teach you what you need to know.

I am sure we alll know that little Indian boy whose Father owned a zoo. His name is PI. I feel like my mission has been like Life of Pi, you know, the movie. This sadly isn't because my best friend is a Tiger.  It's like I'm in the middle of an ocean on a boat and I'm all alone and all of a sudden Fishes are flying at my face and I'm all like "wow, this is seriously so crazy."

But really, I have felt almost alone (besides being with all of my seriously superrrr great companeras) facing challenges and absolute insanity. But, God has been my truest friend. He is near me. And, while it's been God and I, it hasn't been about me. It has been about His children. We, as missionaries, live so they can know His Son, Jesus Christ. It has been about serving Jesus Christ and giving Him my will and weaknesses. It's been about getting over myself, and finding myself but not because I've been looking.

It's been giving God every ounce of myself that I possibly could this past year. Jumping off of that cliff and FLYING, even if I felt like vomitting some times because it seems CRAZY. Guess what happens when you give God everything?! He gives you MIRACLES. You may be wondering "What is the biggest miracle of all?" Yourself.

"Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

 Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo... I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us,wanderers in a strange land." ALMA26:35-36

Serving a mission has been THE richest, most rewarding, BEST experience of my life. I hope to be a better missionary today than I was yesterday. In 5 months (Because VC Sisters only serve 17 months mmmhm WEIRD), I still won't be the perfect missionary BUUT!

Here's to jumping off more cliffs.

HERE'S TO A YEAR!

I AM HAPPY!!!!!!!

I love Oxygen

You've seen her. No, she does NOT want a hug. 

Oh, and I KNOW you have seen her. 

Not really sure if you have seen this Hobbit and his mother, but this is who I would like to focus on today. 

One day my big brother and basically hero walked in from spending time with his girlffriend. I was sleeping in the living room, because guess what, it turns out when all of the kids are back from their missions and college, there actually isn't enough room in the house. That's ok, I <3 snuggling with my dog. 

Anyways, SURPRISE I was crying. (I PROMISE THIS WILL ALL TIE BACK WITH THE HOBBIT BOY) 

Anyways, yes I cry too. I was crying because for like 4 years, I was concentrating alllll of my efforts on helping someone else come closer to Christ. These efforts far outweighed my own efforts to bring myself closer to Christ. I was sad. I was stressed. I was far from my Savior. 

GUESS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THAT HOBBIT'S MOM TRIED TO PUT THE OXYGEN ON HER SON FIRST. She would pass out and maybe die (who knows) and no one and I mean NO ONE would even get any oxygen. It would be fatal. 

President Uchtdorf said 

"May we always remember this profound lesson: that we are banner bearers of the Lord Jesus Christ, upheld by the Holy Spirit of God, faithful and true to the end, each one devoted to give our all to the cause of Zion and bound by covenant to stand close together and

  lift where we stand."

We cannot lift someone higher than where we are. There is a reason we are commanded to personally study the scriptures and have personal prayer. WE must be spiritually fed. 

Some things we must sacrifice to come closer to the Savior. Don't let the fear of sacrifice come in the way of you and the Lord. Let. go. 

I decided 1. I will be single until I serve a mission hahahah and it was greaaat. 

2. I would sacrifice the hardest thing, and focus on being spiritually fed. 

Guess what happened. 

I became converted to the Gospel. I was myself again. I was incredibly and insanely happy. Your sacrifices might be different than mine, but I promise you that when you put that fear of sacrifice aside, you will also be putting your hurt and doubt aside. You will be allowing the Savior to heal and love. 

Be like the Hobbits mother. You know what they say, they raise them good. 

Why you need to talk to your Bishop

For some reason, I felt prompted to write about this. Hopefully, someone, somewhere, will find this blog and feel in their heart that talking to their Bishop is right.

First of all, Heavenly Father loves you. The price He paid to see you again was great. He has placed things in your life to help you to return, and one of those is your Bishop.

"Helping you to repent is a special part of a bishop's calling. Your conscience will tell you when you need to talk to him."

Secondly, everyone sins. Heavenly Father knew this. He has called YOUR Bishop to receive revelation for you concerning your spiritual welfare. THAT MEANS he has the Spirit, and that means he will 

say and do what God Himself would if He were here. 

Once, my roommates and I received blessings. Our Mission President said that if Jesus Christ were here, He would place His hands on our head Himself and say these things. 

That touched my heart. I know that is true. Your Bishop cares about you. Your repentance IS between you and the Lord, and sometimes the Spirit asks you and prompts you to go speak to your Bishop, and through your Bishop, the Lord will help you repent. His council and direction will be irreplaceable by any of your friends, parents, or other Church Leaders, because he has been called of God for this purpose. 

You can be free. 

You are so loved. Do not procrastinate. Do not wait. You can be happy as soon as POSSIBLE. You do not walk alone. Jesus Christ paid for your sins. Allow Him to heal you and go talk to your Bishop. I PROMISE it will help. 

For more, click here.

And watch these :)