pure joy

today we had a lesson with someone very special to me.
from the moment we met her i felt a connection and love for this daughter of God.
we taught her the plan of salvation by reading 2 nephi 2...

it was reality to me of the great and perfect plan God has
created for ALL of his children. as we were reading
she would say things like, "i've heard this before...yeah i know this...this makes sense...".
at first its hard to understand scripture words as we know,
so as we read we would break down the verse and explain it in "now day" words.

by the end her understanding was increasing,
she didn't ask as many questions, and she taught us what the scriptures were saying.
at the end we said a prayer and we look up and
her face was wet with tears as she said, "i know its true."
those words have never meant so much. the spirit was so strong.

my testimony grew of the plan of happiness
and the truthfulness of the book of mormon,
it truly contains the plan for each and every one of our lives.
this woman is so incredible and radiates light.
its amazing to watch people find joy.

i'm glad that i live in this beautiful world

this whole week i've been amazed at the world around me...to be more specific; the leaves that are changing and falling. autumn is my favorite season for many reasons, here are a few:

• the colorful leaves
• the weather
• sweaters
• boots
• hot coco
• pumpkin flavored anything
• family time

poor sister porter has to listen to me say, "oh my, the trees are so pretty! look at them! the colors are beautiful!" at least 12 times a day. she is so sweet to never tell me to stop.

i am so grateful for this beautiful world that God has created for all of us, all because He loves us so much. i am so grateful for my senses, to hear, smell, touch, taste, and see the world around me. i'm striving to be more thankful for everything God has given me, because He literally has given me ALL that i have & enjoy. there is a primary song that i am reminded of & love...

 

Whenever I hear the song of a bird

Or look at the blue, blue sky,

Whenever I feel the rain on my face

Or the wind as it rushes by,

Whenever I touch a velvet rose

Or walk by our lilac tree,

I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world

Heav'nly Father created for me.

He gave me my eyes that I might see

The color of butterfly wings.

He gave me my ears that I might hear

The magical sound of things.

He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:

I thank him rev'rently

For all his creations, of which I'm a part.

Yes, I know Heav'nly Father loves me.

 

 

 

 

bendiciones, gozo y amor.

Well, this week was awesome! Full of blessings from Heavenly Father, we hit all of our goals for the week and more. Our investigators are doing really well, (I) is doing better little by little and her mom likes us now! She came to stake conference with us and her boyfriend and he got ordained as an elder and she came out crying, it was so cute and powerful for her! (F) is doing well, its been hard to get her to church because one of her sons has been really sick but she is amazing. She gets it all and wants it but doesn't understand why she needs to be baptized (because she already was in a different church) but we are working on it! (D) is so ready, i love that woman. I don't remember if i've told you about her but she is (J) sister, she is like 30, says she is unhappy and just wants to find happiness. I was like well don't you worry girl, we have the answer! :) We taught her the Restoration and she was just so focused and the spirit was so strong. I was bearing my testimony to her about the church and book of mormon and that she is a daughter of God and my eyes started tearing up, she just started crying...the spirit was so strong. (J) made me hold his bird and it bit my finger so hard!! It was bruised for a couple days haha. (F) (sister porters bro) we taught again last night and it went really well...i was prompted to ask him if he wanted to recieve the melkezidek priesthood. He is such a good guy and wants to but it just takes some action!

 

 

I got to go to the temple this week for my 6 month mark!! Even though i'm at like 8. It was AMAZING! Seriously, my favorite place on this earth. The new movie was so good! I want to go back!! I rode the subway for the first time, it was fun! Sister Sandberg and I did almost get closed in the door haha we might have almost ate it in front of the city of New York. haha! Good times. AND i ate my first NY hotdog! It was good i guess. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I went on exchanges this week and we visited a lady (S). Her husband has MS and a bunch of other disabilities...but she really taught me a lesson of Love. True love. She takes care of him so well, loves him so much and is just so loving. Its hard to say what i saw and felt when i was with her. It made me want to love like her someday.

We had stake conference yesterday and it was really good! Our stake president is incredible, i wish you could all meet him. One thing he said that i liked..."our greatest desire should be to be recieved by the Savior." oh and random news- we are getting ipads and iphones in November! Uh, so crazy. But it will be very very helpful! I won't believe it til i see it. ;)

 

I wanted to share something i studied this week...ive been trying to get to know my Heavenly Fateher and Savior better and i was reading Jesus the Christ and it was talking about Christ's life when he was young. He lived a boyhood life, learned just like we did, grew grace upon grace-not all at once, the only difference is that he grew perfectly. I am so grateful for His perfect example i have to follow! Learning more about Him brings me to love Him and God more. I am so grateful for the knowledge and testimony i have that God and Christ live and love me and all of you.

 

I love and miss you all! Have a fantastic week. :)