05. 05. 2014

Hello family!!!

First off the very best news I have ever shared with you, CHON GONZALEZ WAS BAPTIZED! I knew you all knew this was coming but it actually happened. It was the most special day for me. I just felt pure joy. Chon was just beaming from the minute she walked into the Church building. You will be able to see her glowing in the pictures. She is the sweetest lady. I just couldn't help but reflect on my feelings while I was at the baptism. I was happy, peaceful, comforted, joyful and just lifted. I felt as light as a feather. I know all those good feelings were the fruits of the spirit. The Holy Ghost was there with us all, it was an overall feeling of right. It just felt right. As I thought of that I realized how blessed we are to have the gospel of Jesus Christ restored to its the earth. hat the proper authority is here so that this saving ordinance of baptism can be performed and we can then be ready to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. With that gift we can feel "right" all the time. Sunday was the confirmation. Not only did Chon receive the gift on the Holy Ghost that day but she also received a new family, the ward family. As I looked at Chon I saw her not as a investigator, not as a baptism, but as my sister. She is my sister and I couldn't love her more. May 3rd will always hold a special place in my heart because it is the day that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I am a Daughter of God and that knowing that makes everything worth it.

Chon's baptism has definitely been the highlight of my whole week and basically my whole mission. I will share another really tender story though. So I have told you some about Ruth Parker and her family. This is really what makes me cry. After years and years of not going to church, Ruth came yesterday all by herself. That is now twice in a row. I about cried when I saw her and honestly when I hugged her after the meeting I think I did. I was just so happy to see her there and that she was happy to be there. I couldn't help but think why now? why now is Ruth coming to church, I thought it was just for her daughter Sydnee but she came by herself this week. I found the answer as we went to her home for dinner that night. Ruth has ordered Preach my Gospel from online and has been studying every morning the Christlike attributes chapter. Yes. She shared with us that she has noticed a huge difference. She is just happier, on the day she didn't read she said it was a bad day. She is recognizing that the gospel of Jesus Christ is was brings us true joy! Her circumstances haven't changed but her demeanor has. She is truly going back to that foundation she had many years ago, and she loves it. I love her and her family so much. I grow when I am around them. They are such wonderful people. I honestly have just taken the gospel for granted my whole life. I have never doubted that it was true but always being surrounded by people who knew the gospel as well I don't think I ever noticed the true affect it has on us all. I have seen the affect it has on me but there is just something special about seeing the affect it has on others. It just solidifies everything you know. Seeing the joy that Ruth and Sydnee are getting from the gospel and also seeing that it is the same joy I get from the gospel just makes me realize how true it is. WOW! I think about it and it hurts my heart because there is just to much gratitude and love and joy in there! I am so grateful. Grateful is an understatement.

So here are just two of the wonderful things I have seen this week but I would like to share one lesson I have learned. The lesson of diligence. Diligence, just like patience, is an act of faith. The Lord requires ALL of us to be diligent. I was reading Jacob and Enos this morning. It is all about diligence. Diligence is when we push forward even when we are tired. It is being excited and doing things with a willing heart. Diligence is all about your attitude. I needed to learn this Christlike attribute this week. Let's just say that I haven't been as diligent as I could have been and I have seen the difference. I have felt the difference. I am excited to continue to study this Christlike attribute all week. I know that my eyes and my heart have been opened to the importance of it. As we work diligently, it shows our faith and it shows our love for God and Jesus Christ. Faith is what brings miracles, faith is what lets the atonement into our lives, faith is what gives us hope and love for all men. and Faith is brought about by our diligence. I pray that we can all be a little more diligent.

I love you all with my whole heart. I can't wait to see your faces and hear your voices on Monday! What a special day that will be! Have a wonderful week and know that I love you!

oh and that the Church is true, don't ever forget that.

xoxo