Called to Serve Him!

It rains too much sometimes... but then it makes days like yesterday lush as ever! It was gorgeous! Sun out... mmm mm good... and no puddles that drench my feet.. I think I almost even prespired a little... phenomenol. None the less I love it here and it is only preparing me for continual drought season.. well filling up my water tank so I appreciate the boiling sun beams more. Good thing is I still got loads more to come.. brilliant :) Anyways, how was everyone's week? Ours was great. We got 2 new investigators because God loves them and blesses us with the opportunity to teach them. Dan and Garith it is. I love teaching people who initially say I only want to learn for educational purposes and than as you teach and ask inspired questions or allow the spirit to speak to them they say things like, 'this is the only doctrine that has ever made sense and matched my own personal beliefs so well' and than they spill their guts out about how this is actually not educational, it is personal... but still the next meeting put on the educational front and it all just repeats again and again.. I adore it. They'll pop when we pop the question.. and only God knows when it is right. I stil feel so blessed that we get to be apart of it.

SO Kim Sullivan is the cherry on top of the week, she passed her baptismal interview and is getting baptized this Saturday the 21st. She is great. 22, has been dating a member, Matthew Llewellyn (who looks like Sean Farris from Forever Strong... ya about that...) for about 6 years now. So this baptism is a long time coming, but we are so excited to be apart of it now. Funny thing is her and Sis. Laborero were freinds before the mission- weird, so it is fun to get to see the miracle of it all happening. We are excited and just humbled.

Today I was reading in Helaman 3 and a few things stood out to me:

 27 Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name.

    Why is He only merciful to them? Maybe it means that the mercy that comes from the atonement is only given when we accept it and call upon His name. We get to choose to accept the gift He gives to us or not.

 28 Yea, thus we see that the ^agate of heaven is open unto ^ball, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. 29 Yea, we see thatwhosoever will may lay hold upon the ^aword of God, which is ^quick and powerful, which shall ^cdivide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and ^dnarrow course across that everlasting ^egulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked— 30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the ^aright hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out.

Scripture power keeps me safe from sin... it is both quick and powerful. When we read, we gain an instant spirit that may take time to feel, but lasts so long and strong that we won't be able to deny it. Why then are we so forgetful to read if it is so powerful? Do you think that in 2 Nephi 32 when it talks about how the evil spirit teaches a man not to pray that it is the same for reading your scriptures... I'll fall asleep, I don't have time, I don't get it anything out of it anyways because of the old language, or it's just not for me... the excuses, but when we look at them we realize they are silly in comarison to the promise given.

 35 Nevertheless they did ^afast and ^bpray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their ^chumility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the ^dpurifying and the ^esanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their ^fyielding their hearts unto God.

context: these people of whome this verse is speaking of were being persecuted by their own friends within the church- members being rude and gossiping and not being very Christlike to say the least, just prideful.. who'd of thought (kind of scary how similar the scriptures are to us now) none the less these saints were faithful and they didn't just have faith, they exercised it. They worked for their charity by praying and fasting oft and becoming more and more humble. I am sure they served those who persecuted them for being "self righteous" when all along they were the only ones being rihteous... let us all learn from the examples of the past and learn to love. If we don't have that love, find it the way they did- fast for it, pray for it, serve for it, and become humble. Yes be careful what you ask for becaeu you will get it, but glory in it when the gift has been offered because it is yet another witness that not only does God live, but He loves us, hears our prayers, answers them, and gives us the opportunity to become like He is, perfect and refined. Yield to the Holy Spirit- the first prompting is always the right one. It is the only way to truly be happy. I know these things to be true. I love my Saviour, I love this work and I am so grateful to be here doing it! I lvoe and miss you all!! I'll be seein' you!

Love you forever and for always,

 Sista Fili

 

Nick sounds like he is doing amazing. I love how the mission changes boys into men so quickly. We start to see what is important and what is not. The blessings we are given is outrageous.

Mum I am so glad to hear you are doing better!! I am happy the 4th of July was a blast for you all.. we didn't even remeber till that evening what day it actually was. woops. oh well, it was a great day anyway, we met our new mission president and his wife that day!! woot woot. They are fantastic. I think they are just what we need... obviously because God called them to it. Very humble. Love it. it was weird though gonig in and President Ogden not being there... especially since Pres. Rasmussen is a small man and Pres. Ogden was a very tall man, it makes it even that much more different. I am glad though, if they were the same in the way they carried themselves it would be harder I think. Sister Rasmussen is a doll, so lovely. She is very real and we have enjoyed being with her as well.

it's been the first full week of this transfer, but we have had loads of meetings all week well with the new Mission president coming and what not and so it's been hard to get to everyone we wanted to get to, there is never enough time in the day, but this next week should be fun!!

ALERT!! Alert!! We had a miracle. So on the Friday afer our weekly planning session we had an appointment with a lady named Lisa who ended up flogging us.. sad, but not because Sis. laborero remembered a former who was near and said that we needed to go see him, well he wasn't home but she remembered that there as an inactive member on that say street just up the road a bit, so we knock on his door and he doesn't come to the door, but his next door neighbor did and said, 'did you knock on my door?' We looked at her and said oh no and then looked at eachother, smirked, and then walked toward her and told her what we were about and she let us in. So we go in and her and her sister sit there and allowed us to teach them a bit about the restoration. At about the half hour mark that she had agreed to I pulled out the Restoration DVD that's 20 minutes long and told them we could leave them with this to watch, or we could watchit now if they have a bit more time.. they wanted us to stay. By the end they were so excited about it. Joleen said that kieth (our former investigator) and her partner were good friends and that they would probabaly want to learnm togerther when her partner gets back from London... wow. Apparently they had been discussing finding a church to raise their child in, Joleen is pregnant 6 months along, qand she said that she felt this was a sign and her and her sister, Jade, were quite excited about the whole investigation. I love it when the Lord provides in such ways. I thought about it though and realized hat we weren't the deserving one's at all, but his children are and so there fore I can be confident he will prepare for us his children as we prepare the do our part.

Yesterday in church we all 3 gave talks in all 3 sacrament meetings we attended... ok to be fair Sis. Laborero and I only gave 2 of the 3 but bless Sis. Nelson's heart she had to do all 3 of them and she hates talking with a passion. It was very good and quite fun. I got a call on the Saturday before around 6 30 pm and they asked if I could speak in Beacon Heights so I said yes used tyhe skills Dad helped train me on.. except now Iam not nearly as bad as I used to be at it.. not good ether, but it's progressing, that's what we are gonig for!

I just spoke about Alma 56- standing strong in Holy places. The armies of the Nephites would not go fight on the enemies ground with their (the lamanites) strongholds but stood firm and withheld temptation until they came to their (the nephites) strong holds to fight for their freedom. It's the same with us and friends and satan in general. MAJORITY RULES. If we want to bring one back or bring one in as the Saviour did and commands us to do then we must help draw others to Him and bring them with us to feel of His matchless love, it doesn't work the other way. I have become obsessed with Christlike attributes and in the section in Preach My Gospel it says "Just as vital as what you do, is who you are." No matter the role we play in others lives it's just as important not only to do good, but to be good. Draw people towards Zion- make it attractive as Christ does. "Become who you want to be by being who you want to become, today."

I am excited for a new week and for just being a missionary- exhausted and all that jazz- no better activity in the world to make you more exhausted than missionary work! Thank you family for supporting me and always being there for me. I pray for you often and hope all goes well this week.

I'll be seein' you!

love you loads and loads!

Rwyn dy garu di!

 Sista Fili

Hello again.. so soon. Well, I wish I had loads to say.... oh wait, I do. nah I am just so grateful for everyone who has helped me get here, helped me stay, and helped me to be the best that I can be. I just feel overwhelmed with gratitude today and yesterday. We don't realize the support system we have until we go somewhere with people who don't time after time. Sister Nelson and Sister Laborero are brilliant companions and we are loving it. We taught a lesson on Friday night that had all three of our different elements in it that we have to give and ya know the lesson was full of the spirit. I haven't been in a lesson wuite like that one since Sister lauritzen. Maybe it was just the situation, but the spirit was powerful and thick. Lynette, the lady we are teaching, suffers with severe depression and has a hard time recognizing God's love because, like most depressed people, all she sees is the bad in her life and that no one has helped or could help her. What a testimony to me it was when Sister Laborero bore testimony that we were the help that God sent to her to let her know she i loved and there is a way out through His gospel. We were able to follow promptings of the spirit and relay a message to her that was just for her from her Father in Heaven. The incredible part is that it was- I don't remember what I said, what Sister Nelson said, or what Sister Laborero said, but I do know that we all felt as Lynette did- peace, comfort, and joy. By the end this lovely lady was sitting up and smiling... oh how the spirit works. Gratitude, major.

So last night we went and had primary with the Sadler children (in the picture). They are sooooo cute. Their family is going through alot right now. Their parents are divorcing and life isn't happy, but the pure happiness of these kids is outstanding because they know the Gospel of Christ. Shannon (9) said that she is planning on serving a mission. She bore her testimony in sacrament about how she helped this little boy at the Garden festival and she felt the Holy Spirit witness that it was good. She was so happy she was able to put the smile on her Mam and Dad's faces. (In Merthyr with this accent instead of Mum it's Mam... so they spell it like that too. I think they just pride themselves in being the most different in all things from the rest of Britain). Her and her sister, Anariah (7) (also in the picture) both choristered for us in the Beaufort group, AKA the Twig, and They did so well. Our closing Hymn was conducted by Anariah and she chose the song Families Can Be Together Forever. My eyes filled with tears as I watched this gorgeous child of God just smile and conduct with confidence this song that she truly believes to be true. The best part is, I know it will be. I am grateful for the children around us that remind of what is really important in life. Life is full of stuff, but with children in our lives regardless of the kerfuffled moments they come up with, it is full of joy. They bring us to earth and remind us that no one is perfect, but because we are all Children of God we can become perfect through the Atoning sacrifce of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Let us all serve a bit more, forgive sooner, love better, do instead of try, and always look heavenward for guidance.

I wish I could express to you what this gospel means to me. I wish I could properly ask each of you for giveness for anything I have done wrong knowingly and unknowingly, I pray that someday I will be able to properly, but for now know that I am sorry and do forgive me of my imperfections toward you. My heart is full of gratitude for my Saviour and love for His children. I know that it is all true. All that happens in this life is for our good. We are not without hope for the future and eternity. It is all in our favour if we do it in the Lord's way. He died for us, let us live for Him.

 

I love you all!! Hope that the week is going well and that all things are looking up!!

 

Loves in hugs and kisses (only cause you are woman or family...)

  Sista Fili

 

so guess what!!! I now have two areas in one for the next 6 weeks!!! and two companions!! booyah. It's super much fun so far. Sister Lewis went to Solihull and swapped with Sister Nelson (from utah and AZ!!), who also came out with her. Mind when Sis. Nelson and ii first met we both told eachother we would serve together and felt like we just knew eachother from somewhere else.. it's happening people!! so fun. Then we also have sister Laborero from england.. londoner :).  So there is heads of the valleys and beacon heights ward(s) that meet in the same building. They had to close a sisters area for a transfer becasue ther weren't enough sisters to fill it all until next transfer when a sister from scotland comes, so president decided to combine these areas again for 6 weeks so as to not have to shut one down. They are all doing really well anyway. But lucky us we have 2 areas to cover and it should be fun. i HAVE OFFICIALLY SERVED IN everysingle AREA SIS. lAURITZEEN SERVED IN.. CRAZY SAUCE. we're firends!! SORRY FOR CAPPS... anyways... It's been so much fun and I am so excited for the adventure of 2 areas, but it will make going back to just the one super nice, but slow. Oh well, missionary work is missionary work and i love it!! how are all of you? sound like you are doing well. This week has been crazy good.

Miracle: Monday was not pday it was a work day designed by God. We went to a few people's homes and before we left this certain area I saw a lady standing outside her door looking out. Well we got in the car and as I drove past her to turn around I felt something say talk to her, so I turned around and paarked up the car got out and we met natalie. We spoke for about 20 min. and just learnt bout her and her faith and her life and as we shared the book of mormon with her she kept taking it out of my hands and then would give it back almost remembering it wasn';t hers until I gave it to her and then she was like, it's finally mine. We have a return appointment with her to day and are super stoked.

Yesterday at transfers was the last time I will see Pres. and sis. Ogden. It was sad, but actually super surreal. Sis Ogden said that they were gonig to be doing a fireside in Arizona (probably Scotsdale) in September so... you should try to find out where and when exactly and go!! it would be amazing to meet my mission president and wife. President Rasmussen gets here on Friday and we will meet him next week. Super crazy to have a new one, but it will be amazing I am sure. He is called by a prophet and I am excited to meet the man.

This past week I have just thought alot about attitude. I try to have a good one all the time and ya know I didn't realize my progression until I read some of my journal from the beginning... holy cow  I am grateful to have learnt that attitude is everything and having a good attitude about life is the way that we are able to experience heaven on earth. Who wants to be around grumpy gills all day, I am not perfect at it and i am sorry or those who had to live with my grumpiness, but I am now learning that iti s unnecssary. There is no situation so bad that whining about it won't make it worse.. thank you Elder Holland and then thre is Pres. Uchtdorf's counsel to STOP IT with back biting and coveting and jealousy and such. When we have a good attitude about things we aren't tempted to do that stuff and weare able to better follow the prophet and apostles counsel from God. I am working on it more and more, but situations and people thatused to irritate me now just make me giggle. Life and drama is more humorous than we let on in the moment. Let's be honest with ourselves. Anyways, I hope you are all doing amazing and having a good week in the heat.. I don't know what I will do when I get back and am in actually proper heat-- probably faint. Will someone be prepared to catch me please? thanks. you don't have to for a while, just saying. Anyways The church is true and gets more and more true everyday of my life. I am indeed grateful for the opportunities I am given everyday to improve and become who i need to be for God's kingdom. Scary, amazing thought eh... it's coming ya'll!! Let's committ ourselves to having a positive attitude about all thigns thiss week. The glass is always half full people!! it's  the choice you make whether to make it half empty.

 

2 We give ^athanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

3 Remembering without ceasing your work of ^afaith, and ^blabour of love, and ^cpatience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

 

 Rwyn Dy garu Di

Sista Fili

wow everyone sounds great!! I am super excited for Holly's baby... for Nick's joyful 'non-engagement' engagement that i will be home to see become a sealing!! woot woot!!! I get to enjoy that fun too someday.. however I would not be ANYWHERE in the world but Merthyr Tydfil, Wales preaching the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ right now. This is my joy and this week it is stood out to me 10 fold. So, sometimes our companions struggle with a desire to be here which then allows us to express and think about why me are here personally as well. All week I have been contemplating this and to be honest I know that with or without me the lord would get this work done, but i would not be who I am now without the mission. The Lord knows that. I love doing this work. I love being apart of the salvation of souls. I know I am rubish at doing the Lord's work.. I try to do all I can and yet still... fall short, but the effort i put in is what the Lord sees. D&C 117:13 'when he falls he shall rise again, for his ^asacrifice shall be more sacred unto me than his increase, saith the Lord.' I hang on to this because I know that I have been called and set apart by and under the direction of a prophet of God. I try to  n ever, ever forget that special and unique blessing in my life.  Our mission president often tells us "You are the only one who can help someone today and this week.  The Lord has great faith and trust in you.  "How great is our calling!". How great is the calling that at baptism we are all called to. I am grteful that we can all gather together to gather the nations for the coming of our dear Saviour and Redeemer. That is what life is all about. 

 http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/waiting-upon-the-lord-thy-will-be-done?lang=eng

please check out that talk. " the purpose of our life on earth is to grow, develop, and be strengthened through our own experiences. How do we do this? The scriptures give us an answer in one simple phrase: we “wait upon the Lord.”¹² Tests and trials are given to all of us. These mortal challenges allow us and our Heavenly Father to see whether we will exercise our agency to follow His Son. He already knows, and we have the opportunity to learn, that no matter how difficult our circumstances, “all these things shall [be for our] experience, and … [our] good.”^13"

^{it gave me the outlook i needed this week as we faced some trials that all depended on our 'waiting upon the Lord'. I know that god speaks to us through His servants the prophets, Amos 3:7, there is NO DOUBT about that. He loves us, just read it dangit!!
But really as we were knocking on doors this week in the rain.. it was pretty epic and we were soaked and people were taking the mick left and right at the door, but there we are. Any ways, we were standing at this door waiting for this INCREDIBLE potential investigator to answer and suddenly the thought came to me- what we do, knocking on doors and such is a type of Christ knocking on the door for all of us. He knocks and waits, but it is our choice to open it up. We may open it a little and then shut before He can really say or do anything, we may open up and listen and feel and really have the experience we are looking for, but never open it again for one reason or another, we may just choose never to open it. But glory be to those who open and let open again and again. Oh how great is His joy... and our joy to be honest. It's all down to our agency and if you notice when Del Parson drew that painting of Christ waiting at the door with no handle He was allowing us to see that the only thing we have that he does not is our WILL. Christ does not have the handle, but it is only on our side. He may have everything else on loan to us, but that one thing is what is ours and we can use it as we choose... but we can also give it away. Let us not give it away... that would be sad, wouldn't it.} 

^{Today we have been at our bishop's house taking a photo shoot with his wife... so Heather and Liz I will be eventually giving her your face book details so she can let you know my face will be on her book. ;) but she is super into crazy make up so don't be alarmed... it was well fun. I love things like this so much. We may or may not do more with her... why not, she's talented and it's fun. Then you can can do whatever you please with da tings.} 

^{I am proper bummed that the marcum's are peacing out of Mesa and that I won't get to say goodbye. So sad, please tell them I miss them, love them, and hope you see them soon. Heck maybe I'll get a cheap flight to Branson to go see some friends someday.. ;) (ya Kendra that's right, i'm talking about you lady!!)} 

^{So Yesterday at church I had a very cool experience I want to share with you. first I need to share the back up story- so last year on August 2nd Philippa Evans died in a car accident. (super similar situation, type of person all of it to Timmy... of course it was!)  on that day that we found out Sis. Nadsady was going home and I was catching a Sis. Lauritzen who was coming from Philippa's home ward, Heads of the Valleys. So of course we were able to go to the funeral because of the short distance and close association of Sis. L with the Evan's. At the funeral I knew i would serve in their ward. I knew I would come to help them out in a year's time and I just let it be known as i knew i would serve in Heads of the Valleys someday.... well since I have been here I haven't hardly been able to see the family and the impression had worn off, it was in the back of my mind, but started becoming a I know I just made that up... didn't i. Well on Sunday Philippa's younger brother who is my similar age had read something I had written in my info for the ward newsletter his mum puts together and in it I had mentioned about Tim. So he came to me for help- I was overwhelmed and wasn't actually that great of help at the first... but on the way to the, well what Sis. lewis and I refer to as the twig (it's a little group set off of our ward... so not a branch from the stake a twig from the ward...... but the ward refers to it as the Beaufort group) I was thinking about what help or advice I could give him to help.... the first year is rough and bless the heart of wales it is not the same as Arizona or Utah.... ok America in the whole.... so then we go to Beaufort and out of the blue he walks in! He had to pass the sacrament, but as we sat during the meeting i wrote down all the things he had asked about and pondered about and we had a good chat afterword... what a testimony builder to me that God gives us impressions and I guess prophesies that He intends to keep. I know God loves us. I know He keeps his promises and that if we keep ours he is super stoked to do as He has promised. D&C 82:10.} 

1 Ye know that ye are in our hands, yet we do not desire to slay you.
 2 Behold, we have not come out to battle against you that we might shed your blood for power;
 3 But now, ye behold that the Lord is with us; and ye behold that he has delivered you into our hands. And now I would that ye should understand that this is done unto us^abecause of our religion and our faith in Christ. And now ye see that ye cannot destroy this our faith.
 4 Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are ^afaithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith.
 6 Yea, and this is not all; I command you by all the desires which ye have for life, that ye ^adeliver up your weapons of war unto us, and we will seek not your blood, but we will ^bspare your lives, if ye will go your way and come not again to war against us.
 7 And now, if ye do not this, behold, ye are in our hands, and I will command my men that they shall fall upon you, and ^ainflict the wounds of death in your bodies, that ye may become extinct; and then we will see who shall have power over this people; yea, we will see who shall be brought into bondage.
 8 And now it came to pass that when Zerahemnah had heard these sayings he came forth and delivered up his ^asword and his cimeter, and his bow into the hands of Moroni, and said unto him: Behold, here are our weapons of war; we will deliver them up unto you, but we will not suffer ourselves to take an ^boath unto you, which we know that we shall break, and also our children; but take our weapons of war, and suffer that we may depart into the wilderness; otherwise we will retain our swords, and we will perish or conquer.
10 And now when Zerahemnah had made an end of speaking these words, Moroni returned the sword and the weapons of war, which he had received, unto Zerahemnah, saying: Behold, we will end the conflict.
 11 Now I cannot recall the words which I have spoken, therefore as the Lord liveth, ye shall not depart except ye depart with an oath that ye will not return again against us to war. Now as ye are in our hands we will spill your blood upon the ground, or ye shall submit to the conditions which I have proposed.
 12 And now when Moroni had said these words, Zerahemnah retained his sword, and he was angry with Moroni, and he rushed forward that he might slay Moroni; but as he raised his sword, behold, one of Moroni’s soldiers smote it even to the earth, and it broke by the hilt; and he also smote Zerahemnah that he took off his scalp and it fell to the earth. And Zerahemnah withdrew from before them into the midst of his soldiers.
 13 And it came to pass that the soldier who stood by, who smote off the scalp of Zerahemnah, took up the scalp from off the ground by the hair, and laid it upon the point of his sword, and stretched it forth unto them, saying unto them with a loud voice:
 14 Even as this scalp has fallen to the earth, which is the scalp of your chief, so shall ye fall to the earth except ye will deliver up your weapons of war and depart with a covenant of peace.
 15 Now there were many, when they heard these words and saw the scalp which was upon the sword, that were struck with fear; and many came forth and threw down their weapons of war at the feet of Moroni, and entered into a ^acovenant of peace. And as many as entered into a covenant they suffered to ^bdepart into the wilderness.
 16 Now it came to pass that Zerahemnah was exceedingly wroth, and he did stir up the remainder of his soldiers to anger, to contend more powerfully against the Nephites.
 17 And now Moroni was angry, because of the stubbornness of the Lamanites; therefore he commanded his people that they should fall upon them and slay them. And it came to pass that they began to slay them; yea, and the Lamanites did contend with their swords and their might.
19 Now Zerahemnah, when he saw that they were all about to be destroyed, cried mightily unto Moroni, promising that he would covenant and also his people with them, if they would spare the remainder of their lives, that they ^anever would come to war again against them.
 20 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that the work of death should ^acease again among the people. And he took the weapons of war from the Lamanites; and after they had entered into a ^bcovenant with him of peace they were suffered to depart into the wilderness.
it's the same with us to God- He fixes the rules and as we choose Him he blesses us, but if we don't we have no promise. I love you all soooo much. I am grateful for each of you and for the love you share for me. I could not be here without you and your prayers. Hope this week is spectacular and full of jolly good gumm droppity drops!! tada mate!!
(ps an English person told me my English accent is actually proper tidy... that is a pretty big deal... but who knows. maybe she was taking the mick and i am too daft to realize.)
Loves!!
 sista Fili

yes...we are a happy family...

Borrada!! (hello in welsh)

(spoken with a heavy super fake English posh accent) How are you all this lovely day in Arizona where the sun is shining? Oh I hope it bakes you because it is not baking me this lovely day.. it's not too bad though to be honest but for about 3 days this week I was in fear of snow... (kill the accent and ome back to the american earth) WHO DOES THAT!

Anyways, I alove being in Wales in all it's glory and gorgeousness. It really is soooo beautiful I am without words most of the time... literally. speaking of wales, before I foreget here's my address currently:

Flat 4

The Square Buildings

Merthyr Road

Troedyrhiw

Merthyr Tydfil

CF48 4AN

Wales

So sorry it took me forever to get that to you. I didn't even know it for the first while of being here. I am super exciteed to get letters from both Grandmas, nothing is better in life than post from the grannies!! I love it!!

This week was pretty brilliant and I am super grateful for it. District meeting was epical and everything in more that I needed to hear. I was impressed by the fact that a friend also serving a mission in a foreign land taught me the exact same thing at a different time but this time there was a bit more input.. obviously. However, the impact on me was the same. I really knew both times that I heard it that the Lord was instructing them to say what they said and for me to hear what I heard. I am graterful that we were sent here to be even as Christ is, perfect. Yes we are trapped in a mortal body and yes we are subject to imperfections and yes we definitely fall short of perfection from day to day, but because of repentance and the atonement we can slowly but surely rise to the perfection we were made to obtain. God didn't give us the commndment to 'be ye perfect even as I am' because He wanted to show us how cool he is in comparison to us, He commanded us because he knew and still knows that with His help it is attainable. We come to this earth perfect, spotless... babies... and that is who we are. Never forget the divine potential we have is who we actually are, The devil decieeves us into believing that our potential is to be nothing... God doesn't decieve but gives us proof, through trials that we are more than we live up to in this current probationary state. I love to think that someday if I have actually used the Atonement in my life lived the gospel and applied and helped others live and apply it as well that I could actually be perfect- super far from it now, but that thing is that the more we realize we are nothing the more we become who we actually are. I trully believe that we are never hapier than when we are in the service of our God simply because it is then that our true selves comes out and we can stop playing the role of a caharcter we don't actualy like that begins to consume us and make us miserables- step of out the world's character and into your dream role of someone you aspire to be because if it is your true deisre than chances are that is who you really are and you just need to learn the way to get out of the character you boxed yourself into for soooo long. It's all about the character of Christ. It's about becoming even as he is because that's why we are here, that's why He suffered and knew it would be worth it. We wwere not made to be ok.. but to be jus what Moses 1:39 states: "My work and my glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Why would rubish work and a half hearted haf great outcome be His glory .. if God knows the beginning from the end the end from the beginning, would He really have Moses write that down if he didn't mean it and he couldn't lie because then he wouldn't be God... ya He wouldn't. He meant it becasue we are His work and His glory and nothing we do can change that so rise to the occasion and feel the power of the Lord's love- I promise you that you will feel His work and his glory in you if you but look to Him and live, regardless of the seemingly simple things we find pointless or difficulty of the way- if we do it His way, WE CAN NOT FALL. I love this gospel. Super much. Loads and loads of love.

We are so blessed to have this in our lives. The people here are great. many say come back and then we find out they are plling the nice welsh I can't say no trick again so I will plan to not answer or be out when they get back.... super bomb.com.. but it makes even more grateful for those who say yes I want it, I need it, teach me now... Investigators do not grow on trees here, but the joy of life does and that is what I love. The joy of weather is never expressed- The way to start a conversation with any British folk is to talk about the weather- they always have about 10 minutes worth to say about it.. I don't know how, but it is a proven fact by myself and my current bishop... who says he himself even does it... because he is welsh and that's what they do... None the less though we are teaching a few people who are just great and we ar enjoying the power of the spirit in our work, it's undeniable sometimes and I love that!! One investigator, Steven is just ace- he writes us little essays with his way of thinking about what he is studying and asks us questions and concerns to answer and the spirit is always thick like a blanket in his home, he is giving us the verdict is he wants to be baptized or not on Friday... eek!!! I have faith though that one day regardless of when, he will be- he has great faith, just doesn't get it yet.

This week we were gonig to a potential investigators home for a lesson and she flogged us to our dismay, she is really elect we just seem to always make appointments when work ends up wanting her... hmm.... sometihng is off... SATAN... daft bloak. ANYWAYS, and ended up at a less actives house to find that he was the one who needed us. I love how God works. I lvoe that if we have the desires to serve Him He will make it work. Nothing can be better than that.

I hope you are all doing well. I heard about uncle Clint (thanks mel) and will keep him and lisa and neil in my prayers. I am so proud of Nick Aunt Mel- he is great and has grown loads.. you can totally tell!

Michael and Amber- wow I am pretty sure I always knew he would climb to mount everest 1 billion times to marry that girl... lucky las and lucky bloak. Super happy for them and for all the marriages as of late... man it's crazy!! I am just so happy too mum that you are turning into little miss thin!! what a woman!! haha but really you sounded great in you email and for that i am grateful, kinda jealous of the monday night family pol fun though.. but not that jealous... I'm a missionary!! give me a break!!

Dad- dude you are a legend. a piano on your left middle finger?! And i bet you went and got it fixed went home and got right back to work.. that is my reality fear and I pray that it is not what actually happened. rest man!! Anyways, you are all in my prayers and I lvoe you dearly. Can't wait to get that picture you promised mum... yup I'll hold you to it!!! Love you dearly, and happy father's day this week... for America too right? Alright peace, love, charity, and all other good things that we are!!

Rwyn Dy garu Di!!! (I LOVE YOU!!!)

Ta ra!!!

Sista Fili

oh my goodness weddings gallore.. I am going to go home to a married world... well half married world. The other half I shall dwell in for a time till I am invited to enter... apparently. .... but still so many babies and marriages happening, it's exciting and nuts!! I guess it doesn't seem like reality at all though because I am on the otherside of the country not bothering about anything but the gospel and people accepting the gospel and families being sealed because of the gospel and ya know... that type of stuff. no big deal really. 
but ANYWAYS, family, how are we? You all sound great and like everyone is just growing up and Cade is probably passing me up in height here soon enough... give it a rest would ya child!11 already!!! holy toledo you are almost an old man. Better getting your walking stick out and ready. ;) Mum you give great updates and i am grateful for it. I think about you all every night before I go to bed when I say my prayers and I always have the feeling that no matter what, no matter the struggles, no matter the happy moments, no matter the temptations and the moments of Gethsemae that we all go through, God is there with us. we are never alone and although I am not home and i can't do anything for you even if I were home, even if Tim were still alive he too couldn't do anything for you, all we could do is be there for support just like you are all one to another but the thing to remember is that God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ, CAN actually help but only if we let them. 

"Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." (3 Nephi 14:7) 

it is all about us asking, seeking and acting or in other words knocking... but I guess like i have said before it's an invitation as it is a warning. what we ask for eventually, if not immediately we shall receive; good or bad, fair or unfair, it's all about what we choose to do with the agency God gives us. Seek after something good or bad in people, in media, in opinions, in situations, etc. and you will find it... no doubt about that one. Knock and the path way shall be opened to you... if you act on good things, sure it might be  struggle but you will be able to find the path way there and through it to the light, act on the bad and yup you'll probably be in a world of hurt. The incredible thing we must never forget is although we may at times falter and find ourselves on rocky paths that seem like we can't possibly bear to turn around on and go back because it seems too painful to go through it all again , we don't have to walk it alone. the pain has already been felt by Him who suffered for us all. The hard part has been done, lean on Him and He may not take the journey away or the tingling pain, but He can lessen it and He can keep us company so it's not so long and not so bad and give us guidance to learn from it. Sometimes we have to walk on the rocks to be able to remember the why of not doing it again and I guess that's why He let's us go through it. 

"12: I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues (going through a hard time), that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding poverty (struggle), that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble. 13: And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved." (Alma 32:12-13)

I read this this morning in scripture study and it really touched me that the Lord does chasten us because He loves us... we don't get it. we don't understand how much He loves and and desires us back, if we did we wouldn't do anything to take us from His presence, but we do. It's a fact and none are exempt from it, but that's why He does it. He wants us so He will do what He knows is best for us so not only will we come back, but we will choose to come back. I am excited for the day that i can thank Him face to face for all the times He had to do the hard thing and give me what I needed and not what I wanted because without those times in my life I wouldn't be half of who I am today... not that i am anything great, but aren't we all on the path to greatness and shouldn't we be grateful for what we are that is great regardless of what we still lack? I am confident that if we are doing our best, the rest is all just fluff. If it's important He will work with it, promise you me, He will work it out for us. These things i know and i grow more confident that He knows me each and every day. the work is incredible because I see these principles practised by others everyday. I see it work everyday not just through them but also through me. 

"I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for He hath redeemed my soul from hell." 2 Nephi 33:6

I love you and can't wait to hear from you again. Loves!!!

Sista Fili