I Stand All Amazed at the Love Jesus Proffers Me

Gratitude

I just want to start off this week by expressing my gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the many blessings that he has given me. As I have been helping those around me deal with abuse, drugs, alcohol, and divorce I realize how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family. 

A family who supports me and who helps me to become the daughter of God that I need to be. That is why the gospel blesses families. As we strive to live the commandments and push each other to reach our full potential, he will bless us and help us through our trials. As we build upon our foundations together, we will be able to withstand the spiritual whirlwinds that Satan throws our way. That is why Helaman 5:12 has become one of my favorite scriptures. 

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon therock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

Baptisms for the Dead - Native American 

This week we were able to go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead with Kwaku for the first time. The temple president started with a mini devotional in the baptistry chapel and it was amazing! Everyone kept talking to him about serving a mission.

Then we went and sat waiting to do baptisms and Sister Huber and I were pondering our scriptures... all of a sudden we hear, Broken Arm. Sister Huber and I looked at eachother with confused faces like, "Are they being serious?" 

Well yes they were because next up were names like, Willie Big Head Man, Yellow Hair, Mister Sage Women, Red Hawk... We heard giggles from behind us and Kwaku couldn't help but crack a laugh and we couldn't help but laugh with him. But, after thinking about it I thought it was sooo cool! These were Native American names from tribes in Montana and South Dakota. The work is Hastening! Here on Earth and in the Spirit World. Everyone is being offered the opportunity to accept the gospel.

Atonement

At zone conference this week we received awesome training about the timeline of the Bible and the Book of Mormon. 

As we were discussing, I realized something about the Atonement that I haven't really thought about before. We were talking about how in the scriptures, God speaks 4 times. 

1. First Vision

2. Jesus Christ Baptism

3. When Jesus Christ appears to the people in the Americas in 3 Nephi 11

4. On the Mount of Transfiguration

These are the only times other than when Jesus Christ is speaking for Heavenly Father. As a result, through Christ we get to the Father. Because Jesus Christ ransomed us or "bought" us with his blood, we answer to Him. He is now our Judge. He is justice personified. 

I am so thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ and because of his sacrifice, we are able to communicate with Heavenly Father and once again return to live with him again.

Love y'all!

Sister Loo

Saying goodbye to some of our awesome Summer Fellowshippers

YSA wards - the best wards!

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make me a Match

So the perks of being in a YSA ward is that you don't have to date or be in the dating drama, but you get to hear all about it. And you also get to make predictions on who in the ward would go really well with eachother. 

We have a member in our ward who just recently broke up with her boyfriend and has been so depressed. She asked if she could come out with us to teach and go to lessons. So... we called a guy in our ward who we thought she would go perfectly with... and ba-BAM! They are going on a date this week! Sister Huber and I should open up a dating consultancy! ;)

Bike Exchanges

Friday I went on exchanges with Sister Sheldon in the Wheatstone ward... on bike. To say it was Hot was an understatement. We went tracting and like 5 people asked us if we wanted water on one street... which never happens. We found out it was 105 degrees with I'm guessing 100% humidity. I don't even want to know what the heat index was at.

We were able to come up with some different finding ideas and taught 6 lessons to random people in their homes and in the Kroger grocery store parking lot. President Mortensen has been encouraging us to contact and invite 25 people every day to learn and so you become pretty creative in where and how to get those contacts each day... also very awkward sometimes but hey I'm a missionary!

We had dinner with a family and afterwards we shared a message with them by the pool! We put our feet in the water as the kids were swimming, don't exactly know if that was against the rules, but it was so nice to cool off!

And then back on the bike! We had a 45 minute bike ride home... needless to say I slept real good that night and woke up really sore the next morning!

Kwaku's Baptism

Kwaku was baptized Saturday and it was a really nice baptism. His friend, Mark came to support. We thought his family was going to come but Kwaku said his mom got a bit annoyed when he brought it up and she said she didn't want to come. He was a bit disappointed but was excited to be baptized.

He received a beautiful confirmation and ordination to the priesthood blessing. In it, it talked about receiving a patriarchal blessing and going on a mission! We got in contact with the Bishop in San Fransisco so that he will have some contact there and receive the new member lessons! He has such faith and strength especially in the Restoration of the Gospel and I hope that he can be a shining light and example to his friends here and in San Fransisco.

He also received his temple recommend and so we are going to the temple with him this Wednesday morning!

I love to see the temple

I am so thankful for the temple and the blessings that we can receive there. It truly is the way that we can strive to Endure to the End. We need the blessings of the temple and I especially love the spirit that is present! 

We were also able to go to the temple this last week with our recent converts to do baptisms. I was overwhelmed with the happiness I felt as each of them were sitting in the chapel, in their white jumpsuits, waiting to perform the ordinances for those who had passed away. They are all such wonderful and amazing examples to me! 

I love to see the temple.

I'm going there someday

To feel the Holy Spirit,

To listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God,

A place of love and beauty.

I'll prepare myself while I am young;

This is my sacred duty.

I love to see the temple.

I'll go inside someday.

I'll cov'nant with my Father;

I'll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place

Where we are sealed together.

As a child of God, I've learned this truth:

A fam'ly is forever.

Love y'all! 

Sister Loo

Temple with the ward and Viet for the first time! :)

Texas storms are the best!

FHE

Lesson at the temple with Kwaku

Fried pickles. 

The shack burger resort with Natasha! Reminded me of Portland  

The Hanna Banana =

1/2 lb of beef on a pretzel bun with sauteed bananas, banana chips,

deep fried onion strings, thai peanut butter sauce,

and spicy asian sauce.

With other stuff I can't even remember what all was on it.

It was an explosion of flavors!

More at the Shack!

Exchanges with Sister Sheldon 

Biking on the golf course!

Kwaku's baptism

Pillowcases from Julia! She is the sweetest!

3 Lessons, 5 Baptismal Dates

In Memory of Kristin

This last week Sister King and I were able to go to Kristin's funeral. She is a wonderful lady in my last area that had stage 4 breast cancer. We would go and paint our nails and tell her about our missionary experiences. She was pretty much our mission mom in that area. I love her so much but know that she is in a better place. 

She was the only member in her family and set such a great example for them. She still does. The spirit at the service was amazing and many that were there to were not members of the church. They noticed a difference and we were able to talk to them about what Kristin believed in. Her Uncle and Aunt were the cutest though. The Aunt said to me, "The love in a Mormon church is unbelievable! You just can't find that anywhere else." We invited them to come to church and they knew exactly where the chapel was in their little town in Pennsylvania. I know that Kristin is with them and helping them find the truth.

It was so great to be with Sister King again for a couple hours! It reminded me of so many great memories! I love that girl to pieces!

The spirit teaches & testifies.

We were able to meet with Aieliaria this week and talk about The Gospel of Jesus Christ. The spirit is so strong when we meet with her. She has such a desire to find the truth and the spirit testifies to her when she does. 

As we were talking with her I was so impressed by the spirit to tell her how much Heavenly Father loves her and is proud of her. How he wants her to know that she is making the right decision. 

We asked her to pray about a date to be baptized. We told her the dates and that we know that she would even be prepared to be baptized next week. She looked at us through tears and said, "Really?! You think so?" and we both responded, "YES! We definitely think so." 

It was such a special experience. We were trying to get her to come to the YSA ward but she really enjoys the family ward. So the sisters there will start teaching her! But I am so excited for her to be baptized! 

She told us yesterday at church that she told her mom that she found a church that she really likes and wants to get baptized in. And her mom said, "But Aieliaria, you are a Lutheran. We are Lutherans." She bore a simple testimony to her and that she felt she was old enough to make her own decisions. She was scared that her mom would have been angry at her. But her mom was actually really proud of her and told her that it would be alright! Wow! What a blessing!

Anne Frank, Tupoc & the Plan of Salvation

Had probably the funniest lesson on the Plan of Salvation with three black girls, Edwana, Kiara, and Tamara! We were talking about the spirit world and how everyone goes there after we die and those that weren't baptized on Earth will be taught the gospel.

We talked about the importance of baptism. Edwana stops us, "Hold up. What is the correct way that we need to be baptized cuz I mean I don't want to mess this up. I don't want to get up there and realize I did it wrong." 

We read Matthew 3 about when Jesus Christ is baptized and talked about the importance of being baptized with the priesthood authority, being fully immersed in the water, and then receiving the Gift of the Holy ghost after baptism. 

We invited them to be baptized on August 30th. They accepted and we encouraged them to truly pray about it. They are a little sad because they really like their church. I hope that they will come to church and feel the spirit. Please pray for them that they will receive a direct answer as to the truthfulness of the gospel! 

Other funny moments in the lesson:

We were talking about the Resurrection... 

Edwana says under her breath... "It gonna be packed." and then a few seconds later after it sinks in... a little louder... "It gonna be packed. Everyone comes back?! Even the people from the 1800's?!" 

"Yes." We respond. "Everyone."

"Ooh girl! You mean, I get to meet that girl that was hiding from the Nazi's and then they got her."

Me: "Anne Frank?"

"Yeah! Oh I knew I was gonna meet her! Ooh I'm so excited... I get to meet Tupoc..." and then lists a couple more people. 

We are all just cracking up laughing at this point at her and she says, "Oh I hope that God has a sense of humor. Man, I don't want to go to the spirit world and he is all serious. I mean, I might tell him a joke and I hope he gets it. But he might tell me.... Woah there Edwana... too far." haha. It was so funny.

Social Media Missionary Work

On Monday, a member's sister, Paige, brought her friend Kwaku (Cway-koo) to FHE. Paige had posted a picture of her with a Book of Mormon on Instagram with her testimony and he commented on it saying that he would love to learn more! He had a received a Book of Mormon from friends in high school but now just started being interested in the church. 

He prayed to ask if he should pursue learning about the Book of Mormon and he got a strong impression that he should! So we met twice this week and he accepted to be baptized on August 16th. He leaves for school in San Francisco on the 20th so we wanted him to be baptized before then! 

He is just soaking up everything and already has done much researching for himself on lds.org. He said at his old Methodist church they used to tell them about "The Mormons" but none of what they told him was true! He has a strong testimony of Joseph Smith and he loves coming to church and learning because he said he didn't get that at his other church.

So... if you want to do some missionary work follow Paige's example and see what happens!

Love this gospel! Love y'all!

We were Heart Attacked by some members of our ward!

Perfect timing because that day our AC decided not to work... again.

Whataburger Patty Melt

(2 beef patties, 2 slices of swiss cheese, Jalapeno Sauce, and grilled onions

between 2 slices of Texas Toast)...

As in the words of Kwaku, "The best way to ruin the rest of your day."

We had to try it though. It was SO good but then he was right...

we felt awful the rest of the day. 

Another Pday Donut Run!