Transfers

I feel like my life should be the next season of "The District" So much has happened and it would be so much easier to show you than to type it all out on this here computer, but here it goes. :)

So first off last week we got in contact with a family who we were teaching before summer hit. This family is awesome and really wanted to be baptized a couple months ago, but when summer came along and they all went to Mexico we really didn't have anything we could do for them. They came back and we went back to see them as soon as possible, but they were not as excited as they were before. We went back a couple times, but they were always busy and having to reschedule appointments. This Tuesday they officially told us to go away and not come back.. We were a little depressed about it because they were so awesome and we know how much this message can really bless their lives. 

Hopefully down the road a little they will come back. I know God knows how to help them. They will be willing to learn again a little later. 

My favorite thing about this week was going on exchanges. I got to go to a SPANISH area for a couple days! I just talked it Portuguese and anything that didn't exactly translate Hermana Carlson would help me with. It was sooo much fun and I actually surprised myself with how much Portuguese I know.. and how much Spanish I understand! I was definitely seeing the grace of God helping me to communicate with those humble people. If I don't go to Brazil next transfer I would really love to serve in a Spanish area! Sure it would be a little bit of a stretch, but I have full confidence in my Heavenly Father. He knows what I need to be doing. :)

While we were on exchanges I was talking to this lady about the Holy Ghost. She asked what it feels like and as I was thinking how to say what I wanted to say in Portuguese the video we watched in the MTC came into my head. In the video there is a lady who is talking about the feeling she has is almost too big for her body. It fills her up and makes her feel peace. I was able to remember how the lady talked about this feeling in spanish... and told her. Right now I couldn't tell you what I said, but I know that it was exactly what that video said... hah Sister Carlson was impressed, but I was just so grateful. The only way to describe that moment is to say that it was not me. God brought that to me and I was able to do it only because of Him. 

I love being a missionary. I see so many blessings everyday! 

Speaking of blessings- Haley (new convert) brought her entire family to church on Sunday!! Her brother and sister stayed the entire meeting and they had an awesome time. We also had a couple less active families come to church on Sunday. 

Church is the place where we really gain a greater understanding and appreciation of our Savior. So many times during the week people say, " I just don't see the reason to go to church. I can study the scriptures on my own. I can have a relationship with God on my own."

Yes, a relationship with God is very important, but church is your time once a week where you can really let go of everything else and completely focus on the gifts from your Father and your Savior. Church is a place where you meet other people who will support you in your beliefs. You have a family and a support system. 

Church is a gift from God, not an annoying obligation. 

I would rant some more, but you get the picture. I love my Savior. I love His gospel. I know that this church is true because I have asked and God has given me my very own personal witness of the truth. I know that families are meant to be together forever, but you need to correct priesthood authority to do so. I know that we are so blessed and that more blessings are in store for those who keep the commandments with a happy heart. 

Have a great week everybody!

Eu amo voces! 

Sister Earl

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                                                  This is a miracle....never has had a tan!!

                                             Birthday Cake from Mom and Dad and family

September 9 2013

Hello all my lovely friends,

This week has gone by especially fast since P-day was on Tuesday last week. Luckily the entire week has been awesome, with the little rocks in the road to keep it interesting.. just like always. :)

I think we finally figured all the stuff out with the apartment. We have gone a couple week now with no late fee notifications or last minute faxes to the mission office. Thank goodness for that. 

This week was filled with more and more learning opportunities that I am so grateful for. I am really trying to keep up with my journal so I can record all the blessings I see everyday. Really if you look anything can become a blessing. 

One of my blessings this week was went I was in a lesson with a member and her friend. We were talking about reading the Book of Mormon and the member piped up with this little nugget of wisdom. 

She said " The Book of Mormon talks about Jesus Christ just like the Bible does. When we read them both we get a better idea of who Christ is. When we know someone better we naturally trust them. So the more we can know about our Savior the easier it will be to turn our pains and worries over to Him. We will trust Him and know Him as an individual."

Wow, when she said that the spirit just flooded into the room. Her friend talked about the desire she has had to know the Savior better. I couldn't believe how strong the spirit was... I seriously felt like Jesus was right there personally inviting her to read the Book of Mormon and I was just the person speaking the words. It was powerful and I know that I was not in charge of that moment. That was completely the Spirit taking over. :) 

This stuff is powerful. We are not talking about a Book that simply makes us feel good when we are reading it. We are talking about TRUTH. It contains the Truth and there is nothing more powerful than that from our loving Father in Heaven. 

I testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that it will help you to know Jesus Christ right along with the Bible. When you know Him then you can trust Him and he really can lift you up. 

The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know it and I know God knows it. He wants everyone to know. 

Eu Amo Voces!

-Sister Earl

PICTURES

 

                                                          Transferred to the MOON!!!

                                                                        NASA

                                                                         NASA

                                                             BIRTHDAY GOODIES

                                                                 BACON POPCORN!!!

Missionary on the moon

What a wonderful week!! So many great things are happening everywhere I go. All you people are people I look up to. I admire your leadership and your influence on me. I truly believe that every one I meet has something to teach me. Everyone has strengths and the way those strengths shine through teaches me more about myself and about the love of my Heavenly Father. 

Just as an example: This week I had the opportunity to meet a Less Active member of our Silverlake Ward. She invited us in and we began to talk. She talked about how a long time ago she was married to a member of the church. She said how she pictured it to be a wonderful story book marriage, but he was abusive and the marriage ended in flames instead of roses. She said for a long time she was angry with God. She decided that He didn't love her and didn't want anything to do with him. My heart went out to this nice lady. She was obviously still in pain from the incident. She went on to say that she has since then forgiven God, but she learned a very valuable lesson. She said "Your religion needs to start from your inner most self. If you are running through the motions then you will see blessings, but you won't feel them. You won't understand the fullness of Gods love until you capture it inside you." I was thinking about that and I realized that she is completely right. She is a wonderful lady and I already love her so much. We talked a lot about the Love God has for her and the way to feel it through the Atonement. It was such a wonderful time. We could literally feel the Love of God filling in all the open spaces in that little room. :)

God lives. 

Now you are probably wondering why the topic of this email involves the Moon. Well.. for my birthday today we went to NASA! It was sorta crazy because last week we were talking about how Preparation day was changed to Tuesday (my birthday) and so we should do something really cool. The idea came up that we should go to NASA and all of us jokingly said that would be awesome, but we didn't think it would actually happen. Then I decided that I could make it happen... and so we did! 

It was pretty cool because we got to see the original mission control room and a bunch of videos of space travel and historical things. My companion and I got NASA shirts and we took tons and tons of pictures!! 

I am so completely amazed at the progression we have had in technology since the first launch to space. The knowledge of all this new and improved awesome stuff just makes me in complete awe at the great power of our Father in Heaven. We can make human-like robots that can turn a single page of a book without ripping it and type on a touch screen phone with no mistakes! We can create a machine that can travel 5 miles per second! We can create an environment in which we can live in space! We have technology that can hold tons of data that is now the size of a quarter! It is incredible and yet still people doubt the existence of a higher power. God is the source of all knowledge and all creation. He created us! He made our bodies and created our planet for us.

One of my favorite quotes is "Compared to God, man are nothing; yet we are everything to God."

God knows everything. He literally understands all and yet he counts us as His greatest creation. He loves us more than we understand and He will continue to be there for us and help us. He is the founder of all truth and the source of all this wonderful technology that we have today. 

What a blessing. 

Today as I learned all about the Space expeditions I gained a greater appreciation for His divine love. Just think He seriously knows everything about everything, but does He ever focus on that? No. In our prayers He asks that we address Him as our Heavenly Father not as the most intelligent, all knowing being in the universe. Even though that is exactly what He is. Doesn't that just open your eyes to the love He has? I feel so blessed and happy to have this knowledge. :)

Anyway, God loves you ok? If I haven't made that clear yet feel feel to ask me again. hah He really does though! And he wants to hear from you! :) Talk to Him it will make all the difference to you. :)

Have a great week everyone. Smile a little bigger :)

Love you all

-Sister Earl

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