John 3:16

First of all, funny story so we are coming home from district meeting and there is someone sitting on our stairs, when we walk up she says, "Hey the Mormons!" We were super excited that she knew who we were and wanted to talk to us. Dorothy is a former investigator who was taught by previous missionaries. She used to live in the apartment next to us. So she goes and gets her dog and tells us to walk her dog. We were really confused and then she started walking the dog with us. She didn't have shoes on and she had a drink in her hands. Later in the walk we find out it is tequila and she is super drunk. She said she normally doesn't drink but it was her birthday yesterday so she was just celebrating. We get back to the apartment and she says that she has some leftover food from her party that she wants to give us. We just go back to our apartment and 10 minutes later, we hear banging on the door. We open it and Dorothy has a handful of food. She said, "I know I'm not supposed to come in, but I just have so much food that I just need to come in and set it down." She just walks in and on her way out took our bananas! We were devastated! Whoever knows me know that I love bananas and peanut butter...

Doug Scadden went to get a small operation done the other day to test his heart and found out that he now needs triple bypass surgery. He is terrified. He called his family and his wife is going to come out and spend a month with Doug to help him recover. He said that he also thought maybe he needs to get baptized just in case. He knows the church is true but just won't admit it! He is excited for us to meet his wife. I think this is a blessing in disguise. His heart is being softened so much! I know that we go through trials for a reason. God has a plan for each of our lives and everything that happens is for our benefit.

Valentines day is tomorrow so I just wanted to mention the biggest most important act of love ever done and ever will be done in the history of the world. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Heavenly Father loves us SO much that He sent His son Jesus Christ to suffer everything for us. Jesus Christ loves us SO much that He did perform the Atonement. No matter what Christ was going through he continued to turn outward and help and serve others. The only thing that got Him through the garden of Gethsemane, is His love for us. As I have studied the Atonement more deeply I have developed a greater love for others. Something I have also realized is, all the chapters on the Atonement in the Book of Mormon are also about the Plan of Salvation. Jesus Christ performed the Atonement in hopes that we would use it to repent so that we can live with Him again. Our message as missionaries is completely of love. 

Our main message is that Jesus Christ lives. The good news is that the fullness of His gospel has been restored back to the earth. Because of that we have exactly what we need to be able to live with Him again, which is exactly what He wants. Eternal life is our choice. Because of the Atonement ANYONE can live with God again. It is kind of like the temple. So many people get disappointed that they can't enter the temple when "It was never intended that knowledge of these temple ceremonies would be limited to a select few who would be obliged to ensure that other never learn of them. It is quite the opposite, in fact. With great effort we urge every soul to qualify and prepare for the temple experience." It's never too late to prepare and become worthy to enter the temple. I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with all of my heart. As He sends us to the people who are really struggling and need to hear the gospel, I know that He loves us so much!

 

I love you all!!! Have a happy Valentines day!!