The Era of Brose

Goooooooood morning, all! It's a beautiful Mississippi morning here in Hattiesburg. The sun is shining, the birds are tweeting, I'm wearing short sleeves, everyone's still using their air conditioning...

Now, I was trying to halt any panic y'all might have about the weather by not telling you about it, but it seems y'all already knew that the weather was crazy on transfer day! What am I gonna do with you? Yes, the weather was pretty nuts last week. The USM library closed pretty early, which was why I was unable to e-mail for very long. The wind was picking up, and the rain was pouring. We had two tornadoes in the Hattiesburg area (I think), but none of them came near the church building. All of the missionaries were either at their respective stake centers, or on a T-Van. As far as I know, all of the missionaries made it to their new areas and companions safely. There was one death in the Purvis area, as well as two in Louisiana. My heart goes out to those families who were affected by the tornado, and I hope y'all know you're in our prayers and that our Heavenly Father is watching over you. 

Mostly, the missionaries ignored the storm. We spent some time gawking at the clouds and ignoring the sirens, but it was all fine! We were safe. The Lord watched over us, protected us, and allowed us to travel safely. 

On Tuesday, I was able to meet my companion, Sister Barney! She's from Colfax, Washington, six feet tall, and absolutely hilarious. We have had some amazing adventures this week, and it's only been week one! For instance: we went to Catholic mass last night at USM! Our whole district went, so we were pretty conspicuous but it was great. It was a brand-new experience and it helped me understand the Spirit and how it differs. It was a fascinating experience. 

We had a fireside at the church on Thursday. It was a "Why I Believe" Fireside. Members were encouraged to bring their friends, and we missionaries were definitely encouraged to bring investigators. We had a small group in the chapel, loaded with questions and curiosities. We made some new friends -- some of these friends we'd met tracting, and they showed up at the last minute and squeezed into the pew beside us! It was so exciting! I had the most thrilling night. We had a church tour, and learned all about the auxiliaries in the church. We then gathered back in the chapel to watch some videos and listen to the testimonies of two converts to the church. 

Testimonies are such powerful things. If there's one thing I've learned on my mission, it's that you can throw facts at people all you want; you can lay down historical evidence that what you say is true; you can use as many scriptures, documents, videos, and quotes as you want, but nothing will compare to a true, simple, heartfelt testimony of what you believe. I have seen the light filter into someone's eyes as they listen to a testimony born by a missionary, and a light turn on as they begin to fill the warmth and guidance of the Spirit dually testifying to what that missionary is saying. 

Do not doubt the power of your testimony. You could simply say, "I know this is true" and you could change a life. You have no idea. A testimony is a precious gift that has the power to change lives for the better. 

I know that the Lord leads us to people at the right time, just when they need us. He also rewards us for acting despite of the fear we have. Many people say that faith cannot work where fear is present, and while that does ring some truth, that also implies that we cannot have faith if we're afraid. In truth, God cannot work with us if we are yielding to our fear. During a talk this Sunday, a returned missionary said, "I had a companion who told me to step out of my comfort zone and into my miracle zone." God can work miracles if we but take a step further and act in spite of the fear. 

I've seen that happen multiple times since coming on my mission! Fear is our natural enemy, and Satan knows that. He knows we're afraid to talk, to speak up, to be hated, to be ignored, to be awkward. I will admit I have an aversion to awkward situations! But those happen quite a lot on a mission. If your mission isn't awkward, then you aren't doing it right. But, my companions have all been able to help me by the help of our Heavenly Father, and this week, I've been able to see miracles arise because of that. 

We knocked on a door with the intention of talking to a potential and ended up talking to someone else entirely, someone we'd expected to shut us down and leave us hanging out to dry, but she ended up accepting a Book of Mormon and a return appointment. We knocked on the door of a part-member family, ready to face some serious adversity, only to be welcomed by someone who already knew in their heart that the Book of Mormon was true. 

Do not let fear rule you, brothers and sisters. It won't reward you. Nothing will change; you won't change. We must always be changing through Jesus Christ in order to be the person our Heavenly Father intended for us to be. 

Stay tuned for more adventures of Rose and Barney! Or, Brose, as we like to call ourselves.

Godspeed, y'all! 

Sincerely, 

Sister Rose 

P.S. If you haven't gotten an e-mail from me, IT IS DEFINITELY MYLDSMAIL. I HAVE RESPONDED TO ALL E-MAILS. Please tell me if you haven't heard from me, and I will attempt to fix it. Thank you!! Love y'all! 

My companion is super cool, guys. 

She's super cool, guys. 

Elder Paxton -- Elder Paxton GET DOWN FROM THERE.

Look at all that rain! 

Gretchen Wieners was Born in Purvis, Mississippi

Hello, all! This e-mail might be a little weird. I forgot we were e-mailing today, so I don't have my planner, journal, camera, or scriptures. Whoops. 

It's transfer week! I thought this last transfer was the seven-week transfer, but it turns out this one is! How exciting! Everyone's missions have been extended a week to accommodate the new MTC policy for English-speaking, stateside-serving missionaries; instead of twelve days, missionaries will be in the MTC for at least three weeks. In order to line up with the transfer dates, our transfer has been extended one week! Exciting, right?! 

There's a lot happening in the Purvis district! I am now taking over Purvis. I have not yet received my new companion, but I do know her name! Sister Barney! I've talked to her at the transfer point in Clinton a few times. I can't wait to be her companion! We'll have a great time. Elder Stokes has been transferred to the Clinton Zone, and Elder Dobosz has been moved to the Gulfport Zone. I wish them well, and I know they'll do well in any area they go to. The Lord knows exactly what He's doing; He has so much in store for these missionaries. 

However...I have to say goodbye to my dear Sister Matealona. She's being transferred to the Shreveport Zone. Where? I have no idea! She began in Louisiana and that is where she will end. I'm going to miss my small, Hawaiian friend. I know she has touched so many lives in Purvis, and the Lord has so much waiting for her in the Shreveport Zone. 

Finally, Sister Kelly and Sister Garner will be sent home and released this week. I want to thank them for their service, their positive attitudes, and their love for the fellowmen. I only knew them for a short while, but I am so grateful to have known them. Y'all were wonderful missionaries, and I can't wait to see what you do in the future! 

(Also, Sister Harrison has been called as a Sister Training Leader in Monroe! I AM SO PROUD!) 

Things have been picking up a little in Purvis. It's a sleepy town. The cows moo more than the people talk. Everyone here is friendly, kind, and loves the Lord with all their heart. I sometimes get hit with waves of how grateful I am to be in Mississippi. There are those who look down on stateside missionaries, and even some who get the call to the states and feel resentful for not being given the opportunity to leave the country. 

I remember opening my mission call and reading aloud my mission's name, the Mississippi Jackson Mission. Something in me just hummed, and I knew that this was home. This was where I belonged, even if I didn't know quite why yet. This was going to be my home for the next year and a half of my life, and I am still so very grateful to be here. Mississppi might feel like an oven from time to time; it might have very angry ants; it might be full of hills that hurt my legs after four miles. But even so, I love it. Mississippi is full of loving, tender-hearted people who absolutely adore the Savior. 

Amongst those who have strong testimonies of the love of Jesus Christ, there are still those who are quietly struggling in the nighttime when the throngs of adversity hit their souls. It breaks my heart when I hear someone we're teaching ask if the Savior has time for them. The Savior has time for all of us, brothers and sisters. He gets it. Whenever I feel blisters on my heels, I think of the wounds Christ bore on His feet. When I run out of water, I think of the Savior on the cross, having to be given vinegar during His suffering. Sometimes I get too hung up on His suffering, on all the pain He endured for me. It pains my heart to think of it. I went through a time believing that I could get through my life without using the atonement; that if I had no true need to repent, then I did not assist in His suffering and that I would be rewarded for that. 

That is not how this works, brothers and sisters. 

Christ gave us a gift, and that gift was the atonement. But you have to remember that Christ's atonement did not end on the cross.

Do you remember that in three days, Christ rose? At one point, that sepulcher was empty, and Christ was walking among men in a glorified, resurrected body that was never to be separated from its soul ever again. Our loving Savior rose so that we could no longer be held down by the chains of death; we can now overcome physical death because our Savior rose. He gave that to us. That is the greatest gift of all, and all He asks is that we use that gift to make ourselves happy. 

I've probably gone on about the Savior's atonement before, but the more I study, the more I realize that it is so central to everything that we do. He asks us to follow Him, just like He did to His fishermen disciples. 

"And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 

And they straightway left their nets, and followed him" (Matthew 4:18-20). 

As a missionary, I take this following almost literally. We are asked to cast our nets aside and follow Him. My net has been my home in Colorado, my family, my friends, my worries, my personal affairs, my infirmities -- everything I thought was most important about life was required to be cast aside. 

Why? I wondered. My family needs me. My friends are my sanity sometimes. What about school? My life? 

But the call came, and I had to cast my nets aside. 

We don't have to be called as missionaries to have nets that are keeping us from following the Savior. While Christ was referring to missionary work when calling the apostles, I know that He has much in store for you if you heed His call and follow Him. 

Since making this decision, I have witnessed so many miracles. The world is much bigger, brighter, broader than you'd ever expect it to be. I always think the sky is much bigger in Mississippi, but the Spirit that is here is what truly touches my heart. The Spirit has led me to people who need love and help. The Spirit has told me to do things I didn't understand, like knocking on houses we might have already tracted. Christ knows what His sheep need. 

What is important is what happens for eternity, brothers and sisters. The decisions you make here are what will affect you for this life and more. The world is changing, but Christ never does. He is waiting for you to take His hand, to lean on Him, to cast your net aside and follow Him. 

Seek Him, and He will come. 

I love y'all. I will have more to tell you next week with Sister Barney! 

Godspeed!

Sincerely, 

Sister Rose 

It was Valentine's Day?

Goooood morning, everyone! It's been a crazy week! 

I would like to first and foremost thank the members of the Purvis ward for how much they take care of us missionaries. Whenever we don't have enough dinner appointments for the week, our Relief Society President makes calls to the ward asking if anyone could sign up for us. When our washer breaks (and it did...), we have a myriad of members who offer to allow us to use their washer and dryer on P-Day. They are all so willing to step up and help us whenever we need it, and I couldn't be more grateful for that blessing. Thank you to all the members worldwide who try their best to help the missionaries in whatever way they can. We appreciate what you do SO MUCH!! You have no idea!!

Weather update for the Purvis area: we've been having an early spring for the past three days. The sun has been shining, the humidity has been at a merciful 50%, there's been a breeze that's just gentle enough to sway the trees and give us magazine-model hair. It's been GORGEOUS! 

And then we wake up this morning and find out it's been raining and the humidity has gone straight up! Awesome! Oh, Mississippi, how we love you and your inconsistency. 

This week in the Hattiesburg Zone, we had Zone Conference! It's different from the last one we had, where we had to squeeze the Jackson, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport Zones into the Oak Grove building. This time, we had car inspections (yes, Sister M. mopped the car again. In the dark) and the whole shebang! We met at the Oak Grove building first, which is where Sister M. and I attend church, only to find out they were cleaning the carpets. We then had a large line of bike-rack-adorned cars making their way to the Hattiesburg building.

When we arrive at the H'burg building, we find out that the heating has been broken for at least a month. That day, the wind bit straight through your clothes and tore right into your bones. It didn't matter that the sun was out; the wind was having absolutely none of that. We tried to warm up inside, but the building was colder than the outside! It was hilarious! We were listening to President Olson address us while we used blankets and jackets from the lost and found to keep us warm (Sister M. and I are smart and carry gloves with us at all times). It was hilarious!! 

It was great to see all the missionaries in my Zone. They're all a ton of fun. We all had a great time, but nothing could have beaten the Spirit that attended that Zone Conference. President and the ZLs and STLs introduced a new way of weekly planning that has now extended our two-hours planning sessions to eight hours or more every week. It's SO FUN! We had the best time doing that this week! You have no idea truly how much fun it is to plan for someone's progression in the gospel!

President also asked us to emphasize the gospel of Jesus Christ when we teach. Now, you may ask, don't you teach the gospel everyday?? What's that about?! 

In Preach My Gospel, the Gospel is the third lesson we teach. It covers the five steps to everlasting life: faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and enduring to the end. These five principles are essential to our conversion to the gospel (and you shouldn't have to be converted to the Church to be a convert). You can do nothing without faith. Faith in Jesus Christ is the one thing you must build upon your foundation, or else you will be subject to darkness, confusion, and an eternity of sadness. Faith is a principle of action, and one of the ways we show our faith is by repenting. 

Repentance is one thing I've truly had to work to understand. I remember being taught about it when I was growing up and being so confused because I couldn't repent if I didn't commit a major sin, right? That's what I thought. So, I figured, I didn't need to repent! Awesome! I'm doing pretty well!

But, then I did some studying. I did some praying. I realized that repentance allows us to utilize the gift that is the Atonement of our Savior. I always wondered how I could use the Atonement in my daily life when I wasn't breaking the Ten Commandments or something, and I realized that sins aren't always big. Sins are little spots on you; the things that hinder you from growing; sins appease the natural man while we are trying to reach a spiritual, divine potential. Repentance is how we grow. Repentance is the pain that leads to the relief; by repenting daily, we are not allowing our Savior to have suffered in vain. He did what He did for you. He didn't do it so you could pretend you are fine and perfect all the time -- because we aren't, and there's nothing wrong with being imperfect. Our Father expects us to do our best, not strive for unachievable goals that we cannot attain in this life. Perfection will come if only we try our best to be like Christ and remember the suffering He endured for us. Don't let Him die for nothing, brothers and sisters. You are not nothing. 

After repentance, we are able to be washed clean through baptism. At baptism, we covenant to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ and follow Him and His commandments no matter what. At baptism, we cast our nets aside and follow Him. And after we do that, we are able to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost -- what an amazing gift! This gift allows us to enjoy the blessings of the Holy Ghost's constant guidance, protection, and companionship as long as we remain worthy of it. 

Then we have that wonderful enduring to the end part. I think oftentimes we see enduring as gritting our teeth and forcing our way to the end with fists clenched until our knuckles are white. But no! Our Father in Heaven doesn't want us to be angry about the gospel -- the gospel is what brings happiness. True, soul-deep, everlasting happiness comes through this gospel. Through faith and the beautiful gift of repentance, we are able to endure with a smile on our face. If you know you're trying your best, that you have a Father in Heaven who loves you and desires the greatest joy for you, that you have a divine purpose then what reason do you have to be sad? 

Of course, sometimes we will lose the eternal perspective and get lost in the heartaches and whirlwinds of mortal life. That is simply a consequence of our time on earth. But that's okay -- that's why we have the Savior. 

Don't ever lose hope. Faith and hope go hand-in-hand. Do not harden your heart; allow yourself to be open and feel the love that comes from the Spirit and from the Atonement. Remember that Jesus Christ is your advocate. He is the one who says, "Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified. Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life" (D&C 45:4-5). 

He loves you. Your Father loves you. They desire your happiness, and they have great blessings in store for you. I am so grateful to be able to carry this message door to door. I am so grateful to have a Father in Heaven who loves me and knows what I need even before I do. 

Seek ye first for the kingdom of Heaven, and then ye shall have your reward. Endure happily, brothers and sisters. We are living in a time where the fullness of Christ's gospel has been restored to the earth. His doctrine is pure and wonderful, and I am so grateful to be able to share that with the people of Mississippi. 

Who have you been able to share it with?

Have a blessed week! Godspeed!

Sincerely, 

Sister Rose 

Mardi Gras Season!

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone! Mardi Gras is actually tomorrow, but it seems that the whole of USM has a break because of it. That's a thing down here, especially in Louisiana. According to my companion (who has served in the Louisiana zones), students get a week off for Mardi Gras over there! Weird, right?!

It's hilarious how many times the youth and even the adults here try to reference pop culture around us missionaries, and they're returned with blank stares. Just the other day, our Relief Society President referenced a commercial (for Mountain Dew, I think? I'm not sure) and walked around us going, "Puppy monkey baby. Puppy monkey baby." Do you know what a Puppy Monkey Baby is? Because we have no idea. 

We had the opportunity to work at the Bishop's Storehouse this week! It happens every other Friday, but we haven't been able to go since I've been in Purvis. Now that I've gone once, I want to be there every time! We got to unload the shipment truck and fill in food orders for members in need. Serving with my brothers and sisters really testified to me of the love we have for one another, and for how much our Savior loves us. He counseled His followers to give to the needy, to take care of those who need it, feed the hungry, clothe the sick and afflicted -- we are supposed to take care of them as we would our family. I saw a family at the Bishop's Storehouse on Friday. I saw people who knew and loved each other, who were ready to take care of others they might not even know, and who just loved being in the service of their fellowmen. Seek to do so, brothers and sisters, and the blessings you will receive will be so abundant that you won't even know what to do with them. 

As we've been searching for the elect among the many, Sister Matealona and I have had some wicked cool experiences when tracting. I know we are led to the places we tract; I know our Heavenly Father is aware of exactly where we'll be when we'll be there. He inspires us to knock on specific doors, and I've seen that happen more than once since I've been in Mississippi. Every person we meet, especially as inspired by the Spirit, has been placed there by God, even if they don't quite realize it yet. We're here to bring them a heavenly message, and that requires us to be led by the Spirit of the Lord. 

My testimony of the Spirit has grown and changed in so many different ways since I arrived in Mississippi. I remember how the Spirit felt in the MTC; it was crazy! It was everywhere! There are thousands of prayers being said every single day in the MTC. On that plot of land, the Lord can do anything; all of His servants are in one spot, teaching, learning about the gospel, sharing their testimonies -- the Spirit is stronger and more courageous there than anywhere else. To me, in the temple, the Spirit is overflowing, strong, and quiet. His strength comes in the gentleness of the house of the Lord, the holiness of its ground, and the ordinances thereof. But in the MTC, the Spirit feels like a rolling fire, burning as a beacon for the rest of the world to see. As we learn and teach, we are reinforcing what we learn with the power of the Spirit, and nothing can take that away from us. 

Well, that is, until you get to the clouds of your mission and have to relearn everything you thought you knew. 

New missionaries, I advise you to remember the things you learned in the MTC. Relish in that Spirit you feel because eventually it will fade in your mission, and you will have to seek it, and it might not feel the same as it did. That doesn't mean that's bad! That is something I've learned. I always thought the Spirit only spoke to me through blankets of warmth and a burning in my chest, but my Heavenly Father has taught me that more times than not, the Spirit will speak to me through prods and pokes, thoughts here and there that aren't my own, nudges in the right direction, a name that comes to mind at the right moment. If you have the confidence that the Spirit will speak to you, then He will, but not in the way that you will expect. 

I know that the Spirit speaks to all of us who have that gift. You receive that gift after baptism, and you have the right to that companionship as long as you are worthy. Before baptism, the Spirit comes and goes. He speaks, but then He departs. Listen for Him, and He will tell you what to do.

In Doctrine and Covenants 11, we read, "And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good -- yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.  

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy." 

Does the thought, the feeling, the urge lead you to do good? To walk uprightly? To be humble? To improve the life of another? To add light into your own life?

This is the Spirit of God. That Spirit will fill your soul with such joy that you won't know what to do with it. It will exceed every other feeling you've had, and you will know of a surety that this is good, that this is light, and that this is the Spirit. 

Seek to be led by the Spirit this week. Turn your thoughts toward His promptings and you will hear them. Then, act. Do not dwell; just act. That is my challenge to you.

Have a wonderful week, everyone! Happy Mardi Gras!

Godspeed!

Sincerely, 

Sister Rose 

We've begun tracting with dog treats. It's necessary.

#GraveyardTracting

Pretty, dead-grass Mississippi

So...we were having a little campfire thing with some members and this was happening across the street. I think they had us beat...

Here's another (old) selfie of Sister Matealona and me! 

Faith and Patience

Gooooooood morning, and a happy February to everyone! Can you believe we're already done with month one of 2016?! That blows my mind!

I would like to recount to y'all a rather hilarious event that transpired Friday morning. I was in Sister Matealona and I's bedroom, doing my morning makeup routine when my companion shouts for me from the living room with incredible urgency. 

"Sister Rose! Sister Rose, come look at this!" 

I was expecting maybe a huge bug or a huge hole in her shoe (she has many), but I made my way into the living room without my glasses, and I squinted at my companion who was staring out our window. 

I went back to retrieve my glasses, and when I could see clearly, I saw our neighbor's dog standing by our trashcan in our lawn. Now, our trashcan has a bad habit of falling over, so that wasn't a big deal to me. But then I saw the huge deer head with skin trailing off, and the dog gnawing on the pieces of skin he could. 

I'm not sure I fully registered exactly what I was looking at. My companion was freaking out and I just nodded, eyeliner half-done, and said, "That's sick. I'm getting my camera." I then began to take as many photos of this as possible. We then shut the blinds and continued with our morning, hoping that the dog and the deer head would be gone before we left to proselyte. 

(They weren't gone.) 

(We had to run away from the dog so it wouldn't lick us.) 

Since arriving in Mississippi, I've learned quite a bit about agency. Agency (or, the ability and God-given right to choose) is one of the greatest gifts we have. We had it before we came to this earth, and combined with faith is one of the most powerful abilities we have. Sister Matealona had me listen to a talk given by Bill Carpenter called "The Conversion of a Catholic Priest." I'd never heard of it, and now I am obsessed with it. In this telling of his conversion story, Bill Carpenter talks about the miracles he witnessed on his mission in Iowa. In the very last one, I learned the magnitude of the choices we make.

In the patriarchal blessing of a woman Bill and his companion had had the privilege of teaching, they learned that this woman would have received the gospel many years earlier had an elder accepted his call. But, he hadn't, and now these two elders had been prepared and proven themselves worthy to teach her the restored gospel. 

That hit me pretty hard. The decisions you make impact so many lives, and you don't even realize it! Heavenly Father always accounts for our agency, and always makes a way to lay out His plan, but we have to be willing to act and make the choices He would have us make so that things will work out just as they're supposed to. 

Now while agency is beautiful and wonderful, it is also incredibly frustrating. Many times have I just wanted to hand people a Book of Mormon, make them feel the Spirit, and show them the happiness they're going to have when they say yes. But, alas, that's not quite how this works! Our jobs as missionaries is to present others with the right information, with the opportunity to feel the Spirit, and then to allow them to exercise their agency and choose what they want to do with the feelings they have. 

In Helaman 14, Samuel the Lamanite counsels the wicked Nephites with, "And now, remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge that he hath made you free. 

"He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you." 

Agency is crazy, right? The results of our choices are our fault alone. Temptations come on the daily and you have the choice of whether or not you are going to resist them. Trials will always come, and we have the choice of whether or not to take them with faith, or to be frustrated and angry with God and take them with spite. 

I have seen all kinds of outcomes from the choices someone has made. I've seen it in the wards here, the families I serve, the missionaries I'm with. Sometimes I see people fall short, and other times I see them soar like they never have before.

I have learned to choose what I want for myself and my investigators. While I cannot control what they choose, I can control what I do. I chose to serve this mission, as did the thousands of other missionaries serving across the globe. We make the decision to wake up in the morning and do the Lord's work, even when it seems unfruitful. You can make the choice to do the same -- get up and face your trials with love and faith; use everyday to better yourself. Everyday is what you choose it to be. 

I am choosing to make every single one of my 548 days worth it. Choose to make all the days of your life full of light and focused on Christ. Raise your thoughts and actions to a higher plane, and God will be there to guide you through the mists of darkness that will crowd out your efforts to press forward. 

But the important thing is that you can make the choice to take another step, even when you aren't sure if there's ground ahead of you. Faith is knowing there's light when all you can see is darkness. There will always be good in store for you if you are trying to do what's right. And remember, sometimes you will fall short. Don't beat yourself up; pick yourself up, and know that God's grace is sufficient for all. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can all be redeemed, and He will always make up the difference. 

I would like to bear my testimony that I know this Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true Church. I know that Jesus Christ once had a perfect gospel on the earth, and it has been restored through a prophet. I know with every fiber of my being that Joseph Smith, as a fourteen year-old boy saw God, our loving Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ in a grove. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and that through Him I can do anything. I know that this gospel is the most important thing on this earth today, and the Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book on this earth. I know these things to be true in my heart and I can feel it to my soul. 

I am proud to be a missionary for this Church, and I am even more proud to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Of all things, I do not want to lose His influence in my life, and especially in my decisions. There is good in the world. And if you don't see it, make some. 

I love y'all. Have a blessed week!

Godspeed!

Sincerely, 

Sister Rose 

It was facial hair day at DDM :) 

Tracting scenery! 

This photo is glorious for so many reasons.

Sister M. had me stand on a stump and took many photos of me :'D