6/16/2014 Father's Day

Ha! no worries mom!  It's pretty hard to distract me. ;) We are SO BUSY here.  Way to work it out! I think I know how you feel.  It is so frustrating when we set up key members to come to lessons or to give rides or to do anything, and they cancel 5 minutes before or don't show up.  Same with key investigators I've learned so much patience and how to deal with stress here!  I will admit, I was missing swimming lessons a little. For Saturday morning exercises I had to teach and demonstrate to Sister Tippetts how to swim all of the strokes as we were on our morning walk around the apartments.  :D Yeah, I'm going to miss teaching swimming this summer.  You have to write me funny swimming stories okay? :)  

I just wrote Josh a letter, but I think you should have this part of it: "I felt a little bit of the appreciation that the Lord has for his servants Sunday at church.  I was saying good-bye to members because I'm getting transferred tomorrow, and a few of them very sincerely thanked me for the service that I had given in the ward.  It would be the most painful thing to have not been able to help in any way.  But through their kind words I felt like Heavenly Father was telling me that He was grateful for the small sacrifice I have given here for the past 3 transfers."  Thanks for your sacrifice of letting me serve a mission so I can try to help the people here! I love you!

Dear Dad,
  I love you so much!  thanks for all of the support that you have given me while on my mission.  I was teaching one of our investigators and told him a little bit about myself and about how my greatest desire in life is to get married in the temple.  He suddenly said, "Oh no! Don't do that!" Like I needed to enjoy peace and life before settling down.  And I realized he felt that way because of his past.  He has lived through a very unhappy marriage because he chose not to follow the commandments or really love his wife.  I wish that he could have understood what I feel like I understand a little.  I have been infinitely blessed to see that a happy and glorious marriage is possible, and even sure to happen if both partners are based upon Jesus Christ. I wished i could help him understand that more joy that comprehended, the real meaning of life can be achieved if we follow the commandments and get married in the temple.  I'm so grateful that I have that understanding and hope, and that because I have the background I do, I can help others see the vision that Heavenly Father has for them.  Because I my parents have shown me what it is like to have a celestial home, or a home that is like heaven on earth. Thank you for giving me that freely.  I love you Dad!

Love,

Mo