Hello ovah deal!

How's everyone doing?? We've had a good week here :D I love our ward so much. I am absolutely in love with them. These people are so wonderful and we have increasing support from them. The spirit of the work is spreading and more and more are getting involved. We coordinated yesterday with several relief society sisters who will be working with us this week and I'm pumped! We also went on splits with a few groups of YSA and a few leaders to visit LA members and  had a great time. They really enjoyed serving and teaching and we reported afterward, which gave the chance for those who haven't served missions to experience accounting for what happened when they taught. I feel like we'll see great success bringing these members back to the fold.

For a while, I have been yearning to find a family that we can teach who will accept the gospel all together. We have found a few prospects for which I am particularly excited, one of which the father has been reading faithfully in the Book of Mormon from the beginning and has now come to church twice. He actually placed all the hymn books on the benches yesterday morning :D We taught he and his wife last night and it was a simple, powerful lesson that brought me such joy. 

I was reminded yesterday in RS of the importance of seeing people as they may become, from Pres. Monson's talk in Prsthood session of October Conference. What a fabulous truth! If we will see people as they may become (the way the Father sees us), we can help them to become that! It's amazing and absolutely true. I have a personal goal to see everyone that way. I know that more people will accept the fulness of the everlasting gospel in their lives as we do that. 

Dad, THE PROMISE is playing right now on the radio outside the internet shop!!!!! Hahaha thought you oughtta know. Because you would appreciate it :D I sure do! 

Before I forget, family, I want you to know that I've been praying more fervently and frequently for your success and strength in the things you are experiencing and facing. How were Alyssa's many adventures? State Solo and Ensemble? The prom song and prom? How is Rae and when does she come home to stay? How big is Joseph and how's basketball? Is the season over? How sassy is Boo and what's she teaching us today? 

What you said, Dad, is so true. That's really how He works. We need to just do our best to get the Spirit, and then let Him work. Let Him use us as instruments to bring about His miracles. You are ALWAYS needed!!! And I hope that is a testament to you of that. The work has need of willing men who wear the workers seal. The work to do is here for you! Put your shoulder to the wheel! You always do, Dad. You always do. And your emails are always a pure joy to read ;) It makes me feel good to know you take such care to write them! Love you bunches!

Mom, thank you so much for the updates! I love just knowing how you all are. I hope that all continues to go well as you trust in Him and do the work He keeps calling you to do. Thank you SO MUCH for your sweet sayings... You just make me feel soooo goooood! And you and Dad absolutely are the best. The best best best. I am so thankful for the blessed opportunity to learn and grow with you and because of you. You teach me so much all the time. 

Since you will be gathered with our beloved friends and family for Easter, may I send you a quick message to read/share/pass along to them if you can?:

"First of all, HAPPY EASTER! I love you all SOOOOO MUCH!!!!! I miss you incredibly, but I know we are exactly where we need to be.
I was thinking this morning on how incredibly blessed I am to serve a full-time mission. It truly is an opportunity that many would love to have and I was blessed to be plucked from the midst of my own little busy life to be called to do something much greater. Sister Hayden's favorite quote is this, and I love it, too: "...Men and women who turn their lives over to God will find out that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can." ~Ezra Taft Benson. I'm so blessed that Heavenly Father let me know what He wanted for me.
As I thought about the value of my mission to me and to the whole of my life, I realized that I would trade it for nothing in all the world. Even my deepest dreams and desires paled in comparison. For example, I've always dreamed of musical success and a life filled with song, singing for any and all who would listen and helping others feel the joy I feel in music. Even more so, I long to have a love and family of my own. These things I know will come to me according to the Lord's will and time. My service as a missionary, on the other hand, has given me an opportunity to find an even deeper joy than any I have experienced in music alone--to aid in God's work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, made possible through His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. And this joy will carry over into every aspect of my life for all eternity, effecting my family now and in the future. I have the blessed opportunity to help other families to receive what I have now and will yet receive, which is the fullness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. 
Christ's gospel allows us to receive the fullness of the blessings of His Atonement, which He performed in our behalf to enable us to return to live with the Father and receive "..all that the Father hath." I know that Christ lived perfectly, suffered selflessly, died painfully, and lived again triumphantly, in order to bring about the bowels of mercy and meet the demands of justice (Alma 34: 15-16 {8-16}). I know that through acceptance of His perfect atonement, that our burdens can be lifted, our lives changed, our hearts softened, and our salvation secured. I know that Christ lives. He is our Savior and Redeemer. This is His Church and His gospel, which He now leads through President Thomas S. Monson. He restored it through the prophet Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon contains His gospel and His word, by which we shall be judged at the last day. He is real and He loves us. I love HIM!!! 
I love you, family and friends! May our Father bless you as you turn your lives over to Him. I promise He will make more out of them than we ever could. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen."

I believe I'm over time, shoot a mile! 
Aaron, sorry! I'm going to have to print your email again... Please forgive me. We're still enjoying yummy chocolate and happy stuffs! THank you!!!

THis is a fave scripture of mine: ALMA 29:9

Let's sing The Morning Breaks! ....It's been stuck in my head. Did we already sing that one? Oh well! 

LOVE YOU! sis r
  
p.s. lots of ppl want mini PMG, but i'm sure it'll be made available here sometime soonish... hehee if you could send just a few and use my money, it can be my gift to some of our super cool friends. thank you!!!!!!!!!!