Thursday, October 30, 2014

Missionary Work Brings Blessings

Hola Mi Familia y Mis Amigos,

I can't believe another week has come and gone. Time here in the CCM is so strange! I'm glad though it's email time again. I look forward to this all week and try to keep track throughout the week of what I want to say so that they are meaningful and not just full of random stuff. 

So my week wasn't all that different than last week as far as events go except for today.  Today was full of all sorts of great things! Okay, really only two but they were both especially good.  So the reason I am writing late is because this morning we got to go to the visitors center next to the temple (the temple is closed for renovations...boo!) Anyway, the spirit there though is so wonderful.  We watched a video about families and it was great! I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has given us families.  This life really wouldn't be anything without family. 

I also got to hear from Elder Don R. Clarke of the Presidency of the Seventy in our devotional this afternoon.  I am definitely being spoiled here at the CCM. (Side note: I also played the piano for the choir at the devotional...I was super nervous because the practice on Sunday was a bit of a struggle.  However I said a prayer and asked for help to not mess up in front of a general authority and although I already know this I got another confirmation that God answers our prayers! I didn't make any noticeable mistakes which made me so happy.) Anyway, his talk was mainly about the blessings we will receive as we faithfully fulfill our missionary purpose, which in not so many words is to bring others unto Christ. There are seven promises that he pulled from Doctrine and Covenants, the New Testament, and the Book of Mormon. They really are amazing promises and they are not just for full-time missionaries. They can apply to each one of us as we seek to bring others unto Christ.  Because they are so amazing I am going to give them to you but you are going to have to do some homework to find out what them are...For those of you that are up for the challenge the blessings are found in the following scriptures:

1-D&C 84:88
2-D&C 100:1-2
3-D&C 18:15-16, 15:16
4-Alma 7:7,11-12
5-D&C 31:5, 62:3
6-D&C 24:12
7-Matt 4:19

I really hope that each one of you will take the time to read through each of these promises and then come up with one thing you can do in your life to help bring someone unto Christ.  I hope that you will email me about any thoughts you have and also about any missionary experiences you may have as you put your thought into practice! I know that the Lord wants us all to be missionaries.  We are here on earth not only to get ourselves back to live with God but to also help as many people as we can to get there with us.  Also, like I talked about the Atonement last week, I'm sure there is someone in our lives that would benefit from the Atonement and coming to know our Savior.  I know that as we seek to do this and open our mouths and share our testimonies that we will be greatly blessed!  I really am so happy that for the next 18 months I will get the opportunity to do that everyday and gain the skills I need to be able to do it everyday after my mission as well.  The gospel is so amazing and so is missionary work!

On that note though I want to end with one funny thought that I had this week.  So before coming to Mexico I have always liked birds and I always thought that one day I could see myself retiring and watching birds for fun.  Let's just say that being in Mexico has confirmed that suspicion of mine!  There are so many different types of birds here and I can't get enough of it.  They even have these beautiful green birds, I'm going to call them parrots because I think I heard someone say that's what they are, flying around in flocks! Sometimes in class I just stare out the window and look at the cute little birds on the palm trees. I love them!! So basically I am going to be a crazy bird lady when I am older...ha!

Anyway I love you all and hope that you have all had a wonderful week!

Love,

Hermana Carpenter

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