It is funny that you mention sister Ladd and Rodio. They both used to serve in my ward that I am in now and I met them for the first time last week when Elder Evans came. They both are way nice and all speak great spanish. VC Sisters have a special spirit about them. They are really good with people and have really specialized and strong testimonies.
I wish I could see the Ocean right now, but that desire is slowly fading as I become more and more lost in the work. I love the people here more every week and my testimony grows by the minute. I know the ocean will still be there in two years. And hey, I just hit 4 months out, which is 1/6 of my mission. I hate to say it, but two years is gonna sneak up quick.
Today my zone did a session in the temple here in Mesa. On the way out I ran into an RM from Boise who had come back here to help in the sealing of a recent convert. He ended his mission in the Farmington Mission and started it in the Phoenix Mission. He knows Kess Garrity well (because he was AP) and he knew Blake Davis from the Phoenix mission. Small world out here in Mesa.
That Quote from Elder Holland you sent comes from his talk, "The Miracle of a Mission". I reccomend that you read it. After the quote you sent me he follows by saying something along the lines of, "Salvation should not be easy. Why? The road to salvation always leads through Gethsemane. It has to be hard because we need just a small taste of what Christ suffered."
This quote reminded me of a lesson I taught last night. We were teaching La Familia Silens (Ecuadorian). They are a family of 5, but their oldest son left home and is very anti. We were doing this as part of Elder L. Tom Perry's challenge to have all missionaries teach the members all three lessons. As mother, father, brother, and sister all sat listening to the restoration message, the brother asked, "I know families can be together forever, but what happens to a family if one person did not make it? The family would not really be together". The only answer my companion and I could come up with was that there is always a second chance, and that is because of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Though their brother/son may be far from on the path, he does have the chance and ability to come back. The Spirit filled that room like I had never felt before. No one had a dry eye in the room. The mother felt assured that someday, her own prodigal son would come home. The fact that I could take part in this is humbling. I love the savior because of the power of the Atonement.
I am so glad that our family can be together forever. I am so glad I get to spend forever with you, Mom. I will never do anything to put that in jeopardy. I love you mom!
Elder Pearson
(posted By Maddy)
Since I am the only member in my family, I worried about the same things but as I've grown to know the "plan" and my "purpose", I have realized that people can change...even those you never thought would. They just need to prepare themselves as if they were to be together and "hope" and have "faith" that Heavenly Father will work miracles in the lives of those that aren't currently seeking Him. So, as for me, I am preparing to be in the Celestial Kingdom to meet my family as they 'change' and feel of His love. : )
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