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| I am in the yellow shirt right in the middle! Missionary Broadcast |
Dear Family and Friends,
So........ I GOT MY REASSIGNMENTS!!!!!! I'M GOING TO THE JACKSON MISSISSIPPI MISSION!!!!! Here's all the info:
"Dear Sister Thomas,
At
this time, we have not received your visa to travel to your mission.
You will be serving a temporary assignment in the Mississippi Jackson
Mission until your visa arrives. You will be traveling with Sister
McElderry and Sister Shaw." I will be using the American Airlines and it
leaves SLC, UT at 8:35AM on July 1st 2013. I need to report to the
Travel Offic at 4:30AM where I'll get all my tickets etc. My mission has
been notified of my arrival info and will be awaiting to receive me.
So overall...I'M GOING TO MISSISSIPPI!!!!!
Here's what's been going on here: On the 21st (last pday) my comps
and I went to put our laundry in the dryer. I put my colored clothes in;
but when I went to get my whites, they weren't there. We eventually
found out that an Elder must have thought they were his, and put it in
with his whites. So, I had to open his dryer and pick out my clothes!!!
AWK-WARD!!!!!!At least that Elder wasn't standing right here. It would
be really funny if I forgot one, and he found a girl's clothing in his
pile. LOL! In class we went to another TRC. This time, it was a
Brazilian woman named Catherina. She was AWESOME! We said a prayer right
before we went in, and when we were in with her, it went amazing! I was
able to almost understand EVERYTHING she said and what my comps said! AND I spoke Portuguese! I didn't have to think about how or what to say!
It was really cool!
As for the audition, I got a callback!!! I found
out I would be singing Olive Tree and playing No ordinary man while Sis.
Shaw sang on the same day in the same meeting!!!! It was really amazing
to me! Right before the auditions, I begged God for help, because I
really wanted to perform well and I had worked really hard! When we were done,
after feeling sorry for myself, I stopped praying for myself, and
realized that I haven't been called on this mission to perform; but to
bring others closer to Christ, and serve the Lord. I then started
praying that sister Shaw would get to perform. I believe that because I
didn't focus on me, HF gave me the opportunity to perform! I was more
than excited! I just really had to work on memorizing!
On the 22nd - I wrote in my journal, "I'VE BEEN AT THE MTC
EXACTLY A MONTH TODAY!" It was a pretty chill day.
23rd - At 12:15 my comps and I were released from sacrament
meeting and booked it to lunch, then booked it to the front gate (we
really wanted good seats at the broadcast.) and ate lunch there. At
12:45 they opened the gate and we all literally RAN to the Marriott
center. We ended up with some pretty good seats. The Choir was huge!
I'm so grateful I was able to be in it! The broadcast started at 4pm UT
time. It was super cool seeing the Apostles and a few of the 70. Elder
Bednar and Elder Holland were there!
24th - During class in the evening, we did contacting with
another class. It was a lot of fun! I laughed a lot with the elders in
there! In the class, we studied time and date in Portuguese, and I felt
like my mind exploded! This language can be pretty ridiculous sometimes.
But HF has REALLY been helping me!
25th - I wrote in my journal, "Last night's devotional was
amazing! Sis. Janice Kapp Perry and her husband came and talked! We had
some funny things happen, and some really spiritual experiences! She had
us all using a medley she put together of her primary songs she composed.
It was so beautiful and the spirit was really strong! She then played
for us and sang along a family song she made. Then at the end, we all
sang the EFY medley ( and sisters sang the mission version of As Sister's
in Zion)!!! I was on a spiritual high for the rest of the night!"
26th - 1:00 my comps and I (after lunch) went over and my accompanist came and practiced with me. After we were done, he left
with his comp and I practiced either two or three times with Sis. Shaw,
then I just started playing hte piano. Afterwards, as I was leading onto
another song, two elders walked up to me and asked me what song I was
playing. I admitted that it was just something I was making up as I was
going (lunch - in gym. Gym - where piano is.) The admitted they wanted
to know what the song was because they wanted to pay it at their
wedding. They had me start playing again,. I did a short preview. They
loved it! So awesome! For the performance,(3:00_ (performed for all the
new missionaries that had just arrived at the MTC) the prelude music we
all sang was Called to Serve. Then, while the missionaries were stilling
filing in, sis Shaw and I performed No Ordinary Man. Afterwards, we
sang an opening hymn, Pres Nally and Sis nally talked, the Pres Roach
talked, then it was my turn - 3:30. the whole time I'm DYING to use the
restroom! By the time I walked up to the mic, my hand were numb from
being nervous, and was shaking! I also begged HF for help. It was a
perfect performance! I sang one line twice, but no one could tell.
Yesterday was in-field orientation! It was awesome! You know
Elder Christianson from "The District"? He was there!!! I got to shake
his hand, talk to him, and he taught my group!! It was AWESOME!!! I
learned a LOT from In-field orientation. yesterday was amazing! the
spirit was very strong, and I was happy all day! If there was something
that bothered me, I pushed it aside; and whenever I had an unhappy
attitude towards one of my comps, I apologized, and we all moved
forward. It turned out to be a spectacular day!!!!
Here are some things I wrote down in my spiritual journal:
Preach
the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words. Forget yourself,
and get to work! Learn the language of the lord! (D&C 88:18) Serve
with your heart and a willing mind. Relax and be positive. Missionary
work is the life-blood of the church. The Book of Mormon is the keystone
to our religion. You can experience the most spiritual experiences
during the most hardest and painful experiences. We will all go through Liberty Jail experiences spiritually (D&C 121-123) DON'T BE HARD ON
YOURSELF! Christ walks with us today. Christ visits us with the guidance
of the Holy Ghost. Exact obedience bring blessings. Find ways to serve
each other. Fear not, let your heart be comforted. The more struggles
you have, the more you're staying on the right path; because if you
weren't, the adversary wouldn't care as much. "Just keep swimming" ~
Finding Nemo. If you wake up during the night with an impression and /
or vision, write it RIGHT then. Trust in the Lord to guide you. Set
aside your own desire, and do what the Lord wants. Make a real splash by
finishing the race. Don't compare yourself to others, because you are
GREAT! Don't be fearful; but joyful! Perfect practice makes perfection.
When we have a greater force, we can reach greater areas.How are you
supposed to get guidance if you don't ask (pray) We are literal children
of our HF! Faith + hard work + exact obedience = miracles! Open your
mouth with courage! Simplify and intensify. You have a choice to fear;
or strengthen your faith in Christ. You can have all the faith in the
world, but without action, nothing can be accomplished.YOU CAN DO THIS! Remember who you are.
What do you think when someone says, "Endure till
the end?" Enduring till the end doesn't just mean endure till you die;
but also endure to the end of the day; or to the end of the week; or
even until the end of the MTC or work. You may feel like quitting, but
you don't because you know you can make it. The Savior is always with us.
We are in enemy's territory, and God has given us the weapons / tools we
need to win this fight. Don't be scared; don't regret that this is where
we live. Do everything you can to have the spirit! You will be able to
change the world! Be exactly obedient! The Lord has great confidence in
you! The Lord trusts us to magnify his work! Guard his trust! The Lord
is pushing us harder than he has ever pushed us before! Jesus Christ
lives! Have the faith to ask, and you will know him personally. Christ
can bring so much out of your life than by yourself. Turn your life over
to HF.
Less than a year ago, Pres Monson made the new age announcement.
Since then, last month, 70,274 missionaries have come in and out of the
MTC and we have 173 new mission presidents! Our work begins on our
knees. Have
all your actions motivated by love. God wants
all his children to
return to him and qualify for eternal life! Trust the scriptures and you will
grow. The atonement is the mighty hearer. "Where 2 or 3 are gathered
together in my name, I am there in the midst of them" HF will be with
us, and be our active partner. Exercise your faith in him! We can only
enter into that higher kingdom through the gate of baptism
(D&C 20:37) (D&C 29:29, 37) If you want to find out more about
our religion, talk to a missionary, or hear even more testimonies, go to
www.mormon.org. and / or
www.familysearch.org.
Take the Lords work seriously. You cannot do it alone and well. (John
21:3,6) (Alma 37:6-7) The real power is when God is involved in all that
you do (PMG 51) PMG=The Book of Mormon (Ether 12:14) (Alma 17:29) (3 Nephi 13) (D&C
130:20-21) There are laws, then there are blessings connect to those
laws. Faith proceeds miracles. Do ALL that you can! NEVER give up! Fast
and pray (exercise your faith ) and God will provide the way! There is a
level of faith tha makes things happen when otherwise it would not
happen. Use faith as a principal of power. You MUST believe!
Janice Kapp Perry night:
She lives by the MTC. Watches
MTC gym time on the field. 78 years old. Met her husband at BYU. Told
about a story where she was about to play a clarinet solo. He nudges her
arm and says, "I think your lips were made for something better than
playing the clarinet!" Right after she finished telling us this story,
he walks up to her, grabs her face, and gives her a big kiss!!!! We all
laughed and clapped. She then received a standing ovation! He did it a 2nd
time~! Priceless!
We all have someone we can call on. The medley of primary songs we sang were of A Child's Prayer, I Love to see the Temple, I Belong to the Church of Jesus
Christ, I'm Trying to be like Jesus, Army of Helamen, and Love is Spoken Here. She said "I know that man like a book, but I don't know what page he's on,
but I do know hes a keeper!" SO CUTE! If you have never loved a pet, a
part of your heart has never been opened. Who can I serve today?
Missions are a time of cleansing. To sanctify yourself, you must serve
others. God will teach through you.
Thanks to all (family!!!!!!) for all the goodies you
have all sent me! I got them Wednesday. It has been a spectacular week
with trials and blessings! LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL!!!
P.S. - I've seen Emma Lucy, Brooke Marra, Erin Cusik, and Morgan Potter!
