Going Tagless...

…Trust In God…

COME WHAT MAY AND LOVE IT

“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.”  The Lord Jesus Christ is our partner, helper, and advocate. He wants us to be happy. He wants us to be successful. If we do our part, He will step in.

He who descended below all things will come to our aid. He will comfort and uphold us. He will strengthen us in our weakness and fortify us in our distress. He will make weak things become strong.

-Elder Worthlin

Handing in my key :(

If there is one thing that I have learned while serving the Lord, it is to TRUST IN GOD. For the past few months, I have still been pretty sick. I have been able to receive many PRIESTHOOD blessings, which is a HUGE comfort to me, to know that my Heavenly Father loves me. I recently received the news that I will be going home early…I am receiving an Honorable Medical Release and will be going home in the middle of November. It has been a heartbreak to know that I was only able to serve a 10 month mission, but I do know that I did my best. I have come to know my Savior Jesus Christ; he has held my hand through every moment that I have been in pain. He is the only one that truly knows what I have been through; he has made my burden lighter.

My Testimony :)

When I heard the news my whole life changed once again, but my past has prepared me for this new challenge. All I have known for the past 9 months is serving the Lord. I felt like I was not ready to go back to the real world and move on with school. As all of the feelings of doubt crept into my mind, I remembered the talk that Elder Worthlin gave…Come What May and Love it. At that moment, I decided to not focus on things I did not get to do while serving, but focus on the many things that I have accomplished and the many things I can do when I get home! I have no idea what will come for me in the next few months, but I do know that it will be God’s will and I can still be a missionary without a black name tag. I know that there is a reason for everything and that even though I will say many tearful goodbyes, I will always remember the good things that have come from serving the Lord.

I know many of you are WONDERING if I will still blog… YES of course! You can expect me to keep posting :)

 

Tears Trail to Tender Mercies

The Principle of Compensation

come what may and love it...

“The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.”

-Elder Worthlin

Youth, there are many times in life when you just don't get what you want. You may not get asked to the prom, you may not win the big game, and you may not think life is fair...to be honest, at some points it is not! As all of you know, in the beginning of my mission, I was reassigned to serve in New York. At first I thought this is an AWFUL time in my life to be sick. All I could think was, give me another chance! It was an experience that came with many tears. I was ripped away from friends, desires, and experiences. I was heartbroken... When I got to New York, I thought that, all was lost. However, I continued to be faithful and serve the Lord. As I did, I was able to see how the Lord was compensating me for that loss. I was able to learn HOW TO have a good attitude even when things are hard.Through out my mission, I have been blessed to meet thousands of people and bear my testimony to them. I have been able to see people change their lives because they came to know Christ. I have been able to witness TRUE HAPPINESS. Heavenly Father truly knows how to compensate us, maybe not in the way we want or the timing, but it is what he needs us to have. 

come what may and love it :0

(c)LV2011

http://www.mormom.org/

So you're hot whatever.......

So you're hot whatever....

“The Lord has made us attractive one to another for a great purpose. But this very attraction becomes as a powder keg unless it is kept under control. It is beautiful when handled in the right way. It is deadly if it gets out of hand.”-President Hinckley

My Friend, Rica Molet's, art work, this is me on fire!

This was my favorite part of President Hinckleys talk. He was very up front and forward about dating and relationships. We are going to think others are HOT and that is OKAY! Our job is just to make sure we keep that "keg" under control. 

When your a missionary you TAKE on your Saviors Name...better be worthy of it :]

“You young men (I will add women) who plan to go on missions must recognize that sexual sin may keep you from that opportunity. You may think that you can hide it. Long experience has shown that you cannot. To serve an effective mission you must have the Spirit of the Lord, and truth withheld does not mix with that Spirit. Sooner or later you will feel compelled to confess your earlier transgressions”

-President Hinckley

When I decided to go on a mission I was about 20 1/2 years old. Before that I had ABSOLUTELY no DESIRE whatsoever to serve. However because I listened to the prophets, leaders and my parents council I was worthy to serve. While in the Mission Training Center (and I was there long enough to know) there were many missionary's who went home because of their past transgressions, it always comes out. If you have messed up, fix it and get over it! Do not let it haunt you for the rest of your life, use the atonement and understand that your Heavenly Father loves you. Please DATE, and DATE a lot, but just remember don't cross the line. 

“My dear young friends, in matters of sex you know what is right. You know when you are walking on dangerous ground, when it is so easy to stumble and slide into the pit of transgression. I plead with you to be careful, to stand safely back from the cliff of sin over which it is so easy to fall. Keep yourselves clean from the dark and disappointing evil of sexual transgression. Walk in the sunlight of that peace which comes from obedience to the commandments of the Lord”

-President Hinckley

Youth, DO NOT become a hazard. When you think you are going to get in trouble, you probably are. That is the Holy Ghost telling you to run, so you better run fast. I am learning now, that as I am obedient I find success, I KNOW that as all of you are obedient you will find success in your relationships.

And so you're hot whatever.... :]        

www.mormon.org

The girl who played with fire picture : 

http://irica.wordpress.com/my-work/- please ask before you take :)

President Hinkcleys talk: http://lds.org/churchmagazines/2001/Jan2001Ensign.pdf

You jump, I jump Jack!

GO FORWARD WITH FAITH

“Am I living the way the Lord wants me to live?”

WE DID IT! We made it through the whole FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE YOUTH PAMPHLET I hope that you have been able to read and enjoy these posts. I know that I have learned A LOT! Now that you are prepared to go out into that scary world, you must GO FORWARD WITH FAITH.



My Freshman year of college, I decided I wanted to do something I had never done before and by myself. I wanted to test the "waters" as an adult. So I decided to ask for a plane ticket for my birthday. I picked to go to Seattle to see my sister LauriAnn and her family. I was pretty nervous, it would be my first plane ride by myself and to a pretty big place. I tried to do all my research before I left so that I was ready! I got onto the plane and felt a rush of adrenaline.

My Nehpew and I

As I got off the plane, I could still feel that adrenaline pumping in my veins as I stepped out into this new city for the weekend. As we started to go places, I realized that adults had to pay for themselves, you needed a GPS to get around, a car, and a plan. It was not something I could just walk blindly into...I mean I totaly could, but it would not be easy.Thank Heavens my Sister had a plan. We had a LOT of fun, there were times when the kids would get grouchy and things wouldn't work out, but in the end we had a great time and I went back to college with great memories.

That is how life is, we need to have a plan, when we know what we want there will be tools that help us on the way to greatness. The FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE YOUTH pamphlet is one of those tools. Read what the First Presidency has said, and then add it to your lives....
Its a principle with promise...



My first Ferry Boat :]



The standards presented in this pamphlet will help you make correct choices. Review them often and ask yourself, “Am I living the way the Lord wants me to live?”

To help you become all that the Lord wants you to become, get on your knees each day and express to Him the desires of your heart. He is the source of all wisdom, and you need His help. He will hear and answer you. Read the scriptures daily. They are a powerful source of personal revelation and a constant strength to your testimony.

Remember and keep the covenants you made when you were baptized and that you renew each week when you partake of the sacrament. You young men should keep the covenants you made when you received the priesthood. Keeping these covenants now will help you prepare for the temple covenants you will make in the future.

Be true to the Lord and to His Church in all circumstances. The authorities of the Church will lead you in paths of happiness. Be grateful for your membership in God’s great kingdom.

Be humble and willing to listen to the whisperings of the Spirit. Place the wisdom of the Lord above your own wisdom.

When you do these things, the Lord will make much more out of your life than you can by yourself. He will increase your opportunities, expand your vision, and strengthen you. He will give you the help you need to meet your trials and challenges. You will find true joy as you come to know your Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, and feel their love for you.

http://www.mormon.org/

 

Going Green TO BE clean again :]

About a week ago Sister Wilkinson and I and quite a few others went and helped out at Cameron, a Place of refuge for those who are struggling in life. We got to paint the cafeteria! The goal was to make it a place where its guests would feel more comfortable and welcome. I think we accomplished that idea and made it a home sweet home for those who don't have them!

Synetra and her son Trinity who are getting baptized  this Saturday!

We started out by taping up the walls, prepped the paint, got the ladders out. Before we started to paint Cameron's Kitchen, I thought it looked pretty good. The walls were WHITE and it was a pretty nice joint to come and eat. At the beginning I thought, it already looks pretty nice why would we need to change it? We had a lot of work ahead of us, even though I didn't think the room needed it, I decided I was going to help paint and wait for the end results.

Sister Wilkinson and I

 As the painting continued I was still a little bit shy about how it was going to turn out, and how it was going to make the place look better. However as time went on I was able to see a change in the room. It started to have a warmer feeling, and you could tell the people that were painting where even starting to feel more comfortable in what they were doing.

I love my aggies :]

After about 5 hours of fun, we were done! I was shocked out how it turned out. It looked AMAZING. It was a complete turn around. I felt a little bit ashamed because of my thoughts and feelings at the beginning. Thinking that something that already looked good, could not look any better. BOY I was WRONG!  It was now even more beautiful then before and only with a bit of work :]

The Fourth City Missionaries. Wilcox, Larsen, Me, Wilkinson!

As Sister Wilkinson and I were driving back to the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, I started to think about some of the people we had run into earlier in the week. Whenever we would try and share our message about Jesus Christ, they would say, "ITS OKAY, I AM ALREADY SET." What I have realized is that, we may feel "SET" in life, and already lead a wonderful, HAPPY life, but I have learned for myself that when I decided to live the Gospel Of Jesus Christ my life went from the WHITE walls that were pretty nice, to come to have the Green Walls that were Perfect, welcoming, and beautiful. I was no longer "pretty nice." Some times we have to have the courage to get out of our "SET LIVES" and see if Jesus Christ really can give us green walls. I know that he can because he gave me green walls, and through Jesus Christ I was able to be clean. Just like it took courage to put PAINT MUSTACHES on, have the courage to check out www.Mormon.org and let it paint your walls green :]