THE CLEAN TEAM

BE CLEAN



I know DIRTY...My Freshman dorm room!



I cleaned out the drain freshman year..gross!



President Hinckley's next B is..."BE CLEAN"... his segment on being clean covers many different things. So I decided to break it down into a few different posts. I can tell you that being CLEAN is so important because when you are not, not only can people tell but God can. As you can tell I have not always been the cleanest person, and I know I am still working at it. However President Hinckley was a Prophet called of God. If he says we need to do, then we need to do it!



One of my EFY groups inspired
the CLEAN TEAM

  

This is what the next few posts will be titled...

Endangered Entertainment

Tats, rings, & bling

$ Pictures with a Price $

Do Hugs Not Drugs

So your hot…whatever

http://www.mormon.org/

 

You just got SERVED!

Service to Others

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

As a missionary we GET to do service once a week, at least. It is personally my favorite activity on a mission. The Sisters and the Elders in our area go to help at a place called Cameron's! I have honestly learned how to serve and to enjoy it. This particular Friday we got to help out at the KIDS CARNIVAL. We were so excited we could not sleep the night before. We had rearranged our whole schedule so that we could come to the carnival, not to have fun but to SERVE inner city Rochester!

I have been very humbled by serving in a big city. I have been able to see how hard lives really can be. I remember complaining if my mom made broccoli soup, and how awful it tasted. After realizing that half of these kids get one meal a day, if that, I don't think I can complain ever again.

I have learned that doing service is the way to peoples hearts, when done with the right attitude. I never realized how service could be FUN! Through our weekly service I have been able to develop lasting relationships with the people we have served. We have been able to find people to teach and  bring unto Christ.

As many of you know, I love to golf. This was the perfect way for me to contribute my talents. I was able to help little kids golf for HUGE TEDDY BEARS!It was something that I loved, and was able to share. To the youth, all I can say is that service can be uber boring...Only if you make it that way! Go out and find someone who needs your help. I promise as you do you will learn more about others, the world and mostly yourself!

Sis. Carver and I enjoying heaven,

I can tell you from experience that as a youth and even now, I think a lot about myself and my problems and how awful they are. However I have learned as I serve, I forget about my problems and they become less, I learn new things and I am blessed for my service!

4th City District

"Service to others is one of the most important characteristics of a disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple is willing to bear other people’s burdens and to comfort those who need comfort (see Mosiah 18:8–9). Often Heavenly Father will meet the needs of others through you."

-FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE YOUTH

So just remember...Think Less you will be blessed :]

http://www.mormon.org/

TIME OUT....I met an Albanian

Kam takuar një shqiptar!!!

I just want to take a time of from the FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE YOUTH posts to inform you I met an Albanian. I prayed for two weeks straight that I would meet at least once. I am here to tell you that prayer works. That the VERY last night of pageant at 9:05 p.m. right before it started my Site Director came up to me and asked me if I would like to meet an Albanian. I replied with "OF COURSE I DO!!!!" I was able to talk to him for about 10 minuets in Albanian. Seriously, it was a great lesson of prayer. That when we do ask we receive, when we do everything in our power! I know that this church is true, and that

I AM A DAUGHTER OF GOD

and that is all that matters....

Money in the Bank'

TITHES &

OFFERINGS

EFY 2010

"The law of tithing is an important commandment that you should obey throughout your life. A tithe is one-tenth of your income."

-FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE YOUTH



I will be the first admit, this is my least favorite commandment. I am someone who LOVES to spend money. For some reason spending moeny makes me feel so good! I think its because I feel like I have worked so hard and so I should be rewarded. I am the child that always had "incentives" growing up.

We all caught pop flys!

Catch a pop fly then you get a Gatorade.

Get %100 percent on your spelling test then you get to go to a movie.

Go without television for a week and get a swim pass.

Make your bed for a month and you can have a new comforter.

  Now, DO NOT think that incentives are bad. They are actually a great tool to motivate people, espeically me! I have realized while writing this that  the law of tithing is is an INCENTIVE. I have honestly never picked up on it. When we are willing to give up ten percent of what we earn, then Heavenly Father is willing to give us blessings. Even though tithing has been something that I have struggled with, I have done my best in faking it untill I was making it. I always paid it, but with a BAD attitude. After reading the  FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE YOUTH and realizing it is how we show our Heavenly Father how grateful we are. I decided to start paying it with a willing heart, because I am truly greatful for the things he has given me.  Tithing is a great way to show our Heavenly Father our gratitude. I have realized how selfish I am when I would choose to buy a new movie over paying tithing.



Passed all of my spelling tests, even with a mullet!

 

As a missionary, I receive lots of letters about peoples spiritual experiences. Someone from my home ward sent me a letter as I was leaving the MTC. She said her family had really been struggling with money, and they were almost out. She only had two twenties left, and so she decided to pay their tithing, having faith things would work out. I know that because she had this faith, her husband was able to receive work the next day, and they were able to pay the bills for the month. She might have found a way to provide without paying her tithing, but I KNOW, that it was because of her willingness....She has strengthened my testimony of tithing, and has taught me you pay it always, not when you can, but always.

When you do what the Lord asks he will provide a way.



How has paying your tithing blessed your life!?

http://www.mormon.org/

Coming Clean.....

Repentance

“He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42).

My first winter break from college was in 2008. I had come home from Utah State for almost a month. During that time I got to bond a lot with the family and also relax and participate in my favorite activity...Popcorn and a Movie. At my house when its night time, we all gather around and my mom makes like a million batches of kettle corn and we each get a soda pop. I can not express to you how in LOVE I am with soda....I have the biggest crush on pop, and it is just something I can not get over. 

Sadly to say my winter break came to an end and I was all packed and ready to go back to Utah State. I was going to miss those nightly Soda pops though. I had already snuck a few into my car, when my dad came out and handed me one. I was so excited because my dad had noticed how much I LOVED soda pop. So naturally I treated this one with care, because it was from my dad. I put it right in the cup holder and started the drive. When I had reached the halfway mark, all I could think about was how thirsty I was, BUT I could not bring myself to drink the one my dad had given me, it was to special. So I left it in that cup holder. A few weeks went by, and I realized it was happy hour at SONIC, and I just could not pass it up. So I went and got my route 44 strawberry slush. After getting it I realized that I did not have room for it, reluctantly I took that soda can my dad had given me and put it in the back seat. After having it roll around for a few months, I had moved the can of soda to the back window, I thought I was so clever because I had some "food storage" in my car for when I got really thirsty.


Always stop to hear the still small voice

It was finally summer, and I was moving apartments. The soda was still there, and I saw it! I had the most distinct feeling come into me, the thought was "SISTER VATERLAUS, MOVE THAT CAN OF POP." All I could think was seriously? The Holy Ghost is not going to waist his time on pop, and so I ignored it. This happened the next day to, and once again I though I knew better. On the third day I walked out and had no such feeling, and felt like I had won, that it was not a big deal...

VICTORY was not mine that next day, I went out and the can of soda had exploded EVERYWHERE. Please remember that I was in the process of moving and so everything I owned was sticky. I tried to clean it out myself, and I failed. All I could think was I should have listened. Luckily I had my brother Mitch and my best friend Rica come and help me clean my car out because I could not myself. It took a LONG time, and it was not a fun process. However with time and hard work the car was clean. The only thing that was left was the smell, and it did not go away for weeks. I kept thinking I have cleaned and cleaned but the smell is not gone. I was still frustrated about it while sitting in Sacrament one day, and I had flipped randomly to the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 58:42. After thinking of that scripture, I walked out to the car and opened the door, I took a big deep breath and found that the smell was gone!

Through all of this I realized,  this was like the repentance process. I had something that was so special to me, a soda pop,which could be compared to a covenant. When I choose to ignore our covenants or put them in the back seat, we tend to forget about them. I even went as far as to ignore the Holy Ghost when I was prompted  to move it. When it was all said and done, I could not clean it up myself. I had to have help, just like when we sin. We must always turn to our Savior, if needed we can have Bishops, Stake Presidents, or parents help us. The thing to remember is we must always keep our covenants in the front cup holder. We must never put them in the back seat, and always listen to the Holy Ghost. After we sin, we need to know, that if we have done everything we can to repent, then the Lord does not remember the sin, and neither should we! 

Come unto Christ, and he will help you!

"Satan wants you to think that you cannot repent, but that is absolutely not true. The Savior has promised you forgiveness if you will do what is required. The sooner you repent, the sooner you will find the blessings that come from forgiveness."

-FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE YOUTH

 

Put a ring on it......

Sexual Purity



“The sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World”).

"Before marriage, do not do anything to arouse the powerful emotions that must be expressed only in marriage. Do not participate in passionate kissing, lie on top of another person, or touch the private, sacred parts of another person’s body, with or without clothing. Do not allow anyone to do that with you. Do not arouse those emotions in your own body."

-FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE YOUTH

 Sexual Purity is a subject that most people try to avoid. The power of procreation is a sacred thing that does belong between a man and a woman who have been married legally.YOUTH, I am sorry to say that you are not married yet and you still have some time....So stick to dating! Sex is not a bad thing if it is within the bonds of marriage. I did an experiment with SCOPE and JUICE...

 

 JUICE is pretty magical, it tastes good, its refreshing and can clench your thirst.

SCOPE is great for getting that fresh breath that one needs. It is an easy 30 second thing that will leave your breath fresh for hours.

First I drank the juice and it tasted just great by it self. After drinking the juice I put put some scope in my mouth and it didn't taste funny, it was just right. The second part of my experiment was to swish scope first and then the juice. Let me just say it was AWFUL. Now think about, both the juice and the scope are good things. However the order was important. When I did scope first and then drank the juice, it was sour, and I couldn't even enjoy it. When I drank the juice first and then did the scope it worked out just great.

So when it comes to the LAW OF CHASTITY remember, there is an order. You do not have to try it out to realize it does not bring the best results... Trust me on this one, live the LAW OF CHASTITY and God will bless you :]

I trust you YOUTH! 

Here goes the SCOPE

SO good :)

Drinking after, NASTY

This is what happens when the order is off....