God Be With You Til We Meet Again

Yesterday Dad and I dropped Mom and Danica off at the airport! Now they are in Provo, Utah. Danica's going to college at Brigham Young University! I can hardly believe my little sister is a college student. In just 8 days, I'll be leaving for my mission, and reporting to the Provo, Utah, Missionary Training Center (right next door to BYU!). While I'm gone on my mission, Danica will be going to school, and then leaving on her mission! So, I might not see her for a couple years (unless I get to see her in Provo before going into the MTC). I'm sure going to miss this girl! She's incredible! She's talented, kind, hilarious, and all around fantastic. I admire and look up to her so much. She's going to be amazing in college and on her mission and in everything else she does! One of her amazing talents is music! You can find her on youtube as DanicaMarieMusic. She writes awesome songs, like this: http://youtu.be/_mfmVWYpG8k

Our Goodbye Song on our last night together!: http://youtu.be/irIrndbi5EU

God be with you all til we meet again!

Who are Mormon missionaries? What do they do?

Hello there! You've probably seen a pair of guys in white shirts and ties riding their bikes, or walking down your street! Or maybe two gals in their skirts and nice shirts with their little name tags and back packs! If you have ever been curious about who missionaries are and what they do, I would recommend watching one or both of these 5 minute videos! Hopefully these links work!

Women: http://youtu.be/z1EsaQr0TF4
Men: http://youtu.be/QSaQxftpPck

Trust me, they really are worth your time!
16 days until my mission!!! Hooray!

Have miracles ceased?

27 "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?
28 For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.
29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men."
-the Book of Mormon, Moroni 7: 27-29

In the Old and New Testaments Christ performed miracles; his prophets and apostles taught the people and performed incredible miracles in Christ's name, with God's power. In the Bible we know that God sent prophets to teach His children, all of them, whom He loved so much. He sent prophet after prophet, even after people rejected and killed them. God never gave up on His children. Sometimes He had to wait for a time, until the people were ready and turned to Him- He would never, and will never, force what He has to offer on us- to call a prophet and to bless the people. In the Bible we read about the Holy Ghost which was sent to dwell with the people on earth, so that they would never have to be alone, and would always be connected to their Father. We read about incredible spiritual gifts: healing, the gift of tongues, the gift to testify and use words, gifts of strength, faith, hope, and so much more.

Have any of these things ceased to be? Has God stopped sending prophets? Has God stopped teaching His people? Has Jesus Christ stopped being our Savior? Has he forgotten about us? Has God stopped loving His children? No way! One thing that I know for sure: God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The God of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob, of Noah, of Moses, of Adam, is our God. He loves us just as much now as He loved His people then! And He has not ceased to send prophets to guide us. His Son, Jesus Christ, has not ceased to live and to work miracles and to heal us! The Holy Ghost has not ceased to dwell on the face of the earth and in the hearts of the people. God has not ceased to bless His people. And He never will.

Miracles have not ceased. And they are everywhere. Open your eyes, and you will see them. For sure! :D

Life is so GOOD! God is so good.

New Blog Address

My blog has a new address! It is now belemsister.blogspot.com. Can't wait to report for my mission! September 4th is coming up!

56 days

In 56 days I will report to the Missionary Training Center and become a full-time missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I will be set apart as a servant of the Lord, Jesus Christ, and will dedicate every moment of the next 18 months to serving him and those children of Heavenly Father who He has specifically called me to serve.
I've learned so many wonderful lessons and truths in preparation for my mission. Among these lessons have been several concerning the importance of the gift of the Holy Ghost, also known as the Spirit of God.
Having the Spirit of God in our hearts and flowing through our bodies is the most wonderful feeling. Doing whatever is required to be worthy of having that Spirit with us is worth it.
The Spirit opens our eyes, clears our minds, enlightens our understanding, purifies and enlarges our perspective, enlivens our bodies, softens our hearts, refines us, and fills our souls with peace. In days like now, while the world confuses, muddles, and discourages us, God strengthens us, encourages us, enlightens us, and brings clarity to our lives through this special messenger and comforter He has promised to us- the Holy Ghost.
Thinking about my mission, preparing to go to Brazil and share the gospel of Jesus Christ, imagining the people I will meet there, and knowing that some of them will accept the message of Jesus Christ I have been called to share, all make me ecstatic. Not only does the gospel fill my life with peace and comfort, but it makes life exciting, fun, and so, so good.

Stars along the way

 

I feel so blessed to have so many incredible and inspiring people in my life. There are friends who make us laugh until we cry, friends that inspire us to become a little better in certain areas of our lives, friends who are always there at just the right times when we need someone, friends who give the greatest hugs, friends whose smiles can instantly lift anyone's spirits, friends who bring us closer to Christ, and friends who help us to see ourselves in a more true and positive way. I have friends of all these sorts in my life and I couldn't be more blessed!

 

I have friends who are from all corners of the earth, and who are going to all corners of the earth, and even while we are all apart, I feel there is a string that connects us all to the ones we love. I have friends who are serving missions (or soon will be serving missions) in Mexico, Korea, New Jersey, Germany, Norway, Texas, Finland, Brazil, the Philippines, California, and many, many more places. Even though we often don't see each other for long periods of time and aren't able to communicate often, I gain so much strength in knowing all of these friends are doing/will be doing the same thing that I will be in Belem, Brazil. And I find strength everyday in knowing that I have family and friends who I love and who love me spread out throughout the U.S., Hawaii, and the world. So when we feel alone, remember that just because we don't see them, it doesn't mean they aren't there.

 

True friends are bright like stars. They are little lights along our path that point us to and remind us of our truest friend and brother, Jesus Christ. They help us to become our best and strengthen the light inside of us so we can shine a little brighter.

As for friends who give the greatest hugs...

these guys could still use some practice. =)

 

I am blessed!

Changing Us

I had this thought the other day while finishing my run... Praying is like running! The more and more you do it, the better it gets- but, the thing you are doing- the situation you are in- really often doesn't change at all! What does happen is a change in us! I think prayer is one of the mightiest tools we have been given to change ourselves! Christ is the refiner, and the Spirit of God is the fire. What better way to submit ourselves to the refining power of Christ and the Spirit than by kneeling and pouring out our hearts to our Father in prayer. Sometimes the best way for our prayers to be answered isn't for our situation to be changed, but for our hearts to be changed.