First Week in the Preston, England Mission Training Center

Rebecca's first e-mail arrived Oct.27, 2010. We were so excited to hear from her. She sounds like she is enjoying her MTC experience. There are only 38 missionaries in the MTC and 7 of them are sisters. She is the only sister going to the Scotland/Ireland Mission. She is in a three-some. Her companions are Sister Evans from Pleasant Grove, Utah and Sister Lomiga from Torrance, CA.

Wow! Off to England!!!

Well, there she goes! Off to the Preston MTC in England
She only took 2 bags that weighed 51 lbs each and look at that oversized backpack!
Rebecca did call from the Atlanta Georgia airport and two Elders were there who are going to the same MTC and are assigned to the same Scotland/Ireland Mission.
We are hoping she will call again when she arrives in England, however if she doesn't we will patiently wait for an e-mail or a postcard. We will miss her so much, but are pleased that she is worthy to serve the Lord.

What an exciting time of life!!!

Heaven on Earth

So this weekend I had the open house and my farewell talk! Everything thing went really well! The highlight of the weekend was Rachel surprised me and came home. Words can't express how grateful I am to have had her with me this weekend. My mom (being my mom) wanted to take a million and one pictures of everyone who came (though I have to admit I'm glad she did) and for every picture she said the same thing. "She has to take her Ward Family with her to Scotland" as I looked around I was so grateful that I've got not only a wonderful real family but an awesome ward family as well. All I could think about was that its nights like Friday that give us a little glimpse of what heaven will be like. With loved ones all around. The only thing that could've made this weekend better was having more friends & more family here to share it with us!

(Katie, Rachel & I all together again!)

I also got to go to the temple with my grandparents & parents. It was really nice to be in the Lord's House with them. We also had the opportunity to seal my grandma to her mother. It was the first time I was able to participate/ be in the sealing room (well besides open houses and stuff). How grateful I am for forever families. Its the reason why I am going on a mission. So that other families can find the Joy I have in the gospel & live with those they love most forever.

(My beautiful family, well part of it)

A God of Miracles

This weekend some of my family is here so they can be with me when I go through the temple tomorrow morning. It has opened my eyes to how much I am truly going to miss them when I am in Scotland. While i was blubbering in my room about it this evening my dad came in and we had a nice tear filled chat. One thing he said really struck me "We believe in a God of Miracles"

As I look back on the past two days and forward to tomorrow I realize (for not the 1st time but as a reminder) that this is my miracle, my family is eternal and if I can spend everyday for the rest of forever with my family close then I don't need anything else.

This is why I am going on a mission; to share this miracle with the people of Scotland and anyone else who will listen.

Marta

So this Sunday in Relief Society I had a neat experience. I was sitting there minding my own business when the Relief Society President comes and whispers in my ear that there is a lady visiting the ward and she is going to have her sit by me. Why you ask? I haven't the faintest idea. I rarely even go to that Relief Society (fyi I don't ditch I go to singles ward) but anyway.

A few minutes later in walks Marta. She is a recent convert of three weeks and just visiting from South Gate. Well the lesson was on the Priesthood and I got the amazing opportunity to answer some of Marta's questions when we were split up into pairs to talk about a few things.

Let me tell you right now, any of you who are afraid of sharing the Gospel...don't be! I don't know how I answered her questions other then the Spirit was working through me. I totally felt the promise of the Savior when He said that if we would just open our mouths then He will give us the words to say.

I know that the Lord will also fulfill this promise for you and everyone that has the courage to open their mouth.

Sharing Happiness

So yesterday I had the AWESOME opportunity to go track-ting with the sister missionaries who serve in our local singles ward.

I was so nervous but it was an awesome experience. Mostly people didn't answer the door but we did get to talk to a few people and give them pass-a-long cards to get a free DVD about the Savior.

The very first lady that we talked to was named Alice. Alice wasn't from around here but she was visiting her daughter. She told us that she was Catholic but that she had some friends who were member and her brothers were members of the Church. We (or the sisters because I wasn't quite brave enough to talk) talked with her for a little bit but ultimately said she wasn't interested in joining the church. What was amazing to me though was that as we walked away all three of us said how we could just feel of her sorrow and felt like something happened in her life that made her get out of the habit of going to church. I really wish we could have helped Alice because she was so sweet but I am praying that through her friends and family she will come to know of the joy that the gospel can bring into her life and that she can find peace through the Atonement.

The next person who was home was this older lady, if I remember correctly her name was Saddie. She had a nurse who came to the door and as the sisters started talking to both of them Saddie goes "It says no soliciting on the window, can't you girls read?" and so one of the sisters (Im so sorry I forgot their names already) replied in a perfectly calm and normal voice "We aren't soliciting we are just sharing happiness" I wanted to LOL! She was a cute old lady and we chuckled as we could hear her still talking about "those Mormons" as we walked away. She had told us that at her age she wasn't looking to change her religion but thats okay when I thought about her on the way home I could only think "we'll get her in the next life"

We contacted a few other people but those are the two that stick out in my mind. Even though I didn't have the courage to talk to anyone this time I found myself praying for those we had talked to. I am so grateful for this gospel and for the joy that the Savior brings in my life.

Scotland, here we come!

Well after a decision that has taken me over a year to make I finally got that big white envelope in the mail about two weeks ago! I will be serving in the Scotland, Edinburgh Mission reporting to the England Missionary Training Center on October 22, 2010! Words cannot describe how excited I am to be serving!

But once the excitement and the phone calls died down a little I took the opportunity to read through my letter from the Prophet of the Lord again. And maybe they send the same thing to all missionaries I don't know but either way in that quite moment with my family listening as I read out loud all the nerves and the anticipation were gone and tears came as the Spirit once again confirmed to me stronger then ever that this was right and that Scotland is where the Lord needs me to be.

I am so so proud to be able to say that I will be soon serving the Lord and bring the Gospel to the people of Scotland. Heavenly Father has truly blessed my life and I am truly honored that He has found me worthy to be His servant.