More Christmas miracles

I love this Christmas miracle that Alison shared with us.  I had printed some pictures at Walgreens of a picture of the Sacred Grove that I took last summer, I had used that picture in a spiritual thought I gave at presidency meeting.  While I was sitting at home a couple of weeks ago the thought came to me that I should send the two pictures I had left to Alison and that maybe there would be someone she could give them to.  She told us that she had two investigators that she would love to give them to! I love miracles!

December 18th, 2013

I want to begin by telling you a miracle that happened this morning. Two weeks ago we were doing finding work (well we do at least a couple hours of finding work everyday, but this day was all day) and ran into a Filipino woman and who we thought was her daughter (turns out it was her cousin). The lady who we thought was the mom said that she is married to a mormon and he is in the Philippines. I think my companion and I just about died to hear those words. She kept on calling us sisters. Like okay sisters, see you later sisters. It was really cute. Well we had the privilege to see her this morning for the first time. She told us that 3 years ago she married this mormon and that her kids recently were baptized mormon, that her sister in law is the relief society president in the Philippines and her brother in law is the bishop. And she told us that everyone had been telling her to go to the church to find peace, etc. And then we randomly meet her on the street. Her cousin was like it was so sudden. We laughed and she told us that now she was ready to know about the church. We talked about the restoration and invited her to be baptized and she accepted and said she knew it was true already and she could feel the spirit with us today. So in about a month she will be baptized!! My companion and I have been having a hard time finding people and at least I was starting to be really discouraged and then at my point of weakness God brought us a miracle. A miracle that I cannot express how excited I am for her. You should have seen how happy she was. 

January 1st, 2014

Thank you for the kind thought of the photos.(We sent a couple of pictures of the Sacred Grove that we visited this past summer and asked her if she knew someone that would like them and benefit from having them)  I already have in mind the two people I will give them to.

So we actually have three baptism dates. Along with the Filipino lady, her cousin is getting baptized the same day (I will give them the photos). These are the sweetest and most pure of heart people I have ever seen. I love them. They came to church on Sunday and the member who went to one of the lessons with us started introducing them to the members and bringing members to meet them. It was awesome. The other day they kept on telling us about when we are baptized, when we are baptized. The one that is married to the Mormon and her kids are Mormon said she told her family and they we just so excited. That they started reading the scriptures together. This Sunday all of our baptism were in church. The other baptism is of a member's sister. She will be baptized the 8th of febbraio. Her sister brought her to church and told us we had to start teaching her. We have seen her every week for the past three weeks and this last week she has accepted a date. :) I am so excited for all them. It is just so awesome. In the last week our area has started to pick up and I cannot wait to see what it will continue to do. 

Christmas miracle

I came across this beautiful miracle story in Elder Benson's blog.  He is serving in the Italy, Milan mission. This story was written in his blog by his parents.  It touched me so much I wanted to have it so I could read it, so that it would remind me of how much Heavenly Father loves us, each and everyone of us and that He is aware of even the smallest thing in our lives. This story makes me cry everytime I read it!

Drew had a Christmas package for his family ready to go about 4 weeks before Christmas but just got too busy with the work and didn't get a chance to mail it. Every evening when he got home, he would see that package sitting there and it made him feel bad. He said that by the time he got around to checking to see how much it would cost him to mail the package and get it there in time for Christmas that it would have cost him $100 Euro's. Way too much money and he was depressed that it would never get mailed. The week right before Christmas was busy and Drew and his companion were visiting with some people in a park. They came upon a homeless man and stopped to talk with him. Drew said that the man looked at him and right off asked if he could have his gloves. Drew said, "No, I need my gloves." They visited for a bit longer and the man asked him for his gloves again. Drew said "No, I really do need these gloves." They had to leave because they had an appointment and were walking away. Drew said that he couldn't stand it and turned back and gave the man his gloves. He said that even though he really did need them, he could not stand leaving the man in the cold without any gloves. The very next appointment they went to, was an investigator. They gave him one of the discussions and as they were leaving the man said. "Elders, I would like to do something for you for Christmas. I work for a shipping company and would like to mail a package home to your families for free.  Drew said he could not believe what he was hearing.  Drew said “how did you know I needed to mail a package?” He said I didn’t, but I would like to do that for you if you have anything.” Drew said he brought the package back to the man the next day which was the Thursday before Christmas.  We got the package the following Monday, two days before Christmas.  Drew felt certain that this was a tender mercy that the Lord sent him because he sacrificed his gloves for the homeless man.  We would like to send a big “Thank You” to the kind Italian investigator who mailed that package to us. You will never know how much that meant to us.  

First Sunday of the Year!

Today is the first Sunday of 2014, and the kids had their first day in their Primary classes

 Today at church was Conner's first day as Valiant 9

 Today was Ronan's first day as Sunbeam

Today was Brinley's first day as Sunbeam

Pictures of Alison

These pictures we found on the Italy Milan mission blog

December Coucil

Sister Training leaders December 2013

Sorella Hanson and Sorella Heupel

Video of Alison's friend mission call

This is a video of Giulia opening her mission call to Salt Lake City.  Alison helped reactivate her in Italy.

The Gift of Grace

I read an article on lds.org that helped me better understand "Grace".  The article by
Elder Gene R. Cook a Seventy,  is called "Receive Divine assistance through the Grace of the Lord".

He starts by saying that perhaps some of us have not received or or don't know how to use the "great gift of grace that Father has given us through the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ".  In D&C 88:33 it says: "For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?". Many times we try to carry our burdens alone, without asking the Lord for His help.  Often times we find ourselves asking, Why won't God answer my prayers, or help me in my trials?  When we are sick or afflicted or having a miserable time, we feel alone, like God has left us. But the truth is, He does not leave us.  He is always there. In 1st Nephi 21:16 it says: "Behold, I have engraven thee upon the palms of my hands".  "And He will take upon him death that he may loose the bands of death which binds his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." Alma 7:11-13

To withstand the trials that we are going to have in this life, we must center our lives, hearts and mind in the Lord Jesus Christ. Alma 33:11 it says, "And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of Thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto Thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of Thy Son". When we do all we can, He will help us.  We need to have hope, that even though we are weak, unworthy but we are doing ALL that we are capable to do, the Lord will help us and provide for us what "we may lack".  He will make up the rest! This is what grace means. Grace is "divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ" (Bible dictionary).

Elder Cook says that "the doctrine of the grace of the Father and the Son and how affects us is so significant that it is mentioned over 200 times in the standard works".

Elder Cook says that "If we can obtain the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, that divine enabling power to assist us, we will triumph in this life and be exalted in the life to come." I want to triumph in this life and I want to be exalted with my family! I am so thankful that I have this knowledge, that I can, with the help of the Lord, because I can't do it alone, endure all the problems, illnesses, afflictions, infirmities etc. etc. and live with Him again.  That is the gift that The Lord has given us through His atonement. He knows each and everyone of us individually.  He suffered my afflictions, He knows how I feel everyday.

To obtain GRACE, there are 5 principles we must apply.

FAITH

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ IS the first principle of the Gospel. Grace is accessed by faith. When the apostle Peter doubted and took his eyes off the Savior, he severed himself from the power of Jesus Christ that had sustained him on the water. I wonder how many times, when I have prayed for help, but because of doubt or fear, I severed myself from the power of God and could not obtain grace.  I do this a lot and I wish I did not. I have felt alone and that He wasn't listening to me. But that is not true. In D&C 6:36-37  it says: "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. Behold thy wounds which pierced my side, and also my prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven."

REPENTANCE

Elder Cook says "The grace of the Lord through the Atonement can both cleanse us of sin and assist us in perfecting ourselves through our trials, illnesses, and even "character defects.  We are both sanctified and justified through the grace of the Lord."

The effect of grace in our lives is conditioned upon repenting of our sins. Helaman 12:23-24 Blessed are they who will repent.... And may God grant in his  great fullness, that men might be brought unto repentance and good works, that they might be restored unto grace for grace, according to their works. " A repentant heart and good works are the very conditions required to have grace restored to us.  When someone pleads fervently in prayer for an answer, the answer may be more conditioned on repentance of personal sins that on any other factor." D&C 101:7 it says: They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore, the Lord is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble.

HUMILITY

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

We must be humble to obtain grace. I need to remember that these trials and weaknesses are for our good, we become stronger for having gone through them. I have been through some pretty hard things, but the Lord has helped me and looking back I am grateful for them and the lessons I have learned from them.

DOING ALL IN YOUR OWN POWER

Elder Cook says, "Yes, by works alone, cannot bring that divine gift, but they are key condition upon which the gift is received." 2 Nephi 10:23-24 Reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved. 2 Nephi 25:23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

Unless I have done my part, everything in my power, I cannot expect the grace of God to be manifest. Elder Cook says something I really like; "What a glorious principle to understand: the Lord's assistance to us-whether we have strong faith or weak faith:whether a man, a woman, or a child-is not based just on what we know, how strong we are, or who we are, but more upon our giving all that we can give and doing all that we can do in our present circumstance.  Once one has given all he can, then the Lord, through His grace, may assist him." Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS

D&C 93:20 For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fullness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father, therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace.D&C 93:28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.

We don't need to be perfect to obtain grace, but we need to be keeping the commandments of God as best we can and then the Lord may allow us to receive grace.

Moroni 10:32-33
Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness: and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

Elder Cook closes by saying, "Let no trial or affliction, ever separate us from the love of God and the true love of Christ."

One of my favorite scriptures is: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
I came to this earth to gain a body and to prove that I can return to my Heavenly Father.  I knew before I came to earth what it would be like. I chose to come down and to follow Jesus Christ's plan of happiness.  I am blessed to have all this knowledge.  I can't imagine not having this knowledge.  This is what keeps me going, it gives me hope and purpose in life.  Having faith in Jesus Christ's Atonement gives us hope that we can be forgiven, and receive the gift of grace.

January 1st, 2014 Happy New Year

We had a very quiet New Years Eve.  I picked up my niece from her apartment and she came over for a couple of hours. She has been here in Orlando since August, working with the Disney College program, but she has been very busy and I have not been able to see her. She is done with the program so she leaves for Puerto Rico this Sunday. We dropped her off at Disney around 9:00 pm. She had plans with some friends to see the fireworks at Magic Kingdom.

Cristina and I on the way home

Then Brent, Conner and I just sat in bed watching the Studio C special on BYU TV. We love Studio C and Conner is obsessed with it!  Parker was across the street at the Marsel's house at their New Years party.

This morning was pretty relaxing and Conner had his favorite breakfast, pancakes and hot chocolate.  Parker just slept in.  Brent and I were going to go on a walk but it was raining.

We got Alison's email this morning.  She had some really good news.  About a year ago when she was in the Milano, Cimiano Ward, Alison and her companion helped re-activate a young woman and now she got her mission call!! She will be serving in Salt Lake City.  Alison sent us a video of this lady opening her mission call. It was awesome, but Alison asked us not to share it on the blog! 

I had given a spiritual thought a while back in presidency meeting and had made some copies of this picture of the Sacred Grove that I took this past summer. I had a couple of the prints left and had a thought that I should send them to Alison.  She answered back in her email that she already knew who to give them to!! She knows two ladies that will be getting baptized and she wants to give them the pictures! I love how she ended her email, "Just wanted to tell you one thing.  All of 2013 I was a missionary and it was the best year. I love you all."

I was reading on one of the missionaries blog in Alison's mission and she wrote to her family, "I don't miss you because I don 't feel far away from you.  With each passing day, you grow closer to me.  No, not because I 'm coming home sooner every day but because through my service, we're being knit together."

I love this, it is so beautiful! It made me think that as we are giving service to others, whether it is by going on a mission, serving in each of our callings, bringing a meal to someone in need, or just making someone feel welcome at church, and being Christ-like, it brings us closer to the Lord. When we come close to the Lord, our love and faith for Him grows which in turns "knits" our families together, our love for each other grows!

My hope for this year is to come closer to Christ and to strengthen my family, that through our service and obedience to the covenants we have made, we will be knit together as one eternal family!