Can You Stand Any More?????

Hi!

We slept in this morning for the first time.....there was no breakfast served so we didn't have to hurry to be to breakfast by 7:00.

We attended church in a branch with young elders and sisters.   What a sweet experience...the branch president asked every young missionary to bear his/her testimony.   It was very spiritual.   Some are so ready and prepared.    Several were really struggling with self doubt, loneliness or culture shock.    One elder was from Johannesburg South Africa (Caucasian).    He said his world was turned upside down since he arrived in the U.S. and he didn't like the food, self flushing toilets, the language, etc.    He was trying hard to get his bearings.    Interesting.   Others had incredible testimonies of prayer and/or the restoration.

You are probably so sick of my emails.   Forgive me.    I want to share this wonderful experience with you.

Love Mom

Hello AGAIN!

You probably feel like I haven't left----but I just had to send out a short email again.

Larry and I just returned from 2 devotionals (back to back) from 5:30 -8:00 PM.    They were completely different.   I feel so filled with the spirit that I have to tell someone. 

One speaker said, You will be able to tell your children and grandchildren (mostly speaking to the young missionaries) that you participated in the exciting era of the "Hastening of the Lord's work."   The speaker said, we don't fully appreciate that we live in the times foretold by prophets for ages.    THIS IS IT!   She said, "Pinch yourselves every once in a while to remind yourself that these are exciting times for members of the church and especially for missionaries."

The MTC President spoke and really held up a high bar for everyone in the audience.   

He gave the following advice to all missionaries.   I thought this would be good for all of my grandchildren, your children, and Carol's Sunday School class:

1.  A MISSION IS HARD!   You have rejection constantly, broken promises and loneliness...just to name a few.   He said, You must push through it.   You will want to quit.  Don't.    You can make it if you rededicate yourself to more prayer, love, obedience, submitting to the Lord's will and WORK.

2.   No Regrets......don't do anything that you will regret...not even small disobedience.    He said, when he was mission president this caused much heartache even after his missionaries returned home.   

3.    Increase your testimony of Joseph Smith.   It must be strong.

4.   Learn how to bear a true testimony...and do it without fear and with confidence.

The next speaker is in charge of all media relations for the missionary department.   Just a few statistics:   

In 2014:

200,231,061 unique visitors to Mormon.org (they only counted each person once)

388,500 visitors decided to "chat"

118,254 referrals generated

He is the Gift Initiative:  33,489,505 viewers       200,000 referrals so far

Isn't the church wonderful?  I know it is true.   I am realizing more and more how much the Lord wants to bless his children......all of us.

I love the calendar the ward gave us.   I love the notes and birthdays.  LeAnn I love your thoughts.   All the days blur together so we really need a calendar to have any idea which day it is. 

I love you all.

Sister Todd