Best Birthday ever! :)

Wow, the gospel is the best! We have had the most wonderful weekend!

Troy was baptized! As the bishop said, it was like the textbook. It was simply perfect! (the spirit made it that way). Just to see how much Tory's family has gotten so much closer, to see the joy he has
from living the gospel. To feel the spirit of love from the whole entire ward (truly a miraculous experience). His wife and mother-in-law sang My Song of Testimony, the spirit was so strong, undeniable. Especially when he bore his testimony of how much the church has changed his life. Everyone loves him, and welcomes him. He has been an amazing example to me of how to truly have an open mind and move forward with faith. The whole ward prayed for him to get a job too, and he started the same day he was baptized! It was incredible to see the strength he got from the members! And they from him! He has had really good friends/mentors in the ward who care for him as their own family--how it should be. It is simply wonderful seeing the light of Christ shining so brightly from him. I don't think the ward can ever forget this miracle :) and me too! Yesterday he made a comment in class about the gathering of Israel, how the missionaries didn't get all preachy when we came! It was amazing to hear how much the spirit really directed all of this. The Lord is doing his work, and we are his hands :)

Sister Lomax, my missionary grandma--she takes care of us every pday, it's like coming home :) she has made a birthday party for me this pday, it is amazing! I want to be just like her! She taught me how to bake perfect bread, it is sooooooooo good :)

I love you all!
D&C 121:33 rolling waters cannot remain impure. When living the gospel is how we live, we are like the rolling waters that cannot remain impure--the atonement is the best :)

Remember who you are!!!

P.s. Isn't this family the cutest? :)
Also, look at the picture, that was our inspiration, haha :)

Pictures again!

Quoting my mission president: "Rather than end my letter with a spiritual message, I would like to begin with it. It comes from President Packer's General Conference talk titled "The Key to Spiritual Protection". He said, "The scriptures hold the keys to spiritual protection. They contain the doctrine and laws and ordinances that will bring each child of God to a testimony of Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer."

President Packer added, "Be not afraid, only believe. Righteousness is more powerful than  wickedness". Never lose hope (don't be afraid). Never give up or give in. You are stronger than you think. The power of the scriptures, of our personal righteousness, and of our faith and belief in the Savior, combined with the enabling power of the Atonement are sufficient for all our challenges, trials, heartaches, addictions, tendencies, and weaknesess. I promise you that this is true."

Uploading pictures was not working for a few weeks, and Sister Sallstrom got transferred, so we got a bunch of pictures (this isn't even a fraction of them, we love taking pictures)

I cannot recall if I told you about our super fun lesson! The Cenatiempos helped us teach the blessing of obedience to Tyler. We raced, and then raced with one person being weighed down with weights (being weighed down with sin). We basically did a bunch of relays. Seeing who could shoot the most hoops first with a basketball and then with a yoga ball. One of my favorites was when we did the wall sit competition, Sister Cenatiempo "kept the Sabbath day holy" so she got a 7 second break every 7 seconds, & then a longer one for "General Conference."

"Consider on the blessed and happy state of those at keep the commandments" Mosiah 2:41

Also, meet Antonio, he may look scary, but he accurately describes himself "like a big teddy bear". He is so cool! We had the best time teaching him, he is so funny. The new elders in the area love teaching him. He is trying really really hard to quit smoking by the end of this month so he can be baptized, we are praying for him! Many many miracles have happened as we have had the privilege to teach him, he loves loves loves the gospel!

Shada invited us to her son's birthday party this week. We got to meet a ton of her awesome family, they are awesome! she is one of the sweetest women in the world :) she's the one we got to teach with the elder who passed away from muscular dystrophy.

I just realized I only have a few more minutes, but just so you know, Tyler's mom, Terri! is one of the most amazing people I have ever met (someday you might be lucky enough to be her friend)

I love you all!!!
Stay strong in the faith,
Sister White

Missions are fun :)

Transfers are happening on Wednesday! Since there has been so much work in both of our wards, they are putting a set of missionaries in each! I will no longer be covering 2 wards. We are going to miss the stalwart saints in that ward so much!! I'll miss Sister Sallstrom, I'm getting a new companion. She has been soooo amazing!!!! I cannot believe all that we have seen together!!!!

In a few hours we are going to meet 2 of the coolest people in the world for dinner. We were teaching them last week, and it was amazing how strong the spirit was. Their questions were answered through the spirit, it was so miraculous. Corey even said he should've been a missionary, he could easily "sell" the Book of Mormon: Just read it, every answer you ever need, it's in this book. Jacob 2:18-19 :)

I know you can experience the joy from missionary work as you go out with the missionaries in your area. Just last night, we were going out with a member, and everything fell through! Then, we were led to where the Lord needed us, and we were able to see why nothing else worked. Our faith was strengthened so much--the members that come with us are able to relate in ways that we cannot because they have had experiences that connect them to the people we are teaching. Members are a key part for an investigator's conversion.

We can learn more as we go to the temple, we can feel more of Heavenly Father's love. Everything exists because of his love.
Heavenly Father created this world out of love
He sent his son, because he loves us
We love him because he first loved us
We serve him & keep his commandments because we love him
We love others because we love him

"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved." Thomas S. Monson.

Love you all!
Sister Rachel White

P.S. please pray for Terri & Tyler, they know the gospel is true, but coming to church is hard for them. Also, please pray for Troy.

Fabulous February!

Our mission is planned to have a record shattering amount of baptisms this month! Our mission president said it is "Fantastic, fabulous, faithful February!" Baptisms that follow the directions in PMG are so incredibly uplifting. Powerful. Sister Sallstrom & I got to bear our testimonies & sing last minute at G's baptism (the interlude people couldn't come or something). There was an overwhelming amount of love we could feel there. Especially as we saw a sweet family we are
teaching crying in the back.

I have learned that I need to keep a better record of the Lord fulfilling His promises (3 Nephi 23:7-14). We expect and facilitate daily miracles, and those miracles are a result of the Lord fulfilling
His promises as we act in faith.

Life is a growing period--filled with stretching and opportunities to grow--hard. I am learning so much. A member said, "broken roads help us walk by faith. Trials are meant to help us cleave unto Him, not turn us away." but to turn our burdens to Him, to return to His presence. I pray that we will be strong, and that outward influences don't hurt us, because of Christ's atonement. Everything (our joys & long sufferings) are worth it if they help us come closer to our Savior.

Miracles are happening like crazy here!! The parking lot was FULL on Sunday, people had to park on the street! There was a wonderful spirit during the testimony meetings :)

Love you all!!!!