Transfers, miracles, day to day, treasures, & pictures

June 16:
This transfer has been a whirlwind! I feel like the relief of staying happened just last week. I'm getting transferred on Wednesday to 1 ward with Sister Evans. She seems really cool, and she was companions with my trainer last transfer.

So many miracles this week! We just found out that the awesome girl we got to teach before she went to Chicago is getting baptized soon :) Remember the nonmember who invited us over for dinner? Miracles just keep happening with her and her family. We met one of her daughters who is really really interested and has tons of questions! Yay! Another huge miracle, elders were teaching a YSA in our area and decided they should pass him off to us--the guy wants to be involved and asks really deep questions.

Mom asked for me to talk more about my day to day life. The dry heat, even though it's usually 110, is not as bad as humid heat. Weird fact: Sometimes the parking lots have sticky tar because it's so hot. Also, Sister Henretty & I put sunglasses on over our prescription glasses because we want to keep seeing & not get blinded--it looks pretty hilarious! We have listened to the Lower Lights' music every day in the car this week, and singing along is highly entertaining. Sister Henretty made up a funny voice/character, "Egbert Kitecutter" and we get to have standup comedy in our car rides too! Sister Snyder has a really distinct laugh that makes everyone happy--after sacrament meeting, if someone said something funny and she laughed, 2-3 people usually comment on how much they loved it. Life  is wonderful :)

There were some golden treasures of knowledge from church on Sunday. "Commandments aren't given to us to change them. They are given to us to change us." And "daily scripture study isn't always about the understanding, more often it's about the sacrifice." I have been noticing more and more the subtle blessings of obedience to the small things. When I'm consciously doing the small things (like not getting distracted by the wall during church--way too easy for me) to invite the spirit, I really do feel better and I'm more edified. It is amazing.

In every spare moment I'm reading the Book of Mormon with the question of how do I get my faith to lead to action--repentance, change, progression (don't worry, I'm still reading PMG over the  summer too).

What is your favorite scripture story?

Pictures:

Members are the best

exchanges are the best

funny looking pictures in the Sunday school manual are the best

Mesa "greenery" at its finest

Have Joy

This week has been fabulous!

Many miracles happened! Sister Sallstrom & I got to go to Tyler's baptism & see him & his mom! It was absolutely wonderful :D (also note: the funny photo bombers, the Stephensens, they're the best). One of our investigators got to come too! But he had to leave right away.

Oh and we used that extremely fashionable cardigan to teach repentance & baptism to the primary! SO much fun!! We did an object lesson & wrote with sharpie on the white shirt to represent what happens when we sin. The shock factor grabbed their attention. They told us what we can do--repent, get baptized, and take the sacrament! It was really cool to see the primary kids--and they love  missionaries--which is awesome :)

What am I doing to follow Christ? Answering this question has helped me reflect and recognize what I'm doing, and what I can do more. I know learning day by day how to follow Christ's example is what brings us true happiness. His commandments help us to have pure joy, even as he has. So let us all follow him and have joy :)

I love y'all!
Sister White

Exciting Changes!!

This week has been full of so many changes! On Tuesday, we found out 2 sisters had to move into our apt. So we have another companionship living with us. Then, on Friday, President Jenkins calls us, and told us we were getting another companion! All of the missionaries in the Eastern most mission of Ukraine got emergency reassigned to other missions, so we are in a trio! Sister Henretty is my new companion, and she is so sweet.

So many miracles happened this week!! We had a Mother's Day miracle--thank you for all your prayers! After we finished talking to our families, we went to go teach a referral at his friend's house. It was amazing!!! Everyone testified with the spirit, including him and his friends! There is peace and joy in righteous living. Sister Snyder invited him to be baptized, and he accepted!!!! He is committed to working towards June 14! He was adopted from Romania and is a model for Adidas. No big deal.

A missionary told me the 12-step addiction recovery program can be used to help one overcome anything. So, I started doing the 12-step addiction (bad habit) recovery program to help me apply the gospel more fully in my life. The process of change and becoming more through the atonement is glorious. I hope I'll get a stronger testimony of it so I can help others overcome temptations and addictions with their faith.

The first step is honesty. When we are dishonest with ourselves/others, we are being prideful. It is so easy to loose sight of the truth when we stop looking for it in the right places. “Pride is a very misunderstood sin. ...“Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing.“The central feature of pride is enmity--enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means  ‘hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.’ It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us.“Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of ‘my will and not thine be done.’ ...“Our will in competition to God’s will allows desires, appetites, and passions to go unbridled (see Alma 38:12; 3 Nephi  12:30).“The proud cannot accept the authority of God giving direction to their lives (see Helaman
12:6). They pit their perceptions of truth against God’s great knowledge, their abilities versus God’s priesthood power, their accomplishments against His mighty works” (in Conference Report, Apr.
1989, 3–4; or Ensign, May 1989, 4). (Step 1: Honesty) (Pride)

I have learned more about humility in this week from simply focusing on a scripture and question a day. My faith has grown, I am becoming stronger, and I am happier. I know this is because of the atonement of Jesus Christ. I'm still learning, and need help. I would love love love to learn from you, because I lookup to each of you. How have you been able to put more trust in The Lord?

I'm praying for y'all! Though we are not perfect and all face individual struggles, let our faith in a loving Father in Heaven & the assurance of the atoning sacrifice of the Savior permeate our lives :)

Some Creative Subject

Transfers happened this week & my companion & I didn't get transferred!!!!!! I've never been so happy about transfer news!!!!!!!

During fast & testimony meeting yesterday, Camille, a YSA, bore testimony that she knows the Savior lives. She shared that she felt an undeniable spiritual confirmation for the first time of this truth as "the sisters" spoke the other Sunday. The spirit was so strong, undeniable. It made all the stress of giving a talk (in the silent YSA ward packed of incredible return missionaries all paying attention) very much worth it. I am so grateful for the companionship of the Holy Ghost that carries the truthfulness of our message to hearts. I know that our Savior lives, and that knowledge grows every day (especially yesterday).

Could y'all please pray for Elaine & her family? Last time there were so many miracles. Terri got baptized last Saturday! I know that by small and simple means the Lord brings to pass many miracles. Thank you for your faith.

Remember Who You Are,
Sister White

Mesa Easter Pageant

That's only a tiny portion of the 4 story stage that the Easter Pageant was acted out on.

Also, all of those chairs get filled, people sit on blankets on the grass (just not in the aisles). They also sit on the wall. Apparently about 16,000 people watch it the last few nights (the seats are filled for the 2 weeks of the pageant) if you're ever near Mesa around Easter, it's a must see. Watching it brings the scriptures to life, and the spirit is so strong :)

We are going on exchanges twice a week, it's been really fantastic learning from and working with other companions! We get to see miracles every time! One of my favorite miracles this week sprang from Sister Snyder's sacrifice--while she was serving with another companion in their family ward,  they came across a potential for our YSA-ward (which covers that area)! I know we are blessed as we serve others.

Sister Snyder and I got to teach an investigator's mom while he was getting interviewed for his baptism--it was incredible. This church building is brand new and has amazing paintings in it, so we walked around and looked at them. As we testified of the Savior, her heart was touched by the testimonies of each painting. After the interview, President Jenkins told her that it was no coincidence that so many of her children have become Mormon, and told her that there are probably ancestors tugging from the other side at her family. He told us to look at the paintings of faithful women in the R.S. room. He left because he had to be somewhere. Then after a few minutes, he came back, and burst into the room with tears, and hugged her, and told her he was impressed to come back and tell her it was her time to listen to what we have to say, and to join her family. It was incredible. After we finished looking at all the paintings, she gratefully accepted a Book of Mormon! Later on in the week we went to the Easter Pageant with them, and she loved it! She's also very excited about reading the Book of Mormon, and cannot wait to go back to the temple grounds!!

Yesterday a member brought a friend with him to church, and she is excited to learn more about our church, her whole family has been looking for a new church to go to!!! It was amazing.

Thank you all so much for your prayers. I know that as we pray continually, many mighty miracles will happen because of faith. I was studying patience and thought about how sometimes we cast others or ourselves "out" because of exceeding poverty--not only monetarily, but when poor in spirit, emotionally, physically, mentally. See Alma 34:40-41:

40 And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile against those who do cast you out because of your  exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them;

41 But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions,with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.

Sister Snyder & I got to see a banana tree!

Antonio got baptized!!! We are so happy for him!

P.S.  this movie is really really good: http://easter.mormon.org/?cid=HPTU041514694

General Conference: Great Counsel :)

In General Conference I learned how much Christlike love has the power to change the world for the better. When we love our fellow man with the purest love we can, we love God the most we can. When we love God the most we can, we love our fellow man the most we can. Pure love of God & others are inseparably connected. Christ gave us the example, that which we have seen him do, we get to do also.

Watching it made me reflect on times I have felt the spirit strongly, I felt my faith grow stronger as I remembered & felt feelings of peace and joy.

We got to watch general conference with members, investigators, nonmembers, and less actives (miracles!). Reflecting on the impressions with everyone was an incredible experience for me; I learned so much more. Serving others is when we are most happy, and we see most clearly when we are looking to Heavenly Father.

Our area is improving! When we "whitewash" that means that we are 2 new missionaries in the area, and none of the previous missionaries stayed. The work is a little slow; we are in quite an affluent area filled with rocket scientists, cancer surgeons, etc. (no joke). And the boundaries are 2 neighborhoods... maybe half a square mile? As we filled out the records for our ward mission leaders this week, I realized just how many miracles have been happening! We have been able to meet with nonmembers 3 times in the Miramar ward! (practically unheard of in this area!!--although in my 1st area that took an hour or 2). Getting to know the members has been an uplifting experience, they are incredible.

The Highgroves YSA ward had some miracles with less actives this past week too! And someone we are teaching is excited to be interviewed for baptism on Tuesday--he loved General Conference and felt inspired to "follow the prophet".

I know that our Savior lives, and he laid down his life for us. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Remember him in all that you do, and you will find greater feelings of happiness and joy.
Endure to the end & enjoy the journey :)

Remember who you are!
Sister White

P.S. I'd love to hear what you learned from conference. What inspired you?

Best transfer ever :)

Dearest family,

So, one of the people we got to take to the Gilbert open house a while ago has been having a lot of changes of heart. Every time we go over there, it's like going to grandma's house! She is super sweet, and loves the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it has helped her in overcoming he loss of her husband for 60 years. She is an incredible example to me of being motivated by love.

I'm getting transferred this Wednesday! I'm going to a YSA ward and a super rich family ward. I'm excited! But I'm really really really going to miss this area, and the people here.

To prepare for the Easter season, we have been studying the atonement. Coming to understand the atonement brings such great joy into our lives. "When we comprehend His voluntary Atonement, any sense of sacrifice on our part becomes completely overshadowed by an overpowering sense of gratitutde---simply for the privilege of serving Him. I have committed my life to Him. You have committed your lives to Him. Together we are engaged in His holy work. I love you for it. And more  importantly, He loves you for it." --Elder Russell M. Nelson

I love you all!

Sister White