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 :)

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

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

Prayers & pumpkins

This week I learned a little bit more about the power of prayer. If you ever need anything, pray, and you can receive divine help--we've gotta act in faith, and then we can stand still and see the arm of The Lord.

"Trust me, learn of me, do what I do. Then, when you walk where I am going," He says, "we can talk about where you are going, and the problems you face and the troubles you have. If you will follow me, I will lead you out of darkness," He promises. "I will give you answers to your prayers. I will give you rest to your souls." (Broken Things to Mend)

I had an incredibly spiritual experience this week over planting pumpkins! There is an incredible couple that has decided to get baptized in 1 year, and on exchanges Sister Mitchell and I got to learn from them--communication & teamwork are super important. One point he made was that no one can ever take away our ability to communicate with God. And we were sent here in families, so these are eternal principles for success--communication and teamwork. I know that these are very crucial in the best kind of work :)

Merry Christmas!

Wonderful things are happening! Mesa is amazing! Christmas is a wonderful time to be on a mission!!

How will we make room for Christ this Christmas?

"If you serve you will learn to love. If you love you will serve. Therefore love=serve

We are called to serve=We are called to love

Mosaih 2:17; Matthew 22:37-38; John 14:15"

One of our investigators got an answer to his prayers! He learned that God answers prayers 3 ways, sometimes he says yes, and gives us what we want, sometimes he says no, and gives us something better, and sometimes he says wait and gives us the best.

There are members here that let us come over every pday and it's like going home once a week! We are blessed with so much love :)

One of our investigators is a Jehovah's Witness and when I got here, she always said she didn't celebrate Christmas when a member talked about it. She used to argue with the missionaries. Well, Saturday, she said she wants to be Mormon!!! And when we were leaving, she told us Merry Christmas!!!!!!! It is incredible to see what individual prayer and reading the Book of Mormon can do--she has been reading them :)

Ofa'atu

Sister White

Miraculous Mesa :)

My cup surely runneth over. Your prayers are making a huge difference for this little missionary :)

On January 11, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland will be meeting with all of the missionaries who serve in the Mesa, Gilbert, and Scottsdale missions!!!!

I can skype y'all for Christmas!!

This week so many wonderful things have happened! An Elder resides in our area and does indexing, he's about 20 and suffers from a disease that makes him need caretakers to help his mother take care of him. We found out in correlation that he probably won't be on this earth much longer. He has been such a missionary in the hospital throughout his trials and pains! One of his care takers is going through a really hard time, many members of her family have passed away recently, and he and his mother gave her a Book of Mormon. We are so blessed to be the missionaries here! The Elder's mother set up an appointment. with this beautiful Hispanic woman to have us come and teach the plan of salvation. During the lesson the spirit was tangible, we were in the presence of angels. The Elder bore his testimony on the plan of salvation when we finished. Oh, and we got to sing his favorite hymn, half at the beginning of the lesson, and half at the end--If You Could Hie to Kolob. This is the most spiritual experience I have ever had. The comfort and hope that came into her eyes was the most wonderful thing I have ever seen.

I love being a missionary! The people in our area are wonderful! Many incredible investigators got to come to church this Sunday. One of the boys exclaimed, "I cannot stop smiling!" We are blessed to be in a ward that helps them feel Heavenly Father's love for them by the way they treat others. I wish I could tell you about all the wonderful people we are teaching, we are teaching about 20... with 4 hours less of proselyting time, prioritizing is something I'm learning very quickly. Sister Sallstrom and I are blessed to have the best problems :)

I love you. Something that is powerful: if you are confused about anything/don't understand, 1 Nephi 15:8

So, something that clicked for me this morning during studies: Christ's "laws [are] not inscribed upon stone, but upon human hearts" (Thomas S. Monson). Christ's laws are universal, our hearts drive us to keep them, as we act on the Light of Christ within each of us, we are given, we are able to receive more light. Each time we act, we are opening the "windows to heaven" (Mal 3:10) even more! I imagine a huge curtain that opens little by little. Life gets so much brighter!! There is more hope, more faith, more joy, etc :) The opposite is true as well though--each time we don't act on the feelings to do good, we close off the window of our soul, and life gets darker--less hope, less faith, less joy... Let us cheerfully do those Christlike actions so we may be a light on a hill, & give light to all (3 Ne 12:16). Let us go "about doing good" (Acts 10:38) Cheerfully doing all in our power (D&C 123:17)


Sister Rachel White

Serving at the Christmas lights at the Mesa Temple!

The other night, Sister Sallstrom & I got to take the baby Jesus out
of the manger at the Christmas lights, it was really amazing :)

Thank you soooooooooooooooooooooooo much for your prayers and letters!!

P.S.
Power quotes, the whole mission is reading a General Conference talk everyday :) "The companionship of the Holy Ghost is not just a pleasant convenience---it is essential to your spiritual survival. If you will not treasure up the words of Christ and listen closely to the promptings of the Spirit, you will be deceived" (Elder Adrian Ochoa). "But here is the point---rather than solve the problem Himself, the Lord wants us to develp the faith that will help us rely upon Him in solving our problems and trust Him" (Elder Terence M. Vinson)

MTC Life

Here is encouragement and love from afar. You are amazing, I am recognizing so many things I have learned from each and every one of you while at the MTC. I cannot believe how quickly the time has flown, but at the same time it feels like we've been here for so long and know each other so well.


So, funny stories:

I found out I was too short to look through peep holes at the MTC.

Moser humbers me.
There is a tree that smells like orange cream soda (missionaries have been pouring soda on it). Recently it got closed off with rope and signs. On the tree was a sign that read: Jeremiah 12:10-11. Only at the MTC do we get such glorious humor.

We were taught that if we don't know something or if there was a concern we can rely the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. So, Sister Taylor asked her companion, Sister Laulusa if the relief society was held in a bigger room since the age change. Sister Laulusa responded, "I don't know. But I do know the Book of Mormon is true!"

Those two wonderful sisters, Sister Taylor and Sister Laulusa, Elder Spotten, Sister Smith and I make up our wonderful district. We have such a wonderful time in class learning from our awesome teachers.

I've learned so much! I cannot even try to give all of the lessons learned justice. Ether 2:13-14--praying from the heart. If in a rut, probably not having meaningful prayer. John 8:29. D&C section 88 is called an olive leaf plucked from the tree of paradise. Verse 119 we substituted companionship, district, zone, etc. for house. I highly recommend reading these :)

Sacred: "a piece of heaven we don't allow to get tarnished from the world"

I have been extremely blessed. I'm pretty sure I have the best companion in the world. On the first day, she suggested we memorize a scripture everyday so we can become better missionaries. It has definitely been a huge blessing in the small amount of time we have been doing it. Sister Smith lights up a room just by being in it. We sing everywhere we go. It's amazing how much we can grow to love everyone around us. Our leaders, teachers, missionaries in our zone, roommates, the people that serve us in the cafeteria.

Our Branch President, President Brown is awesome. He says awesome things like: "I'll flip you like a cheese omelet." and "love is always the key."

Oh, I gave a talk on the Atonement during church on Sunday. I used 2 scriptures, Alma 7:11-12, our Savior took on our pains, afflictions, temptations, sicknesses, not just our sins; because he loves us SO much. Mosiah 2:11, enabling power of the atonement to serve, despite our weaknesses. I love the atonement. I love Jesus Christ, this church, the MTC, missionary work.

We are going to the temple later today :)

Heavenly Father loves you!

'ofa atu

(goodbye with love)

Sister White

Oh and P.S.
Elder L Tom Perry came and spoke to us on Tuesday evening!!!! We were sitting about 20 ft away  from him :) He taught us how to be better companions during our mission and always. The principles he taught are: Learn the gospel, raise each other up, be a good listener, be patient and loving, and stay together.