Praise of the World

Ok, well, I better begin. First off, yesterday was our last lesson with N, because she informed us that she is moving to Idaho this week and will be getting baptized this coming Saturday when she gets there. Ha, so bitter-sweet. She is so excited for her baptism and she is ready. But I wish I could be there! But that will be happening this weekend on Saturday. 

Another neat experience I had this week was the opportunity to attend a funeral and sing a musical number at it with Sister Heintz. This funeral was for a member of the church who had not been active for over 40 years but for some reason he still wanted his funeral in the church building. I have been to quite a few funerals on my mission but this one was quite different. Interestingly enough, the spirit taught me some powerful lessons as I sat through this funeral. This man was involved heavily in politics in Wyoming, and held many offices over the years. He was a prominent member of society. Each person who spoke was also a very prominent member of society, who had served with him for years. Each held high titles. They spoke of his earthly accomplishments, his honors, his awards, his highly esteemed name in the community, his career, but there was hardly a mention of some of the things that matter most. I sat there as each person spoke and thought, "What do I want said about me at my funeral?" After their remarks, we got up and sang, "Where Can I Turn for Peace," The spirit filled the room and was powerful. Then a member of the church got up and also shared his experiences with this man but also the Plan of Salvation. As I looked up at the stand there was such a distinct difference between the men and women of God on the stand and the "prominent" members of society. The spirit testified to me that, "The praise of the world, pales in comparison to the blessings of eternity." While this man had been praised so much for the things he had done here, I knew none of that would matter. What matters is who we become and how we prepare to make it back to the presence of our Heavenly Father. Because of those powerful lessons that I was taught by the spirit, I have resolved even more to not seek out the praise of the world, but to seek after the blessings of eternity, by focusing on my relationship with my Heavenly Father and my Savior now. Following His commandments. It will all be worth it. 

Well, I am out of time. I hope some of my deep contemplation of the week have helped inspire and bless in some way. I love you each so much! Have a wonderful week:)

Love,

Sister Young

Endure It Well

Well, I don't have a ton of time. But I told you about transfers. I am staying here. I am excited. We are going to just have amazing things happen this transfer!

So, exciting news!! N set a baptismal date last night!!!!! We have been waiting for soooo long for her to get an answer about getting baptized here or in Idaho and when she should be baptized. She said that she has been thinking and praying and she feels like she should get baptized here and she wants to be baptized as soon as possible!! So we set her for May 30th!

Also, yesterday, P, who just got baptized got up and bore his testimony in sacrament meeting yesterday. It was a powerful testimony. He is fitting right in. It is so neat to see his life so changed. We went last Monday to get pedicures with his wife, C. It was my first one ever and it was quite nice:)

 

Well, I must get going. But I love you all sooo much! Thanks for you support and love. I pray for you all!!

Love,

Sister Young

 

P.S- My address is:

5270 Fishing Bridge

Cheyenne, WY 82009 

 

Write me!!!

Pictures: Pedicures

Hot Cocoa for the snow on Mother's Day

It rained a ton and there were worms all over!

White and Scarlet

It's been hard so see a ton of miracles here, but I was reminded the other day that I do know that the Lord will provide and show us, in His timing, who is ready. In every area I have been in, He has always lead me to them or them to us in one way or another. But it always has taken a bit of time. I know that the Lord will provide. We have been visiting Part Member Families , and former investigators all week. We have a few set up for this week that should be good. Also, we knocked on a door the other day of a part member family, and the wife answered the door, who is not a member. She was super nice to us and told us when we could come back. They have 4 kids and the dad is the only one who is not a member. They could be really promising. 

Another miracle that happened this week is that we met with N, our 9 year old investigator, at our Ward Mission Leader's house. He has a daughter who is N age and they are such a good fellowshipping family. It was wonderful to be in their home with the spirit and be able to have N feel that. She has a really hard home life and she feels so clearly the lack of the spirit in her home. In her own words she said, "I feel like my room is white and then the rest of the house is scarlet. And it's hard because I can't take that white with me. I want the rest of my home to be white too." She is such and in tune girl and so smart for her age. She wants so strongly for her home to be a refuge, a place away from the scarlet sins of the world. But she doesn't get that. She talked about how much she loved coming to church and being in member's homes because it feels white like her room does. I felt so heartbroken as she was speaking, to realize that she does not get the peace in her home like I was so blessed to have. We explained to her more about the Gift of the Holy Ghost and how she can have that whiteness with her always when she has the gift of the Holy Ghost. She is getting so close to setting a date to be baptized. I just love her a lot.

I love you all sooo much!!!

Love,

Sister Young

The Time Is Far Spent

Hello!

This week P was able to get baptized! It was such a special baptism. Him and his wife were so happy. They both practically glowed. He was baptized, and then confirmed yesterday and then he received the priesthood on Sunday as well. His whole countenance just changed! It was amazing to see. They are so excited to get to go to the temple and be seal and have a cute family. It is just amazing to see the changes that happen to individuals and families as they center their lives on Jesus Christ.  I have such a strong testimony about how the gospel can bless families. I am so grateful for my wonderful family how they are consistent with family prayer, scripture study, and family home evening. Even when the weeks are crazy busy, they make time for those things that matter most, and it makes all the difference. It is because of that consistency that I am where I am and who I am today. I will carry the tradition on with my future family because I know how important it is. I've seen the contrast on my mission between doing those things and not, and the difference it makes is amazing. 

This week we also got to go to a Leadership Meeting in Laramie with Elder Martino of the Quorum of the Seventy. It was such an amazing meeting and I realized how far I have to go to become the kind of missionary that I would like to be. I am grateful that I still have 3 months to be able to improve and get better every day. One thing that was mentioned is that we can not be complacent. We can not be satisfied with who we are right now, we want to always be striving to become better. If we remain complacent then that is when we will decrease and not increase. I have set some goals because of that meeting and I will continually be striving to improve until the day I go home, and then until the day that I die. Because guess what?! When your mission ends, that is NOT the end! It is the time to take what I have learned into my life back home and put it to the real test. I am excited to be able to do that. The meeting that day motivated me to keep trying, keep improving, doing the best I can with what I have, and then do even better! haha. 

This ward that I am a part of is an amazing ward. They are so on top of everything. For the baptism, literally all we had to do was show up. It was all taken care of. We have great leaders in this ward and they are so great to work with. This area has so much potential and I know that great things will continue to happen. We are focusing a ton on finding this week. We are struggling in that area. But we have some goals to help us stretch. Things are getting better every week. Thanks for all of your prayers and love. I love each of you sooo much!

I found a wonderful Hymn I wanted to share with you all this week:) It's not super common but I read the words for the first time yesterday and it hit me. Hymn #266-As I'm nearing the end of my mission I felt it very fitting. But it also can apply to the last days and how we have little time remaining to do the Lord's work.

1. The time is far spent; there is little remaining

To publish glad tidings by sea and by land.

Then hasten, ye heralds; go forward proclaiming:

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven's at hand,

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven's at hand.

2. Shrink not from your duty, however unpleasant,

But follow the Savior, your pattern and friend.

Our little afflictions, tho painful at present,

Ere long, with the righteous, in glory will end,

Ere long, with the righteous, in glory will end.

3. What, tho, if the favor of Ahman possessing,

This world's bitter hate you are called to endure?

The angels are waiting to crown you with blessings!

Go forward, be faithful, the promise is sure.

Go forward, be faithful, the promise is sure.

4. Be fixed in your purpose, for Satan will try you;

The weight of your calling he perfectly knows.

Your path may be thorny, but Jesus is nigh you;

His arm is sufficient, tho demons oppose.

His arm is sufficient, tho demons oppose.

Love,

Sister Young

Pictures-P Baptism

Happy Earth Day! 

Leadership Meeting

Snow, Snow

I only have a few minutes left because I have been writing a lot of personal emails. But I will try my best to fill you in on the week. 

So, Had a pretty good week. Things have gotten better this week, I am feeling more adjusted to the area. The Lord is helping me. We went on exchanges this week, and I got stuck in Laramie. So our usual 24 hour exchange turned into an extended exchange of 72 hours! Haha. It literally did not stop snowing for 3 days straight! It was crazy! We had to walk a lot too because they kept making it a no-drive day because of bad roads. Also, we didn't have a phone because the sister that I went with, her companion accidentally took it. It was quite an adventure but I truly loved it and I know there are reasons for all things. It was nice being in Laramie and I got to be in the YSA ward for 3 days, which I have always wanted to try. I was with Sister M. She is sooo sweet and I just love her a lot. I learned a lot from her and we had a great time together. 

We have still been teaching P and he is getting all prepared for baptism this weekend. He is going strong. The only thing he is struggling with really is keeping the Sabbath Day holy. We showed up last night and they had bought dinner from some restaurant. We'll have to go over that again. But he is doing really well and he is excited! 

Sorry, this isn't very long! But I love you all so much! Thanks for your love and support. 

Love,

Sister Young

Continue in Patience

Hello All!

Our top progressing investigator is P. He is still set to be baptized on April 25th, which is coming up really fast. He is doing really well. They are a super sweet family. 

Another investigator, N, she is 9, has been having some real struggles lately and doesn't want to be baptized. She is super smart. Most of the things that she says I just can't even believe are coming out of a 9 year old's mouth. She knows what she needs to do but is not willing to get baptized yet. She is having trouble feeling Heavenly Father's love because she is struggling to feel love in general. But she still comes to church, but she doesn't want to get baptized yet. Soon though, hopefully.

.

We had a ward party on Saturday night. It was super great. A yummy meal and then a lot of performances from the ward members and some non-members as well. We had quite a few non-members and less-actives that were able to come. The K family performed some traditional Korean songs and even sang, "How Great Thou Art" in Korean. It was neat to be a part of the whole evening and to finally get all of the ward members in one place so I could finally meet them all. We truly are part of a wonderful ward here. The people in Wyoming are so focused on the Atonement. I love it. I've been able to see how all kinds of different stakes work as I have gone throughout my mission and I have seen how the stakes that are most focused on the Atonement before they are focused on the numbers, those are the stakes where true miracles and progression happen. Those are the stakes where the most rescuing is being done. It is so great to be a part of that again here in Cheyenne. 

I love the Lord. We are doing His work. I am still learning to trust Him more. Especially when trials come and I don't feel like I can move forward. I was reading Pres. Uchtdorf's talk this morning from 2010. One of my all time favorite talks. "Continue in Patience." Here is a quote that I truly just loved. "

Patience Requires Faith

Brigham Young taught that when something came up which he could not comprehend fully, he would pray to the Lord, “Give me patience to wait until I can understand it for myself.” ⁵ And then Brigham would continue to pray until he could comprehend it.

We must learn that in the Lord’s plan, our understanding comes “line upon line, precept upon precept.” ⁶ In short, knowledge and understanding come at the price of patience.

Often the deep valleys of our present will be understood only by looking back on them from the mountains of our future experience. Often we can’t see the Lord’s hand in our lives until long after trials have passed. Often the most difficult times of our lives are essential building blocks that form the foundation of our character and pave the way to future opportunity, understanding, and happiness.

 I know that is true. I have been being continually built as I exercise patience. Trusting in the Lord. He knows what will help me most now, and help me most for my future family. He loves us perfectly!

I love you all!!! Have a fantastic week.

Love,
Sister Young

Pics-The K family in their traditional Korean clothing. 

A giant cookie that some members bought for us. I only could eat a few bites. 

We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet!

Hello!

 Happy Easter! How was your Easter Sunday? How was General Conference? Tell me all about it. What talks were your favorite? I am still processing. We watched conference at a a bunch of different places with people I had just met. haha. Such is life:) 

So, first, tender mercy of General Conference weekend. There is a family in the ward named the K family. Guess where they are from originally? Korea!!  Well, we watched Sunday morning with them yesterday and then they invited us to stay for lunch, which was Korean food!! Bee Bim Bop...I think that is how you spell it maybe. I was overjoyed. They are such a neat family too! And their cute Grandma was visiting them from Korea for the weekend as well and only spoke Korean the whole time. It was just a great place to watch conference. I'm excited to get to know them.

As as mission we are working towards helping 50 of Heavenly Father's children to the waters of Baptism this transfer. We have been fasting and praying for this as a mission and doing our part as much as we can. So, last week we did a mission fast. That same Sunday, there was a man from this ward who went to the bishop and told him that he is ready to be baptized. His wife is a member and he has been working with missionaries on and off for years. But he is now ready! We met with him this week and he truly has spent a lot of time gaining his testimony and now feels like he is ready to be baptized! He will be baptized on April 25th. Miracles! The Lord is truly preparing His children to be baptized. 

There is also a 9 year old girl we are working with who is ready to be baptized but is having a hard time setting a date to actually get baptized. Not quite sure what her hold up is yet. But we will figure it out for sure. 

My new companion is Sister Heintz. She is from Northern California. She is great. She loves life and has a positive attitude.

This weekend with General Conference, I was able to have my testimony of Living Prophets strengthened so much! Oddly enough it was during the sustaining of our leaders that my testimony was strengthened. With the odd occurrence of those who "opposed" our prophet, I had a mix of emotions occur. But as the session continued I realized how much I do know that Thomas S. Monson is God's Prophet on the Earth today! I will sustain and stand by him through whatever happens. When we sang the hymn, "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet," the spirit testified strongly to me that we do have a living prophet and "those who reject this glad message, shall never such happiness know." It just made me sad for those select few who chose to not sustain our prophet. They really have no impact upon the Lord's work. They will never receive the joy of the gospel. That is so sad. 

I know we have a living Prophet on the earth today! I will stand by him, sustain him, and follow him. I love you all so much! Have a wonderful week:)

Love,

Sister Young