The Greatest Teacher

My dear family,

It has recently been brought to my attention that I have forgotten you don't live with me, nor do i contact you every day- so you don't know what is really going on with me- like who i live with. These are things your family normally knows.. especially after living with the same person for 4 months. Whoops! So let me introduce to you, Sister Michelle Brown. From West Jordan Utah.

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She attended copper hills high school and graduated in 2012. I was lucky enough to celebrate her 20th birthday with her a few months ago. yay! Upon graduating from high school she moved to Ogden to live with an aunt for the summer and got a job working at the local sizzler. As the new semester approached, she enrolled and attended Weber State University for one year beginning her studies in the criminal justice discipline. Her dream career would be to become a crime scene investigator ( she has found herself in the right neighborhood for that1 a couple weeks ago there was a murder down the road from us and the csi truck was there and the area was all caution taped off and everything! just like you see in the movies. don't worry. we are safe.) She felt like she was not reaching her true potential as a daughter of God while at college and felt there was something more for her in her life - entermission. and she was called to serve in the New Mexico Albuquerque Mission- reporting to the MTC 29 May 2013. (we did not know each other there.. met herre in NM) Sister Brown served the first 11 months of her mission in El Paso. neat. She served there in two different wards- both of which served the military bases there. She really loved it! and she especially loved being with the military families and learning from them. now fastforward to the middle of May 2014 and she moves to Rio Rancho to join Sister Stuart! who just loves to grill her with questions every single day :) one of which is what her dreams are.. you know me and dreams. Since serving with so many wonderful familes who have been affected, whether positively or negatively, by the military her career choices are changing. Currently, she would like to pursue a career in counseling to work with veterans suffering from PTSD. neat eh? She is a neat person. Upon the completion of her mission, Sister Brown plans to return home to a loving family of mom and dad and little sister. She plans to transfer colleges to a smaller one in SLC so she can live at home and earn some money to create a good savings account for her future adventures.  In the meantime, she is serving faithfully and loving inviting people to come unto christ. She has a very pure testiomny that resonates with power in peoples hearts. One of the neatest things about Sister Brown's testimony is that she has never lost it. She has never questioned the truthfullness of the gospel nor the positive impact it can have on any ones life - including her own. This is what she shares. This is what she is all about. (I feel like I have described a contestant on a gameshow to you...) 

We are also about having fun.. like making pancakes at 9:30 at night! literally- cake in a pan on the stove! GF devils food cake mind you- with alt the topping included. mmm. healthy? probably not. but delicious? yes! and great memories.

Sister Brown and I have had a pretty exciting week full of all kinds of things! One of the things that I LOVE doing - especially as a missionary, is service. and we have had plenty of oportunities to serve. it has been awesome1 and it seems that most of the time, it involves pulling weeds - and I can tell you I know I have grown as a person becasue I LOVE it! pulling weeds? who would? i never thought i would. But I love it now. ( no guarantees this is going to continue mom.... but I will gladly take over the lawn mowing!) except for the goat heads. Those are awful. if you think we have them bad at home- or across the street or wherever - come to New Mexico. home has none! there is a less active in the ward whose yard has been overtaken by them- so we brought it up in ward council as a possible service project for the youth or the scouts or someone to go help her out and it led to a hilarious conversation about them being native plants so we can't take them away. and I am doing a terrible job relating the humor to you.. must have been one of those had to be there moments..  or just another one of my fantastic stories.

We have also had some pretty neat experiences with missionary work lately too - I promise we do work. we do share the gospel. Actually, we had a really cool miracle happen yesterday, we did not plan for an effective day so we found ourselves with an awkward 10 minutes before we were suposed to meet our WML - so we decided we would jump out of the car and try to find someone on the road to talk to. So I pulled over real fast down the next street and we jumped out. No one was there. So I made the comment that maybe we should have parked down in our WMLs neighborhood and contacted around there while we waited for him. Sister Brown said "maybe. but maybe we are suppposed to be here." okay.. so we kept walking. still no one. I was ready to turn around when a lady walked out of her door. we said hello she asked what we were doing we told her what we were doing she said cool we asked if we could come back and share a message with her she said yes! then we left and sister Brown said "Sister Stuart, I think we were where we were supposed to be." right on sister Brown. it was cool! 

Also- we were able to meet with our investigator Juanita- we weren't able to see her at all last week. We didn't like it, but we questioned why it happened..  maybe she isn't interested anymore? maybe we are pushing toomuch? maybe we should give her some space? but hten we mat with her finallly and she said "I didn't see you at all last week and I missed it" okay. awesome! And now she is going to feed us dinner tomorrow and it is going to be so wonderful. She is great. and she always says to us that she has never felt so compelled by any religion before. usually she puts up a wall adn says no more. she has not felt that with us. and she usually feels like churchs get too much in her "business" but she doesn't feel that here either! And she knows the Book of Mormon is true! she says it is even more believable than the bible! and that it just speaks straight to her. Why we ever questioned i have no idea. We won't be any more. She truly is prepared.

Also, as missionaries, we have not so pleasant of experiences too though,. It is a bed of roses - but remember roses have thorns. One day, we went to contact a LA in the ward no one knows and while we were therewe saw this giant poodle (not the teacup kind. the real ones. that come up to my bellybutton) run into the road. Remember I still am scared of dogs. Sister Brown however is not - so she grabs it and starts petting it and loving it and checks the collar for tags. just a phone number - and no one answers. bummer. what are we supposed to do with a dog? one that I am terrified of! (this was not unwarrented.. it was growling and barking at me..) so we decided to knock doors - how about that approach for tracting eh? Is this your dog? no? okay- do you want eternal life? we should try that next time.. we didn't this time around becasue the first door we knocked onwas the owner! how neat is that! This little old lady answered the door - probably 80 someodd years old and was just so cute! she asked how we got her dog and how we knew it was her house. She was just so grateful! and.. she WASN"T WEARING PANTS!!! 80 year old ladies should wear pants.

We also learned a lot of important lessons this week - well at least I did. Sister Brown doesn't have the same struggles as I do so i don't know if she is feeling the same things i am.. but I am the one writing this email so i will tell you the important lessons I learned this week.

The first I would like to share with you is the importance of communication. it doesn't matter how long you know someone, how well you know them, how often you see them, how often you talk to them. you must communicate with them. and a crucial part of communicating is listening - not only to what they are saying, but to the spirit. The spirit speaks the things heavenly father would have you know. He knows the other person a whole lot better than you do -so my advice, listen. and when you are prompted to ask a question - ask it! It is inspired. and you will probably get the information you need that will help the situation a lot more than you ever thought possible. Communication should be as the spirit directs. that is something our mission president has counseled us to do- to allow the spirit to influence every decision we make. i would advise the same to you. it will save you from heartache and confusion and frustration. well, proabablynot completely, but it will help.

The second lesson I learned this week is not to fear failure. my greatest fear for my whole life. and guess what - I am cured! why? because I was taught by one of the most knowledgable couple, the Smith's, in our ward right now this last week. We had an incredible scriptural discussion on the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25. oh my word my mind was filled with all kinds of good things! But I would draw your attention to verse 24 -where the servant talks about how the master reaps where he has not sown and gathers where he has not strawed. How is this possible was the question that sparked the discussion. The answer - he doesn't need to. That is what we do? We do the sowing. We do the strawing. We use the talents He has given us and do the work. He trusts us. We cannot be scared to lose the talent in the process. The third servant was. that is why he buried it. He did not want to return empty handed - so he thought he would play it safe and stick it in the ground so he would have at least the one talent to return. He gives it back to the master and says "here, now you have what is yours back." yes we know the talents are the Lords- and he has given them to us to use - but we must internalize them. That servant did not. he was scared. Scared of what? failure? do you know why? Satan had a hold on him. The adversary does not want us to fail. what???? talk about an oxymoron! why is that? what does satan not want us to fail? well, think about it. what happens when you fail? you get up. you learn. and you do better the next time! Satan does not want us to improve- hence, he does not want us to fail. So, my family, i encourage you all to go out there this week and fail at something. and then improve! in the words of brother Smith, "Your greatest teacher is your last mistake."

Hope you aren't bored... Know that I love you all! I love this work - and i testify to you that it is hastening. Become part of it. as President Uchtdorf said - don't sleeop through the restoration. Live it. Spread it! I don't know about you, but I am not going to want to meet Joseph Smith or Nephi or Moroni or Heavenly Father and say to him- oh yeah, what a cool time that was to see the gospel unfolding. I enjoyed watching it. no- I want to say I was part of it! Awake, my family; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust. This is the work of salvation. This is your salvation. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love SIster Stuart

Representative of Jesus Christ

The smorgasboard of deliciousness. don't mind if i do!

weekly planning.. can't wait for mum's salsa! much better than pace's

We celebrated christmas in August! I reccommend it to anyone. It was wonderful. and I got a new ornament for the tree. wahoo! and an awesome pin. it was so fantastic.

also- we helped a lady clean her house! she gave me a scarf as a thank you- I put it on my head -and I found this awesome leather coat! too bad the arms are too short...

sister brown says I have toomany shoes -and I say, compared to what?

Toll Please, Star Heights Ward

Dearest Family,

A lot of fantastic things have happened this week! and it was all culminated yesterday when the cruz family received the gift of the Holy Ghost to be their constant companion FOREVER! but unfortunatley, we don't take pictures of that.. but the baptism was pretty incredible too! So many of the ward came to support them and the spirit was most definitely there. It was neat. I am so thankful to have been part of their journey to the gate. Now- the countdown begins. T-minus 1 year to being sealed together for time and all eternity! So count me out of utah and back in NM for that one. Oh I am just so happy for them! At the baptism, I learned a very valuable lesson on the power of prayer and the dang influence of the devil. ugh. hate him. anyway.. Mother Cruz was baptized first - after the talks and the musical number and such, sister Brown and I walked back to the door of the font with her and she just started crying. We asked what was happening and she told us she was just so scared. Here she is, at the edge of the path to eternity- to be made totally and completely clean- the prerequisite step to receiving the best gift ever in this life - and she was scared. Why? becasue the dang devil was there. gross. So we prayed with her and dismissed him. and you know what? He left. Instantly. isn't that neat? I thought so. it was cruddy that he thought he was invited in the first place - but not to worry, he was excused. and the rest of the day went on without a hitch! so wonderful. and they are so happy. I love this work. then that night - we had a lesson with another investigator who has been a little warey, weary, waery??? about the church and the whole baptism thing but the spirit was so strong she said she would come to church on sunday and she would be baptised when her prayers are answered that this is true! yahoo! it was so awesome! and then, she did come to church! yes! and Brother cruz, who normally works every sundsy (he is not baptized yet..) was able to get this week off to see his family confirmed and he came! For the first time! and he loved it! oh it was just so wonderful fam. Wish you were here to witness it. But you probably would not have felt quite the same as we did becasue you weren't as involved in the events leading up to the grand event - but did you know you can? Phone a friend. Invite them to participate in eternity. then call the missionaries! the joy you will experience is priceless! unlike anything you could ever experience. neat. really.

what else.. I know there was a lot that happened.. but that is all I can really think of right now. It was just so splendid!

oh- transfer news. I will tell you that! well I guess I kind of did already - SIster Brown and I are staying together for another 6 weeks in the Star Heights ward. yay! A lot of good things will be happening. but we are moving apartments. so don't send any more mail to 615 vancouver anymore. keep that mailbox empty. We also don't know where we are going... the housing coordinator doesn't even know. That gives you confidence eh? I will be sure to take and send you pictures of our new home under the bridge :) 

Love you all!

check the mailbox... empty.

Conquer Goliath. Check.

Learn to be a homemaker - gluten free style!

The final picture of the bigheaded district - or you could call us the Cabezon district. 

The sisters in the Rio Rancho zone! and all 10 of us are staying put for another 6 weeks!

They did it!! It happened! all lined up - ready to go swimmin! yahoo!

The mother who is ready to have her family for eternity! I love her so very much!

You know you are a missionary when...

GOOOOOOOD MORNING SUNSHINES!

I am so excited to tell you all about my week! It has been so exciting! well-it was actually a pretty typical week, but what is not exciting about sharing the gospel full time?? You are right- there is nothing that is not exciting!!! So I am going to tell you all about it - and hope you feel the same excitememnt that I do! and then when you do feel the excitement- SHARE IT! not my letter - but the gospel!

Let me start by telling you the neat thing I learned from my scripture study this week - well it was another thing that I was taught by a member during a lesson.. we are reading the Book of Mormon with our dear investigator Helen and we just finished ! Nephi with her. how exciting! So what did I learn? well the 22nd chapter of 1 Nephi is all about the scattering and gathering of israel- neat! and what is even more neat is that we are all part of that right now! the most interesting part to me, is that there are members of the ten tribes who were scattered and lost among us now- AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THEY ARE ! That is why it is so important we share the gospel to help them know who they are! to thelp them know they are part of the abrahamic covenant and are entitled to the blessings of such- ahem.. ETERNAL LIFE WITH YOUR FAMILY AND WITH GOD! what could be better? and another tremendously important part of the gathering is family history. I have learned to absolutely love that since being on my mission. I think my dream calling in the church would be to be a family history consultant. wouldn't that be neat? I sure think so. then maybe I could solve the dilemma of great great great grandpa john stuart. and gather him into Israel! yahoo! the other thing I learned about the gethering of Israel - it is part of Ephraim's birthright and one of the blessings of beinga descendant of Ephraim to be able to recognize the truth and the gospel when it is heard - that is why so many right now are from the tribe of ephraim - the others don't know the truth yet. don't worry - they will soon.

Also in this week we were able to pull more weeds! yahoo! and I found a frog! also- I found a herd of carpenter ants. those things are nasty! and one of them bit me! and it hurt so bad. a dinky little ant. and it kept stinging for over 4 hours! watch out for those things. they are not nice. also in the service realm this week- we were helping a member prepare a huge amount of freezer meals - taco meat, meatloafs, shepherds pie, chicken - all kinds.. my job was to cut onions and I was really crying.. then I remembered my brillliant dad! and of course they all have goggles here- that is a summer must! only- i didn't have a camera.. so sorry missed the photo opportunity. but it worked! Dad is brilliant.

REmember Renee- who we contacted in two minutes and were able to set a return appointment with? actually I didn't tell you her name last week- but she was the one we talked to in that awkward space of ten minutes before we met with our WML - anyway, we were a little worried she was not going to keep her appointment, it was way too easy to contact her! but she did!! and we had a reallly good lesson with her! at least the first part of it was really good- and she was very open and very acceptinag and we were just having really good converssations... then in came her father in law. whoa. things went down hill pretty quick. when we left, our member asked if we thought it was a ploy to get us out of there.. hmmm... things are going really well- these missionaries think I am really interested - I don't want to be mean and tell them I really am not - so I will just call my crazy father in law to come scare them away! hmmm... well- if that was indeed her ploy- it didn't work! becasue we are going back! and sister brown and I both felt really good about it! so renee will most likely be introducing the gospel to her fatherinlaw in no time.

Another neat experience we had teaching this week was feeling the influence of the spirit. We were inj a lesson with LC - she is a little rough around the edges but is so prepared for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ (tribe of Ephraim maybe??). She is a pretty heavy smoker and drinker and she loves to party! anyway- we were having a real good lesson on the plan of salvation and we were talking about families being together forever and such and such and talking about kids and she says that she does want to have kids - but becasue of health problems with her and her husband - it will be very hard for them to have children of her own. They tried for a few years at the beginning of their marriage to no avail. Both sister Brown and I felt very prompted to promise her that she would be able to have children if she were to stop drinking and smoking. We haven't even taught her the word of wisdom yet! It was pretty neat. She didn't take immediately to it though... saying she would quit when she was ready to have kids and that she is not now.. but a little bit later in the lesson she dumped 3/4 of the beer she was drinking out on the tree we were sitting next to with no encouragement on our part. It was awesome!

and of course - being a missionary - you always have awkward moments - and most of the time, we create them ourselves! let me tell you about the one from this week.. First though- let me explain to you the awesome zone we have! Every day we pray for a companionship in the zone to see miracles that day. They tell us what specifically they are looking for that day and we all pray for it. last week we had a miracle day! and we asked the zone to pray that we would be able to find out Louie's concerns - what was preventing him from following the example of jesus christ and his wife and kids by being baptized. We had dinner scheduled with them for that night and were going to have a lesson afterward so it was perfect! back story done. So we show up for dinner and it is serenity's birthday! so they invited a neighbor family over (LA/PM family who we are also teaching which is a huge miracle in and of itself - Stephanie was baptized 3 years ago- Isaac was not all that supportive of it, she quit going. now she is going we are teaching Isaac and their families are fellowhipping eachother! It is so awesome. miracles. neat) ao anyway- back to dinner. It was a grand old time and a lot of fun.. but after we had been there for far too long already we decided we needed to go. So we left. We didn't even share a scripture or anything! what were we thinking? That was our chance to find out Louie's concern! and possibly Isaac's too! I mean the whole zone was praying for it and we just blew it! so what did we do? we went back! yep. awkward. We planned to share a couple scriptures that would have been so awesome! we only got through one.. then the kids went crazy and there was no more spirit.. but we were able to individually talk to Louie and the grandma and have a really good chat with each of them- so it worked out! and we found out- Louie hasn't been praying. yay! concern found! and then we left. you might think this would have been the very most awkward thing ever- but let me tell you the neatest thing- I DIDN"T EVEN FEEL AWKWARD!!! that is how you know you are a missionary. Love it. I love this work.

The Lord willhasten His work in HIs time - the time is now. I am so blessed to be part of it. So are you- so get out there!

I love you all

SIster Stuart

caught napping.. oops. good thing it was p-day!

and I found a frog!! I can catch it- but still no lizard... one day I will get that one

Quick Update

Miracle of the week!
President Miller has asked that all missionaries in car areas park it for one day and get out and walk! or ride bikes if they have them, in an attempt to talk to more people and to be out teaching and testifying and inviting on contact.. our day to do that is Monday - after we do our weeekly planning-maybe it is cheating becaseu we only have half a day to proselyte... but we do it! anyway - that day was yesterday, and about 30 minutes into our nice little stroll, my dear comapnions knees start to bother her and she can't really go on much further.. We still had a long day ahead of us.. and an appointment to get to. SO we kept going. What a trooper! Well, our appointment canceled. so now we are just wandering aimlessly and it is the middle of the day and it is hot and NO ONE is outside so we weren't even talking to anyone.. it was a bit of a bummer.. and she was in a lot of pain. it was just cruddy. and then, what happens but a member pulls up and asks if we need a ride anywhere! wahoo! only - we didn't have anywhere to go... but there is a family on a mobilizing ward mission plan that we have been trying to get in contact with so we figured we would have them take us there! so we tell them.. take us to Geraldine Road. and they did! only guess what.. He lives on Geraldine Loop. not the same place. whoops! but we get out of the truck anyway - we could just walk over to Brother Yazzie's home anyhow.. But then there were two guys outside across the street working onthe fuel tank of their truck- so we went and talked to them! One of them was a member even! most definitely not active though! But that won't be for long.. becasue now we know who he is and where he lives! yay! but the real miracle is - they weren't interested in talking to us really... but they sent us to the upstairs apartment where there lived two ladies who could be.. so we went up to see them! they weren't. But when we came back down there was a third guy out there and we started talking to him and he started telling us how he is changing his life by going to church and finding God and trying to raise his two daughters with his wife and how prayer helped him find a job just when his unemployment ran out and it was so awesome! we were able to testify of the enabling power of the Atonement and new beginnings that come from baptism and we set a return appointment for Friday. MIRACLE. it was neat.

Things are going pretty well for sister Brown and I. We are loving this work look forward to every single day that we have to be servants in this portion of the Lor'ds vineyard. It is neat to be trusted so much by the Lord.

Mormon 9:31

Sorry short today! not much time.. actually, I have been at the library for two hours now.. but I have been dinking around on fmaily search and lds.org for far too long that I didn't realize what time had passed. But I was looking for all kinds of inspirational things ye know and i loved this qoutoe by President Uchtdorf so I thought I would share it with you. But e=xciting things of the week- the cruz family is getting baptized! I will be sure to send you pictures next week. Look forward to it! and I will also be sure to write this email before I dink around elsewhere. but give thanks to God that my imperfections of communication have been made manifest unto you that you can learn from my mistakes and be more wise than I have been. oh yikes.

Love you all the same!

And she threw up purple

Hello my dear family! So y'all can breathe a sigh of relief! I have no set topic I would like to speak to you on this day so you get my ramblings again! yay! okay- you may now suck back in your sigh of relief...

But what a week we have had since the last time we spoke! actually- it is more like what a year it has been since the last time we spoke! but - it has been a wee since you have last heard my lovely voice speaking to you as if from the dust as you have read my words. Have you ever tried to imagine Moroni's voice as he says that? What do you think he sounds like?  Speaking of Mormoni - I have been reading his words a lot in the last week- mostly becasue I started reading the Book of Mormon again! Am I confused? reading Moroni? shouldn't I be reading NEphi? Not if you are reading it BACKWARDS! yep.  That is right. Backwards. And I tell you what – it is totally awesome! (lego movie reference.. don’t know if anyone caught that. No I have not seen it.. everyone quotes that here though so I feel like I have seen it.) It is also confusing at some points because you read about these people dying and then the next chapter you read they are alive. What?? It is not like the chapter in wayside school that makes oodles more sense when you read it backwards – but I am learning a lot. It is interesting because a lot of differnet things are sticking out to me that were before – like how Coriantumr was the last Jaredite alive. Did you know that Ether prophesied to him that he would be the lsat one alive of his people? And it would be a punishment? I was ultra confused because I forgot one key detail – Coriantumr was wicked. And Ether told him that if he would not repent he would not die. He would live to see all of his people killed and the land be taken by another group of people for their inheritance – Enter Limhi! Cool right? You probably already knew all of that.. but it was cool for me to read again. So other than being confused most of the time in the story- I am learning a lot. Also, did you know that there is a full length film depicting the envents of the book of Mormon? I din’t either- until we were over at our investigators house last night for family home evening and they were watching it. It is on the Mormon channel on youtube. I don’t know if it has been put out by the church – I feel like I would have heard of it if it was.. but they liked it. I hope it brings the stories to life for Bryan.

And guess what- they are all set to be baptized next Thursday! Wahoo! We are so incredibly excited for them! And Sara gave us cards last night and it she bore her testimony and it is so sweet! I want to share it all with you – to share the joy of missionary work with you. I really know what the Lord means when He tells us how great our joy will be when we bring even one soul unto Him. "Thank you so much for never giving up on us and showing us just what was missing. I now know this is true, and I will be able to teach my kids that Heavenly Father will always be there and we will be together for all eternity as a family.” I am so excited for them! And then next year – I will be making a trip back to ABQ to see them be seald to gether for time and all eternity. How blessed we are to have this in our lives. To KNOW this life is not it. Death is not the end. I was reading in 1 corinthians 15:29 today about baptisms for the dead- it is one of the few (if not only) places in the bible where baptisms for the dead are mentioned in the bible – but it really is testifying not of the vicarious ordinance but of the reality of the resurrection! What is the point of performing those vicarious ordinances, heck even ordinances for ourselves, if there is no resurrection? But we will live again so it is totally worth it!! And the neatest part about the Gospel of Jesus Christ – none of it has to be a mystery. We can know of all the truth for ourselves! We just have to pray and ask God. Time and time again it tells us this in the scripture. You have a question? Okay- pray about it! (thank you brother Porras!) The Lord promises us that whoever believes in Him- doubting nothing – To him will the Lord confirm all his words. Even until you die. So keep asking! Just don’t doubt. Despise not – and wonder not. Listen to the words of the Lord and ask the Father in the name of Christ for whatever it is you stand in need of. Doubt no! but be believing! Come unto the Lord and work out your own salvation. Be wise and ask with a firmness that cannot be shaken and if you do this – and endure to the end – you will not be cast out of His presence! Yay! Isn’t that all what we want?  But we all make mistakes right? I know I sure do .. but don’t condemn me – or anyone else for their errors.. just learn from them! I am messing up so you can learn to be more wise than I am. Isn’t that kind of me? Okay pride. You may leave now. That is part of being wise. Stripping yourselves of all pride and uncleanliness. I’m working on it.. especially as we help people clean their homes. Sometimes the only thing that can get you clean after that is a loooong shower with a lot of soap. Yay for modern conveniences!

Sorry this is random times 10! But I do love this work and I love being a missionary. The church is true dear family. This I know. I know you will see me again. Even if I die tomorrow. But let us not talk about that okay... but the church is true! and so is the Book of Mormon – even backwards.

I love you all!

Sister Stuart

And now you may breathe a real sigh of relief becasue I am done. Whoa - long windded! you are just getting a piece of what sister Brown ges every day! 

Sunday School

Great news- one of the families we are teaching finally made it to church yesterday- and guess what, THEY LOVED IT! how awesome is that? It was pretty fantastic. The 13 year old daughter felt very welcomed in Young Womens and the 8 year old son loved primary. He even knew the answers to the questions in sharing time (that'll make you feel good as a teacher eh?) The question was asked- what do we need to do to go to Heaven? and he raises his hand -knowing the answer - and exlaims -GET BAPTIZED. yahoo! He was right! We do- that is the first saving ordinace we partake of. But I would ask - aftrer you have entered in by the way of baptism and received the HOly Ghost - is all done? No. YOu have only made it this far becasue of the word of Christ - and your unshaken faith in Him. So you need to continue doing that. and the church makes it weasy for us to do so - Go to church! Read your scriptures - and pray! Yay. i have received many promises that if I continually feat upon the scriptures - specifically the Book of Mormon - I will never lose my testimony. isn't that neat? all becasue of a book. but it is not just any book - it is the word of God. 

ALso- all the Laws and ordinances of the gospel help us to endure as well. Those can be found in lesson 5 of chapter 3 in PMG. by the way, in following up from Elder Ballard's talk in this Last General Conference, how is your study Of Preach My Gospel coming along? I have not received any  letters or emails of what you have been learning in your personal study of that inspired manual - I hope it is going well! 

anyway- on to waht I wanted to write about in enduring to the end - and how the church has it set up so perfectly that we can!

 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a 4 fold mission:

Proclaim the Gospel

Perfect the Saints

Redeem the Dead and

Care for the Needy.

Neat right? I didn't know about this until this year - maybe it is supposed to be kept quiet? nah- it is way too wonderful to be kept hushed. and everything in the church falls into one of those four categories - that is what I have been studying in PMG lesson 5

I am sorry this week is BOOOORING. and now I am done with my 5 week mini series. and I will return to my usual ramblings.. I don't know if you should be excited or not....

I am safe, warm, and happy and loving this work! oh and by the way - the family we are teaching is going to get baptized in two weeks! yahoo for entering by the way and taking the steps to the celestial kingdom to be forever as a family!

Sister STuart