The gospel blesses families

Merry Christmas everyone! Hopefully y'all aren't getting too stressed with Christmas shopping and all the hustle and bustle :)

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas here! We got quite a bit of snow last night and this morning so we woke up to a white blanket outside. I really love the snow. Not so much the cold, but beggars can't be choosers, right?

We had a pretty good week considering its the holidays and a lot of people are super busy at this time of year. We had an awesome lesson with J (the 12 year old kid) on Wednesday. We took him to the temple visitors center and talked to him about being with his family forever and getting sealed to his future wife for eternity. They also have a really cool statue of Christ that has a recording that goes with it explaining what Christ has done for all of us. We all felt the spirit so much and Jason told us how much he wanted to get baptized. Its so frustrating! He knows what he needs to do but his mom won't let him do it! 

We also had a great lesson with C and K. We talked about the Plan of Salvation (or God's plan for His children) and we were able to address some of K's concerns. They are both doing a lot better with smoking which is awesome!! We are going to teach about the Gospel of Jesus Christ this week and invite K to get baptized. 

We also met a new investigator this week! His name is S and he is awesome! He has had a lot of problems and has made a lot of really bad choices in his life, but he is at this place where he is just done with it all. He knows he needs to change something but he doesn't know how. So... this is perfect for us! We basically just talked about how the Gospel of Jesus Christ can help him get out of the bad place he is in. We invited him to come to church (not really thinking he would) but he actually showed up! He really enjoyed it and wants us to come back soon and teach him again. Unfortunately he is going out of town for a few weeks so we are hoping Satan doesn't make his way back into S's life.  

Can I just say how grateful I am for the members of the church here. Especially our stake president. Man he is amazing. He is so missionary minded and motivating to the members. Its one thing for us to tell people they need to do missionary work, but when the stake president says it, people listen. We had stake conference this weekend and President Wilcox spoke. He grew up in a less active home and was actually an "over-age youth". Over-age youth are kids (9 and older) who have been blessed in the church but aren't baptized. Basically a majority of the investigators we have. He said he grew up in a super in-active home and if it weren't for the missionaries coming and teaching him, he wouldn't be where he is today. This gave me so much hope! I sometimes feel like the kids we teach aren't getting much out of the lessons we teach, but who knows? They could be a stake president someday! 

I am so grateful for my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is so interesting to see the contrast between people who have the gospel in their lives and those that don't. Of course there are exceptions, but for the most part, those that apply gospel principles in their lives are much happier. They have the assurance of their Heavenly Father's love for them and they know why they are here. Those that don't seem to lack direction and purpose and aren't as happy. Part of the first lesson we teach is that the gospel blesses families. I am really starting to see how true this is. When families are built upon the teachings of Jesus Christ, they are stronger and better able to deal with trials that come. 

I love the gospel and the stability it brings to my life. I know my Savior lives and loves me. 

Until next time,

Sister Park

Pic 1: My awesome zone

Pic 2: The wind here is unreal!!