February 8, 2010

Good Morning!

Yes I did recieve your e-mail dad thank you! I hope those who attend are comforted.

Thank for reminding me about my story! When I became a trainer I realized I didn't have my companion to rely on anymore (so to speak) as to who to see, teaching, and where to by as guided as the spirit. There came a point in the day when our appointments fell through. I realized that I wanted to follow what Heavenly Father wanted us to do but that listening to the spirit was and will be a work in progress. I prayed right there with faith and said "Heavenly Father we want to teach who you have prepared and we have the faith to find them." We began to drive again and we recieved a call from Byron E. Jones, a preacher who had ordered a bible. So we went quickly to his store (he owns a christian book store and wants to help the people around the ghetto) and we came to find he wanted to know more about the church and the B.O.M. He had felt something different when reading about the church, he said he was looking for truth and Heavenly Father helped us share some scriptures that he needed to read, the spirit was so strong!! We met his wife the next meeting and he is praying to be baptized and I'm still waiting to hear progress. He was very well versed in the Bible (of course) but I was amazed as I followed the spirit I turned to a chapter that answered one of his questions about the church before he had asked the question. I'm getting chills just writing it. Christ truly is at the head of this work.

I MOVED BACK TO BRAZOS. My address 1111 Golfview Drive, #1016 Richmond, Tx 77469- this will be faster than the mission home.

I can't imagine my life without the mission right now, I already know i'm going to be a funny RM. The Lord has refined me and shown me fears, concerns, things I love that I didn't even realize. He illuminates weakness so he can eliminate them. More importantly I have come closer to my Savior Jesus Christ. I love to teach.

I wake up everyday just bouncing out of bed to go study to each these wonderful people. We have three or four in this area that are reading the book of Mormon and looking for answers. I miss sunnyside and the people but am looking forward to all the amazing people we will meet here.

Dad, I figured out why I always say "i'm fine" to things. Growing up I literally took to heart perfection as the way to follow Christ. I would say i'm fine to cover frustration, sadness and any other experience life through at me. I was not using the Atonement in my life. I"m slowly coming to understand what that perfection means. Moroni tells us to "come unto Christ, and be perfected in him." Accept that some days are going to be the fruits of repentance and others are going to be part of the repentace process, enjoys the ups and downs of life while letting Christ be there. Some days I can give 8 talons, some days I can only give 2; but through the Atonement, it all comes down that through "The grace of God [we] are perfect in Christ"

Pride plays a part in this as well- admitting our mistakes and imperfections and then having faith in Christ is the healing power that each one of us needs. When I want to cry now dad, I cry, when I realize I didn't do something how I thought it should be done, I pray and Heavenly Father reassures me because you don't get any other reassurance out here on the mission that would be worth more. Working and living by the spirit is something I'm striving for everyday. I love how paul talks about his pre-eminance and stature in the jewish society was all "dung" compared to his conversion to christianity.

I"m out of time so remind me about two stories-
-I love alma
-refinement of speech

I love you all so much-. Talk to you next week!!

Sister Tuckett

Monday

Hey hey! I do love that song...

I will pray for Mckay Burrows family and I'll try and figure out what wailing with someone is like ha ha. I don't need a fast mommy it's ok I promise! I feel better right now too. It has been busy training Sister Pope. I will be in my new area tomorrow.

You are great and wonderful! How is the new house- thank you for the address. I will write more next week b/c it's busy.

Love you! I'm smiling!!

January 25, 2010

I had a funny experience the other day- we went to an apartment complex and one of our investigator's little girls was learning to ride a bike without training wheels and I realized the mother didn't know how to help her so I showed Jaime (the mom) how to hold the back of the bike and the handle bars to guide her-- You were such a good mother growing up knowing everything we needed and how to help- I really believe you have all the answers and are the most knowledgeable mother.

I am a little anxious right now because of some change but I love the ability to rely on the spirit. Mom I have realized that there is no sense of perfection and to stop trying to be perfect in what I think perfect is. My goal since the beginning is to be able to follow the spirit and as I have depended on that my understanding of myself is stronger and my ability to handle these changes is more secure. I love the quote by Joseph smith again that says If we don't understand the character of God we can't understand ourselves.

So this is what happened: Sister Jackson has to get thyroid surgery because she has a cold nodule that could become cancerous. She is training a new missionary that comes in this wednesday but her surger is on thursday- so president has asked me to stay for another week in this area and train this new baby for four days then move into spanish with another baby. I know this is what the Lord wants and I don't have to worry as long as I follow the spirit. So I won't move to my new area till next week.

Sorry this is going to be a long journal entry because there is so much to write. I was talking to a nurse about the health thing and she said it is possible that I am a saliac (the gluten thing) so i stay away from wheat and barley but I can eat rice. It has been two weeks without it and I feel great. I agree with the word of wisdom I won't cut out grains all together I love them! I'm not worried about gaining weight either because I have given everything to the Lord here that means a worn out and tired body at the end of this.

There have been some unforeseen expenses and I have had to use my debit card and I'll probably spend another 30 this week and that is it for food. I would love the rice cooker but honestly I can't fit it in my stuff! I will let you know if that changes but don't worry about sending me granola bars anymore ha ha

Nick and Rose are getting married- they stopped drinking and we are working on the drugs and the weed. Satan works so hard on these wonderful people as they strive to change their lives around.

Sometimes Mom I get impatient when people don't understand and I am a bold missionary- I tell them the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way for eternal happiness, any other church does not have the fullness of the Gospel and baptism without that authority is not valid. I am tactful though don't worry and who know how I can do it in spanish.

Collini is a mother with three little kids and has a sweet spirit. She is open to the Gospel and lives her life as a mormon.

Anthony: college student who is smart and motivated we found him in the outskirts of the hood and is going to be amazing!

Hello!!

For MLK day yesterday about 2,000 horses road down the streets of sunnyside and we had some good south barbecue- I was so sick but i made the experience! I don't think Martin Luther King would have appreciated them all celebrating his day drinking and such though.

Mother I wrote you a letter but it's not done yet- it will come soon! I recieved the drawing from Mar- Mar- YOur cursive is AMAZING! it's better than mine.

Tell me how the house is and all-

I'm trying to get better at writing experience and how I fell not just news so here it goes.

NEWS FIRST: I'm being transferred back into spanish on next wednesday so i'll let you know the following Monday- I'm going to be a "stepmother" which means i'm kind of a half trainer because my companion has only been out one transfer- i'm a little nervous because it's in spanish and being senior companion; but that doesn't make a difference we will just love the work of the Lord together and I have all the faith I will be able to speak. I will miss sunnyside: everyone is so receptive to the Gospel and they have so much faith-

DAD: I WOULD LIKE A COPY OF YOUR LINE OF AUTHORITY FOR THE PRIESTHOOD PLEASE- I've been studying the priesthood and it would be nice and i'm sending this note to mother because i know it would go on her to-do list anyways. Loves!

Sister Jackson has had a "Goiter" of an enlarged thyroid so we have seen the doctor a lot lately- we went to really nice part of downtown houston and I was a fish out of water- Sunny side is so poor and everyone in houston was RICH and you could smell the pride...the vanity was disheartening.

Nick (another gang member investigator) we have seen the beauty of the Atonement as he is lifted of the memories and sins of his past and has come realize his potential through Christ!

I wrote this to Josh but wanted to share with the family too:

There was a man that had asked a member of the church "so you believe there is a prophet of God on the earth today?" The member said confidently "of course, I know there is . "
the man then asked "then what has the prophet said lately that we should be doing?"

And the member couldn't think....if we believe there is a prophet of God on the earth do we follow him as we should? Do we truly know he is recieving the instruction for our lives from God?

I've been making sure to read the General Conference talks so I know what we should be realizing and focusing on right now. President Monson simply tells us we are here to serve and lift his children.

"Man's greatest happiness comes from losing himself for the good of others." Christ taught us that "unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives."

I love to teach the Gospel. There are things i'm working on everyday to become better. Jesus Christ truly is at the head of this work.

Love you all so much!