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Hey Mom!!

Yes I can recieve pictures downloaded

Two weeks ago I recognized how fear works in our lives too. I learned that fear is not from God and that we can know when Satan is trying to dismay, discourage us from doing something that is the best for us. I just said "Good try but not today!"

Well I have a new companion again, Sister Van Tienderen! She is right out of the MTC. Her family lives in Holiday and she is amazing. She is fearless for her first week in the field and we are seeing many blessings in the work.

Elder Costa came to our area last week and we all got to shake his hand and talk with him. (He is the one that gave the talk on prophets during the saturday morning session) He is an amazing man. As we all went to shake his hands he said "every time I meet with the missionaries I shake their hands so I can feel of their spirit" in his brazilian accent he told us his conversion story. His family was baptized but he didn't want to be at first, at sixteen years old He was sitting outside a room where two sister missionaries were teaching an older lady- he heard the story of Joseph Smith and he began to think about it- he left to meet with some buddies but the spirit was working so hard on him he returned home shortly after and asked his mom for a Book of Mormon. He began to read at 7:00 pm that night and didn't stop until 9:00 am the next morning when he closed the book he knew it was true- he ran to the sister's home with the BOM in his hand and waited till they came home- upon their arrival he said he needed to be baptized (he had never been in the church or knew anything about baptism) they said they would need to get permission and it went all the way to their mission president to teach him three lessons one day and 4 the following and then he would have his interview. he said "I knew I needed to be baptized"

It was an amazing meeting. I learned that a testimony comes to those who are willing to pay the price, just like an academic degree we must but in the effort of study, prayer, meditation and doing so that we may know with that assurance of divinity. I like this quote by President Spencer W. Kimball about recieving personal revelation.

" God will make it known unto you once you have capitulated and have become humble and receptive. Having dropped all pride of your mental stature, having acknowledged before God your confusion, having subjected your egotism, and having surrendered yourself to the teaching of the Holy Spirit, you are ready to begin to learn."

I love that story about Caleb! I forgot about that the proportion of protein applies with how many carbs you eat. Everything has been so great with my food though Mom. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much I can't believe how free I feel of it. I never realized how much I was in pain all the time- it was almost three years of trying to figure out what was going on but I feel now that I have the discipline and food plan that has really helped me. I'd love to know what else you learn. How is your class going?

We met an amazing lady with three kids from El Salvador- her husband left her for another woman and her Faith in Christ has carried her through many hard things. She genuinely wants to know the true church of Christ and the spirit is so strong every time we go to teach her because of her faith.

I was wondering (for a Family Home Evening) all of you could write your testimonies and send them to me so that I can share them with our investigators (translated of course) Also I would just love to have them with me.

I loved President Monson's talk on gratitude. It was perfect. It has been said through gossip "His talks are so simple and short, I expected more from a prophet." and I began to wonder "Why would we need more than that?" "What else would/should we want from a prophet?" In our lives- Complexity gives us a sense of control and management- Something I have learned and am still learning is that we cannot achieve Godly outcomes through Satan's means- anything that promotes a sense of control is not how Heavenly Father works but that Heavenly and earthly laws govern our lives as we adhere to the spirit and "the truth shall make you free" I know we can simplify our lives. I believe that when Heavenly Father reveals the secrets of the world we will say " Really? it's that simple" Because it is...

I'd like to live in a distorted free life :)

" ...For the spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be" (Jacob 4:13)

I am so eternally grateful for you as my parents, for my brothers and sisters who support me and love me. I'm so grateful for all the people I have met who have left me a little bit better, a little closer to my Savior.

Much Love,

Jess