Helaman 5:12

Dearest family and friends,

I've decided to start putting some of my favorite scriptures as the subject line of my emails. Helaman 5:12 is like the ultimate scripture! It's probably quoted every conference and it is just the best ever! I love it because from it we learn that if we have our testimony centered and founded on our Savior, Jesus Christ, then no matter what happens to us, we will be able to get through it. I use it a lot with the less active members that I come across. A lot of them have been offended or just stopped coming to church. With this scripture, if we apply it to our lives, even if somebody offends us at church, we should be able to look past that because we don't go to church to make people like us, we go so that we can come closer to our Savior. That's the whole point. To remember Him by partaking of the sacrament. It's the best thing in the world! :)

There was a comment made at MLC last week that I was going to put in my email but I forgot. It was in our Tuesday morning meeting and we were talking about how God makes things happen. Someone made the comment about how cool and crazy it is that God prepares His people to accept the Gospel. President Shumway continued to say that that is cool but what is even cooler is.....then he counted the people in the room. He said something like, "What's even cooler is that there are 30 of us in this room, all from different places of the country, with different family situations, different personalities, and somehow God managed to get us all on missions, be the type of missionary that becomes a leader, and get us in the same room at the same time." We all were amazed but then even more amazed at the comment made by Elder Bartschi, one of the Assistants. He said, "Even with us all having our agency." I don't know if what I just typed out made any sense to you but it was such a cool experience to realize how much God is truly in our lives. If I only learn one thing on my mission, it's the power that God truly has in this world. It's amazing.

Well, the Statons are....well...being the Statons. Sort of. They usually cancel on us or aren't home at the appointment time. This time, Sis. Staton broke her leg! Crazy! She was teaching her 4 year old to roller blade and in the process fell and broke her leg close to her ankle. I don't think her daughter will be roller blading any time soon...she's probably scarred for life. Just kidding. Anyway, so we werent' able to see them this week. We talked to President Martin on Saturday night at the adult session of stake conference and he said he had sent Bro. Staton the link to where her could view Stake Conference(they broadcast it on the internet because the stake is so spread out). So we will see if they got a chance to view it! Apparantly Bro. Staton has been sick too.

The Jacksons! We had a really good, spiritual lesson with them on Wednesday night. Bro. Jackson started crying as I recounted Joseph Smith's experience. I really think he just needed a testimony booster/reminder. He also said the closing prayer. It was very emotional. After it, he said, "I'm a cop! Cops don't cry!" It was kind of funny. :) We are going to see them tonight so we are pretty excited for today.

I met Keira's future husband. He's the cutest little guy ever. We had dinner with the Berry's on Wednesday night. They're in the process of coming back to church. Little Mr. Berry (he's only 4, but that's okay. Him and Keira will be on a mission at the same time and then they can come home and get married. :) ) is super friendly. Anyway, they're a great family! Sis. Berry is a year younger than me which is crazy because she has two kids and one of them is 4! But we are hoping that they'll start coming. It'll be hard because Bro. Berry works two weeks on, two weeks off, so he isn't home every weekend. But we'll work with Sis. Berry! :)

This week I've had a nasty cold. I think I got it from Sister Magness at MLC, but that's okay. I still love her. Actually, of any week to get sick, this was the one because we didn't have any exchanges so I was able to recoup and today I feel much better! Except for my nose is still runny and so my ears are driving me crazy because they're all clogged up. But, I'll be much better in the next few days. It's funny the things we take for granted until we don't have them - like breathing!!! It's all good though.

Bro. Lynch is doing fantastic! We met with him on Friday! Sis. Vendel took us to Booneville to meet with him. He just accepts everything we teach him. The Philpots picked him up on Sunday to come to Stake Conference (they also pick up Bro. Henry :)
). There just isn't a lot of members out where they live and so the ward is going to have to buy the Philpots a bigger car if this continues! Not really but we keep joking about it with our Bishop and the Ward Council. Anywho, Bro. Lynch really liked Stake Conference. There was one talk in particular that he liked. I'll talk about it later if I remember. :)

Yesterday we had a really good lesson with the Hobbs. They are really wanting to make a change in their lives and I think they really want to come to church. We did the first half of the Restoration. We got stuck on the subject Jesus Christ. Which is not a bad thing at all! It was so good that the Spirit directed us to talk about Jesus Christ some more. They really need to apply the Atonement into their lives. I love the way that the Gospel changes people! :)

Stake Conference was so good! The Oklahoma City Temple President and Matron were there and they spoke to us. It made me miss the temple! At home, we are so blessed to have several temples so close to us! The closest temple out here is about 4 hours away. A whole days trip! I've recommitted myself to going to the temple every week when I get home! I miss it so much!

A lady from Mena, Ar., also spoke to us. She is a convert. Her husband was a less active member when she met him and he still is. She just went through the temple a few months ago. She wanted to wait until her husband became active again but then she got the impression that she should just go to the temple. Because of it, she's seen so many blessings and her husband has started asking her questions about the church and even coming and attending church. This is the talk that Bro. Lynch liked the best. She really focused on the blessings of being a member of the church. I actually met her a couple weeks ago while on an exchange and she is just the nicest person ever!

Anyway, it wasn't too bad of a week! Our numbers were a little lower because of being gone for 2 days for MLC and because of me being sick, but it was a good week and God is blessing us for our efforts!!!

I love you all!! Have a good week!

See you soon then!

Love, Sister Pahl :):)