Family and Friends!

5/21/13

Family and Friends!

     So... I was in such a hurry to get to the library in order to write everyone that I forgot my planner... So bear with me as I try to remember what has even happened since I last e-mailed! Goodness, that planner is my life! Without it I don't even know what has happened during a week. So I guess the first thing was I got to do exchanges again because Sister Horrocks went up to her temple Jubilee (which is a day you spend out at the temple once you have hit your halfway mark) I'm thinking you all must have been praying too hard for me to get to use my bike while I am out here... Because boy oh boy did that happen! Neither Sister Briggs nor I had driving privileges so it was a biking day only someone forgot to consider the fact that Sister Briggs' area (which we were in for the day) is not even close to where her house is.. Not only that we had to bike up a mountain to get there as well. Needless to say it was a crazy and really tiring day! But, its alright I guess that is Heavenly Fathers way of telling me I need to get back in shape and finally get used to the elevation difference here. So after our crazy busy biking day I got Sister Horrocks back from the temple and then we turned around and went back up to the temple together with Harriet to go and do baptisms! It was really nice to get to go to the temple again, I feel like it has been forever but really it has only been three months since I was last there. It was also a great experience to see someone who has just been baptized turn around and give those privileges and opportunities to ancestors who didn't have the chance to accept the gospel in this life. I know it meant a lot to her to be able to perform those ordinances.

     This week we also got to do A LOT of service, which is good because our mission has changed its focus and is trying to incorporate service more. In fact we were talking about how Christ served people AND taught them. The Denver North mission has a new stipulation that their missionaries have to do at least 10 hours of service a week! One would think that this would take away from the work, but this is not so. They have been able to teach and touch more lives by serving them than they have previously done. So, Sister Horrocks and myself have been trying to focus on service. Which has been great! First we helped the members we live with set up the first of the three wedding receptions they have coming up; and then we had the opportunity to help someone pack up their dorm room and move out. It is so great to be able to serve and be Gods hands on this earth. There is a quote in Preach My Gospel by President Gordon B. Hinckley that says: "Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people... Stand higher, lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ." I just love this quote and the promise that comes with it. If we loose ourselves in the service of those around us we WILL be happy. I know that to be true because I have seen it. On rough weeks or even days, if we 'go about doing good' then it makes the whole day better and we are blessed for it. In fact I just thought of a scripture in Mosiah 4:19 it says: "19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?"

Then he goes on to talk about how if God who is so great gives us so much how we ought to impart our substance upon those in need. But! Even then we are given blessings. One thing I have been thinking about lately is that God doesn't do anything unless he knows that one day it will make us happy. He truly cares for all of us, and sometimes there are going to be moments where things are rough. But, how would we ever recognize the good times if we don't go through tough ones? Happiness is a choice, and sometimes a hard one but we have been given our agency and along with that we can choose to be happy!

I love you all and I hope you are doing well! Stay safe and don't forget to be happy!

Love,

Sister Bice