Sunday, November 4, 2012

SOOOO this week was good... interesting... but good.

I really felt like we were there when people needed us this week.  :) and i learned so much from my companion. I love her so much. Im so glad that i have the opportunity to be her companion right now as she is finnishing up her mission.  I will admit this transfer i was a little sad when hermana franco (who has less time in the mission than i do) moved up to senior companion and i didnt. I felt like maybe i just wasnt good enough or that the lord doesnt have confidence in me (does that make sense in english?) but honestly i feel more and more like i have to be with hermana terrera and thats all thats important to the lord. it doesnt matter to him if im senior or junior companion. as long as im trying to do my best he will make up the difference.  and i am so grateful for that. and i got really humbled from my little bit of pride... well lots im so gra teful for the mission.

Okay so this week we have been sharing a talk with a whole lot of hte women that we teach. especially they younger ones.  its by President Uchtdorf from the young womens broadcast in 2010... its soo good. its called "Your happily ever after"  here is the link if you want it. 

http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2010/03/your-happily-ever-after?lang=eng

But he starts out talking about fairytales and taht the best part is "and they lived happily ever after" - remember that its for young women -  and he talks about how we all can have a happily ever after.  he says "

"“Happily ever after” is not something found only in fairy tales. You can have it! It is available for you! But you must follow your Heavenly Father’s map.
Sisters, please embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ! Learn to love your Heavenly Father with all your heart, might, and mind. Fill your souls with virtue, and love goodness. Always strive to bring out the best in yourself and others.
Learn to accept and act upon the Young Women values. Live the standards in For the Strength of Youth. These standards guide and direct you to your “happily ever after.” Living these standards will prepare you to make sacred covenants in the temple and establish your own legacy of goodness in your individual circumstances. “Stand … in holy places, and be not moved,” 5 regardless of temptations or difficulties. I promise you that future generations will be grateful for you and praise your name for your courage and faithfulness during this crucial time of your life."
I love that idea. we can all be happy! thats what the lord wants but weve gotta follow the gospel.  he also says that its not easy. he reminds us
"For a moment, think back about your favorite fairy tale. In that story the main character may be a princess or a peasant; she might be a mermaid or a milkmaid, a ruler or a servant. You will find one thing all have in common: they must overcome adversity.
Cinderella has to endure her wicked stepmother and evil stepsisters. She is compelled to suffer long hours of servitude and ridicule.
In “Beauty and the Beast,” Belle becomes a captive to a frightful-looking beast in order to save her father. She sacrifices her home and family, all she holds dear, to spend several months in the beast’s castle.
In the tale “Rumpelstiltskin,” a poor miller promises the king that his daughter can spin straw into gold. The king immediately sends for her and locks her in a room with a mound of straw and a spinning wheel. Later in the story she faces the danger of losing her firstborn child unless she can guess the name of the magical creature who helped her in this impossible task.
In each of these stories, Cinderella, Belle, and the miller’s daughter have to experience sadness and trial before they can reach their “happily ever after.” Think about it. Has there ever been a person who did not have to go through his or her own dark valley of temptation, trial, and sorrow?
Sandwiched between their “once upon a time” and “happily ever after,” they all had to experience great adversity. Why must all experience sadness and tragedy? Why could we not simply live in bliss and peace, each day filled with wonder, joy, and love?
The scriptures tell us there must be opposition in all things, for without it we could not discern the sweet from the bitter. 2 Would the marathon runner feel the triumph of finishing the race had she not felt the pain of the hours of pushing against her limits? Would the pianist feel the joy of mastering an intricate sonata without the painstaking hours of practice?"
everything worth anything in this life comes with trials. i know it and you all probably know it too. and if we have a positive attitude we can get through anything and we can find our prince charming at the end of it. i have one less active who said "yeah and our prince charming is God! its Jesus Christ and they are always there waiting for us!" and i was like "yeah! why dont you come to church and find him" (i just thought that in my mind... i didnt say it)  but its true.  its only through Christ that we can find happiness and live happily ever after.

I have seen some great people here. people who have been very faithful to the gospel. in my life i have seen so many examples of how to be happy! and its through the gospel. i know that more and more here. Because here i have the opportunity to see the other side. a lot more than i ever have before. and a lot of people think that because we as members of the church have so many high standards we are crazy. and we arent free. and i look at their lives and i htink i would never want to be where they are. so far away from the strength that i recieve from my Heavenly Father every day.  and a lot of people just cant see a way out.  and its so sad. nad they dont let us help them past these rough spots. 

The church is so true. so so true. and i am grateful for this opportunity i have to tell people that its true. and i am so happy when they are doing hte things that they need to do to change.  we are  teaching a girl named Romina and she is so great!! she wants her family to be better. she wants to change her life and the life of her son and everything.  she wants to get baptized. she just has to get married first... but to see the change in her and to teach her makes me so happy.  and eventually her boyfriend will sit down and listen to us consistantly too but i lvoe the people here they make me so happy.
I hope you all can think back on how you guys gained your testimonies. how you knew that this was true. and think about all the blessings youve recieved through the gospel then share it with someone!!!!!  Share it with someone who doesnt know. and help them be happy too.  My mission president sent me a quote from this past conference (its in spanish so ill translate it so im not sure if all the words will be exactly what he said.. but its close) " we should try to look at men not how they are, but instead what they could become when they recieve a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ."  i know that this gospel changes lives. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of god to lead us and guide us.  and i know that he restored the authority of god to the earth so that we can recieve the guidance of the Lord again. and i am so grateful for that. I know that the book of mormon is the word of god to lead and guide us through everything.  and i know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and redeemer and that he gave his life and suffered more than we can imagine so hat we can have  a happily ever after. I know he lives and he loves us.
and everyone who doesnt know about he church i wnat to invite you guys to look into it. :) read the book of mormon pray to know that it is true. because you all have a happily ever after waiting for you. Youve just gotta come and get it.
Les Quiero!!!! MUCHISIMO!!!!! gracias por su amor
hermana applegate

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