December 23, 2012

Dear Austin! It was so exciting to get an extra letter from you this week. I am sorry your companion was ill and I hope he is feeling better. Have you been able to keep up with his Russian? I am sure that will really help you learn the language quicker. Well it is almost Christmas and I sure wish we all had the opportunity to be with you there in the MTC away from all the worldliness of Christmas. I can only imagine the Spirit that you can feel there and I wish that we were able to be immersed in the Spirit every minute like you are. I hope that you got your Christmas box from us and also your dictionary. It was so hard to know what to get you for Christmas this year so hopefully you find something in the box that you enjoy. Most of all we want you to know that we LOVE YOU and will miss you. I loved the poem that you copied for us. I have often thought of what Mary must have felt like when Jesus told her that he needed to leave and go about his Father's business. I can feel what sadness she must have felt to a certain point but the difference is that I know you will be coming home in 23 months and I can at least hear from you and write to you. Today in Relief Society we talked about the Savior and what he would think of us. It really gave me a lot of think about and reflect on. When we get to the judgement day will the Savior be pleased with who we have become? I think that some days I could answer yes but not on most days. I also reflected on what I should be doing to improve my life to be more of who I was sent here to become. I know that reading my scriptures is one area that I need to strengthen. That is my goal this next year. I am going to work on improving the time I feast on the words of Christ. We also talked about recognizing the hand of the Savior in our lives. I think the it was said my Elder Holland that we should write down everyday all the ways that the Lord is involved in our lives. That is my second goal for the new year - to write down everyday how the Lord has been a part of my life. As I reflected today over the last couple of years I can remember specific times when the Lord intervened and saved me from bad situations. Like when the BMW got a flat tire on my way home from Holt. It was after I had gotten off the interstate and close to the Nixon's neighborhood. I was able to coast to their house where it just happened to be about 5 minutes before the whole boy scout troop was coming over for an activity. So their leaders changed the activity to teaching the boys how to change a tire and they changed the tire on the BMW for me. That was such a miracle and a blessing because I had no idea how to change the BMW tire. I could have figured it out - but the Lord knew I had already had a stressful day and so he took care of me that day. Anyway there are so many of those experiences as I look back where the Lord intervened in my life to either give me support or saved me from myself. Even as I am teaching he helps me to have patience for these little 3rd graders and to take the time to love them. For the high schoolers especially He helps me to see past their rough outer-shell to see that He loves them. There was a really bad situation in my SOAR class room on Thursday this week in which there was almost a fight between 3 of the white boys and the "Mexicans" and the rest of the class. It happened right before I got there and my Teacher Assistant was in tears by the time I got there. I literally spent 2 hours trying to calm everyone down and figure out what happened and what I was going to do about it. As I was talking with each of the 3 "white" boys, who think that the "Mexicans" are treated differently and have more privileges and who started the whole problem that day, I could feel the Love the Savior had for these boys and that even though they were being trouble makers right then - they were still important to Him. Anyway it was an exhausting 2 hours to try to get everyone to calm down and get back to work. Hopefully in my conversations with them each I was able to get through to them and help them to see that everyone is just trying to do the best they can no matter what their skin color. On Saturday Dad and I went back to Timpanogos Temple for Rachel and Caleb Condie's wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony and fun for Dad to see about 6 or 7 people from the University Ward that are out here now going to school. While we were sitting in the Chapel part waiting for the ceremony Nanny and Pappa Walker's bishop from Ephraim walked in for the same ceremony. It is such a small world but they are good friends of Caleb's parents from their college days. Anyway - it was crazy. Also Justin (tall and skinny with whitish blond hair Justin from his ward) was there. He graduated and found a girl here in Utah. They are engaged and getting married on March 30th in the Draper Temple. We are relieved that he found someone since he was older. Dad was a little worried about him finding the right girl. Being in the Temple again was wonderful and the sealer was so funny. He was an older gentleman probably in his late 80's. Anyway he told them, after the ceremony, that they could kiss over the alter. They did and afterward the sealer said "Wow - I could almost feel that way over here!" I laughed so hard (quietly of course since we were in the Temple) but it was hysterical. Anyway it was good to see the Boardman's and their family and others from Michigan. Well Son - we love you and MISS you. I really wish we could talk with you on Christmas Day but I know that the Lord is in charge and He knows what is best. I hope you enjoy the stories I sent you with your presents. Someone sent those to me and I thought you would appreciate them. They might be ones that you can use when you have to give a talk someday. Did you guys have a Christmas program in your Branch today? Do you have all 3 meetings or just Sacrament meeting? I hope you are writing in your journal about what the Lord is teaching you each day and recording your feelings. They were will be treasures to you when you come home and even as you go through out your mission. Even though I miss you tremendously I am also so jealous that you have this incredible time to really get to know the Savior and to feel the Spirit. I wish I would have had that opportunity to learn as you are learning and then to go and share the gospel with all those that are searching for truth and happiness. I know I could have those experiences now it is just so much harder when there are bills to pay and life to keep up with. This is such a blessing to really spend your days focusing on the purpose of Life, why we are here, who we are and who we can become. What a special opportunity you have been given. I know that the Lord has prepared you for this time in your life. I know that the talents and skills and the people who have been in your life up to this point have been preparing your for all that you will accomplish these next 23 months. It strengthens my testimony to hear all about what you are learning and what the spirit is teaching you. These are the last days and you have been prepared to come forward at this time to touch the hearts of the people in Russia. I know that while you are there in the MTC the Lord is working in Russia to prepare those you will come in contact with. Just think we have brothers and sisters out there in Russia who have no idea what true happiness is. They have been living their lives in fear and sadness not understanding why they are here. YOU have the opportunity to take the good news to them and help them see the light. I can't help but think about Saturday Warriors and there is someone you promised to find. I am so proud of you and your willingness to find them. You are the BEST! We LOVE you! Merry Christmas! Hugs&Kiss MOM