Dear Mom,
First things first, I realized how many tools and promises the Lord has given me. Some of these tools and promises are things like hymns. That has been really helpful, because this was an extended transfer, and this week was the hardest week. I'm just glad I made it out alive! haha I have such a strong testimony of my Savior and how much he loves me. Normally when I think about "giving my burdens to the Savior" in any way at all, i.e. sins, temptations, afflictions, I used to think that I was throwing them into the eternal pit of the Atonement or allowing the fire of the Atonement burn them off of me. What I came to realize this week is that when I use the Atonement, I am giving my sins to my brother Jesus Christ. When I vent to my Heavenly Father pleading for relief from a hard time, I am giving that burden to a person. That person loves me so much, he WANTS my hard times and pains so that I don't have to suffer for them! I know now more than ever that the Savior truly is the only way the truth and the Light that illuminates our promise of Eternal Life.
Mom, I love you so much!! This email was something special :) I really drank deeply from your words. I could feel the love you have for me and I feel like I have a blanket around my heart :) I wouldn't worry about me anymore! The Savior is literally right next to me I feel like sometimes! ANY time my lot in life gets too hard for me to bear, I place it on the rock of my redeemer, and I am happy amidst my tria....lessons :)
Transfers were this week! I am training a new missionary!! His name is Elder Blaser!! (promounced Blazer) He's so fired up to work!! I would say that he's your average Elder Calhoon, but that would make me Elder Rodgers, and I don't quite feel like I'm there at all ;) I am soo stoked to work with him! Honestly, you take his strong testimony away, and everything else he has going for him, and you leave me with just his desire to work? I am jumping for joy!! I may not express it too well right now, because I had to get up at 3:00 am to drive to Tucson and be there before 6:00 am for the training meeting! Then I had to drive all the way back. I'm kinda running on fumes right now, but since reading all these emails, I feel the pressure of sleep lifted like a pair of dumbells! hahah bad joke. oh well :)
I think it was hilarious about the pictures of the areas!! You can totally tell which one is Safford cuz it's all open farm land/cactuses! hahaha That is Safford for ya. Gosh I am just so happy!! This is going to be the best transfer ever!!! I'm not even nervous one bit about training! He's got a desire, and that's all that matters! That's the only thing I can't give him, and no one else can give him! Everything else, I just need to focus on what he needs, and improve in that regard so I can be an adequate example for him! When I look back on my training, I have forgotten most everything I've been "taught" by my trainer, but I've remembered EVERYTHING I've seen in his example!
i am soo glad things are going so well over there!!! It literally makes me sooo happy reading any sort of words from you fellas! Dad, the comment about Emrie was soooo heart-warming!! I just wanted to hug Elder Blaser next to me :) hahah I love you all soo much!! I don't know much more simply I can say it, but I can literally feel all your prayers for me!! I WOULD NOT be in the position I am in now with the attitude I have now without your prayers! I know it! Your faith is TROO DA ROOF with power!! Have WONDERFUL weeks all of you! You all deserve a splendid one :)
Love,
Elder Judy
On Mon, Feb 2, 2015 at 2:24 AM, claine Judy <judycoldsteel@hotmail.com> wrote:
Elder Tyler,
I am so sorry I didn't send my letter for you last week. I had written it and saved it to drafts because I had to get to school and I forgot to pull it up and send it.
I have been worried about you. I really want to see pictures of your apartment, area, the hike you went on and your companion and other elders you go on splits with. I want to see what the town looks like and the area that you are in. These are times and places you won't want to forget. You will want pictures of everything later.
Did any of the camera cords I sent work for your camera? I can send a sd drive that you put your sd card into and then plug it into any computer to download your pictures. Do you have a good sd card?
I also never heard how you spent your Thanksgiving OR Christmas!! Did you go to a member's house? I know you were at a member's home when you called us for Christmas but I got the impression you were there for just the call. Do you have much ward support there yet? I know you didn't at first but I know you said that had been improving. Do you get many dinner appointments?
Last weekend was really fun for us. We drove to Las Vegas for Mary's farewell. She gave a great talk and she is so excited. We sang one of my favorite songs..."I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go".
My favorite quote from Mary's talk was "Our Heavenly Father knows us. He loves us and he hopes we do well on our tests." She had been talking about being at BYU-Idaho but I thought this could apply to all of us at any time. We are faced with tests every day. It was so great.
It was funny to go to Deana's ward. We both curled our hair the same so everyone thought I was Deana. Then, dad put his arm around me during sacrament meeting so we would cause a big scandal. I think we kinda freaked everyone out!
I met a couple in Deana's ward who have identical twins serving right now. It was crazy to see pictures of then because they both tall with red hair and they look exactly alike! It was so fun to see!
In my scripture reading, I found a scripture I love. It's Alma 5:7. "Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them."
What a wonderful work you are doing. I am so grateful for the opportunity you have been given.
I was thinking about the hymn "Hark all Ye Nations" I have really started to love that hymn. It has such a great missionary message. I love the 4th verse.
Chosen by God to serve him below,
To ev'ry land and people we'll go,
Standing for truth with fervent accord,
Teaching his holy word.
I have been remembering all the wonderful things you have done lately. I appreciate you so much! You are always so helpful and kind. I remember a time a Ross Park when you pulled the little boy out of the water in the lazy river. He had fallen in and his mom was looking for him. Before I could even call for you to help, you just reached in and grabbed him and set him on the side and made sure his mom got him.
I remember right before you left, there was an older lady walking out into the parking lot of Fred Myer whose grocery bag broke and her groceries spilled out. You didn't hesitate, you just picked up her groceries and made sure she had a bag that worked. I am so grateful for you kind, helpful nature.
I saw the picture of the eye patch you crocheted for the sister on the Tucson Mission blog. How cute! You need to take more pictures and send them!!!! I was grateful to get that one!
I try not to say I miss you, but I do miss you! I am so grateful you are on a mission right now but your presence here is definitely missed. I love you and cherish all the times we have had together. I am so grateful you are able to be an influence for good to the people in Arizona right now. I can't wait to hear how you week went with transfers. I think it was transfers for Tanner as well. We will see what happens with him. I don't think Dallin has transfers this week.
I get calls or texts from this lady in Dallin's area at least once a week. She is so sweet and just loves the missionaries so much. She made a really big deal out of Dallin's companion's birthday last week. She takes them out to dinner or lunch and treats them really well. I know she doesn't have a lot of money but she is so kind to them.
I get picture texted to me from people in Tanner's mission sometimes too. I wish I could get some from people there in Arizona!!!! I would love to see pictures of you and your area.
This week was fun. It was my first full week as the permanent sub for Ms. Nystrom. I really like the class. I am getting to know the kids and trying to teach them the way I would like to have the class go. It has been fun. There are several people's kids in our ward who are in the class. Jett Ockey is one of them.
I just can't wait to hear from you! I hope all is well.
We love you and are praying for you. I have a feeling of peace when I have prayed for you.
I love you so much!
Love
momma
No comments:
Post a Comment