Tuesday, June 30, 2009

June 30th Email

Dear Family and Friends,

Hola! Como Esta! I am doing good and as you can tell the Spanish is coming one phrase at a time. On Tuesday nights we hold a class for Spanish speakers to learn English. I learn a lot of Spanish from the people that come. We laugh so hard because of how I pronounce things. But it will come with time!

We started teaching a young girl this week. Her name is Saida and she is 11. You pronounce that Sa-da. It is Spanish for Sarah, I think. She is a really sweet girl and is very smart. On Sunday she told me “If I have to speak one day I know what I would speak on. I would talk on the Prophet Joseph Smith.” She loves him and wants to learn all she can about the gospel. I am so excited to teach her. She has a wonderful spirit about her!

This week I read Alma 24. I loved this chapter and encourage all of you to read it. It is amazing! In this chapter the Anti- Nephi-Lehies bury their weapons of war for peace. There are many things in our lives that we do that cause contention in our lives and the lives of others. We need to bury these so that we can have peace in our lives. Some of the weapons that I can see in the world is gossip, negativity about self, others and situations, and sometimes how we treat others. The Anti-Nephi-Lehies buried their swords to avoid the temptation of falling back into their old ways. Bury the temptations to hurt others so that you can stand up against Satan!

Yesterday we had a wonderful Sister’s Conference. The Assistants to the President came and talked about the culture of our mission. I thought about what the cultures of our lives are. What is our lifestyle portraying? One thing we talked about , and I think that this happens throughout the church, is the –ite problem. We develop groups and won’t let others come in. Just like in the Book of Mormon, we separate ourselves into the Lamanites, the Amulonites, and all the other –ites. Why can’t we all just be friends?

Remember to always listen to the Spirit and do what He is saying. I love you all!!

Love
Sister Comte

Monday, June 8, 2009

June 8th Email

Dear Family and Friends,

For all those who haven't heard, I am being transfered. I am going to Arcadia to serve with Sister Hofheins. I have already served with Sister Hofheins once so it should be fun. Arcadia is very small and a farming community. The church is small there so there is alot of work to be done!

This week flew by. We moved apartments this weekend and it was alot of fun. We have a great ward and it went fast because of the many hands. We stayed in the new apartment for two nights without any furniture. It was alot of fun!

This week we got a call for a very concerned member. Her friend was going through a really hard time and needed someone to go visit her. Her husband died 5 months ago and her mother died 8 months ago. She didn't want to hurt herself but she didn't see a purpose for living. So we rushed over to see her. She was crying and having a hard time talking to us. We talked to her about the priesthood and asked if the elders could come give her a blessing. She said that would be fine. While we waited for the elders we sang hymns to her. The spirit was so strong and the room was filled with peace. We had the elder's bless her home and give her a blessing. It was amazing. After we were all finished she felt so much better. She is going to learn more and is looking forward to restoring some hope in her life.

The Lord is so good to us. In all things He blesses us. I am so thankful for His guiding hand in my life. He is my best friend!

I love you all!!!

Love,
Sister Comte

Monday, June 1, 2009

June 1st Email

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been amazing! We have done alot of good things this week, including getting out of the car at a stop light and asking the people next to us to listen to our message. It is fun to talk to everyone, no matter where they are or what they are doing. Everyone needs to hear about the gospel so we must open our mouths to tell them!

We have been working with a family for awhile now. One at a time they are getting baptized. This week the family invited us to go to one of their sons performances. He has aspergers syndrome and is really shy. We have been trying to get him to warm up to us so that we might teach him. He is in a really neat program called Easter Seals for special needs children. This week they had an Easter Seals Idol. He was in the top three. He has an amazing voice and he would've won if he wouldn't have told everyone to vote for the other girl. What a good sport he is. He wanted it to be about everyone else not himself. He was so happy when the other girl won and he was so comforting to the one that lost. He showed a really good example of humility and love. He is never boastful about how talented he is.

Last night we went to a members home. The wife has been a member all her life. The husband joined the church when they were married. They have a little girl who is about 2. They never went to the temple to be sealed and now are less active. Last night as we talked they decided to seriously work on going to the temple. We helped them recall the feelings of their baptisms. The wife cried as she told us that nothing in this world is more important to her than being with her family forever. She is even willing to quite her job to go to church. What amazing faith she has!! We have the opportunity to go to the temple so much but we just don't take the time. When I get home I want to utilize the temple and go as often as I can because their is nothing more important to me than being with my family for eternity!

All three of us spoke in church yesterday. The spirit was really strong. We talked on missionary work, how members can help, and the covenants we have made to do the work of the Lord. I spoke on how members can help. Sister Downs talked about how this work is about eternity! I loved that because we aren't here on the earth to became something special here but to be heirs to the kingdom in the hereafter!

Well, I love you all! Remember to keep your heads high. Listen to the spirit. Make time in your lives to be quiet and just listen. I know He will help you!

Love
Sister Comte