Miguel's Missionary Moment

**No Kittens were eaten in the taking of this photo**

What up world!

This has been a really good week.  I am really loving serving in Winder and finding a lot of new people to teach.  This week we made a lot of progress with Kris and Cathy.  They are homosexual and we knew that even though they had not told us yet.  They have been reading the Book of Mormon and Kris has talked a lot about wanting to be right with God, so we invited them to be baptized.  She talked about how she kinda knows she has to change and we bore testimony if they read with the intent to change, that they would receive one.  Itt was very interesting and very spiritual.  I was apprehensive about teaching them because of the situation.  I have been praying for the ability to love all of gods children so I can invite more to take part in baptism and come unto Christ.  This has truly been a learning experience.

We also met with Adam this week and read 1 Nephi 8.  Hee made the connection for himself how important it really is to read the Book of Mormon along with the Bible. He had been reading, but just what we asked.  He would read it right before we got there, too.  But now he truly is going to read it for himself.  It was a great lesson as well.  He is going out of town for a week, but he has all the gospel apps now and is going to read and listen on flights and drives between business at work.  Our next meeting will be a church tour and he invited his friend from work who is a member so it should be really awesome.

This Tuesday we also have dinner with a family, and I am very excited.  They have family in the Ellijay branch who have called US because the family told them she was going to hear from some of the Mormon missionaries.  The Ellijay family called very excited that they were interested, and told us they were praying for us and we are praying very hard that we can have a good teaching experience with them. I have been praying for a while now for a family to teach, and I really hope this is going to go well.

We also have 2 families in the ward who we challenged to invite a family to hear our message, and they agreed.  They actually have two people they are inviting so we hope everything will go well. This week after we shared a dinner message a member said to me "You' ea veteran aren't you?" He was like "No offense Elder Eads but you can tell Elder Miguel knows what he is doing."  It was super funny Elder Eads is still only been out 3 months.  They gave him a hard time, but he laughed it off.      

Also this week we borrowed a giant teddy bear from another Elder and put a white shirt and tie on it and it chilled in the back seat of our car for a few days.  The teddy bear definitely looked like a missionary haha.

Oh and someone backed into our nice Chevy Malibu this week and jacked up the front!!!!!!! It looks terrible!  Maybe we will get a new car.  Our car is old! Life is good, I love the mission, I read my scriptures everyday!!!!!!

Elder Miguel out!"

in(RL) Weekend

Source

I'm breaking my weekend rule of no internet and blogging.  Yet this weekend was (in)courage's online in(RL)  Weekend Conference.  How could I not participate?   What an amazing organization with their spiritual thoughts and uplifting messages.  I'm grateful to know that even though we may not share the same religion, we share the same Faith.  Religion need not be divisive but that Faith in Christ is what should bring us together.  We all believe and worship a loving Savior, and strive to be better sisters, daughters, mothers and wives.  I'm grateful to be a part of such an incredible community and to call these women my Sisters in Christ.

Faith, Food and Shopping

With the afternoon sun overhead, we piled in the Honda, four of us on a journey of faith, food and shopping.  Faith, food and shopping.  A dichotomy, yes?  Yet, in the same weekend all were fulfilled.  We were fed both spiritually and temporally.  You see we were going to Salt Lake City, a Mecca of sorts for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Twice a year, leaders from our faith speak of Christ, his life and how we can embrace Him more fully in what is called General Conference.  We were lucky enough to be in possession of four tickets, otherwise, we would just sit at home and watch it on BYU-TV, which is totally okay with me, too.

Our first stop in reaching the outskirts of Salt Lake was

Because you just can't get them in Idaho.

The next day found us shopping and visiting a different kind of Mecca

Yeah, it was my birthday weekend.  Let me just say that I have never been to IKEA.  I was overwhelmed and in awe as I wandered around that maze of a store.  I could have gone through a second time once I took it all in, but I had two males in tow, and a good woman should know their limits.  

Sunday found us here

and here

How overwhelming it was to be amongst so many fellow Latter Day Saints all filled with the excitement and anticipation to hear the good words about Jesus Christ from these amazing and inspirational men.

Yes, our hearts were full, our belly's were sated 

and my checkbook a little bit lighter.  

Happy Endorphins and Journals

I recently read an article on Mind, Body, Green entitled The Power of Gratitude in the Face of Tragedy.  My focus this year has been on being grateful.  I've posted about it a few times, but as of late, my writing has been neglected, but I digress.  The article talks about being grateful and how gratitude fosters happiness and optimism.  Yes, Yes, Yes!  And do you know what else?  Happier people are generally healthier.  When you focus on blessings and what is going right in your life and are thankful for that, all those happy endorphins are just to flow through your veins.  It's good stuff.  They mentioned the infamous Gratitude Journal.  I've read many things on Gratitude Journals and the art of documenting those gifts from Oprah Winfrey, to One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, to leaders of my Church.  One thing is certain, these people know something, and I'm certain they speak the truth.

My writing has hit a slump here on the blog and elsewhere.  I try to blog happy things, because "joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody." Isaiah 51:3.  I have found the idea of guided journaling might be just the thing to get me out of my writing slump weather here on my blog or in journaling.  The journals I can find online are lovely with prompts and pretty papers.  I like the ones here, and bought one at Christmas time. Better still, I came across this gal's website where she offers her pages for free.

I really love it when a blogger goes the extra mile.  I quickly downloaded them to put together my own guided journal/SMASH book.  Because, yes, I do often put in pictures and mementos, too.

An absolute must are some fun, colorful journaling pens.  Just sayin'

Since journaling is so good for your health, 

do you think I could give up running and yoga?

Miguel's Missionary Moment

"I hate writing.  I even stink at writing in my journal! This week everything has been yellow........ like literally EVERYTHING.   Pollen is everywhere it is crazy.  I have included a picture of my shoes with pollen.  

It has been a good week teaching wise.  We taught these ladies, Kris and Cathy, last night, and it was a super spiritual lesson.  We blew them away with the plan of salvation, One of them said she wants to be right with God, but she would have to give up a lot to be a Mormon. We told her to read Alma 22 Where Aaron teaches the Plan of Redemption through Christ. This other guy Adam is going really well.  I'm pretty sure he will eventually get baptized.  When he commits to something, he does it.  He has felt the spirit a ton.

Oh! When the big lightning storms came Elder Eads and I sat on the porch and watched lightning.  One hit super close, so we went inside.  We saw where it hit, it was awesome.  It was a crazy storm.

 

Elder Miguel"