i wrote lu this morning and thought i would share it with you. la vida es bella.
Why, hello little Lucy!!
I am really sorry I didn't get an email off to you last week. I had an incredible week of inspiration, hope, and love and wanted to share it with you. After I wrote a couple of weeks ago about how hard it is to have faith, trust, and believe when it seems hard to believe ~ I wanted you to know that I wasn't still wallowin' in self pity:) Heavenly Father heard my plea, and is it seems that He just opened the windows of revelation and poured out the Spirit!
For my 30th birthday, Bro. Halverson gave me two cd's with like 100 talks from Elder Maxwell. They have been so amazing. Whenever I start to feel doubt creep into my heart, I just listen to one of his talks, and I am immediately filled with faith and courage. He always talks about enduring well, the reason for and importance of trials, and the life of a disciple. I tell you, it's unbelievable how relevant the talk is that I chose that day.
This morning, I was reading in Mosiah and read something that describes the last couple of weeks for me:
"And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will i do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. (kindof like the pioneers whose testimonies were immovable after they 'came to know God in their extremities.')
And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
and....I'm hoping for this part to happen:)
And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage." Mosiah 24:14-16
and Joshua 3:5 "Sanctify yourselves; for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you."
I've realized over the last week, that this time of trial for Jon and I is a merciful blessing from heaven. We are given the opportunity to come to know God in a way we have never even imagined. We are learning how to trust each other and Him with all of our hearts and to exercise more faith and more patience. Elder Maxwell said this classic line, "even though we know how much we learn through trials, none of us stand in line to go through the next fiery furnace!" It's so true, we try to resist that which will save us!!!! Curse you natural man, haha.
Lu, I know this month is going to be a tough one. I know how much you would love to be involved in all the weddin' stuff, but I feel like this month might be like Joseph's time in Liberty Jail which he described as a 'prison-temple.' You will most likely have moments of sadness (wondering who the heck's idea it was for you to go on a mission anyway!!) and moments of complete joy (knowing you are out on the Lord's errand taking the message of redemption to a dying world.)
Please know that you are on everyone's thoughts and in everyone's prayers, always. We so love you.
I couldn't be prouder of a little sister. I love you. I pray for you every single day.
God speed sister, God speed.
Mimi Rat
