The joy of Families

Hello! This week has been wonderful. We had a lesson with Chamilie and Edwards, who are just wonderful! We went over, and they let us right in to have a lesson. Edwards was eating, and said he didn't want to come over right then. So, we talked with Chamilie about her belief in God, and why she wants to raise her kids to have faith in him. We started talking a little bit about prophets, when Edwards finished eating. We invited him to join us, and when he came over, Chamilie explained everything we had just taught to him. She told him what a prophet is, and why it is important to have one. Wow! It was really neat. She was very sincere in it, and you could tell she wasn't just repeating what we had said. The rest of the lesson was amazing. Edwards said there was a question he has had for a long time. Before we could say anything about how answers come, Chamilie told him he should pray, just like Joseph Smith had, and that he would receive an answer. Wow!

The hard part with them is that they can only meet with us on Mondays, because of their work schedules. So, we have an appointment with them this evening. I am so excited. You can just see the love they both have for God, and the desires they have to raise their kids with righteous morals and values.

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During the General Women's session, we sang "Go Forth With Faith". I love the words that are found in the 2nd verse:

"Go forth with love to tell the world

The joy of families--

That we may be with those we love

Thru all eternity..."

(Hymns 263)

 

Have you ever thought about the significance of these words? How wonderful it is to know that we can be with our families for all eternity.  "The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World). God has given us our families, not only for this life, but for the eternities.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are taught of the plan our loving Heavenly Father has for us. We know of this plan through the scriptures, as well as the teachings of our living prophets and apostles. In the scriptures, this plan is called the plan of mercy (Alma 42:15), the plan of salvation (Moses 6:62), the plan of redemption (Alma 18:39), and the great plan of happiness (Alma 42:8). Mercy. Salvation. Redemption. Happiness. All of these are things that we want to receive. And we know that it is only through Christ that this Salvation comes unto us (Mosiah 3:17).

We are also taught that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World). The family--your family, my family, all families--are central to this plan of happiness, mercy, redemption and salvation.

I am so grateful for the family that I have. I know it is not by chance or coincidence that we have the families we do. I feel so blessed to have been born into a family that loves and treasures the Savior's teachings. This fuels my fire to share this restored Gospel with all those I come in contact with.

I hope you are all able to watch General Conference this up coming weekend. How amazing is it that we have living prophets and apostles in these days, and can hear them speak to us. I know as we listen with open hearts and minds, questions we have been pondering can and will be answered.

I love you all! Have an amazing week!

--

Hermana Dean

megan.dean@myldsmail.net

http://www.mormon.org/me/C0MJ

Hola todos!

Goodness. This week has been so great!

On Tuesday, we had exchanges. Hermana Clark came to Lake Austin to work with me, and Hermana Cannon went to Palm Valley with Hermana Hancock. Goodness. I just LOVE exchanges. They are such a wonderful way to learn and grow. Truly inspired.

Hermana Clark and I met some amazing people. First, we met Juliet. She is such a woman of faith. She has had some health problems in the past, but doesn't let that get her down. We shared "Because of Him" with her, and she just loved it. We set up an appointment with her to come back with her whole family.

We also met Reyna and Angel, and their cute family. They live in Manor. We went over to their house, and Reyna was home with her kids. We told them we wanted to come back when their whole family was home, but that we did want to share a video with them before we left. Just as we were starting the video, the husband, Angel, got home, and joined us. They loved it. They also have such strong faith in the Lord. They said we could come back, and share more with them.

Sadly, with both Juliet and Reyna and her family, we weren't able to have a second appointment. We went for our appointment with Juliet, but her daughter answered and told us she had just left to got to the store. And with Reyna and Angel, we called to confirm our appointment, and Reyna told us her husband would be at work until 5 in the morning, so we rescheduled. These two families are so wonderful! I am so excited to meet with them, and to help them see the blessings of living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Another family we have been teaching is the Hernandez family. Oscar, and his two daughters: Veronica and Isel. We had a lesson with them the other day, and invited them to be baptized,  they told us that once they learned a little more, then definitely.

How wonderful is this Gospel! I know it is true with all my heart. I know the Lord loves us, and wants us to progress, to continue learning and growing and changing for the better.

I love you all! I hope you have a wonderful week!

-- Hermana Dean

megan.dean@myldsmail.net

http://www.mormon.org/me/C0MJ

BLUE BELL IS BACK!!!

Exchanges with Hermana Clark

Round Rock Donuts. Yummmm!

How do you celebrate in Texas? With Blue Bell, of course!

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I'm really bad at coming up with subject titles....

Hola familia!

So from last week, I completely forgot to tell you. Gabriela, one of our investigators, had her baby blessed in sacrament meeting. How cool is that? It was such a sweet blessing. It talked about Gael--her son--growing up to be a missionary and sharing the restored gospel with others. It was so sweet!

This week has been superb. We have found & been able to talk with so many amazing people.

Yesterday, we went by a former investigator, Ray. He was not really interested in continuing learning about our church, but when we asked him who he knew that needed help, he immediately pointed to his neighbor across the street. So, we went to go talk to his neighbor. We knocked on the door, and a lady answered. Susan was very nice, but told us they were really busy with some things right then, and didn't really have time for us.  So, we turned and walked away.

As we were walking to the car, we hear someone whistle and say, "Ladies!". we turned around, and the lady was out on her lawn, and waved us back. We went back, she invited us inside, and brought out her husband, Todd. He has had some serious health issues the last couple months, and has had a really hard time seeing the good in life. He told us about himself, how he used to be a really optimistic person, and would always  think positively, but since having so many surgeries and health problems, and near death experiences, he just doesn't see the point anymore. Susan, his wife, said she would really appreciate it if we talked with them and prayed as well.

Todd told us more of his story, which reminded Hermana Cannon of a scripture--Ether 12:4. We talked about how our Faith in Jesus Christ leads us to have hope for a better world. That because of all Jesus Christ did, we can live with God once again. Todd talked some more about how much he hates being sick. He feels demeaned by his health. He sometimes doesn't have the strength to get up off the floor. He wants someone who understands. We shared with him Alma 7:11-12, and talked about how much the Savior truly loves us and knows exactly how we are feeling in every moment. He began to cry , and told us how much he wants to know and feel closer to God. We talked a bit about the Book of Mormon, and he said he wanted to read one. We had to go out to our car and get one in English, and when we returned and gave it to him, he started reading it right then and there.

There was so much love I felt for Todd and Susan--two people I had never met before, nor do I know them very well, but what I do know, is that God loves them, and knows them perfectly. It was quite amazing to feel just a smidgen of the love God has for them.

I know this Gospel is true with all my heart. I know it can and will help anybody with the trials they are experiencing in life.

I love you all so much! Have a wonderful week.
--

Hermana Dean

megan.dean@myldsmail.net

http://www.mormon.org/me/C0MJ

7 Septiembre 2015

September??? Where on earth did August go? Wow. I just can't believe how fast time flies. 

This week was super great. We have been challenged by our leaders in the mission to not hesitate to invite people to be baptized. As we have taken this challenge, we have seen many miracles, and we have been able to meet some amazing people. I am so excited for our investigators. 

One of them, Zoila, has been meeting with the missionaries for a couple months. We were able to meet with her, and talked a bit about the Restoration. She remembers a lot, and has still been reading her scriptures. We invited her to be baptized, and she said she wants to find out if this is true, and something she needs in her life. She knows it is good, but she wants a witness that it is true. Which is great! She works on Sunday's, and it is really hard for her to request them off, because nobody wants to work Sundays. But she said in two weeks she should be able to come. She still is reading her scriptures. She is so amazing. 

Another is Thelma. She is super great. She says she knows the Book of Mormon is true. She just wants support from her family. We also invited her to be baptized, and she said when she knows the church is true, then yes. So we will be visiting with her and her family, trying to help them understand and know the truth for themselves. They are so great!

Another miracle. We were headed to a lesson, when the person we were going to have a lesson with texted us and said they weren't home. So, we had already gone to the neighborhood, and we had some other people we wanted to go by. We went by one family, who had met with the missionaries previously, but weren't acting, so the missionaries stopped going by. When Apolonio, the dad, answered the door, we told him we were the missionaries. He said, "you should come back. We need to learn more. Why did you stop coming by?" He and the family had still been reading in the Book of Mormon, and didn't know why the missionaries stopped visiting them. We have an appointment with them later this week. 

Another miracle

Sister Cannon and I were meeting with a member, Victor. We were taking about the sacrament, when his son, Steve, who isn't a member, came and joined us. Steve has visited with the missionaries before, from the YSA Ward, but had stopped for a while. He did tell us he has still been reading the Book of Mormon, and that he feels peaceful when he does. We set up an appointment for this last Saturday with Victor and Steve to read from the Book of Mormon together. When we went for the appointment Steve was asleep. So we still met with Victor, and read the introduction to the Book of Mormon with him. Just when we were almost done, Steve came out. He said sorry he had just woken up, but wanted to join us. He said he has been making more time to read from the Book of Mormon, and really likes reading it. He then told us, "I think you call it the comforter... Yeah well I've felt him and I really like it". We talked a little about the Holy Ghost, and the gift of the Holy Ghost that comes after baptism. We asked if he had any questions, and he said, "yeah, so how do I go about asking to be baptized into the Mormon church?" Just like that, my friend, just like that. We gave him the number for the missionaries in the YSA Ward, and he said he would go to church that Sunday. Oh my goodness, it was so amazing! 

The miracles are truly out there. I know it, I have seen them. I know there are so many people who are just waiting for the truth, but are "kept from the truth because they know not where to find it". We are working hard to find the elect. The most repeated promise in Preach My Gospel is that Heavenly Father is preparing people to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives. 

I do have to say, I just LOVE my companion. She is so wonderful, and helps me become better everyday. She is so close to the Spirit, and so in tune with the spiritual promptings. I have just learned so much from her in these three weeks we have been together.

I love you all! Have a most fantastic week!

--

Hermana Dean

megan.dean@myldsmail.net

http://www.mormon.org/me/C0MJ