Called To Serve: Hesperia gets me for at least 6 more weeks!

Welp, I’m staying in Hesperia….so yeah. That’s about all I have to say for now. On the bright side Sister Ott is coming up here so that will be nice to have a familiar/happy face to see every now and then!

So last Monday around 7:30 in the morning I received a call from President Hobbs informing me that my Pops (grandpa - Tom Smith) had passed away. I was sad and he could tell so he and Sister Hobbs talked to me a little. Sister Hobbs made the comment that now because of this experience that when I teach the Plan of Salvation lesson to others that it will have a whole new meaning to it. We talked some more and we got on the subject of my family. I proceeded to tell him that I feel blessed in a way to not be sealed to my family yet. Because of this it has helped me not look at “getting people baptized” but rather keeping them active and getting them to the temple to be sealed to their family for time and all eternity to receive the beautiful blessings of being a member of this church. President goes “That might be the most profound thing I’ve ever heard a missionary say. If only we could all keep our vision on the temple and what we are here to do, we would be much more successful.” I know that we are all put in our certain families and family situations for a grand reason. I know that family is the most important thing here in this life and I love mine like none other. I am thankful that by being a member of the church and by being on a mission that I am able to KNOW for a fact where my pops is and what he is doing. I am thankful for the words of President Uchtdorf:

“In light of what we know about our eternal destiny, is it any wonder that whenever we face the bitter endings of life, they seem unacceptable to us? There seems to be something inside of us that resists endings.

Why is this? Because we are made of the stuff of eternity. We are eternal beings, children of the Almighty God, whose name is Endless and who promises eternal blessings without number. Endings are not our destiny.

The more we learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more we realize that endings here in mortality are not endings at all. They are merely interruptions—temporary pauses that one day will seem small compared to the eternal joy awaiting the faithful.

How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father that in His plan there are no true endings, only everlasting beginnings.”

I am also so very thankful for all of the tender mercies The Lord blessed me with that day. I wish I had time to write about all of them, but I don’t and that’s what post-mission life is for :) It’s just nice to know that the Lord is aware of our ever circumstance and is willing to place things/people in our paths to help ease the load we are carrying. I just love my Savior.

We had a potluck with the ward this week and had 2 investigators come. One of them was a cute older black lady who we’ve been teaching. So we have an opening prayer and with no fear at all she goes “can I pray too now???” they say yes and she goes to townnnnnnnnnn! It was the cutest/funniest thing ever. Everyone was really good about it and didn’t act like it was completely out of the norm even though it most certainly was ahah. The whole dinner she was going on and on about how she knew transfers were this week but they weren’t allowed to take me. She liked me and didn’t want to have to get used to a new one! Haha Afterwards she calls me and goes “Do yall do testimonies at your church?” I told her yes then she says “alright, then THIS is your testimony: I had a bleeessssed time tonight and really enjoyed myself….oh…and I want that recipe for the cake we had. Amen.” Hahahaah oh boy. That woman is too much! :)

Disclaimer from Katie's mom: It is standard procedure to have an opening prayer and a closing prayer at any given meeting (i.e. Ward potluck). The second prayer at this ward potluck was not customary but Mormons LOVE to pray....anytime!

Sister Toolan misses Summer:(

Woody is getting baptized this Saturday..June 7th….Daddys birthday :) His wife got up at church yesterday and talked about how she has known Woody for 55 years and she never thought he would EVER get baptized. This man is incredible. He has stopped drinking coffee, beer, quit smoking, SO many things just because he knows this is the pathway back to Heavenly Father. It makes me think of one of the lessons we had yesterday at church. We were talking about sacrifice and someone made the comment that “It’s never sacrifice when you get back more than you give.” So yes, Woody had to give up some things that he was used to doing, that he enjoyed doing. But in return he is getting eternal life, blessings beyond believe, a family sealing in the future, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. SO MANY THINGS. I am so proud of him. I am so thankful for the many lessons I learn from the people I get to teach out here. I am just thankful.

First time having FROYO on the mission

Oh yeah…..Dear Mom, Just because I’m trying to be MORE obedient doesn’t mean I haven’t been BEING obedient. Lol. It simply means that I’m done being “content” with my obedience. That I’m trying harder to follow every rule instead of being happy I follow most of the rules. Don’t worry. I haven’t been foolin’ around thhhhhhhhhhhat muchhhhh :p