Dear Family,
So this week. Well I got to talk with you on Wednesday. Yay! The Branch Christmas party ended at 8 and was a success so all is well that ends. ;) We have had a couple great experiences this week where I really felt the Spirit as we were teaching so hopefully all involved were edified, I know I was. haha. We also had many families tell us they have set goals about church and/or temple attendance for 2014. Can't tell you how exciting that is for us as missionaries and I'm sure Heavenly Father is excited for them too. As it is that time of year...I encourage you all to read from Preach my gospel under chapter 8, using time wisely.
There is a quote by M Russell Ballard: "I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don't set goals in our life and learn to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life ".
I love this quote and believe that that is so true... Goals are great, but we must learn how to reach them for it to benefit us at all. :)
Really there was just lots of little good stuff that happened this week but nothing that really stands out for me to share. So spiritual thought…
With the holiday season we tend to gather together as families more than other times. We enjoy each others company or we miss our family that cannot be near to us. With many serving missions I'm sure there was a lot of happy phone calls home and quite a bit of missing just being together as a family. Well here on the mission I have gained a greater appreciation for our eternal family. Everyone here on earth are literally sons and daughters of God. We "grew up" in His presence (pre-mortal life) and He knows us as a parent knows their children (and even better). He is our Father and as such we are all literal brothers and sisters. When we start to let that sink in it means a lot. Compare it to our families here on earth. I think of how happy Heavenly Father must be when we remember to "call" Him through prayer. I think of how this life is just a short separation from the family we would long to be with if we could just remember that "growing-up" period. Think of how much our Heavenly Parents are praying for our safety, happiness and hopefully safe return to once again live in their presence. Think of how sad we would be if in that final family reunion one of our siblings was missing. Thinking in more worldly terms of our very real eternal family helps me better fathom just how important this gospel of Jesus Christ is and just how important it is for us to help each of our brothers and sisters make it back to God's presence so we can enjoy a family reunion where no one is missing. I know that as we live the gospel, as we constantly repent and strive to follow God's commandments and make and keep covenants that we will be preparing to return to our family above. I know that it is possible for us to all enjoy that day of our family reunion and that we can all return to Him but that it takes covenants and it takes obedience. Please, let's all help each other to live this gospel of Jesus Christ and partake of the ordinances and blessings found only in the true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Happy New Year!
Love
Sister Hamm
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