I am a child of God

Famfam.

Good morning from the Ohio! (: 

Beautiful day here.  I love my life.

This week was pretttttty good.  Let's be honest, every week is good.

One of my favorite experiences this week happened on Friday night. 

The story begins Thursday night, I guess.  Sister Christian and I were walking through a parking lot and spotted this guy.  So..we walked up to him and talked to him.  Joseph.  High school aged. 17? 18? I don't know.  Naturally, our conversation was about God and led to what is different about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from other sects of Christianity.  He expressed a desire to learn more about The Book of Mormon.  At the end of the lesson, we asked him when we could come back.  He eagerly responded, "Tomorrow...same time."

So you are probably thinking the good experience Friday involves Joseph...wrong.

He stood us up.

BUT we met these angelic little girls playing in the hall way of Joseph's apartment complex as a result.  Taylor (10), Iyona (8), Simone (8), and Javiana (5).  Typically with little kids, I simply give them a card for a Finding Faith in Christ DVD and just ask them to give it to their parents.  These little girls just sucked us right in though.  They had never heard of missionaries.  Once we explained that are role was to teach people more about Jesus Christ, they confessed their desires to have "Jesus classes".  We sang them one of the songs that the children sing at church, "I Am A Child of God."  And asked them if they wanted to ask their parents if we could teach them. There moms said we could come back....Oh my goodness, I wish I could describe how happy these girls were to learn about God.  Little Javiana kept saying as we were leaving, "I'm gonna call you before I go to bed....Don't forget to come back."

I LOVE THEM.

And I love my life.

These little children really demonstrate to me what we are taught in the Bible (Matthew 18:3)and The Book of Mormon (Mosiah 3:19)...to become as little children.  That does not mean to become childish (although I have mastered that with my love for The Little Mermaid and Baby Bottle Pops).  Rather our Heavenly Father wants us to be childlike....to acquire the attributes of children.

God is aware of us. I really know that.  I have felt that a lot this past week. (and always.  this week was just extra..you know?)

Anyways, I love you!!!  WAY TOO MUCH.

XOXOXOXO 

 Sister Spring

PS.  I left the device to connect pictures...again.  I'm the worst.  LOVE YOU.

HELLO! (:

Hopefully everyone is doing well. (:

I am!

It is SO strange to be back in Kirtland.  I am doing my best to jump back in with the Visitors' Center responsibilities (phone calls, tours, chat), but let's just say...I'm a liiiiiitttttlllllle rusty. (:  I do LOVE this place.  Sister Christian (my new companion!) and I had our first tour together (and her first tour ever) on Saturday.  I almost (yes, almost) forgot how happy it makes me to share the events that happened here in Kirtland.  My hope is to someday share these events with YOU!

Speaking of my new companion, do you want to know all about her?

Sister Christian my new companion!

Sister (Katrina) Christian...straight from the Isle of Man.  Ever heard of it?  Yea, me neither.  It is a little island 13 miles by 38 miles...or something like that...in between Ireland and England.  She is the eldest of eight children.  Happy.  Smiley.  and just wants to share the gospel with everyone.  We get along well...at least I think so.  She might have a different opinion.

We went to church yesterday, obviously.  And it was great to be back in the Euclid Ward.  For some reason, Heavenly Father has given me the BEST mission composed of the BEST companions (BEST BEST BEST!!!)...the best areas...the best wards.  I'm just spoiled...but you already knew that. ;)

So, Sister Christian and I are both new to the South Euclid area, and when we got here (and still) there is pretty much nothing going on...yet. 

We phoned a young girl that a couple of Sisters met tracting a few months ago.  She invited us right over.  Treena.  17.  Really precious.  Loves God..but not too much of a religious background.  She has read from the Bible a little here and a little there...so we decided to talk with her about The Book of Mormon.   I have found that the scriptures, The Bible and The Book of Mormon, are from God.  The men who recorded their experiences were chosen by God.  Now we have their records "that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have HOPE." (Romans 15:4)  My favorite word...HOPE!  I love sharing the scriptures with people...and especially with Treena the other day.  The more the conversation progress, the more satisfied she felt.  When she realized that The Book of Mormon could really be from God, she felt hope, too.  Hopefully that makes some sort of sense. 

Anyways, I love you.

Cheerio. ;)

Sister Spring

Bikes!!

Take me back to....EUCLID

South Euclid, that is.

Yup, that is right.  Transfers are tomorrow and I am leaving the great Lorain ward.

Happy sad.  As always.

I know all of the places I live and companions I have probably blur together.  BUT if you remember back to the area I was in right before I came to Lorain when I was with Sister McAlister (the second time), I was serving in Willowick which is in the Euclid Ward.  I was there just one little transfer. Now, I am going back...to the Euclid ward at least...serving in the South Euclid area.

Although I do not know who my companion will be, I know she is a new Sister to our mission.  That will allow for lots of learning opportunities for me...and hopefully for her, too.

This email is spastic.  Sister Fotu and I have a goal time to be home to allow sufficient time to pack (boo!!) and clean and write letters.  So, forgive me.

BUT I do want to tell y'all about this AMAZINGGGGGGGG woman.

Her name is "Lady C".  She is 62 years old and was raised Unitarian.  While her belief in God has been strong her entire life, she has felt empty.  She has known that the complete truth was missing from her life.  Structure...that is a word she uses often.  In her mind, God has structure.  She has craved His structure since she was a young girl.  Over the past three months, she has been having discussions with her friend, a member in the Lorain Ward named Brother Schmidt.  Brother Schmidt has given her materials to learn.  He has been there to answer questions.  He has invited her to church.  He has felt the influence of truth in his life and can not keep it to himself.

We met with "Lady C" for the first time last Monday.

   I love Sister C.  She reminds me to be humble.  and teachable.  She reminds me to be engaged in my search for happiness and diligent in adhering to the structure that our Heavenly Father is mapped out for us.  As she has learned about Christ's restored church, His structure on the earth once more, she feels "full", in her own terms.

We can all feel that, as we are humble and teachable like this sweet, sweet woman that I am going to miss!!

Okay...I must be going now.

I love you!

ALOT!

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Sister Spring.

PS.  Sorry...no pictures again.  The computers we are using have been very weird lately.  Forgive me!

"I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord"

FAMFAM,

Generally weather talk is small talk, the filler for an awkward silence.  This is not the case.  You know me, I always have a lot to say!

But I must mention (as always) the weather.

Here I am in OHIO on January 9 with NO snow on the ground.  Seriously.  It has been relatively warm even.  Beautiful blue skies.  Sunshine.  For the past, hmmm, two weeks?  I LOVE IT.  (:

Now, to the "good stuff". 

Where to start, where to start?  That is always the question.  Sometimes I get overwhelmed with everything I want to share that I tend to ramble about things that are on my mind which results in senseless emails. (for example, review last weeks e-mail).

  Well...let's see.

Brother Slattery is on track for baptism, now for the 21st of January.  I love that family so much.  His wife, Sister Cuellar, is one of the most honest, hardworking, hilarious people I know.  Mom, I think you would LOVE her.  obviously, all of you would...but especially you Mama.  Y'all would get along great...except I don't know who would talk more?...Anyways, her Grandma lives with them.  She is my surrogate Grandma for the time being. (Don't worry, Ganga...she is not a replacement....)  Grandma is not a member of the Church.  Back in November when Sister Smith was my companion, we invited Grandma to take the lessons.  She said "no", but still sits in on every lesson.  She loves them, too.  Thursday after the lesson while Brother Slattery was talking to a member we had over there with us, Grandma leaned over to us and quietly expressed her gratitude for the experience to learn.  She said that it is opening her eyes to some things of the Church and her relationship with God.  Although her granddaughter has been a member for atleast twelve years, she is finally understanding what it is that we believe. 

It's amazing what happens when people will take a little time to learn about something, even if they think they already know.  I look forward to applying this lesson into every aspect of my life.  Turns out, I don't know everything....

Which is okay.

There is a verse in the Book of Mormon that helps me feel comfortable in my lack of knowing everything.  A prophet, Nephi, confesses he does not know everything, but at least he knows one of the greatest truths, that God loves us!

That's something that I know, too. 

He loves you, and me.  And Brother Slattery. And Grandma Cuellar.  And EVERYONE.

And I love YOU.

XOXOXO

Sister Spring

PS. PDAY is Tuesday next week so I will email then.

BYE

"Oh, I'm not good..."

HAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPY 2012!

Skyping on Christmas was great!  Talking to her big brother, Stephen.

I am pretty sure that I have shared this video before, but I don't care...it's my favorite...WATCH IT. NOW.  (: (just click "watch it") Sometimes we may not be in control of our circumstances, but we can choose our attitude.  We can choose to be happy.  I have learned a lot about that the past several years.  And continue to learn. 
For example, in church on Sunday a woman shared an experience that helped her...which helped me. 

During all the hustle of Christmas, she was doing some shopping at Target.  She headed to the cashier, all ready to check out.  Here she meets Scott who is visibly mentally and physically disabled.

Sister Stencil-"How are you?"

Scott-"Oh, I'm not good...."

Sister Stencil-"You're not?"

Scott-"I'm not good, I'm GREAT.  Yes, I am great Scott.  See (pointing to his name tag).  My name is Scott...and I am Great." 

Scott is an example to me.  Some may look at their circumstances, which are less than desirable, and choose to be miserable...choose to complain...I know I have been guilty of this.

We can choose to make 2012 a happy year, every day, every day, every day. 

Being a missionary, to me, is all about choices.  (Well, I guess life, in general, is all about choices) 

Sister's Fotu and Spring (Fish Eye's)

Alarm goes off at 6:30am.

Choose to say, "Good morning, Sister Fotu."

Choose to pray.

Choose to change in to exercise clothes.

Choose to walk down the stairs.

Personal Study begins at 8:00am

Choose to think about the people we will be teaching.

Choose to focus.

Choose to stay awake. 

You get the point. 

Then, as we teach people, they have to choose what they will do with the information.

I can tell them my experiences of how I know that God is real and that He loves me.

I can read from the Bible with them to show how Heavenly Father has always worked through prophets.

I can invite them to read from The Book of Mormon to discover their own testimony that The Book of Mormon is a true book from God.

But they will never know for themselves until they act. 

"Jane", prime example. (8 kids, single mom, has my heart, remember her?)  She has allowed us to come teach her a few times.  She knows that what we are teaching is good.  She feels good while we are with her.  And has even seen changes in her life because of it. (drinking less, more patient...)  But has not really done "the footwork".  Church.  Read.  Pray.  Until then, she will never know for herself if this is true. 

Anyways, I am rambling. 

All I am trying to say is...choose to be happy.  For me, that happiness has come as I have followed what Heavenly Father asks of me.  I know that he wants us to be happy. 

"Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy." 2 Nephi 2:25

I love you!!!!
XOXOXO
Sister Spring

Jones family came to have lunch on Christmas Eve day. (: 
Oh, I love them.