Simplicity in Chtist

 Hey y'all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]

This last transfer, my last transfer, we have been focusing on the simplicity found in Jesus Christ. When we know the Savior, we know what truly matters. As we focus on Christ, the gospel becomes easier to understand, not easier to live, but simple to understand. I love the simplicity that comes as we choose to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

In the book of Numbers we learn that, “the people spake against God, and against Moses,” so, “the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.” 

Tough.

The people realized they messed up and they went to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.”

In answer to Moses' prayer the Lord answered, “Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.”

And now we should have a happy ending where all the people repent and look to the serpent on the pole and live happily ever after. But instead…

“because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.” (1 Nephi 17:41)

Yikes.

Why is it so hard to look to the Savior? Because is it so easy to look to the Savior.

It’s so hard because all it takes is reading the Book of Mormon everyday and it’s so easy that I still struggle. It’s so hard because it’s simply praying to Heavenly Father and it’s so easy because I don’t want to kneel or speak out loud. Why is it so hard to focus on Jesus Christ? Because it's so easy.

I’m so grateful that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have incredible patience because so often, I turn away, just like the children of Israel. I forget, I complain, I think I should have more than manna. But I can look to Christ and live. The Savior invites simplicity into my life. Elder M. Russell Ballard promised, “It is in simplicity that [we} will find… peace, joy, & happiness.”

President Russell M. Nelson said, “Whatever questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life & teachings of Jesus Christ. Learn more about His Atonement, His love, His doctrine, & His restored gospel of healing & progression!” 

I invite you to focus more on Jesus Christ and allow Him to help you simplify your life. I promise that as you focus on Christ and simplify you will experience increased peace, joy, and happiness, I promise this in the name of Jesus Christ.

Still holding to the rod, 

Sister Owens 

Summary: When we focus on Jesus Christ we don’t die from fiery serpent bites.

Updated (& corrected) information regarding my homecoming talk 

Location 

691 E Cedarview street Tooele  

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cedarview+St,+Tooele,+UT+84074/@40.5563673,-112.2786781,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x8752bdb42ab180b9:0xfa04d530fb210631!8m2!3d40.5563673!4d-112.2786781!16s%2Fg%2F11smn8djr_?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D 

Time

9:00 am 

The last email I sent said 10:30 and that’s wrong. Come at 9:00.

Be there or be square (because you’re not around).

Treasured Treasure

 Hey y’all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]

"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine."

Exodus 19:5

I liked the idea that the Lord's covenant people are a treasure to him.

As I studied this verse I thought of the things I have treasured throughout my life. I thought about my old toys and how I loved all of my stuffed animals and dolls equally but I had one particular doll that I treasured and felt a bigger need to protect, Pinky Dinky was special to me. Not in a loved-her-more-then-the-rest-way but in a this-doll-needs-me-and-I-need-her-way. 

In Come Follow Me, President Russell M. Nelson was quoted, "In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term from which peculiar was translated is segullah, which means ‘valued property,’ or ‘treasure.’ … For us to be identified by servants of the Lord as his peculiar people is a compliment of the highest order”

This insight from President Nelson brought the term "treasured treasure" into my mind. To treasure something means to protect, value and cherish something or someone. A treasure is something very valuable.

At seminary I listened as the teachers discussed this verse and I remember them saying that the Lord doesn't love the people who have made covenants with him more than those who have not. All of us are of infinite worth to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, but covenant keepers have done work to be obedient to Their commandments and they have a special relationship with the people who have taken upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ.

Making and keeping covenants invites the Lord's protection and blessings into our lives. As we worthily partake of the sacrament each week we are entitled to the companionship of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost warns us of physical and spiritual dangers. The Holy Ghost can spare us from pain and embarrassment. And we can always have the Spirit with us as we treasure our covenants in the same way Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ treasure us. 

I love my Savior, Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father and I treasure my covenant relationship with Them.

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: Heavenly Father loves you. Jesus loves you. I promise as you make and keep covenants with Them you will better treasure them and you will know how much they treasure you.

Hands

 Hey y'all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]

Yesterday we had a sister's study activity. Which basically meant wearing pajamas, talking about things we want to do differently, creating goals and eating cookies. Wow, being a missionary is the best.

As we discussed our lives as missionaries one sister commented on how she felt when she was in the temple, explaining how her white dress and everything was beautiful until she would look down at her hands. 

This sister serves at the This Is The Place Monument, where missionaries dress as pioneers and help people learn about early Utah history and the way people lived in those times. This Sister is a blacksmith there and often gets scars and burns on her hands from the work and demonstrations she does. 

When she is wearing a dress for church or while she is in the temple in her white gown she feels self conscious and perhaps sometimes even ashamed of her hands because of the scars.

As she expressed this to each of us I couldn't help but see the parallels to Jesus Christ.

My dear friend, Jesus, also has scars from his service. No one served quite like him. No one suffered quite like him. 

President Thomas S. Monson, then Elder Monson, gave a talk entitled, “Hands” in this talk he speaks of the sanctity of hard working hands.

Of the Good Shepherd’s hands Elder Monson said, “This was the determined hand which drove from the temple the money changers. This was the loving hand that blessed little children. This was the strong hand that opened deaf ears and restored vision to sightless eyes. By this hand was the leper cleansed, the lame man healed—even the dead Lazarus raised to life. With the finger of this hand there was written in the sand that message which the winds did erase but which honest hearts did retain. The hand of the carpenter. The hand of the teacher. The hand of the Christ.”

It is a sacred privilege to be the Lord's hand as his service missionary. An honor even more for this sister who will forever look at her hands and find Christ. How sacred that her service should reflect the Savior’s.

“I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!

Such mercy, such love, and devotion can I forget? …

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!”

His hands are always stretched towards us. Accept his hand. Let him help you. Oh how he loves you. When Jesus looks down at his hands he thinks of you. 

To this fellow missionary and representative of Christ, I humbly share, Psalm 24:3-4

“3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”

Your hands are clean and you are worthy to enter the Lord’s house. Thank you for taking upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ. You are an exceptional representative of the Lord. However, I would kindly suggest that we find you some high quality, thick, leather gloves.

I hope all of our hands can be a little more like Christ's.

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: Let us not be ashamed of the service we do in the Savior’s name. Celebrate those scars that make you more like Jesus Christ. Do more of what the Savior would do.

Sources

Hands

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1972/10/hands?lang=eng 

I Stand All Amazed

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/hymns/i-stand-all-amazed?lang=eng 

Psalm 24

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ps/24?lang=eng

 

Testimonies are treats

 Hey y'all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]

Happy Halloween!!!

One of my jobs at seminary is occasionally teaching the adaptive needs seminary class. It's been a sacred experience to testify of Jesus Christ with these beautiful kids and with their peer tutors. Everyone in our class is so friendly and the Spirit can easily be felt as we learn together!

This week I taught a lesson about the following scriptures.

Doctrine & Covenants 124:2-3

2 Your prayers are acceptable before me; and in answer to them I say unto you, that you are now called immediately to make a solemn proclamation of my gospel, and of this stake which I have planted to be a cornerstone of Zion, which shall be polished with the refinement which is after the similitude of a palace. 

3 This proclamation shall be made to all the kings of the world, to the four corners thereof, to the honorable president-elect, and the high-minded governors of the nation in which you live, and to all the nations of the earth scattered abroad.

I explained to the class that today we would be making proclamations of the gospel to the world. I said we wouldn't visit presidents or kings but we would go and share our testimonies with some neighbors. 

In the spirit of Halloween I made everyone missionary name badges so we could dress up as missionaries. Then we went testimony or treating. Much like trick or treating you approach someone's door and then rather than saying, “trick or treat” you bear your testimony and then you are given a treat.

First we visited Brother Hardy, the seminary principal. We knocked on his office door and he invited us all in. One by one we each shared our testimonies. Brother Hardy shared his too and he expressed to us that we had made his office a better place. I could tell he meant it because his eyes were filled with tears. I could feel the Spirit too. We got our treats and headed to our next neighbor.

The next person we visited was Sister Legge, our administrative assistant at seminary. We approached her desk and she was happy to receive our class. We introduced ourselves, (using our missionary titles) and again one by one bore our testimonies. I loved the way that some of our testimonies changed from the little walk between Brother Hardy's office and Sister Legge’s front desk. I love how beautifully and simply we each proclaimed the gospel truths we knew. 

We didn't have any more neighbors but I decided to close the classroom door and I pretended to be another neighbor. They knocked on my door and shared their testimonies with me. Testimonies are such powerful gifts. I cried as I listened to their pure and simple testimonies. I’m happy no one overcomplicated their testimonies, they simply shared what the Spirit told them to share.

As everyone settled back into their desks I shared the following scriptures.

Doctrine & Covenants 18:15-16

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! 

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

I closed my lesson with my testimony that sharing the gospel brings us joy! Everytime we share our testimonies we bring souls closer to Christ and we will have joy as we help others come unto Christ!

This Sunday is fast and testimony meeting. I invite each of you to ponder your own testimony. And, if you decide to share your testimony with your ward then I promise you will feel joy from bringing souls closer to Christ. Please remember we share our testimonies with words and deeds. Singing a hymn can be a testimony. Inviting someone to sit next to you can be a testimony. 

I testify that there is joy in bringing souls closer to Christ! I testify that Christ lives and He loves and knows each one of us! And, I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I love you all! I hope you reflect on your testimony!

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: My service sites are better than yours and testimonies bring souls closer to Christ which gives us joy!!! Also happy Halloween!

I'm Glad Strangers Got In My Car

 Hey y'all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]

Happy Friday! Happy General Conference weekend!

This week I had zone conference! I volunteered to drive people because sometimes transportation gets a little messy for service missionaries. All of the missionaries in the zone met at a church house and then we all stood around in the parking lot talking until it was time for riders to find drivers. 

That morning I had been introduced to two new sisters who had very recently transferred home, Sister Fawson and Sister Smart. A few weeks before that I had met Sister Merritt as we were walking to our cars at the same time and sort of helping one another not get caught in another conversation so we could go home.

That morning the four of us were standing by each other and chatting. When it was time to go I said I could take four people and the three of them decided to come with me. My dad's car's name is Gator, I told the sisters this as we walked towards the car, and they agreed it was a very good name for this particular car. 

As we drove we got to talk with each other and get to know each other and listen to music. I enjoyed driving because I didn't have to participate in the conversation, I got to listen and I love to listen. They were all so funny and it was so uplifting. It was easy to be with them.

We stayed together throughout the whole day, although they couldn't leave me because I was their ride home. It was the first zone conference in this mission for all of us but because we had each other it wasn't really an anxiety inducing experience, it was just fun.

When our conference concluded one of these sweet sisters asked me, “do you think Gator wants to go and get ice cream?” And I said, “why, yes, I think he would.” So then we all went and ate ice cream together. Laughter and ice cream are such a good combo.

On the drive home we were deciding which ice cream flavors each of us would be if we were ice cream and they said that I would be cookies and cream because, “it's hard not to like.” That's like a huge compliment.

We have a group chat and I'm excited to get to know each of them better. Sister Merritt, Sister Smart, and Sister Fawson were evidence that God is aware of me, knows my heart, and loves me.

I know God is aware of you, knows your heart, and loves you. I hope that you're able to notice the tender mercies and evidence of God's love in your life. They are there, I promise. I promise it will get better.

Love you! 

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: Zone conference= Yay! Carpooling with random strangers I met five minutes ago=Yay! Ice cream= Yay! You're going to be okay because God is watching out for you.

🌽Corn 🌽

 Hey y'all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]

Every Sunday night our mission meets together via zoom. We receive training, listen to advice from our leaders, and spend time together as the Raleigh North Carolina Mission.

Sometimes the meetings are more informational & sometimes they are more spiritual. Sometimes they feel like a celebration & sometimes I feel chastised.

They're one of the few consistent things in the mission. This helps me love them. 

The hermanas are our next door neighbors which means almost nothing, we get to see them almost never. The first Sunday night zoom in this area they came over with cookies they had baked during the zoom. I love these sweet sisters. 

Yesterday for Sunday night zoom we went to their house. (They have a house, we have the trailer.) We brought butter to their house too. I'm not entirely sure how the hermanas acquired two large bags of corn but they did. So we brought butter and then after Sunday Night Zoom we ate corn together. 

This was the highlight of my week. 

To gather round a table with friends is already a beautiful experience. But to each be enjoying corn absolutely dripping with butter. It was glorious. 

It was so good to just have a moment with my friends. Corn is also part of Woodington culture. Outside of my trailer is just a field of corn. All the corn is taller than me now. 

One time about two years ago my younger brother got taller than me. It was a sad day.

Now the corn is taller than me. I guess I'm done growing tall but I'm growing in the Spirit.

I've been learning to develop more patience. More charity. More faith. I've been really trying learn about hope. This scripture has been haunting me since the beginning of my mission.

2 nephi 31:20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

May we all feast on the scriptures the way my friends and I feasted on corn. Then, as we apply the scriptures we can have eternal life. 

I love y'all more than I love corn.

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: Corn is good. Friends are good. Growth is. The scriptures are good. Love u.

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZMqcVg4i6kAMWJVH9

Have I Already Titled an Email Faith?

 Hey y'all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]

This week I want to talk about faith. (Again.)

Faith in Jesus Christ is one of my favorite things to teach because there is so much flexibility. There are so many different ways to teach, explain, make a metaphor for faith. I compare it to trust falls, stairs, picking your nose & sucking your thumb at the same time. There's so many scriptures you can use to teach about faith. I love it. 

This week at zone conference Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt of the Seventy shared with us Alma 5:15. This is the Prophet Alma testifying to His people, he says, “15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?” Elder Corbitt broke it down to look, forward, with an eye of faith, view or see (the Lord's promise fulfilled), imagine to yourselves (begin with the end in mind), works of righteousness. 

We are to go about missionary work (& life) as though the Lords promises have already been fulfilled. Would your life be different if you knew, really knew that all of the promised blessings in your patriarchal blessing would be fulfilled? They will be as you are faithful. Would your life be different if you really knew that your family would be together forever as you faithfully keep temple covenants? View those promises as though they have already been fulfilled. 

Live as though every good thing is in store for you. Because every good thing is in store for those that make and keep sacred covenants.

We can expect miracles because we have the type of faith that allows for miracles to happen all around us. 

As we look forward with an eye of faith and see theLords's promise fulfilled we don't have to be afraid. We can better walk towards Jesus Christ. We can be more obedient and repent each day, we all need to repent each day. 

Do something that requires faith. Here's what I did.

About a week before Zone Conference we had zone council where we were invited to memorize something called the Treasure Program. Which consists of Raleigh North Carolina mission specific advice and a lot of parts of Preach My Gospel like the different sections of lessons, how to begin teaching, the baptismal invite, and more. The treasure program is about 5 pages when written nicely in my notebook. I'm not sure how many pages that translates to on a Google doc but it was a lot and we were given less than a week to memorize it. I had a bit of a head start because I had been trying to memorize it since… the beginning of my mission. But I couldn't seem to keep it all in my head. 

After zone council I made a weekly goal of seeking and expecting miracles specifically seeking and expecting the miracle of memorizing the treasure program. So I prayed about it and I prayerfully made a study plan and then I acted on that plan. And guess what?

Five minute before Zone Conference I passed it off. Miracles are abounding. Maybe it's kind of a silly miracle and it sure took work on my part but it really is a miracle. 

I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will help us with our righteous desires. I know there are miracles everywhere. 

Love you all!

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: Alma 5:15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

Faith. Have it.

This week I exercised faith by memorizing the treasure program, 5 pages of good things missionaries ought to know. Being able to memorize this was for sure a miracle that required faith.

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZMqcVg4i6kAMWJVH9

Slow Progress is Still Progress

 Hey y'all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]

On Saturday we baptized our friend Anastasia. Anastasia has been meeting with missionaries for well over a decade. More than ten years. Here's the story:

Once upon a time in December Sister Job & Sister Owens were checking their text messages (something that, frankly, we aren't very good at) and much to our surprise a random number had texted us saying Merry Christmas, how are you guys? So naturally we looked up the number in our cute, little, (we would not function without it) app with our area book and all of the relevant information for missionary work. We found Anastasia was the one who texted us and we failed to scroll all the way down to the bottom.of her information. We texted her and planned a time to meet her and her husband and see what would come of it.

So we went over to their house and met them and chatted and it was great and we thought cool. We found out that Chris (Anastasia’s husband) had been baptized a few years ago but at this time wasn't particularly interested in church. We found out Anastasia had previously been on baptismal date but chickened out the last minute or something (still unclear).

After our first lesson/discussion/meeting I decided to do some #research and take a quick scroll down Anastasia's time line on the PMG app (previously mentioned would not be able to do anything without it app). As I scrolled I realized it kept going and going and going. And then her time line went to 2014. Shortly after that we found out that they had missionaries be the witnesses for their wedding, which was in 2009. Its been a hot minute of them hanging out with missionaries. 

Sister Job and I really weren't sure what to do next.

I was really concerned that there was nothing we could try that previous missionaries hadn't already tried. I didn't really know what to do. Anastasia had been taught every point and every lesson at least once before. And she had been invited to do everything we knew to invite people to do.

After careful council and consideration we decided to extend the invitation to have her read/listen to the Book of Mormon in its entirety, from cover to cover, in one month.

She did it in two. And was baptized the day she finished the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon paired with the Spirit is the most powerful tool in conversion. I remember that because I got it wrong on a training type test. (It was a trick question, and I'm still mad.)

It wasn't really me or Sister Job that got Anastasia to be baptized and make covenants with Heavenly Father. It was the Book of Mormon and her learning to recognize the influence of the Spirit as she read. 

If you haven't read the Book of Mormon, read it. Especially if you have been Baptized. The Book of Mormon will invite the Spirit into your life and help you learn to recognize how you can receive revelation for your own life. 

At Anastasia's Baptism Sister Chae spoke. There, we learned that when Sister Chae was pregnant with her oldest daughter (who is now 5) Sister Chae went to a lesson at Anastasia's house. Sister Chae told Anastasia she knew her journey to reach this point was long and not easy and it wouldn't necessarily begin to be easier but it would continue to be worth it and she would continue to be more like Christ.

It doesn't matter how long it takes as long as you are continuously moving in the right direction. Keep going towards Christ. Continue forward on the covenant path even if all that looks like is opening up your Book of Mormon. Maybe it's not even reading it yet but just taking the time to open the book.

One of my MTC teachers told us that on her mission whenever her or one of her companions had a bad dream they would open the Book of Mormon. Not read anything, just open it. 

Sometimes just doing that is enough. You don't have to get through it all in two months. You probably already know your next step on the covenant path. It might simply be scheduling your next temple appointment. And if you want it to happen in one month and then it takes two that is still something to celebrate. 

Even if takes over a decade for you to make your next covenant or read the whole Book of Mormon or forgive that one person, keep moving forward.

Still holding to the rod, 

Sister Owens 

P.S. Happy Valentines Day! Love you all!

Summary: Our friend Anastasia got baptized. Pretty cool. She's been meeting with missionaries for 10+ years. Sometimes doing the right thing can take some time but it's still worth doing! 

Ok

Hey y’all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has time or the attention span to read this.]

Sorry I didn't send an email last week, not that sorry though, it will happen again. 

This last week the heating hasn't been working at our church building and I've had several meetings happen there and they were super cold and uncomfortable but that's okay. The lack of heating did make it so church was canceled. But it's okay because we were invited to go to another ward at our stake center. That church was also canceled. Because the electricity was out. Along with more than half of Fayetteville. None of the stoplights worked. Driving was terrifying. Tears were shed. Horns were honked. But it's okay. We talked to our zone leaders and they told us to go to a different ward, one about 30 minutes away in Gillis Hills, there's some other sister missionaries there and we were excited to show up to their ward and surprise them. Their ward started at 11:30 so we left Fayetteville and found that some of the stop lights in Gillis Hills also didn't work. Not super fun. But its okay because we arrived safely at the Gillis Hills church building. We walked in and almost no one was there. Their were a few people lingering in the hallway but no one in the chapel, we were then informed that the Gillis Hills ward had started at 9… New year, new time, website hadn't been updated and all that. Awkward. But it's okay because a branch was about to start at 12! But it was the Spanish branch… but it's okay I know like, 17 Spanish words and there were some Spanish elders there who were very confused on why we were there. Honestly we were confused too. But it's all okay because we were able to take the Sacrament and the Spirit speaks in a language anyone can understand. Even though I didn't know much of what was being said, I could easily recognize how much they spoke of, rejoiced in and loved Jesus Christ. Also a bunch of people came and shook our hands or gave us a hug at the close of the meeting, they were super excited to get hermanas and then they were disappointed we were just visiting. But its okay they said. 

It's okay. 

I hope taking the Sacrament is important enough to you that when life is chaos you will still find a way to make it happen. I don't know if taking the Sacrament is the highlight of my week but I know it's important to me. It's especially important to take the Sacrament when life is chaos. The Sacrament, Jesus Christ, taking part in an ordinance so focused on Christ, that's what makes it all okay. I love you. I miss you. I'm okay. Take the Sacrament you'll be okay.

Still holding to the rod, 

Sister Owens 

Summary: the Sacrament is good and it's important. And life is crazy but through Jesus Christ we get to be okay. When we do what the Savior has asked us to do everything gets to be okay. You'll be okay.

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZMqcVg4i6kAMWJVH9

The Best Christmas Church Service Ever

 

Hey y’all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has time or the attention span to read this.]

This last Sunday day was THE Christmas church service. Sister Job and have been hyping this Sunday up, a lot. I've been inviting people to this specific church service the entire time I've been here. I've mentioned it in at least 100 text messages inviting people and telling them how awesome, wonderful, cool, fantastic it was going to be.

It was awesome, wonderful, cool, and fantastic. But not in, like, the usual awesome, wonderful, cool, fantastic way(s). 

It was a beautiful mess. Ladies, you know how you do a messy bun to wash your face and it's actually the most gorgeous hairdo you've ever done in your life, but then you can never recreate it? That was this Sunday. 

There was a choir. I was in it. We did something that some generous souls, might consider singing. Some might consider it simply, making noise along with a piano. It was… a song for people with acquired taste, like people who eat snails and stuff on purpose. I'm being harsh but I don't know that anyone would describe it as a choir of angels singing.

Also during the church service a toddler threw a hymnbook at the row behind him. A girl behind me tripped over someone's purse and all of the contents of said purse spilled all over th isle, and the girl almost fell over. A family sang a Christmas song and they were using YouTube for the music with and an ad came up during their singing and they had to like skip it really fast. Someone behind me blew their nose really loud. A few primary kids were practicing their song for primary, while others were performing their music numbers.

We are a congregation of real people. We're awkward and some of us laugh too loud and we are definitely people. I really love that. When I see other people being silly or awkward or whatever I feel so validated. I feel like I belong because I too am awkward sometimes. The environment was lighthearted and I felt so welcome and I think everyone else felt comfortable too. We are not a church with professional priests or bishops or leaders, the most sacred event of the week, the Sacrament, is brought to us by 11 year olds, little tweens. All of these little things help remind me that our church is for everyone. All these little things help me see everyone as children of God. 

As I saw everyone be so human at church I felt love for everyone there. I felt like Heavenly Father was so proud of us all for waking up and coming to church and celebrating together. Jesus was and is perfect and full of grace but that doesn’t mean He was always graceful, I bet he tripped over the roots of a tree or something at some point in his life. We're imperfectly perfect, it's beautiful. I love people being people. 

I love you all so much! Merry Christmas!

Still holding to the rod, 

Sister Owens 

Summary: Church this last Sunday contained a lot of distraction but it was silly and uplifting and validating and beautiful because of those distractions.

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZMqcVg4i6kAMWJVH9

 

Mary & Martha

 

Hey y’all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has time or the attention span to read this.]

I leave the mtc tomorrow. There's been so much. So much growth. So much joy. So much learning. So many tears. So many cups of the famous chocolate milk. I don't know how else to describe it. I have so much love for my district. There's been so many invitations extended and there's so much we are supposed to fit into our preplanned schedules. 

I want to talk about that. The so much that we're supposed to do each day. 

I've been so worried that I'm like, failing as a missionary and not following the mission standards because companion study hasn't happened everyday. Or because I've only had an actual work out twice in my two weeks here. Sometimes I feel bad because my companion and I are late to a devotional. There's a lot of things I can't control and I'm learning to let that be okay.

The first week here we were invited to choose a Christlike attribute to work on and the one that stuck out the most to me was diligence. Diligence is, “Consistent, valiant effort, especially in serving the Lord and obeying His word.” That's what it says in the guide to the scriptures but Preach my Gospel provides the insight that diligence is using our energy on the most productive things. Knowing what is and what isn't a priority.

I think of Mary and Martha. Martha is worried and stressed, “troubled” about many things. Mary takes time to sit and listen to and be with Christ.

I think I've been more like Martha rather than Mary. It's hard to receive personal revelation when you're worried about what you're doing and what you're doing next. I've noticed that in the moments I slow down, the Holy Ghost has an easier time getting messages to me.

Luke 10

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Before bed we have what's called miracle time. I thought it was… stupid at first, a brand thing, a way to make it so we actually go to bed at bed time. But as I take time to slow down and as I have consecrated miracle time I become more like Mary. I feel like I'm sitting right there at Jesus’ feet. I know what to say to Heavenly Father in my prayers. I'm able to think of what went right that day, all of the miracles. The best part about miracle time is that my prayers feel more like a conversation, I pause and open my book of Mormon and the verse I read is a confirmation that my prayers are heard. 

I want to be like Mary and choose that good part all the time, I want miracle time all the time.

Life is so much. So much hard. So much beautiful. So much so much. But Christ's Atonement is infinite, more than so much. He covered all of that so much so we get to cast away the worry and take time to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen.

Still holding to the rod, 

Sister Owens 

Summary: No matter how busy life gets there is time for Jesus. There's time to read one verse of The Book of Mormon. There's time to say a prayer. If you don't think you have time it's because you won't make time. 

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZMqcVg4i6kAMWJVH9

 

Purple Donuts

 Hey y’all!

[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has time or the attention span to read this.]

I'm here at the Provo mtc. From a very young age I have been taught that if you can't say anything nice you shouldn't say anything at all. 

Just kidding. 

Mostly.

I knew being a missionary wasn't easy. But I never realized how hard becoming a missionary is. Lately, I've been thinking about President Eyring's talk Tested, Proved, and Polished, there's this one part where he describes pulling weeds with his mom and his brother. The soil was like clay and the weeds would break off in his hands while the roots stayed firmly in the mud. His mom and his brother were rows ahead of him and the harder he tried the further behind he got. He cried out, “This is too hard!” and then his mom instead of offering sympathy smiled at him and said, “Oh Hal, of course it's hard. It's supposed to be. Life is a test.” 

This is hard. It's supposed to be. I feel like I'm pulling out weeds of old habits that no longer align with the disciple of Christ I want to become. A lot of the roots of unrighteous desires are still there. I'm selfish or lazy or blah blah blah. I'm learning though. I'm becoming a more devoted disciple of Christ. I'm gaining confidence in myself. I'm learning how to connect with people and how to see others the way Christ sees them. I'm learning to enjoy being a beginner. 

I love my district. My companion is cool. Sharing a room with five other girls is more fun than I expected. Our room is filled with laughter. Occasionally we cry with each other. The Spirit is present when everyone in the room is doing what they're supposed to be doing.

Classes are cool. Devotionals are good. The food here is edible. I really like blueberry donuts, they're a very definitive purple. 

Love & miss you all.

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: This is hard but I know it's gonna be so so worth it. There's purple donuts here in the mtc.