merry Easter

 Hey y'all!

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

Hope you all had a really wonderful Easter! 

One of the questions on a Holy Week study guide yesterday was, “What part of easter sunday service brought you the most joy?

My favorite part was yesterday. We walked into our church building and down the oddly long hallway and turned the corner into the foyer just outside the chapel. We were surrounded by fantastic Christ centered art beautifully displayed all around the foyer. This art was fantastic and helped everyone more fully focus on the Savior. My companion, Sister Jones & I took our place by the doors of the challenge and watched everyone walk in to the foyer.

I loved to see them notice the art and think of their Savior. More than this I loved how everyone greeted one another. There were just so many happy reunions. I know that's what heaven is going to be like, filled with joyful greetings of people that we haven't seen in a long while. 

People would hug each other and welcome each other and then look to the Savior. They would admire Him together. They would worship Him together. 

I loved to see the joy they had from being with each other and being with the Savior. 

My other favorite part was when people would accidentally say Christmas. It felt just like Christmas. It felt celestial to me. My Easters in the past haven't been too Christ Centered but this one was and my future ones will be.

“May we honour Easter in our hearts, and try to keep it all the year. We will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.”

10 points to anyone who knows what I'm referencing.

Love you all! Merry Easter!

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: Easter. 

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

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

It's an email

 Hey y'all!

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

I have a new companion, her name is Sister Jones. I live with three other Sisters. Tis fun.

I'm quite tired perhaps even too tired to write. 

I'm going to confess something now. I actually do write an email every week, sometimes two or three emails but then I don't send them because the devil tells me not to. 

Perfectionism ruins lives.

It's not necessarily that I think my emails are bad but I sometimes just think they're not that good. Or I start and then I'm like this isn't going anywhere so then I give up. But this week I'm going to actually send this email. (Yay!)

It's Holy week. That's wonderful. I love this week. I love Easter. It's new development that's come from further studying the Savior. Isn't it lovely that we can grow our love for the Savior by studying just a little more?

I love my Jesus and I think I will dedicate this email to Him. 

In conference we got the challenge to pray about what the Savior may say to Heavenly Father about us. He truly is our advocate with the Father. As I acted on this invitation I knew how keenly aware the Savior was of me. 

We are so loved. Jesus Christ knows every experience we have faced and have yet to face. He is with us in each challenge. He leads us through them. 

It's been so wonderful to be able to be a representative of the Savior and help lead others out of midst of darkness and to the light and life of the world. 

I am trying to be like Jesus. I love you!

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: my current assignment & Happy Holy week

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

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

General Conference & Such

 Hey y’all!

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

Yesterday in Sacrament meeting a gave a talk about preparing for general conference. Unfortunately I realized that I had prepared that talk during all of my personal studies all week rather than actually preparing for general conference. It's very good I get another week to prepare and come to conference with questions.

Here's a snippet from my talk:

Prayerful study helps us hear our Saviors voice. General Conference is not meant to be a weekend long seminar but a 6 month study. If you are really seeking answers pay attention during the weekend of conference but don't let that be all you do. We have been blessed with easy access to the wisdom of people who have the intention of helping us obtain answers and blessings. Continue to study their advice until the next general conference. 

After my talk someone in the ward told me they thought I must have taken public speaking in high school because I knew just where to add emphasis as spoke. That was really nice. When I give talks I black out a little and let the Spirit take over a lot. Kinda crazy. Kinda fun. 

I much more excited to be listening to general conference talks this weekend rather than giving a talk on general conference like I Did last weekend. 

Also, Landon Feldman just so you know. Doctrine an Covenants 27:2 For, behold, I say unto you, that it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins.

So yes. We could use pop tarts for the Sacrament. If necessary and if we do it with an eye single to the glory of God and in rememberance of the Savior and His Atonement. Hope you remember that conversation so I'm not just being weird.

Also Aunt Tami thanks for challenging us to choose a general authority and listen to all of their general conference talks a few years ago. I think that challenge was the first time I really diligently took notes on anything. It's been a holy habit that has come in handy. I love you!

Everyone take some awesome notes in general conference this year! Don't just write what you hear but what you feel in your heart and what comes to mind. Listen to the prompting na record them. That's revelation. We invite more revelation by recording it. 

Next Monday send me your favorite conference talk and why it's you favorite! I love you all! Have the best week ever!

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens 

Summary: General Conference! Yay! Other random things! Yay! 

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

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

Wind-uhs & Widt-ahs

 Hey y’all!

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

This week I've been able to further appreciate the faith of Southern folks. Here it is a simple fact the Jesus Christ is our Savior. Everyone already knows that. 

We were talking on the phone with a lady. We can call her L. L will be getting her leg amputated this week. She is in a hospital right now and she filled out an online request to speak with missionaries to find more hope in Jesus Christ. We decided to talk to L about the Resurrection and how because of Jesus Christ we will all be made whole. We expressed that someday our bodies will be healed and we will live with our Savior. And she said she didn't care much about what her body would be like; she knew she would be whole if she got to be with Jesus. 

That's pretty incredible.

We sure have a lot to look forward to. Being whole because we get to be with our Savior. 

I do sometimes have a hard time understanding the southern accent. Yesterday in the second ward the talks were about tithing and giving that 10% to the Lord. Both talks referenced the widows mite and the windows of Heaven. Widow seemed to be pronounced closer to widt-ah and window closer wind-uh. I found it all minorly entertaining.

I know that windows of heaven really are opened as we pay our tithing. Tithing gets touchy sometimes but that is silly because it's just like everything else in the gospel you can follow the basic faith formula. Faith= do the thing and see what happens and then you have more faith which leads to eternal blessings. Read the Book of Mormon + Pray to know if it is true = Knowing the Book of Mormon is true & more faith. Do the thing. Pay your tithing and then pay attention. Blessings do come. 

One thing I hear quite a bit from Southern folks is that Jesus woke them up today. They wouldn't be here without Him. It's true. We rely on the Savior to get us up each morning. When I think about how much Christ is already aware of and taking care of us, that 10% seems like a lot less. 

Pay your tithing and then pay attention. See what blessings come. It could be financial blessings. It could be increased strength. It could be safety. It could be your grades in school looking better. It could be family relationships healing. Sometimes it's eternal blessings that we might not be able to sense here on Earth. The windows of Heaven will open as we pay a full and honest tithe to our Savior. 

When I started this email I did not think it would be about tithing but that's where it went and I'm okay with that. I hope you're all doing well and making good choices. I love you. I love you. I love you. 

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens 

Summary: I love to see the faith people have here in North Carolina. Pay your tithing and then pay attention to blessings you receive and I love you.

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

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

🍀

 Happy St. Patricks Day! 

That is all. Love you!

- Sister Owens 

🤍

 Hey y’all!

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

Here are some updates as far as my mission goes!

🤍 I am in my third transfer

🤍 I am now serving in Goldsbro 

🤍 I have two new companions (I'm in a trio)

🤍 I am over 2 wards

🤍 The three of us gave talks yesterday

🤍 My mission President, President Stevens is having surgery today

Lots has happened. I am excited. 

Goldsbro is a bit like Fayetteville but less sketchy. Still a lot of military people because there's an air force base here. 

My new companions' names are Sister Cutler and Sister Colasurdo. They're both really cute and fun. I think we're figuring out how to navigate being in a trio pretty well. Sister Colasurdo's mission scripture (the scripture on her plaque is Galatians 5:9. She has celiac disease. And Sister Cutler has a super contagious laugh.

The wards I'm over are called Goldsbro 1st ward and… wait for it… Goldsbro 2nd ward. We gave talks in the second ward yesterday and they told us the title of the talks were to be: I Stand All Amazed- The Awesome Atonement of Jesus Christ. People said we did really well. I enjoyed how different and how the same all of our talks were.

Here's a snippet of my talk. “I invite you all to more fully invite the Savior into your life and especially into your Easter celebrations this year and for years to follow. As you focus more on the Savior I promise you will know how focused the Savior is on you. You are his sheep and he is your shepherd. He has always and will always love you. Knowing this can change the way you feel about yourself, other people and the world.”

Kinda fun. 

I’m honestly not too worried about President Stevens; he has over 200 missionaries praying and fasting for him.

I think I figured out how charity never faileth. I think I didn't fully understand that phrase but I've gained some more understanding now. 

First here is this scripture:

1 John 4: 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

When we have charity we can do things even if we are afraid. I imagine the Savior was scared as He went to Gethsemane and that is the reason He brought His friends with Him but Jesus Christ still took on every pain and sin and all of it because of the great love which He has for each of us. 

I can do scary things when I have charity. 

And by simply trying to do the will of Heavenly Father we are never failing. Heavenly Father always makes up the difference. 

Hopefully that makes sense! 

Still holding to the rod, 

Sister Owens 

Summary: lots of things are happening. Yay. Charity never faileth. Yay.

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

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

March Fo(u)rth

 Dear friends, family, & foes, 

(Just kidding about the last one, it should really be, dear my mom’s facebook friends & family)

Yesterday was march 4th. A date I thoroughly enjoy. No other day (that i know of) is a command like that. I certainly feel like it was a good mantra for my last 24 hours. March forth.

Yesterday we found out transfer news. I leave Fayetteville tomorrow. This was not the expected result but we all expected me to stay and take over the area. That's alright though. I have completed my training. Here are some things I have learned so far. 

1 John 4:18

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Charity, that perfect love, really does cast out fear. Talking to people is so scarrrry. For me. But it's a lot easier when I feel genuine love for the people I am approaching.

Being a missionary isn't a normal calling. I don't do normal and natural things because my call as a missionary is not normal and natural. My message is not normal and natural. It's excellent and extraordinary. Heavenly Father can do excellent and extraordinary things through someone small and simple like me.

Heavenly Father values the title of Father. He loves his children. He is our literal Father and he is so proud of us.

You gotta do your part for miracles. Miracles follow faith, a big part of faith is action. 

Perfectionism will ruin your life if you let it.  Let good enough be good enough. (I'm still learning this one.)

March forth. Keep going. If it takes you longer to reach a goal you can absolutely still work towards that goal. 

Gelato is pretty good. 

My companion is probably the person I have the opportunity to serve the most as a missionary. Even if we don't get to help a lot of people I get to help her.

Every attribute of the Savior helped him prepare for and go through with his suffering in Gethsemane and death on the cross. Every attribute helped him be perfect to help each one of us.

I gotta wrap it up. It's p-day. And today that P stands for packing. 

Love ya'll! 

Still holding to the rod, 

Sister Owens

No summary today because I'm both lazy and stressed.