Men's underwear, STL, & crying with people

 Yep. It's me again. You're welcome.

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

As of late I have been serving at the distribution center in Tooele. A distribution center is a place where people buy sacred clothing for ordinances and also books and CTR rings. It isn't exactly my most favorite place to be but that's not what service is about. To summarize my experience there I would say that I am learning much more about men's underwear than I'm interested in knowing.

The next order of business, I'm an STL now. STL stands for sister training leader and basically that means I am supposed to be real nice and also that I will probably need to talk more at missionary meetings. And a few other things.

Being a missionary has helped me to recognize some of my strengths and weaknesses. For example one of my strengths is my arm muscles, I beat all of my companions in arm wrestle contests. One of my weaknesses is adjusting to big transitions. In the last year (it's been a year) I've had some sacred opportunities to cry with people. I consider this a strength even though sometimes having a big heart means it's perhaps a little more heavy. Empathy has always been my superpower. It's probably my top Christ-like attribute, feeling things with people. 

I remember when it was time for my family to go and get flu shots my mom would take all of the kids at once in one appointment. I recall that while I didn't particularly enjoy getting a tiny needle poked in my arm it wasn't a terrifying or particularly painful experience for me. But it was for some of my siblings. They would cry and cry and cry and scream and it would always make me start crying too, I would feel so pained for/with them. I started needing to “go to the bathroom” when it was time for my younger siblings to get their vaccinations.

In recent times empathy has been more like crying beside my friend after they receive bad news. Or sitting in the foyer with students and listening to their experiences and for some reason I'm crying and realizing how much I love these students. With one of my companions it was feeling crappy and crying in the car with each other.

I used to think feeling so much because someone I loved was feeling so much was a little silly and sort of inconvenient. But this week I thought about how when choosing my service sites I wanted to be where Christ would be and I've been with people during times where they really needed Christ. Being a representative of Jesus Christ and being able to do what Christ would do for people is my favorite. 

In the scripture below a prophet named Alma is preaching to people at the waters of Mormon. Alma explains the qualifications for baptism, including mourning with those that mourn.

Mosiah 18:9

Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

I'm grateful to be able to serve by being able to mourn with those that mourn. I'm grateful for the opportunity to love others the way Christ loves them and see everyone as a child of God. It's become sacred to me to have chances to fulfill my baptismal covenant to mourn with those that mourn. It helps me love the world despite… everything. I know people are good because I'm a person and I'm good. Certainly not perfect but good enough to give me hope.

Anyways joy to the world because we have our Savior. The good Shepherd is the goodest ever. I love Him so much. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love you! 

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: Sometimes my service situations are interesting and now I know more about underwear. #ohtheblessingsofservice They asked me to be a Sister Training Leader and I said yeah. Empathy. I love my Savior.

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.

Good Stuff

Hi everyone!

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

For this week's email I'm not really going to write but rather list some things that are good from this last week. 

Please enjoy the following with me:

-Dinosaur stickers 

-Teddy bears

-Orange flowers

-Fairy lights

-Candles that smell like Fall

-Decent jazz music

-Wedding invitations from new friends

-Open windows

-Naps

-Learning Christmas music in choir

-Blue silky pillowcases

-dresses with floral print

-potlucks

-mother daughter dates

-hugs

-a well organized binder

-a well organized planner

-using old lemonade bottles as vases for sunflowers

-comfort movies and shows

-teaching my sister how to drive

-the impermanence of heavy feelings 

-ribbons to wear in hair

-vanilla scented soaps

-chicken nuggets

-juice

-emails from people you miss 

-Kindness

-having my own office

-little basil plants

-making progress 

-seeing the sky

-good stories

-how Ok looks like a lil stick figure on its side

-you reading the whole list

-you

Okay, send me a little list of things you've enjoyed lately.

Love ya!

Sister Owens

Summary: I wrote this list of good things. Thanks for being something good in my life. Keep being good.

P.S. Jesus loves you.

Service Sites & K Pop Demon Hunters

 Hey y’all!

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

Sorry it's been many moons since my last email. I haven't really known what to share. 

I have service sites! Yay!

My first service site is Deseret Peak Seminary. I get to erase whiteboards, which I'm a champ at! I really enjoy being around the students because they're funny and also because high school is such a great time to figure out your relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. To be able to help out is really special.

I also help out on Wednesdays and Thursdays by helping people check into this little class. Or I will starting next week. Woo!

I'm doing training to become a hospice volunteer. More details when I have them.

Lastly, I am an ordinance worker in the Deseret Peak temple! Mostly I'm still being trained but it's been really nice to spend a few hours in the temple feeling the Spirit and helping others to feel the Spirit too. 

It's really special to be able to serve and especially to serve in settings that feel like the Savior would want to come and be there too. I know the Savior loves those that I serve and it makes me excited to serve them.

In other news, I watched K Pop Demon Hunters and I liked it, especially as a missionary. It's so cool to have enough Jesus in me to make gospel comparisons. I won't spoil it but if you haven't watched it you have a treat ahead of you. Okay, maybe I'll spoil a little bit of it. Basically I just love that our identities matter so much and I want everyone to know they are a child of God so that they can put that identity first so that when Satan lies to us we can focus on Christ and on our divine identity. There is power in knowing who you are. There are real demons but we can battle our inner demons.

Earlier on my mission a companion of mine would refer to negative self talk or stressors as demons. She would say, “I'm fighting the demon of ______.” This was a great way to keep me in the loop of how she was feeling and helped us both to help each other. There's a lot of demons out there, some of them are outside forces but most demon battles happen inside us. Fighting against the demons of sin or addiction can be lonely battles. But we don't have to fight them alone. We rarely win in solitude. Jesus Christ is on our side and He wants to fill us with His grace. He wants to strengthen us with His power. 

In the hymn, Master the Tempest is Raging the chorus says, “The winds and the waves shall obey thy will: Peace, be still. Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea Or demons or men or whatever it be, No waters can swallow the ship where lies The Master of ocean and earth and skies. They all shall sweetly obey thy will: Peace, be still; peace, be still. They all shall sweetly obey thy will: Peace, peace, be still.” Jesus Christ is with us in every demon hunt, even when it feels more like we are being hunted. With Christ we can win each battle and slay every demon but we will need Christ. As we pray for His grace and allow more of His power into our lives through Scripture study, sincere prayer, and covenant keeping we can do the impossible. 

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Still holding to the rod, 

Sister Owens 

Summary: I get to serve at places. K pop demon hunters is . With Christ everything is gonna be just fine.

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

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

Some Minor Updates

 Hey y'all!

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

In preparation for the long awaited halfway mark of my mission, I've decided to change a few things for the remaining 9 or so months. For example, I've been reassigned to be a service missionary in the Salt Lake City West mission. 

Being a missionary in North Carolina was a wonderful experience. I was able to help others learn about Jesus Christ and become a more devoted disciple of Jesus Christ too!

Sometimes I felt a little sad, but actually a lot sad. Sometimes I felt a little nervous, but actually a lot nervous. And then those times became a little more frequent and then a lot more frequent. 

So now I'm going to try out being a service missionary. I'm not sure what assignment I'll have yet but I know I'll end up where the Lord needs me. I know Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ are aware of me & aware of you. 

I know we can be confident in Jesus Christ!

Here's what I learned from my time in Cleveland North Carolina:

Sertraline, a common drug used for mental health is quite the ride, one of those rides at the fair that you're happy to get off of.

Humidity is great for your skin. I felt like a cute slimy frog some days, a cute slimy frog with very clear skin. 

Jesus Christ lives.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days is Jesus Christ’s Church.

Some churches are like social clubs and I have a really hard time with that.

Anyone can participate in missionary work. 

Oreos with peanut butter are wonderful.

Companions help you do things even when you're scared.

New testament is good stuff.

 Some of the most powerful testimonies are given through music.

Black mold is crazy and sometimes it means that you live with 6 people in an apartment for like, 2 people.

 Members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that are originally from Utah, are all about pasta & casseroles.

Love you!

Still holding to the rod, 

Sister Owens 

Summary: I'm in Utah now. I learned stuff. I love Jesus! I love you!

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

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

 

The Iron Rod

 Hey y'all!

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

Once upon a time there was a prophet named Lehi. Some of the identities he valued most were: father, husband, child of God, disciple of Christ. Lehi was a good man & he knew his Savior. 

Lehi lived in a city where the people were being wicked and the Lord warned him to leave so Lehi took his family and only what they needed and they left.

Lehi and his family lived in the wilderness and it was hard. They missed their friends. Their home. They had to work hard to get food and everyday they were just so very tired. But the Lord promised to take care of them as they obeyed His commandments. And the Lord did take care of them, He always keeps His promises.

Lehi loved his family. He was completely in love with his wife Sariah and he wanted her to be happy, he always did his best to take very good care of her. They had four sons; the oldest was Laman, then Lamuel, Sam, & last Nephi. Lehi loved his boys. He hoped they would grow up to be righteous, and firm and steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord. 

Sometimes Lehi would ask his boys to do things that were very hard. One time they had to travel all the way back to their home town so they could get a very special book. People tried to hurt them but the Lord protected them. Their mother was very afraid for them but as they turned to the Lord they were all okay and they all learned new things & grew in faith! 

One day as they tarried in the wilderness Lehi had a dream or in other words he saw a vision. 

It began in a dark and dreary waste. Lehi traveled in the darkness for many hours.

How would you feel if you were in darkness for hours?

I would be very scared & if I was there for a really long time I might start to feel hopeless.

After Lehi had traveled in the darkness for the space of many hours he began to pray to the Lord & asked for mercy, he knew the Lord was merciful!

Some time passed and Lehi saw a field, and he saw a tree with fruit that makes people happy! So Lehi went to the tree and he tried a piece of fruit and it was the best thing he had ever tasted! 

What's the yummiest thing you've ever had? 

I really love my mom's cinnamon rolls and her chocolate chip peanut butter cookies! 

Lehi also saw that the fruit was white, really, really white, it might have looked like it was glowing! Lehi says that the fruit made him so happy that he wanted his family to try the fruit too!

Lehi notices a river near the tree and at the head thereof a little way off, he saw his family! But they were confused and didn't know where they should go. So he got their attention and invited them to come and try the fruit! 

And not all of them came. Laman and Lemuel, his two oldest sons, didn't come and try the fruit with the rest of the family. This made Lehi very sad.

Lehi’s dream continues and he sees an iron rod between the tree and the river. 

Then Lehi sees us! Or at least people like us. And then the mists of darkness come. It's physical darkness. You can feel it sometimes.

All of us struggle in the darkness. But we know to hold onto the iron rod. As we cling to the rod we can press forward through the mist of darkness.

The darkness is real but so is the iron rod! And everyone who clings to it, everyone who holds fast to the iron rod, they get to partake of the fruit. 

Would you hold onto the rod? I hope you would. I hope you are! The iron rod is the Book of Mormon! It leads us through darkness and helps us come closer to God!

The fruit is God’s love! Clinging to the iron rod is the easiest way to reach the fruit.

Have you ever felt God's love? What is it like?

It is the opposite of darkness. It's light! Overwhelming goodness, it feels like everything is worth it.

As the people hold the rod of iron and move forward they get to try the fruit! They rejoice! It is so wonderful to be a part of something so marvelous!

The next part is so sad, even more sad than when Laman and Lemuel didn't come to the tree. But it's important so I'm going to tell you about it. 

Some of the people make it to the tree and they try the fruit but then they see this building. On the other side of the river there's a huge building with all kinds of people in beautiful clothes and they were mocking those at the tree of life. The people in the worldly palace would point and scoff at everyone by the tree.

And as many as heeded them, fell away. 

People who ate the fruit chose to leave the tree because they stopped focusing on what was most important.

What is most important to you?

Are you spending your time on the things that are most important in this life, and in life after this one? Are you giving the Lord a fair share of your time?

Please stay. Please come and partake of the fruit, please feel this joy with us. And then please stay. Yes, people will mock and the world will cast doubt at you but please stay. Stay focused on Jesus Christ. Remember what His love feels like.

That worldly palace with the people in the beautiful clothes is destroyed. The building falls. No one there receives the everlasting joy that we partake of at the tree.

Lehi loves his family so he beckons them to come to the tree and to stay at the tree. 

I love my family, you're all a part of my family and I invite you all to do the very same.

Lehi is so sad when some of his sons choose not to come to the tree.

I want you all to be happy so I invite you to come and feel the Savior's love by holding to the iron rod, by reading the Book of Mormon.

Will you read the Book of Mormon everyday?

I promise I will. I promise. And I promise that as you read the Book of Mormon everyday you will gain a personal witness that Jesus is the Christ and that He is your personal Savior, you will feel His love. 

If you're already reading the Book of Mormon everyday I invite you to stay and to beckon others to come and feel this great joy.

There will be opposition. The pride of the world will never approve of the humility required for discipleship. But let our confidence be in Christ. 

I am confident in the Savior. I can testify of His love and power. I am confident in the Book of Mormon, I know it testifies of Jesus Christ. I say these things and I make those promises in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Still holding to the rod,

Sister Owens

Summary: 

1 Nephi 8

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/8?lang=eng

Here's the link to my mission pictures album:

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