June 3, 2013 letter

Hello everyone,

 

Another week has come and gone. Seems like time is flying by now. I can't even think about where the past 16 months have gone. Wow. It seems like just yesterday I was putting in my papers. Life is funny that way. It seems like when you want time to speed up, it goes slower, but when you want it to slow down, it speeds up. Paradox of life?

 

I want to take a moment to share with each one of you how wonderful my companion, Sister Dean is. She is the best! She has helped me out more than I can even express. The past month or so our love has increased. She makes me food all the time and serves it to me when I am laying down. She cleans everything, even when I want to help. She has taken on the role as senior companion without even flinching! She is the best. And no, I am not just saying this because she is sitting next to me. :) She truly is wonderful and I am excited for another 6 weeks with her in Maple Ridge.

 

Yesterday at church the bishop had the Villanueva boys go up to the front next to him. He had everyone sustain them to their respected classes. How amazing is that! I loved it. I almost cried. Well, then later in the meeting we found out that the boys are going with the youth to the temple tomorrow to do baptisms for the dead! YAY!!!!!!! I am so excited for them. It is such a powerful thing. I wish I could go, but I am so thankful that they have this opportunity to go and they have a temple so close. It is only 20 minutes or so away. They were also signed up to go to Moroni's Quest. it is a stake thing they are doing. It is kind of like Trek, but they will be re-inacting scenes from the Book of Mormon. How tight is that? I want to do that when I get home. I vote that I get to be Captain Moroni! Anyone else want to sign up for a role? Speaking of acting out the Book of Mormon, someone told me they are making the Book of Mormon into a movie and Liam Nesson is going to be Captain Moroni. Is that true?

 

We had the opportunity to go out to Richmond on Thursday and attend the transfer meeting, though neither of us were being transferred. We had a wonderful time and something Sister Tilleman talked about really stuck out to me. I would like to share it with you now.

 

So, over the past 3 weeks or so, two of President and Sister Tilleman's sons return from serving missions. They were both there at the meeting and Sister Tilleman shared an experience. I am not going to go into too much detail without her permission. Moral of the story was how much the Book of Mormon can heal you. Sister Tilleman challeneged each one of us to deepen our studies in the Book of Mormon and read at least 30 minutes every day. I have taken that challenge to heart. I know that as I read from the Book of Mormon, the Lord can help me heal quicker. I have seen it a tiny bit already and I have only been doing this for a few days.

 

I am so thankful for my Savior and all He has done for me. I am thankful for a loving Father in Heaven that answers prayers. If you don't believe that, test it out. I know that He is there and waiting to bless each one of His children. I have felt it too many times to doubt it.

 

I love you all. 

Sister Saal