How is your first week going? I have so many questions for you! I'll put them individually so maybe you can reply to them on the email or something.
How is the CCM?
How are your roommates/companion/district?
How is the studying going?
How much of the day is studying Spanish and how much of the day is studying gospel topics?
What is your schedule like each day?
How is the food?
What do you do for exercise?
Do you get to go to the temple each week?
Are their hermanas there? Any cute ones?
How much computer time do you get on P-days?
Do they have laundry stuff there for you to buy for your laundry?
How about Fin? Are you guys friends?
We are all doing well. Jeter is laying right by me while I write you. He is as precious as ever. I'm supposed to close on the house from hell today... we will see if it actually happens. Abby and Gray are doing great in school. They both loved the letter you wrote them. Thank you for doing that! It means so much coming from the big brother they love and look up to so much. Abby is really liking seminary. Not the get up at the crack of dawn part, but the learning part. She comes home with so many questions about what she is learning. Abby, Ama and I are going to Time Out for Women and Girls (think EFY for moms and daughters) this weekend. It is in Arlington on Friday night and all day Saturday so I think we will stay out there over night. Dad is as busy as ever but he and Gray should get some one on one time this weekend which will be nice for both of them. As a family, we are praying more together. We are on our knees each night for family prayer. We don't want to miss an opportunity to ask Heavenly Father to protect you and bless you. I know my own prayers seem more intense and focused. It is a great thing!
I was reading something in a book I just bought called "The Peter Potential".. it's all about Peter and the lessons that can be applied to our own lives. I think you know that he is one of my favorite people. I love his devotion to the Lord (like you talked about in your talk). In the book they are talking about one of the times when the Savior was teaching a a large group of 5000 people… it had been a long day and they were hungry. Usually this is when the apostles and Jesus would leave the crowd and find some food to eat. But this time, the Lord says "Give ye them to Eat." (Mark 6:37) Peter is confused because they had so little to share among just the apostles. But the Lord asks "How many loaves do ye have?" They hand the Lord all that they have, 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. He blesses it and then they start handing it out to the people to eat. To their surprise, they have plenty. Infact, they end up with 12 baskets of leftovers after everyone has eaten all they can.
So here is my thought of the week for you: Like Peter, you make a sacrifice and give All That You Have… and the Lord will bless that sacrifice and give you more in return than you can imagine… Your "basket" will be overflowing. Then the author of the book says this:
"He knows everything about you… He knows what keeps you up at night. He knows what weighs on your heart. He knows your longing to become something more. If the Lord can do great things with a single loaf of bread, imagine what He can do with a single life."
That is YOU, my love! Give him all that you have and then see what you, together with Him, can do with your life. It will be greater than you imagine! The blessings will be 100 times more than what you originally gave. It doesn't mean you won't have trials and difficulty. Those are times that will help you grow and stretch and become an even better person. But the blessings will amaze you!
I'm gonna wrap this up because I don't know what your P-day is yet and I want to make sure you have a letter in your inbox… whatever day that may be! Going forward, I know you will have limited time on the computer. Especially in the MTC. So write to us and I'll forward that letter to everyone else. You can write little individual letters when you want, but keep them brief because you will lose too much computer time writing individual letters. I'm also letting people know they can write you on Dear Elder.com. This website delivers letters to elders in the MTC once a week. I sent one to you before you left so let me know if you received it. That way, you can read some letters that won't take up your computer time.
Do you have everything you need? Are you happy? Can you feel our love and prayers?
I love you my son! Just writing those words brings tears to my eyes. You are an incredible gift from my Heavenly Father. How much He must love me to give me you! Your attitude in your letter is so great! Work your butt off and stay positive and focused on your own progress. The language will come. When you put that together with your magnetic personality and beautiful smile, you will be able to reach people that others can't. I mean… come on… you are Elder Stealyogirl. I had a dream last night that you will have many leadership opportunities on your mission. I know if you work hard and are the missionary you know you can be, that will definitely happen. Just remember that the greatest leaders work side by side with those they lead. You're gonna do great things!
I've gotta run and plan my Primary lesson. Can't wait for "you're my tree" (blowwww)!
Infinity & Infinity and even more than that!
Mom
p.s. write in your journal!
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