Wanna know something awesome about where I'm serving? The places I talk about the most, Gloucester and Rockport, are in several movies!! The movie 'The Proposal' was filmed in those two towns. Same thing with Grown Ups 1 and 2! Adam Sandler is from the New England area so he loves visiting/filming here...don't be alarmed if I end up meeting him in his favorite clam house in Rockport.. ;) so cool!!
This past week was geared a lot toward service since our investigators weren't able to meet. We volunteered at two different thrift stores and at a cute toy store called Green Elephant. We also heart attacked all of the members around us to thank them for everything they do for us. Then we offered service at a nursing home, two dog daycares, and a place called Partners in Development. I think it's important for us to get our names and faces out there so that people see us in a better light and not just people that force religion upon you. Not many people here are very fond of missionaries so I think it'll be good to focus on service more :) plus it's a great way to find people to teach!
We were able to attend a Women's Conference that the Exeter stake put on this past weekend and it was so amazing! The theme was Come, Take Your Place and the decorations were beautiful and there was a great turn out and it was so spiritually uplifting. I thought it was so neat to be surrounded by so many wonderful and strong women of the church all at one time. There was such a sweet spirit about the conference and I wish it never would've ended...i learned a lot about finding joy and overcoming grief and enduring trial which is something every single one of us faces at some point. It is so important to see the end from the beginning and trust in the Lord to get us through those difficult times! I know, I know, it's much easier said than done. But when trials come, that's because the Lord is trying to strengthen you. He's trying to shape you and mold you a little further into the man or woman you were sent here to become. It was never easy for Him, so why should it be easy for us?
Oh yes, and happy (late) Mother's Day to all the wonderful mother figures out there!!!! You're all so appreciated whether you notice it or not. It was SOO great to Skype my family and talk with them and laugh with them. I sure miss them like crazy but I know they're being taken care of :) We ate lunch at a members home yesterday after church and we talked about women in the scriptures and church history. I brought up Alma 56:47-48 which talks about the 2,000 stripling warriors. It says, "Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it."
These are the only two scriptures these mothers are brought up in but WOW, what an impact they had on their sons! Because of their faith and example, their sons drew from that and it helped them immensely in their time of battle. These sons were strengthened and saved and protected because of that truth and because of the advice from their mothers that they spent their lives listening to. The coolest part is that these mothers had no idea that their sons would eventually grow up and be pulled into war. They didn't know that their son's lives would soon revolve around their faith and example. But through their own testimonies and desire to teach their sons what they knew to be right while raising them, their sons were saved.
I can relate whole-heartedly to this story. My mom is my best friend and my greatest example of a follower of Christ. She doesn't know it, but it is through HER faith and example that I'm still out here serving the Lord. My own testimony has grown and I've learned a lot myself, but it's been her faith and encouragement and spiritual strength that I have drawn from to keep me growing and serving. I have been so blessed to be raised by parents who trust in the Lord in everything they do. Because of that, I know that I can trust the Lord as well and that is an amazing thing :)
I'm not sure what else to talk about, so here are some pictures. Have a wonderful week!!!!!
The young women had a "Zombie Apocalypse" preparation night and we had to get a picture with one of the leaders. It was so awesome! They did such a great job with it.
Oh yeah, and these are from exchanges last week!! I forgot to send it in last week's email. But here we are together serving in Portsmouth together for the day! (During lunch hour)
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