Reunited... and it feels so good!!

OK.  I confess that my blogging skills have been lacking lately.  It's not that I don't care about these fabulous missionaries.  In my 'old age' I'm just getting confused as to where I have already posted things and where I haven't.  Between the church bulletin board, writing letters and sending out quarterly newsletters to each missionary I forget where and what I've posted.
Anyways, enough of my lame excuses, here is one of my favorite recent pics.  Can you only imagine what kind of a reunion this was?  I can just hear the two of them laughing away and imagine them jumping around and hugging eachother. I can see it in my mind's eye as though I were standing right there with them.  Only in 'the land of smiles' could this type of reunion take place.  It's like Steve Wilson said regarding Alma 17:2. "Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren."

I think this really is one of the greatest reunions in scriptural history. It is surpassed only by the story of Joseph of Egypt and his brothers (Gen 42-45). After 14 years of separation, the joy that Alma feels can only be fully appreciated in light of the gospel which they shared. There is something 'heavenly' about reuniting with a loved one, especially when both have been valiant in the cause of truth. We love and miss them both!!! Hoorah for Zion!!

The Next Best Thing...

Sister Sloan continues to love serving on her mission.



I wish you could all sense the great enthusiasm that Sister Sloan has for her mission.  It is infectious to say the least!!!  Here's a bit of what she had to say in one of her latest letters:
"I love being able to share the gospel to people, and to teach them how they can grow closer to Christ. Its so great to be able to share with them how much happiness they can receive in their life. I love the scripture in Mosiah 2:41 when it talks about how you should "consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God, for behold they are blessed in all things....and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven that thereby they might dwell with God in a state of never ending happiness" I love this scripture because a lot of times we think that the commandments are "rules" and that we don't always want to keep them because we think they are hard. But as I've looked back on my life and looked at my investigators lives I can see that we are really happier when we obey Gods will, and to think that if we do we will be in a state of never ending happiness.  It's the next best thing that I have ever heard besides "I have chocolate."

She must be her mother's daughter.  Hmmm...comparing the gospel to chocolate??  Yes....it works!!! :)

I love my mission, I love being a missionary and I wish that it never ends!!!

Elder Ultra is doing well and thriving...to say the least.  Here is a letter that he sent us a few weeks ago and is just getting posted now.  Sorry for the delay!!! Hoorah for Zion Elder Ultra!

 

Hey Yall,

So I am doing pretty well'ish. It seems that at the end of our nights after planning for our day the next day, I get a sickness feeling of either a fever or migraine. But after sleeping to wake up and play basketball the next day for exercises, I feel a lot better. I drew to a conclusion that the Lord gives me strengthenough to sustain me until I am completely finished his work for the day. It seems odd but as I have observed in the week and experienced it, I have no worries that the Lord will take care as long as I do his will.

A couple of days ago we had an incredible and humbling experience to be in a presence of one of the twelve Apostles of the Lord, Elder David Bednar. He visited our mission and talked to all 200+ of us in a Stake Center. Like everyone would say when they felt the Spirit, Words cannot express the feelings which was present in our short but long 3 hour meeting with Elder Bednar. At first, when he stepped in front of the pulpit, I felt that all the missionaries had a feeling of intimidation and un easiness because we literally have an Apostle standing in front of us. Elder Bednar then broke down the barriers we had and set up an environment so that we could be receptive to the Holy Ghost to teach us. I have never learnt so much in a 3 hour of my life. He taught us principles that would make us better missionaries, and also better members of the church. As a matter of fact, he didn't even teach us. He helped us learn for ourselves. He helped us understand the meaning of 'Learning by Faith.' It is not enough for us to be passive in what we learn, But we need to excert physical, mental, and spiritual strength to learn by Faith. Acting upon our Faith in what we have learned in one of the focus that we all learned. Before Elder Bednar ended the meeting he bestowed and blessed us with an Apostolic blessing. He then bore a testimony that will be embedded in mine to really deeply know the meaning when I say the "I know that this church is true".

I wish I have more time to tell you all about it! I love my mission and I love being a missionary! and I wish that it never ends! But i know it will and when it does, I will be changed for ever.

Much Love,

Ken