Your Weekly Sundae-Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is COOL!

Here's your Weekly Sundae!

Thanks so much for all of you who responded to last weeks email! I really enjoyed reading your input!

So now that we've acknowledged that Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ are undoubtedly there, I want to tell you a story. For any of you who can still remember, one day at English Sister Hardy told a story, and told of how she was on a metro and a pair of girls openly mocked and laughed at her and the badge she wore, and due to a recent event that happened while I was on the metro the other day, I now know EXACTLY how she felt! A group of five or so girls came into the train cart I was in, and one saw my badge, and quickly whispered to her friends who all gathered together whispering and laughing, each turning and trying to catch glances of my tag without looking too obvious, and obviously not succeeding. Ha! Nice try girls. I couldn't help but be somewhat humored as this group of girls acted as if I were some disease or strange creature from another world!

In this world there are those who choose to believe and follow Christ and then those who choose to openly mock, ridicule, partially follow, or simply ignore this great man. In the entire history of mankind there has never produced a leader to rank with Him, and millions dead and millions living unite in proclaiming Him as the Son of the Living God, the Redeemer and Savior of the human race. But why do so many turn to a Savior? Why do so many choose to be religious? Or better yet, how can a belief in Jesus Christ help me?

I love this film! Let's watch shall we? 

So in what way can a belief in Jesus Christ help us? IN EVERY WAY! He is the “bread” of our lives, and there is no possible way we can live a full happy life without Him! There's a great chapter in the Book of Mormon that really helps put into perspective how having a belief in Christ helps us. It's in the book of Alma, chapter 36, and I want you to read it. When one believes in Jesus Christ, DELIVERENCE becomes real, SUPPORT becomes real, JOY becomes real, REPENTENCE becomes real, FORGIVNESS, becomes real, CHANGE becomes real.

All of these things can be a daily reality for us if we only but choose to follow Him It's the most simple, powerful, and direct invitation we can ever recieve. So what does He expect of us? I like to summarize it with this one verse, “And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.» (Book of Mormon- Mosiah 2:22) Sounds simple, but believe me I know as well as you that it's not as easy as it sounds. Random fact about me: I love the band Neon Trees! They're a very popular band in America, and I would like to introduce you to Elaine:

And who say's having a belief in Jesus Christ isn't cool?! I don't know about you, but I think it's the coolest thing to have a relationship with Christ! There are many who feel burdened by so much expectation, and feel they can never live up to it, that it's not “cool”, or that a life following Jesus Christ is a harder life, but life is far beyond living comfortably. It is absolutely impossible, and makes me so sad to think of those who try to live a “happy” life without a relationship with Christ, because I know that He can make of us more than we ever could!

Until next week!

-Sister Roe

Week 76- OCTOBER-E=mc2

Just like E=mc2, it just doesn't make sense that it's already October! The weeks are just flying by, and here we are yet again. I don't know maybe Einstein can explain it to me, cause i just don't get it. Not even an hour after sending my email last week my day was already being filled with an adventure. This adventure took place just two blocks away from the church, when i water pipe decided to burst and spew hot water all over the streets. And goodness you would have thought it was boiling magma the way the Ukrainians reacted. Not even my dear companion dared to tread the .2 millimeters of hot water on the street, or dared to cross the rickity metal bridge, and let me tell you, i don't think it was steam from just the hot water that was in the air, as i glared at my companion from the other side making very prominant, "GET OVER HERE" gestures. She didn't budge. This was about a 15 minute "steamy" debate until one of us finally caved in. Guess who made the 30 minute walk around the entire area to get the metro stop that was only 2 minutes away? Yup, this companionship.

For our FHE on Monday we had a little girls night at the church with some of our potential investigators, and watched The Other Side of Heaven, and oh how it made me miss my brother...and also laugh at a much more extreme level of others watching the life that he is experiencing on the other side of the world. Watching this film gave me an even greater appreciation for my mission, and shed a new light on this work. Whether it be typhoon or a war the Lord's children need this gospel! And i feel very blessed as a missionary to share it! Rumor has it actually that we wont be having gas in the near future and that means no heat. They might actually be shutting down the schools during the coldest winter months because of it. That's why it's been so hard to meet with so many of our potential because they are so bombarded with school work! On top of their load they are having to do the 2 months that will be "missed" on top of it!

Sometimes punk Satan likes to get into my head, my thoughts and worth as a missionary in my part of the vineyard, and that's when suprise texts from your District Leader/Zone Leader really help, "I really appreciate how positive and kind you are, it makes a big difference for others and especially me." and keep all romantic thoughts out of your head sicko's. That stuff's foreign to me.
This week we met with a deaf member of our ward, and she is KNOWN for her sweets. We specifically don't eat any sweets for like a week in preparation for this event. Like i would consider this as a serious sporting event. So one slice (as big as my face) of diabetes cake later, and entire jug of sugar juice, and with a Super Snickers stuffed into my purse for later we made it. But Sister Litvinova wasn't going to make it without our help and when Anya left the room all of were like, "Quick!! We have to help her!" and attacked her slice with our forks with crumbs flying everywhere and all of us looking like a mass of chipmunks.

But the diabetes have been made up for as....well let's just talk about my new diet for a minute here. Never in my LIFE would i have ever thought that i would be craving a tomato, cucumber and corn salad, with a green cheese quesidilla, or making a salad with sour cabbage, beets, and chopped pickles. Seriously, tomatoes are amazingly delicious! 

Oh gosh i don't have time to finish! That's life right? I guess for now you will just have to fill int he blanks, until i get to it later. Sorry!
Uhhh temple trip for a sealing!

Oh you should have seen us watching our past president on the big screen!

Horse farm trip #2!

XOXOXOXO

-Сестра Ро

Your Weekly Sundae-Is There A God?

One of the great promises of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is that through the Book of Mormon and the truth it holds, it can answer just about any question that comes your way in life. Well, the questions that matter the most in life that is, as for the square root of pi...you're still on your own with that one. That's why we need the Book of Mormon, to help us better understand God's plan for us in this life. The before, the now, and the after. Life is full of questions, and as a missionary for the church I get them a lot.

Let's start at the basics, shall we? For me personally it all comes down to, “Is there a God?” I thought about this and came up with a solution to the question. I tried convincing myself that there is not a God. Strange, yes I know, BUT by doing so I hit a mind barrier. Everything I was just simply could not except it! I know God is there, and i know this because i asked Him through prayer, but we are also surrounded by evidence. I mean think about it! Just look at the human body and how amazing it is, I have not even come to begin to understand the scientifics of it all, and yet the complexity of it just blows me away.

If the body isn't enough, just think of how we're so much more than just flesh and bone. We have feelings, emotions, thoughts, dreams, we have...spirits, or what some like to call souls.

Has there ever been a time when you just craved peace and quiet and found that serenity by being outside? On a walk? If you're anything like me, you're answer is "yes." Even if you're not a nature lover, like me, well...I have yet to meet a person and hear them say that they think sunrises, sunsets, and rainbows are hideous. 

You know what i think? I think being around God's creations and the natural beauty the earth has to offer is a natural craving of the spirit. It would only make sense as they are God's creations for us. In Psalms 19:1 it says “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” There is also a verse in the Book of Mormon when a prophet named Alma was talking to a man who did not believe there was a God, “But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.”

So there you have it, that's how I came to know that God is real, that He's there, that He lives, and that He loves us. We can only come to know this by asking Him in prayer, and then see that the world around us and our bodies themselves testify of it. “Behold, assuredly as thou livest....there is a God.” That one is from the Book of Mormon :)

Well I hope you are all having a great week, and as usual feel free to send questions or comments!

-Sister Roe