The Final Epistle

HELLO.

Sooo this week was great!!! I mean.. I went to the temple twice. of course it was great. and we had zone training and gave a training there! 

remind me when im home to tell you about the Espinoza's sealing.. I'm pretty sure it was the most special amazing experience I've ever had.  Families are eternal.  I know that for sure. Also, seeing all of concord for the first time in a year in the temple... im pretty sure thats exactly how the celestial kingdom will be. it was amazing!

Then yesterday... concord all came to brentwood to visit me and say goodbye. hahaha. the branch president's mom lives in our ward here in brentwood. so thats how that happened. it was amazing! I love them all so much.

So I guess I just wanted to end all these fun weekly emails with my testimony... GUYS. I know this church is true.  Seriously..... It is. And we have The Book of Mormon to testify of it!  I have grown to love this book so much on my mission.  It really can answer any question we have.  It can resolve any doubt we have as well. Go forward with faith, and read the Book of Mormon.(:

I am so grateful for my mission. BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE. seriously though, if i could, i would go back and do it all over again.  But I do know that that is not the Lord's plan for me.  I do know that he needs me home.  He has another purpose for me! But man, It's hard to leave.  I have learned so much here. I have learned that God has a plan for us.  I have learned that as we listen to the spirit, we can follow the plan! Isn't God's love for us amazing?  Seriously, I am so grateful to be  a part of this work.  Sharing the truthfulness of the restored gospel has been amazing. And it really is great to know that.. I can continue to share it! My mission doesn't have to stop here. I have realized that. 

All the people I've met have taught me that life is hard.  But that through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be happy!! We can have a happiness that is impossible to find elsewhere.  It's cool to meet someone who really is satisfied with life.. they feel like they have all they need. Then they find the restored gospel.. and realize how much they were missing out on.

It has been the hardest thing ever to watch people reject this gospel.  Non members who reject Him, or less active members who do... it's frustrating! I just want to grab them and tell them what they are missing out on! But I know that Agency is necessary, and I hope and pray that they find their way back to Heavenly Father soon.  Because really.. They are missing out.  But I know that we all have these times.. where we are missing out on the blessings God has prepared for us to receive. And I know that as we come closer to Him and pray for strength.. we can come back.

I love this gospel so much.  It really is my greatest passion.  I am so grateful that I was born into it, so that I could be ready to go out and serve 18 months of my time to find Heavenly Father's lost sheep.  I love my Heavenly Father so much and I know that He loves me. 

I am excited to see you all, I will miss my mission like crazy, but I know that I am needed back in Utah. (:  Thank you for all the support you have given me while I've been out.  It would've been a lot harder without you guys.(: LOVE YOU ALL SEE YOU SOON.

Love, Hermana Stokes.(: 

trabajemos hoy en la obra del senor! (We will work today in the labor of the Lord!)

So life is great.  THERESA GOT BAPTIZED THIS WEEK!!!!!! and confirmed. It was such a beautiful experience.  It was definitely the craziest baptism I've had.. which involved us pulling it together ALL ALONE... and the person baptizing her ariving an hour late... and the font not being high enough so her having to be baptized twice.. the second time we had to fill up the font more and wait for that.... but it was amazing! Seriously even with all the craziness I am just SO grateful for our members. They helped so much! I was stressing out and overwhelmed because you know I get like that sometimes.. and Sister Roberts came over and hugged me and talked to me.  I am so grateful for members who can act like our moms when we don't have them. (: It was so amazing though.  The spirit was so strong.  After she got baptized she just knelt and prayed to her heavenly Father.  It was the most tender beautiful experience ever.  I love her so much.  It was a great week. (:

ALSO... I believe Jose got baptized this past weekend!!!!! We had MLC and I saw sister Vargas who is serving in el camino right now and she told me! He called them and just said he was ready and asked to be baptized as soon as possible!!!!! Wow I am so happy.  I am so blessed to have been a part of seeing his conversion.  Theresa's too. 

This week was awesome and this next week is going to be even better!!!!!! wanna know why!?!?!??! WE GO TO THE TEMPLE TOMORROW AND SATURDAY!!!!! tomorrow is our temple day.. so if i don't email you today no se preocupen. and saturday..... WE GET TO GO TO THE ESPINOZA'S SEALING!!!!! Since I was there for Diana's baptism, we got permission to go!!! HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE. I am so excited. (: so yeah....I am spoiled. (: I am so grateful for all the blessings I have received. 

We had two exchanges this week. I went to richmond with Sister Stapley.. then I went to marsh creek with sister hasek. (: fun fun.!

I am so happy. I love life. 

Have a good one! oh and my ponderize this week is 3 Nephi 5:13---"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life."  

I love doing this work.  And I know this work is eternal.  This is always my calling. (:

Hermana Stokes

We had district meeting in this weird secret room in the attic of the church... haha kind of weird but fun!

here is theresas baptism! and i just got this picture of Jose's baptism!!!!! ah best weekend.

HAPPY ARE WE

We are all enlisted till the conflict is o'er;

Fighting for a kingdom, and the world is our foe;

Happy are we! Happy are we!

Glad to join the army, we will sing as we go;

We shall win and wear it by and by

So this hymn explains my feelings today exactly. I just put some of the lyrics that stand out. but HAPPY ARE WE to be doing the Lord's work.  Seriously, I just am overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude lately.  I LOVE THE MISSION. I LOVE THE GOSPEL.

This week was awesome!!! THERESA PASSED HER BAPTISM DATE!!!! SHE WILL BE GETTING BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY.  I am so proud of her!!!! I have seen such a change in her. It is amazing!

We had two exchanges this week. I stayed in the area for both.  One I was with Sister Thao!! I love her. And the other I was with Hermana Heyn. (:  It was great! 

We had our haunted house cleaning for halloween again.  It was great.  Gotta love deep cleaning. (: Halloween was fun. (:  We had stake conference this past weekend as well. Both sessions were amazing!  I love the word of God so much.  

So this week my scripture is DyC 84:85 Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man.

This scripture helps me remember that I don't need to worry about all my weaknesses.  The Lord will help me, and I will be able to remember anything I need to remember to share to the people. (:

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/wilcox-brad_his-grace-is-sufficient/

^^^^^^^^^ you all need to go read this talk. I read it this week and... wow it's amazing.  So that is what I have been thinking about a lot this week. Grace.  He uses an analogy that I LOVE.  Really though, it is amazing. It is amazing to know that we have already been saved by grace.  But... we could have so much more!  We have the Atonement here to use.  Why not use it?  Christ paid for our sins because he knows our potential.  He knows what we can become.  Well, we should accept his gift.  Let grace change you.  I love the gospel so much, and I am so grateful for the atonement.  The church is true!!!!!

Have a great week. (: 

Hermana Stokes

😊😊 here are some pictures of our zone after carving pumpkins.. and the missionaries in the area on halloween after sports in the morning!