It was so great to be able to hear from you all yesterday. Man, what a joy to hear your voices! Mom, I hope you had a fantastic Mother's Day, and a peaceful Sabbath. Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers on my behalf, I am so grateful for that strength I can always lean on.
It's so exciting you're getting closer and closer to your Alaska cruise. It should be amazing! You'll have to send lots of pics, and maybe an Alaskan gnome.
Anyway, I don't really know what else to tell y'all that I didn't yesterday...
The Smiths continue to do amazing! It's awesome to see the ward just take them in. Brody (the 16 yo) especially is being taken right in by the ward and the youth, fitting right in, which is great. Then, the parents continue to be enveloped by the ward, and it's so great to see. We have a lesson with them tonight, and with any luck, we'll have a baptismal date set! I love this family so much, and if there's anyway I can get back to Texas after my mission to see them sealed, I'll be here. It would be so worth however much a plane ticket would be, and however much homework I'll miss at school. I just love them so much, and can't wait to see them baptized and on the covenant path leading to the temple and eternity.
As far as service here, we do far more spontaneous service, and less of the organized stuff that we did in Azle. We're actually working on finding something to really do which will put us more in the community and with people that might want to learn more.
Almost all of you have made some comment in your emails or in the call about my companions [and their health issues], and why I've had the ones I've had. As I think about it, I think it comes down to what I need to learn from them. I've been blessed with few to zero health challenges and I think that this has given me a greater empathy and ability to help people and a definite increase in charity and sincere love for all of God's children, my brothers and sisters. I also wonder if these sisters need someone at this time that can help and understand them. I don't know. I just figure it'll all make sense in years when I look back.
Anyway, I love you so much! Please tell everyone how much I love them!
Have a great week!
All my love,
Sister Erika Marks ☀☀❤❤☀❤
It's so exciting you're getting closer and closer to your Alaska cruise. It should be amazing! You'll have to send lots of pics, and maybe an Alaskan gnome.
Anyway, I don't really know what else to tell y'all that I didn't yesterday...
The Smiths continue to do amazing! It's awesome to see the ward just take them in. Brody (the 16 yo) especially is being taken right in by the ward and the youth, fitting right in, which is great. Then, the parents continue to be enveloped by the ward, and it's so great to see. We have a lesson with them tonight, and with any luck, we'll have a baptismal date set! I love this family so much, and if there's anyway I can get back to Texas after my mission to see them sealed, I'll be here. It would be so worth however much a plane ticket would be, and however much homework I'll miss at school. I just love them so much, and can't wait to see them baptized and on the covenant path leading to the temple and eternity.
As far as service here, we do far more spontaneous service, and less of the organized stuff that we did in Azle. We're actually working on finding something to really do which will put us more in the community and with people that might want to learn more.
Almost all of you have made some comment in your emails or in the call about my companions [and their health issues], and why I've had the ones I've had. As I think about it, I think it comes down to what I need to learn from them. I've been blessed with few to zero health challenges and I think that this has given me a greater empathy and ability to help people and a definite increase in charity and sincere love for all of God's children, my brothers and sisters. I also wonder if these sisters need someone at this time that can help and understand them. I don't know. I just figure it'll all make sense in years when I look back.
Anyway, I love you so much! Please tell everyone how much I love them!
Have a great week!
All my love,
Sister Erika Marks ☀☀❤❤☀❤