We can hardly wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, December 17, 2012
To all my wonderful family and friends...
Dear loved ones,
The weather is getting me prepared to hit America winter: this morning it was 60 degrees! Yesterday at church the district president wore a fleece zip up turtle neck UNDER his suit jacket. Claaaasssy. :) I loved it. Everyone is in coats and scarves and beanies. It reminds my of Jamie's mission in Scotland...how everyone would wear shorts when it was in the 50s. It's the opposite here! But equally hilarious.
Well it's getting real. But that's okay. The field is still so white:) And this week is going to rock. So many new people to teach and so many beloved members I can't wait to visit and strengthen this week. We threw a Christmas party last week and had people write their testimonies in Books of Mormon, wrap them, and then plan to give them to their friends as a Christmas present.
Yesterday the Branch President did something really nice and surprising. He asked me to come and bear my testimony. So I took a break from translating and went up. Tears in eyes!:) Got a little emotional since that's the last time I'll do that. But it felt so good and I felt the Spirit so strong.
Thank you so much for your support and love and prayers and letters and packages and thoughts the last year and a half of my life. You have been wonderful and taught me so many things. Thank you for remembering me and sending your love and advice and including me in your lives. I hope the last year and a half has been as fabulous for you as it was for me:).
I am so grateful for the chance to have served a mission. Before my mission, I thought missionaries were celebrities and perfect and so wise and spiritual. Then coming on a mission I've learned that they're still the same people with the same weaknesses and personalities. But they have a wonderful opportunity to grow and overcome the natural man and strengthen their testimonies...just like anyone else. I'm so grateful that a mission was part of Heavenly Father's plan for me. I want to and will apply what I've learned for the rest of my life.
I learned this week (after an about-to-end-a mission crisis...probably the first of many...) that my purpose in life is the same as my purpose as a missionary: to invite others to come unto Christ and help them to do so. I can't wait for my life. Every day of it.
In Jordan's last email he said, "I left a boy and am coming home a man." Well I didn't leave a boy, nor am I coming back a man...but I can say thatIi feel like an improved and expanded and better person. And I'm grateful for the Atonement that has taught me and allowed me to do that.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. The Book of Mormon is true, so true! We have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. He is the Savior's representative on the earth. These things bring so much stability, meaning, and happiness into life. And Heavenly Father only wants us to be happy. I love Him. And I love the Savior.
And as always, I love all of you so very much. Never stop serving and being a missionary!!!!
Love,
Sister Roper
Dear loved ones,
The weather is getting me prepared to hit America winter: this morning it was 60 degrees! Yesterday at church the district president wore a fleece zip up turtle neck UNDER his suit jacket. Claaaasssy. :) I loved it. Everyone is in coats and scarves and beanies. It reminds my of Jamie's mission in Scotland...how everyone would wear shorts when it was in the 50s. It's the opposite here! But equally hilarious.
Well it's getting real. But that's okay. The field is still so white:) And this week is going to rock. So many new people to teach and so many beloved members I can't wait to visit and strengthen this week. We threw a Christmas party last week and had people write their testimonies in Books of Mormon, wrap them, and then plan to give them to their friends as a Christmas present.
Yesterday the Branch President did something really nice and surprising. He asked me to come and bear my testimony. So I took a break from translating and went up. Tears in eyes!:) Got a little emotional since that's the last time I'll do that. But it felt so good and I felt the Spirit so strong.
Thank you so much for your support and love and prayers and letters and packages and thoughts the last year and a half of my life. You have been wonderful and taught me so many things. Thank you for remembering me and sending your love and advice and including me in your lives. I hope the last year and a half has been as fabulous for you as it was for me:).
I am so grateful for the chance to have served a mission. Before my mission, I thought missionaries were celebrities and perfect and so wise and spiritual. Then coming on a mission I've learned that they're still the same people with the same weaknesses and personalities. But they have a wonderful opportunity to grow and overcome the natural man and strengthen their testimonies...just like anyone else. I'm so grateful that a mission was part of Heavenly Father's plan for me. I want to and will apply what I've learned for the rest of my life.
I learned this week (after an about-to-end-a mission crisis...probably the first of many...) that my purpose in life is the same as my purpose as a missionary: to invite others to come unto Christ and help them to do so. I can't wait for my life. Every day of it.
In Jordan's last email he said, "I left a boy and am coming home a man." Well I didn't leave a boy, nor am I coming back a man...but I can say thatIi feel like an improved and expanded and better person. And I'm grateful for the Atonement that has taught me and allowed me to do that.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. The Book of Mormon is true, so true! We have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. He is the Savior's representative on the earth. These things bring so much stability, meaning, and happiness into life. And Heavenly Father only wants us to be happy. I love Him. And I love the Savior.
And as always, I love all of you so very much. Never stop serving and being a missionary!!!!
Love,
Sister Roper
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
That's a Wrap!
To all my wonderful family and friends...
Dear loved ones,
The weather is getting me prepared to hit America winter: this morning it was 60 degrees! Yesterday at church the district president wore a fleece zip up turtle neck UNDER his suit jacket. Claaaasssy. :) I loved it. Everyone is in coats and scarves and beanies. It reminds my of Jamie's mission in Scotland...how everyone would wear shorts when it was in the 50s. It's the opposite here! But equally hilarious.
Well it's getting real. But that's okay. The field is still so white:) And this week is going to rock. So many new people to teach and so many beloved members I can't wait to visit and strengthen this week. We threw a Christmas party last week and had people write their testimonies in Books of Mormon, wrap them, and then plan to give them to their friends as a Christmas present.
Yesterday the Branch President did something really nice and surprising. He asked me to come and bear my testimony. So I took a break from translating and went up. Tears in eyes!:) Got a little emotional since that's the last time I'll do that. But it felt so good and I felt the Spirit so strong.
Thank you so much for your support and love and prayers and letters and packages and thoughts the last year and a half of my life. You have been wonderful and taught me so many things. Thank you for remembering me and sending your love and advice and including me in your lives. I hope the last year and a half has been as fabulous for you as it was for me:).
I am so grateful for the chance to have served a mission. Before my mission, I thought missionaries were celebrities and perfect and so wise and spiritual. Then coming on a mission I've learned that they're still the same people with the same weaknesses and personalities. But they have a wonderful opportunity to grow and overcome the natural man and strengthen their testimonies...just like anyone else. I'm so grateful that a mission was part of Heavenly Father's plan for me. I want to and will apply what I've learned for the rest of my life.
I learned this week (after an about-to-end-a mission crisis...probably the first of many...) that my purpose in life is the same as my purpose as a missionary: to invite others to come unto Christ and help them to do so. I can't wait for my life. Every day of it.
In Jordan's last email he said, "I left a boy and am coming home a man." Well I didn't leave a boy, nor am I coming back a man...but I can say thatIi feel like an improved and expanded and better person. And I'm grateful for the Atonement that has taught me and allowed me to do that.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. The Book of Mormon is true, so true! We have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. He is the Savior's representative on the earth. These things bring so much stability, meaning, and happiness into life. And Heavenly Father only wants us to be happy. I love Him. And I love the Savior.
And as always, I love all of you so very much. Never stop serving and being a missionary!!!!
Love,
Sister Roper
Dear loved ones,
The weather is getting me prepared to hit America winter: this morning it was 60 degrees! Yesterday at church the district president wore a fleece zip up turtle neck UNDER his suit jacket. Claaaasssy. :) I loved it. Everyone is in coats and scarves and beanies. It reminds my of Jamie's mission in Scotland...how everyone would wear shorts when it was in the 50s. It's the opposite here! But equally hilarious.
Well it's getting real. But that's okay. The field is still so white:) And this week is going to rock. So many new people to teach and so many beloved members I can't wait to visit and strengthen this week. We threw a Christmas party last week and had people write their testimonies in Books of Mormon, wrap them, and then plan to give them to their friends as a Christmas present.
Yesterday the Branch President did something really nice and surprising. He asked me to come and bear my testimony. So I took a break from translating and went up. Tears in eyes!:) Got a little emotional since that's the last time I'll do that. But it felt so good and I felt the Spirit so strong.
Thank you so much for your support and love and prayers and letters and packages and thoughts the last year and a half of my life. You have been wonderful and taught me so many things. Thank you for remembering me and sending your love and advice and including me in your lives. I hope the last year and a half has been as fabulous for you as it was for me:).
I am so grateful for the chance to have served a mission. Before my mission, I thought missionaries were celebrities and perfect and so wise and spiritual. Then coming on a mission I've learned that they're still the same people with the same weaknesses and personalities. But they have a wonderful opportunity to grow and overcome the natural man and strengthen their testimonies...just like anyone else. I'm so grateful that a mission was part of Heavenly Father's plan for me. I want to and will apply what I've learned for the rest of my life.
I learned this week (after an about-to-end-a mission crisis...probably the first of many...) that my purpose in life is the same as my purpose as a missionary: to invite others to come unto Christ and help them to do so. I can't wait for my life. Every day of it.
In Jordan's last email he said, "I left a boy and am coming home a man." Well I didn't leave a boy, nor am I coming back a man...but I can say thatIi feel like an improved and expanded and better person. And I'm grateful for the Atonement that has taught me and allowed me to do that.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. The Book of Mormon is true, so true! We have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. He is the Savior's representative on the earth. These things bring so much stability, meaning, and happiness into life. And Heavenly Father only wants us to be happy. I love Him. And I love the Savior.
And as always, I love all of you so very much. Never stop serving and being a missionary!!!!
Love,
Sister Roper
Monday, December 3, 2012
Mission Tour
Look up Looy Gratong on google. It's real!!!
Great news in life every day:):
Thanksgiving was wonderful for all of you I hope. It was fun for us! We ate with some Americans and it was DELICIOUS. Oh my and the head of the household, Sister Karony, announced for everyone to hear that I have some kind of funny dance I do (to not be named) that Jamie and Chris told her about over facebook or the phone or something....oh my. So embarrassing. In front of 8 missinoaries and 10 other members. So funnny:). I loooovvvve my family:). My cheeks blushed...which is pretty rare.
I followed President Monson's charge to take a blessing inventory of my life. I divided it up into the last week, month, and year. Oh my. Soo many. Tooo many!:) Most of them are spiritual...like 90 percent are just thigs I've learned and precious revelation I've received. This week we taught this lady Dang about praying and asking questions. She's believed in Heavenly Father for a long time, but she didn't know she could get answers to her prayers and actually communicate with Him. Oh my the Spirit was so strong when we taught her how to pray, to talk to Heavenly Father naturally and intently and ask questions such as, Is this message true? We promised her he would answer through feelings of peace and confidence in her heart. "Really? I thought I had to wait until the last judgment day to know which church was really the true one," she said:). Nope!!!! Isn't it such a blessing that the heavens are OPEN and that we can communicate with Heavenly Father?! Yes it is. I"m so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to KNOW and not be lost in the darkness of our own minds or thoughts or misunderstandings. We are so blessed.
We are teaching a very old, hilarious women named Runjit and I love her soooo much. She's old but so FILLED with faith and excited to get baptized and I can't wait for her to feel so clean and fresh and pure and free from all her sins. She loves the prophet. I think she actually has a crush on some of them, after showing her the line of Joseph Smith to Thomas S Monson. She prayed about them and asked that she have dreams about them, too:). So cute. She made everyone in the branch laugh yesterday. They invited her to attend the baptism of another investigator and she said, as she was nonchalantly walking out of the church after 4 great but long hours, "No need. I'll see my own on Friday!" Haha so funny.
No Christmas here:). As far as commerciality goes...Christian churches each have activities and stuff like that. Weather - on the daily it's still sunny hot and tropical:). But that's okay. Mormon Tabernacle sings me Christmas Chorals when I put on my mascara every day:).
Okay i love you all so dearly!
Sister Roper
Being a missionary is like being a punch bowl. Or a mom.
Being a missionary is like being a punch bowl. Or a mom.
I think being a missionary is kind of being like a mom: you are only one person, but still tons of people depend on you, need you, rely on you. You carry lots of people's burdens with them, even if they don't mean for it to be that way. Sometimes I feel like my subconscious is telling the world, "I dare you to try to have a trial without me carrying it right along with you." It's great. It also makes you realize how merciful and powerful and wonderful the Savior is, that He was able to carry so many peoples' trials, everyone's actually. You get to see the Atonement working in so many peoples' lives and in so many different ways. It's such a blessing and such a pleasure.
Yesterday I got to see the Atonement working from two different directions: a mother who was sorrowing because of her 15-year-old daughter and some serious mistakes she's made recently, and then the daughter. I saw Blum during church and she was about to cry so i went and asked her what was wrong and she said she felt guilty for something. I told her to not tell me what it was but that we could talk about how to make it better...because the solution is the same for anything that's wrong:). We went outside and sat on the curb so no one would see her tears and we talked about the five steps of repentance: accepting the sin, feeling guilty, confessing with God/priesthood leaders if necessary, resolving the sin and results of it, and forsaking it. She listened so close and felt so relieved that feeling guilty was a good thing....that it was a necessary part of repenting and getting better. Interesting...but sooo true. I love guilt...:) at least what can happen afterwards. Anyway,
I hugged her and promised her the Atonement was real and repentance would wash it all away. I am so grateful that is the truth!
Fast forward to after church. The mom was heartbroken. She was standing by herself and seemed like she needed a hug or something. So i went and put my arms around her and she just started sobbing. And I loved her and told her she was a wonderful mom and that the Savior was REAL and would forgive and take away the sins and pains of all of us. And she kept crying and hugged me so tight. It was so sweet. And I felt so happy and grateful for the Atonement that I know is true because I have experienced it.
It was great. I loved it and being like a middleman for people and the Savior. I want my whole life to be like that. I want to do at least one thing every day to help at least one person strengthen their faith in the Savior.
More good news. Remember when we got lost on our bikes for three hours but found Tuy, that man who was so ready for the gospel? Well he and his girlfriend got married a few weeks ago (big deal here because she hasn’t yet graduated from college) so they could keep the Law of Chastity. And they kept reading and keeping the commandments and changing their lives and then....they got baptized on Friday! It was so awesome. I've never seen that before, a husband and wife getting baptized together. It's AMAZING how powerful it is. They help each other and strengthen each other. It's a built in support system. NO wonder Heavenly Father sent us to earth in families. Last night we had dinner with them at a member's house and they already have a goal to go to the temple and Tuy has a goal to get the priesthood in March. So happy. And I was talking to Nan, Tuy's wife, about how at first she wanted nothing to do with the church...like not even two months ago....but that how she changed so quickly.
And I said why do you think that is? why the sudden change? and she said because you missionaries told me to read the Book of Mormon:).
Couldn’t have said it better myself:). The Book of Mormon and the Spirit ARE the best tools in missionary work. And in life in general.
Jordy said there'd be lots of miracles at the end of my mission...like blessings coming that had been stored up...and I think he's right. I feel so blessed. I have front row tickets to the best show in the world: seeing people come unto Christ and change their lives and find REAL and LASTING happiness.
It's the best. Okay I love you all!!!
I think being a missionary is kind of being like a mom: you are only one person, but still tons of people depend on you, need you, rely on you. You carry lots of people's burdens with them, even if they don't mean for it to be that way. Sometimes I feel like my subconscious is telling the world, "I dare you to try to have a trial without me carrying it right along with you." It's great. It also makes you realize how merciful and powerful and wonderful the Savior is, that He was able to carry so many peoples' trials, everyone's actually. You get to see the Atonement working in so many peoples' lives and in so many different ways. It's such a blessing and such a pleasure.
Yesterday I got to see the Atonement working from two different directions: a mother who was sorrowing because of her 15-year-old daughter and some serious mistakes she's made recently, and then the daughter. I saw Blum during church and she was about to cry so i went and asked her what was wrong and she said she felt guilty for something. I told her to not tell me what it was but that we could talk about how to make it better...because the solution is the same for anything that's wrong:). We went outside and sat on the curb so no one would see her tears and we talked about the five steps of repentance: accepting the sin, feeling guilty, confessing with God/priesthood leaders if necessary, resolving the sin and results of it, and forsaking it. She listened so close and felt so relieved that feeling guilty was a good thing....that it was a necessary part of repenting and getting better. Interesting...but sooo true. I love guilt...:) at least what can happen afterwards. Anyway,
I hugged her and promised her the Atonement was real and repentance would wash it all away. I am so grateful that is the truth!
Fast forward to after church. The mom was heartbroken. She was standing by herself and seemed like she needed a hug or something. So i went and put my arms around her and she just started sobbing. And I loved her and told her she was a wonderful mom and that the Savior was REAL and would forgive and take away the sins and pains of all of us. And she kept crying and hugged me so tight. It was so sweet. And I felt so happy and grateful for the Atonement that I know is true because I have experienced it.
It was great. I loved it and being like a middleman for people and the Savior. I want my whole life to be like that. I want to do at least one thing every day to help at least one person strengthen their faith in the Savior.
More good news. Remember when we got lost on our bikes for three hours but found Tuy, that man who was so ready for the gospel? Well he and his girlfriend got married a few weeks ago (big deal here because she hasn’t yet graduated from college) so they could keep the Law of Chastity. And they kept reading and keeping the commandments and changing their lives and then....they got baptized on Friday! It was so awesome. I've never seen that before, a husband and wife getting baptized together. It's AMAZING how powerful it is. They help each other and strengthen each other. It's a built in support system. NO wonder Heavenly Father sent us to earth in families. Last night we had dinner with them at a member's house and they already have a goal to go to the temple and Tuy has a goal to get the priesthood in March. So happy. And I was talking to Nan, Tuy's wife, about how at first she wanted nothing to do with the church...like not even two months ago....but that how she changed so quickly.
And I said why do you think that is? why the sudden change? and she said because you missionaries told me to read the Book of Mormon:).
Couldn’t have said it better myself:). The Book of Mormon and the Spirit ARE the best tools in missionary work. And in life in general.
Jordy said there'd be lots of miracles at the end of my mission...like blessings coming that had been stored up...and I think he's right. I feel so blessed. I have front row tickets to the best show in the world: seeing people come unto Christ and change their lives and find REAL and LASTING happiness.
It's the best. Okay I love you all!!!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
This week Tangled is coming to Thailand:)
 | ||||
Look up Looy Gratong on google. It's real!!!
Great news in life every day:):
Thanksgiving was wonderful for all of you I hope. It was fun for us! We ate with some Americans and it was DELICIOUS. Oh my and the head of the household, Sister Karony, announced for everyone to hear that I have some kind of funny dance I do (to not be named) that Jamie and Chris told her about over facebook or the phone or something....oh my. So embarrassing. In front of 8 missinoaries and 10 other members. So funnny:). I loooovvvve my family:). My cheeks blushed...which is pretty rare.
I followed President Monson's charge to take a blessing inventory of my life. I divided it up into the last week, month, and year. Oh my. Soo many. Tooo many!:) Most of them are spiritual...like 90 percent are just thigs I've learned and precious revelation I've received. This week we taught this lady Dang about praying and asking questions. She's believed in Heavenly Father for a long time, but she didn't know she could get answers to her prayers and actually communicate with Him. Oh my the Spirit was so strong when we taught her how to pray, to talk to Heavenly Father naturally and intently and ask questions such as, Is this message true? We promised her he would answer through feelings of peace and confidence in her heart. "Really? I thought I had to wait until the last judgment day to know which church was really the true one," she said:). Nope!!!! Isn't it such a blessing that the heavens are OPEN and that we can communicate with Heavenly Father?! Yes it is. I"m so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to KNOW and not be lost in the darkness of our own minds or thoughts or misunderstandings. We are so blessed.
We are teaching a very old, hilarious women named Runjit and I love her soooo much. She's old but so FILLED with faith and excited to get baptized and I can't wait for her to feel so clean and fresh and pure and free from all her sins. She loves the prophet. I think she actually has a crush on some of them, after showing her the line of Joseph Smith to Thomas S Monson. She prayed about them and asked that she have dreams about them, too:). So cute. She made everyone in the branch laugh yesterday. They invited her to attend the baptism of another investigator and she said, as she was nonchalantly walking out of the church after 4 great but long hours, "No need. I'll see my own on Friday!" Haha so funny.
No Christmas here:). As far as commerciality goes...Christian churches each have activities and stuff like that. Weather - on the daily it's still sunny hot and tropical:). But that's okay. Mormon Tabernacle sings me Christmas Chorals when I put on my mascara every day:).
Okay i love you all so dearly!
Sister Roper
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)