happy decemBRR

sure, it may be a bit chilly out. but i still got a smile on mah face. YOU ALL SOUND WONDERFUL! wow my doodle bug- his bum is still as cute as ever. and that face on santas lap.... its a good thing i wasn't there i would have just cuddled the little bug. i miss him. if you couldn't tell :)

this week i have been stuck on the desire i have to make my prayers mighty. have you ever thought about what a mighty prayer means to you? a mighty prayer to me, means, taking more time and thought. more sincre. more personal to my heavenly father. it doesn't mean we have to use eloquent words that aren't ourselves. but it is just being OURSELVES. he is there, he is always listening, no matter what you say.

my favorite quote from ezra taft benson "we need to feel that god knows us and loves us as individuals. there are many times you have felt the closeness of God, your father, and that you are his child. those times can come more often. there is a simple way to think about it. if you want to stay close to someone who has been dear to you, but from whom you are separated, you know how to do it. you would find a way to speak to them, and you would discover ways to do things for each other. the more often that happened, the longer it went on, the deeper would be the bond of affection. if much time passed without speaking, the listening, and the doing, the bond would weaken."

we need to develop that special relationship with our heavenly father, so our prayers really matter to us and to him. they need to be heart felt, things we really think about. we need to know he is our personal friend, and we should speak to him as we would face to face, to our dearest friend.

i think of that quote often- there is no need to feel alone. no need to feel far from our heavenly father. it is through prayer we feel close to him. it is through prayer WE feel close to each other. i have the strongest testimony of that. i feel so close to all of you. especially during this time of the year, when i truly get to focus on my savior. its just what i needed.

i taught my first district meeting this week. it went SO well! we all joined together in prayer, and fast, and prayed mightily for others to have a desire to come unto Christ this season. since it truly is, about him. we don't have to see him to know who he is. just believe. and believe he is who he says he is. i am so grateful for a believing heart. and i encourage each of you, to pray for a believing heart. and to put forth all that you have, in mighty prayer.

i am so grateful for the ward family here. we have been visiting them each night and challenging them to bring someone to church. if he is the gift, we better well share it. and what better way than inviting others to come unto him, at church. i want to challenge you all. and i want you to do it. actually DO IT!!(i will be following up next week!) bring someone to church with you. and share your testimony of the reality of his matchless life and the infinite virtue of his great and atoning sacrifice. none other has had so profound an influence of all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth. you know it to be true. #sharethegift

Jesus Christ is risen. i believe he is who he says he is. i believe he is the reason for the season. and i believe that the gospel of jesus Christ has been restored through his prophet Joseph Smith. how blessed we are to know what we know.. how badly i desire for everyone to come unto him this season.

i love you all. i pray mightily for each of you each day. and i KNOW that our heavenly father hears them. believe he is with you. and believe he hears every word that you give him.

cheers, sister ovard

haha oh- did you want to know about missionary work? we are teaching a mom and her son that is 14! they are doing incredible.

we are also teaching another first nation family and they have the strongest desire to be baptized! it takes a lot of work with first nation people to get a hold of them, but we'll do anything we can to get in there home :)

we are teaching a couple others.. i will fill you in on the important dets in the future! for now, i just pray mightily for their desire to continue!