The cold never bothered Ina anyway

my dearest family,

it is all worth it. I have never witnessed a more beautiful baptism than the one we had this weekend. we had the opening meeting at the church, where sister cendreda and I and a couple little girls sang "I know that my redeemer lives" I began to cry as I watched her tears begin to flow as we sang. the spirit was so strong. we drove to the ocean, where the sun was out, glowing off her pink hair, and angels were around her beautiful white dress. she is truly an elect daughter of god, and she will always be a miracle to me.

i have been studying on the atonement this past week.  do you ever ask yourself, "does it work for me" we always say "i promise, it will work for you." but do we understand that it is for ourselves too? do we truly repent EVERY DAY? this is where we are wrong. we must believe that he is who he says he is, we must also believe that he can do what he says he can do. we must BELIEVE Christ. not just believe in him. the atonement is the greatest gift you and i have or ever will receive! IT IS FOR US! how grateful are we to know that gift. #ShareTheGift "we believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel." if we believe it, we will desire to share it with everyone. and NOW is the best time to celebrate him. the sooner we learn and use the atonement the sooner we will free ourselves of such negativism and use our strengths in blessing the lives of those whom we will meet. don't think for one second, that the atonement doesn't work for you!! i promise you, it does. i testify to you, that jesus Christ is who he says he is. he will take away any sorrow, heart ache, and pain that you feel. he is our savior and redeemer.

the Sidney congregation puts on a nativity event at the church. where there are hundreds of nativities around the whole world.. HUNDREDS of people go each day, we have invited all our friends and it is the most powerful tool to get people in the church and to feel the warm. they asked me to play my violin a couple nights this week. and i pray that it will be productive and that others will feel at home. i wish you could see it, it is one of the most amazing things i have ever seen.

I have learned so much this week from sister sala (the mom of the family I always talk about!) she came with us to a couple of lessons one day and as we were going from house to house we would pull over and talk to EVERYONE on the streets!!!! even the workers!!!!! it was hilarious!!!! we knocked on a door and the dad was like "im kind of busy right now..." and she was like hey! no worries! we are too. we'll just come in for a second!! AND WE ALL WALKED IN....... hahahahaha it was hilarious. we had a good talk with that family :) it resulted in their neighbors coming to church!!

a couple funny things sister Cendreda said this week.. "i might marry a white boy. im not sure." sister.. are you asleep? "NO IM ASAIN OK!" "sister ovARD, im having too much fun." hahahah i wish you could hear her accent. the way she says my name just absolutely kills me and i try not to laugh when she says "i testify to what my companion, sister ovARD just said." you'll hear at Christmas! its priceless. i love her.

this is missionary work. this is how life should be, "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." he is with us, each and every day! it's eternal happiness. talk to your friends. share the gospel, and if you have to... USE WORDS! i love where i am. i know the gospel of Jesus Christ is more than true. the book of Mormon is how we come to know His plan for us. read it, every day. and don't you EVER think, that the atonement of jesus Christ isn't for you. you are so special, every one of you! i adore you. i love you. and i know that we will be an eternal family.

los amo mucho - Hermana ovARD (its coming,  i'll be bilingual by the time i am home. mark my words!)

OK... LISTEN UP RIGHT NOW. like 2 weeks ago we visited Sis Isfeld and she knits like all day long. i told her i need to learn how so i can sew my baby girl a blessing dress! she called me over in church and said "sister ovard.. i made your little girl a dress and slippers and a blanket"

 

i cried. and cried some more. imagine my little girl. yep, crying still!!!!!!