COUNTING MY BLESSINGS!

dear family,

have I told you yet, how real Jesus is? he was definitely in the work this week! as he always is, providing his mercy to overcome my short comings. which.. ha.. let me tell you, ARE A LOT!

Crystal was baptized on Tuesday in the lake. I think watching YSA girls completely change there life is life changing for myself, knowing that this IS where I should be. and the youth of the church will be the leaders of the church before we know it!! im grateful it will be run by those being converted now and have such a strong testimony of Jesus. because, we all need a bit more of him. the service was GORGEOUS. as you'll see in pics below.. nature... I tell ya, it's are changing my life.

at her confirmation yesterday, I saw her writing in her journal questions to herself like "how can I give myself to this ward family? how can I be a missionary to my family and those around me? how can I know when the spirit is speaking to me?" questions I think we all need to pay a little bit closer attention too. we got talking about it and she bore her testimony of commitment and giving God our all, because he really is BLESSING us left and right! if I could be anything like these people, I'd be a great disciple!!!

ASHELY was baptized in the lake as well!! ohhhh my goodness. I think the first time I have ever been emotional on my mission. I played my violin for the opening and closing song and then some prelude music as she changed in the out house- the closing song was "When I am baptized" I don't know if you all knew this, but I sang that to Doodle every day as I babysat him. we would rock and look into each others eyes and I'd sing it to him. the day I got the email from the Nauvoo Mission saying I didn't make it, I sang that song and doodle just watched me cry. well, I relived that moment and played it at the baptism on my violin as they all sang. it started to rain when we sang "I want to be as clean as earth right after rain, I want to be the BEST I can.. and live with God again!!" my heart was FULL. I couldn't believe the spirit I felt and the way it brought me back to that moment so I could see, just how far I've come.

little JACOB was baptized and Derek baptized him!!!! AHHH THE COOLEST THING EVER. A POSTERITY GUYS!!!!!!!!! A POSTERITY IS CHANGED FOREVER. im so so so grateful. he was jumping around and couldn't stop smiling before it all happened. it was so sweet.

Mission Leadership Council was this weekend. I LOVE VANCOUVER. it all went absolutely perfect. we fasted in advance so we could be prepared to give our training, to the best missionaries in the mission I tell you... it was a humbling experience to stand before them all and share my testimony. it was PERFECT. our training was about how we contact people and how we talk to them. I posed the question, what kind of person would you like talking to if they came up and talked to you? we had GREAT participation and came up with things like, HAPPY, PASSIONATE ABOUT JESUS, PERSONAL EXPERIENCES TO SHARE HIS MIRACLES, REAL, and of course, ON PURPOSE. that is how we all should be when we are talking about the gospel. if it's true, it should be the happiest thing in our life. and I know it is! we then, trained on how we teach. we did a role play with Sister Burt and it was fantastic. over all, it was AMAZING. im grateful for that opportunity president gave us!!

 this week:

• ERICA AND HER DAUGHTER OLIVIA ARE GETTING BAPTIZED ON SUNDAY! her daughter is 11. her name is Olivia Paige, how ironic is that?! she loves us. and it is the sweetest thing. she went to Jacobs baptism and didn't stop smiling. she got two dolls at a garage sell.. a brunette and a blonde. guess what there names are? MEGAN & AYNSLEY. (we don't know how they know our names lol) but I for sure thought it was adorable.

I am counting my blessings naming them one by one and it REALLY has surprised me what the Lord has done. he is all powerful, all knowing, merciful, and kind. this is His work. I know it because all those in this ward are now seeing, that he is working in this area and it is miraculous. as powerful as he is, Satan is still real. and still works hard as ever on us. and I know its because the gospel is true. and it changes people. there has to be opposition in all things, and im grateful there is so I can feel the sorrow, but also the JOY that comes as we follow God. all I want in this life is to please my father earthly and heavenly. and I know I can do it by always living these principles I teach every day!!! every doubt flies when you count your blessings :) I LOVE MY MISSION. if I could see others change this way everyday, you'd be changed forever.

im changed forever!

xoxo, sister ovard