SERVICE IS THE CURE

hey, wanna know a miracle? 

I AM STAYING WITH MY OTHER HALF HERE IN NANAIMO TO FINISH MY MISSION!

ask me how happy i am? 

yes, so incredibly happy.

it's been a week of many many journal entries that i never want to forget! we continue to travel back to areas and the last time we were in Port Alberni we met the CUTEST family in Walmart as we were talking to everyone!! Maria and her daughter Jaclyn and Jaclyn's little baby Brynn. we called them before we went back to make an appointment and they were SO excited. in their words, "we were praying for something good to happen and BAM you turned the corner in walmart.. WALMART OF ALL PLACES!!! so tell us what you have to tell us." we sat down days later, in Starbucks, to have a lesson. the moment they sat down they were in tears. we got to know each other and they shared so many amazing things about how they are strugging and just need a church with God that can heal them... it was a perfect moment to tell them..

"Through Christ you can be cleansed from everything you are feeling right now. he is the only one who can take this from you and who WILL! will you follow him and be baptized?" i didn't have to finish the sentence and they said YES. i said "we're holding a baptism service in November... " they cut me off.. "YES! that will be great!!!!!!" there day will be November 21. boy, i am excited. and to put a picture in your head.. they are normal people.. totally have jobs, cars, they get their hair done, nails done, AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR GOD. 

(thats rare-- so its a miracle)

Elder Gay of the 70 came to visit our zone and our stake for stake conference. hollyyyy most amazing man i have ever heard in my life! you don't know what those men have ACTUALLY been through until you have 2 hours with them and they tell you about their own lives... and then you're like, "my life is easy. stop complaining. keep going wow he went through so much im just a shadow" and so forth. hahahaha seriously, that guy, im amazed. something i love that he said was that HE invites people to be baptized and he said OUR MEMBERS should be TOO! alright mom, you can share the book of Mormon.. NOW can you invite someone to be baptized??! i challenge you all to do that. and think about who you could invite! i promise there are people who want it. and you are there to invite them and help God in his work.

Elder Gay also brought up AUSTINS MISSION!!! how it was the highest baptizing area because of the way you invited yourself into homes and offering to dedicate peoples home. he invited us to do that too!!  you can only imagine how happy i was to say THAT MY BROTHER WAS THERE! :D the reason he brought that up, was because there are so many ways to share the gospel. if offering a simple prayer is the way DO IT. if going to the Mayor and telling him who you are and you want to share the gospel with him so he knows what you're doing DO IT. if you like golf- go to the golf course and SHARE THE GOSPEL. DO IT ANYWHERE. AND HOWEVER YOU NEED TO. JUST DO IT!

 we met an amazing sri lankan family that is willing to listen and pray and ACT on the answers they get. we are really excited about them!! ALL I WANT IS A FAMILY TO HELP BRING THE GOSPEL TOO!!!!!!!! I cant wait to tell you how they go. i'm so grateful for the knowledge and time to think of my savior that i do have. it will never change although my surroundings will, my testimony of the living savior wont! if you want answers you are going to have to go out to serve. just do it. 

i love you guys, i hope you know that i am here because i love my savior. he is real to me and im grateful i serve because in return i have questions answered. its the only cure :) have an incredible week. and know that every day-- i think of you!!

xoxo, sister ovard