happy & thrilled

hey loves, 

can i just tell you how good it feels to be back on the island? man, i sure missed it. something about free spirits, good vibes, & beaches make my heart feel real good. 

so many things have happened this week that testified to me that i am right where the Lord needs me!! first off- let me tell you how much i love sister Hemenway. an angel i tell you. we will be best friends through eternity. i know we'll be successful because we are completely unified & on the lords errand. (eternal principle right there eh) 

SO FIRST! I GOT TO GO TO VICTORIA FOR A FIRESIDE WITH JOHN BYTHEWAY AGAIN!!!! one eternal round im tellin ya!!!! OH MY GOSH I GOT TO SEE EVERYONE!!!!! MELODY GURYN AND JOSEPHINE AND SO MANY LOVED ONES I WANTED TO BURST!!!! I FELT AT HOME! it was the happiest! i was so thrilled. these people, truly have my heart. i learned so much while being there, while having a grateful heart to my God for bringing me so much joy through his children.

God is cheerful, pleasant, lively, and a good-natured being. why? because i am cheerful, pleasant, lively, and  good-natured when i feel HIS spirit. I love him & i just thank him for his joy. 

 Linda Choy- a miracle woman who has been coming to church for a couple weeks now!!! She decided this week she wants to get baptized on her birthday, which is on SUNDAY the 16! sister Hemenway and I haven't thanked the Lord enough. she is Asian but looks totally Indian and its a dream and i tell her im Indian on the inside. we get a long so well. and i adore her already. 

we had a random potential call us and bare his testimony of the Book of Mormon the other day-- in his words he said, "its such a small book but has such a severe impact. eveyone doesnt know what they're missing out on!!" i tell you- people are angels. every one of them. can't wait to tell you where he ends up once we meet with him!!!

i've thought a lot about my testimony and testimonies in general. because a testimony is something we grow... we have to make sure our soil is GOOD right? that- we read in matthew 13 & alma 32. Matthew is how to plant it in good soil and alma 32 is how to nourish it. i had the most interesting insight the other day as i thought of not wanting a shallow testiomony or one that could die within a tribulation.. "yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful" matt. 13:21-22 sooo WHY are we to nourish our seed? we are in result wanting to make it to the Tree of LIfe which is CHRIST. in the vision of the Tree of Life that Lehi had, he says something very interesting about the great and spacious building. it stood "high above the earth" we can all paint the picture in our head............. of the tree rooted in the ground ONLY FROM GOD because where would that seed have come from? God. where did the tree come from? GOD. where did the great and spacious building come from high above the heart? MAN. it didnt have a foundation. but if men build a foundation in christ, they cannot fall. and if they build it on Christ the "cares of the world" wont even matter. because our testimony won't be shallow enough to give into those cares. weeds will always come and they will come OUT OF NO WHERE! but i know that if we want good things to grow in our life, we have to plant them in the RIGHT soil! so reevaluate your soil, your garden, & your fruit.... because God is very interested in Gardens :) 

1. The Garden Tomb (i think about it everyday ps)

2. Garden of Gethsemane 

3. Garden of Eden

man, the scriptures i tell you--- they are good. they are so good. i will build my life off of them.

its been one heck of a time- both being new here and getting used to the area, area book, people, the ward, and everything. i dont think i've hit the sack so tired at night. but i tell you- the Lord is doing this work, i am just an instrument. it's been SO good!!!

i love you all- i pray and wrestle with the Lord to bless you continually as you are doing all you can to be faithful. God is good, and he is never ending wanting to change your life into a better one. i know he lives!! my thoughts and feelings about Christ have been on his healing power spiritually & physically this week. i know he's the center of life. and hes the center of happiness. 

I <3 missionary work 

xoxo, sister Ovard

ferry ride back to my home land!!

dont worry- the island loves you all too!!