What I forgot...

Date: May 10, 2010


Dear Family,

Well as I got off the phone with all of you yesterday I realized everything I forgot to say. The first is mom, "Happy Mothers Day!" I am not sure how that slipped my mind, but I am so grateful for all that you have done for me my whole entire life long. The older I get the more I realize what really goes into being a wife and mother and raising a family. Wow. Thank you so much for your kindness and patience. I truly feel like our home was a heaven on earth because of your kind loving example of patience. I love you. And Candace I meant to have you tell Evan and Clara hello too. I don´t know if I said that on the phone, but Evan I am glad you have so many talents and were able to play the organ for your ward. It was so wonderful talking with all of you. A very special treat for me. Thank you all for your testimonies and love and support and stories. I just loved it all.

I am not sure what I told who to, so I will just do a quick recap of last week. Um, we met with Hans Peter and set a baptismal date with him for May 29. As we were committing him we said, "Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized . . ." (the commitment goes on to say by "one having authority . . .") and he interrupted and said right then, "May I?" And we just stopped and said, "Yes!" The spirit was so strong and there was light in his eyes as he said yes he would prepare himself to be baptized on that date. Also, before we taught the lesson we asked him how keeping the word of wisdom was going especially with smoking. He said that he had prayed to God for help and that God didn´t answer him with words, but through actions. He then related to us that the next day he had gotten to work and his boss had switched working crews and that the guy he would be working with was the only guy that didn´t smoke. We were so happy and I thought it was so neat that he was able to recognize Gods hand in that. There are no coincidences, when we pray and receive the help we need. As he shared that with us it strengthened my testimony to know that God is reliable, and dependable. When he gives us a commandment he does provide a way for us to keep it, we just have to trust him. It was very comforting to me to feel that.
Also Brother Himioben, who was baptized a month ago, received the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday. That was so special too. I think I told mom, I feel like Mary Poppins. As missionaries, we come in and see the what the situation is and help the investigators to know how it can be better. Then once they do it, they are so much happier than they were and go on living their life. And then Mary Poppins goes, and it´s like she was never there.

Those were the most exciting things this past week. But what was also good was Zone Conference. We talked about the Book of Mormon again and how Presidents challenge for us to read was helping us in our work. And I was so touched by the spirit. I was so close to tears during it. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon. It gives me hope to go on and to know that because of Christ all things will be made right. Reading it gives new found insights to life, and happiness, what it is and how I get more of it. It has just made me happier all around and has brought the Spirit more into my work as a missionary, enough to know how to help investigators. It´s really improved my outlook on everything. I love the Book of Mormon and know it is true.

I love you family and hope that you all had a wonderful Mother's day!!

Love,
Sister Fitzgerald