We Lived After The Manner Of Happiness

Week   74   4:10 pm EDT    We Lived After The Manner Of Happiness

To everyone who is still reading these emails - 

(way to hang on to the bitter end; talk about enduring well)

"How great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started...that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?"  - Alma 26:1

The last week of a mission is odd. For all of us old timers, think of an emotion and it probably feels like that for at least one of us.

We have seen miracles happen this past week and great things are happening left and right, which doesn't make it any easier to leave. I know that this is the most worthwhile thing I could have ever chosen, because it has brought me and those I love closer to the Savior.

Endings are hard. But the end of a mission is not the end of discipleship. or testimony. or conviction. or capability. or potential.

"In light of what we know about our eternal destiny, is it any wonder that whenever we face the bitter endings of life, they seem unacceptable to us? There seems to be something inside of us that resists endings.

Why is this? Because we are made of the stuff of eternity. We are eternal beings, children of the Almighty God, whose name is Endless and who promises eternal blessings without number. Endings are not our destiny.

The more we learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more we realize that endings here in mortality are not endings at all. They are merely interruptions—temporary pauses that one day will seem small compared to the eternal joy awaiting the faithful.

How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father that in His plan there are no true endings, only everlasting beginnings." - Dieter F. Utchdorf

death surely has no sting.

love,

sister bishop

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith"

2 Timothy 4:7

Almost home

This week will be Elizabeth's last letter home while serving as a Missionaary for the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints.  We have witnessed many, many miracles and have received so many blessings as she has been serving in the Washington Tacoma Mission.

I am looking forward to seeing Elizabeth this week, hugging her, and to hear her experiences as a missionary.  I have missed her so much, but as much as I miss her and want to see, talk, and be together, our Heavenly Father feels the same way about all His children but on a much deeper level.   I am so grateful for His love and the chance that Elizabeth has had to help bring His children home.

Thank you for all your support, letters, love and prayers.

Sandy

Miracles Happen Once In A While

Week 73  July 27, 2015    4:20 pm EDT    Miracles Happen Once In A While

Friends, let me tell you a little bit about miracles.

1. they're real.

2. they're undeserved.

3. they're happening in Lacey.

There we were, weekly planning for what felt like the sixth hour, when our zone leader asks us if we have a particular address in our area and lets us know Soundview will give us a referral.

We figure it's just a solid referral but when Sister Lomu calls that night she gives us all the details: Brittany, a convert of a few years, has two sons that want to be baptized. This weekend.They've been taught everything, passed their baptism interviews and since they just moved this week will now be baptized in the Lacey 3rd ward. 

Straight out of left field, we had a baptism to plan and coordinate in less than 24 hours for a family we've never met.

So needless to say. it's been quite the week.

Domenic is 9, is adorably smart and was able to be baptized on Sunday. His brother older Jeiden is 11 and will be baptized next weekend so other family members can make it to his.

(#multicultural.)​

Jessica was also able to attend the baptism and loved it. So really, life is good.

I honestly didn't think anything like this would happen my last weeks but God certainly works miracles in the 11th hour.

"For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the worldthat I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith." 2 Nephi 27:23

Apparently dying missionaries rival even greenie faith. 

The rest of the week was also exceptional, but somehow pales compared to craziness of this weekend. So I've give it to you in pictures 

Burning dresses for Harris' year mark:

Birthday shenanigans with the Lacey and Olympia sisters​

Numbered birthday love notes left by Sister Harris for me to find on the strangest and "old lady"-est items in the house 

Going to Girls Camp and giving trainings (:

MMA Street fights in the Tanglewilde (home sweet home sweet home.)

(3 Nephi 11:29 - "For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contentionis not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.")

An exchange with Sister Julien (just sticking the old ladies together for the day, nbd.)

Getting attacked by a great dane/rottweiler named Thor. #realmissionarystatus

**no picture needed.**

(and thank heavens for the retired nurses in Lacey 3rd)

​Street contacting at the Annual Mushroom Festival...

It's been an adventure.

A miraculous adventure.

​

sincerely from the senior sister,

elizabeth