Week 6 -- 3 Weeks to go!

Hi beautiful family,

This past week was obviously the 4th of July. Barbeque chicken salad was an option on the dinner menu on Monday (that seemed like the most festive food on the menu). I imagined eating it by the pool with lots of kiddos around. We had an Independence Day devotional on Saturday night that was spectacular. We started out singing Yankee Doodle (slightly odd) and an elder from our zone sang God Bless America like an angel. We then had a branch president, President Stoddard I believe, speak to us. He's been an advisor to three presidents of the United States and is within feet of them every day. He told stories of soldiers who so valiantly fought for our country (within the past few years) and how we need to be as dedicated in being representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. There was a little parade of flags from all over the world and they had people playing the bagpipes and drum come into the room--it was awesome! I love the bagpipes--they were playing to the tune of Praise to the Man. The celebration was about the freedoms we enjoy in America and how it opened the way for the restoration of the gospel. At the end of the devotional they gave us Haagen Dazs ice-cream bars and we got to watch the fireworks from Stadium of Fire. We didn't hear any of the music but the fireworks were wonderful! David Archuleta performed at Stadium of Fire. Yeah...

So anyway, the 4th was great. Our fireside on Sunday was with Jenny Oaks Baker. She's Dallin H. Oaks' daughter who plays the violin. You know I was in a trance the whole time. Grandma Linnell gave me her CD for my birthday one time so there's also special meaning to me because of that. Jenny Oaks Baker went to Julliard and played for the National Symphony (a really big deal I guess) but was prompted to be a stay-at-home mom after 7 years in the orchestra. She tied in her pieces to her testimony and it was very inspiring. She played Amazing Grace and This is the Christ, among other things. I loved that whole fireside. Her children (9, 8, and 6) played the piano, cello, and violin--I Am a Child of God.

This past week we were asked to write out our conversion story in Spanish. That made me think a lot about why I'm a member of the Church and when I truly felt the Spirit. We all know I have a really bad memory of my childhood (meaning I can't remember, not that it was bad) so I was racking my brain a little with this one. But then yesterday we were asked to write out our gospel timeline of life, what led up to our missions. That was really neat to see God's hand in my life--how I was pushed this way or that in making my final decision to go on a mission. This can be a powerful thing to share when teaching investigators, friends about the gospel.

Another neat thing I learned (was reminded of) that I need to work on is being a student of the General Conference issue of the Ensign. In a devotional given last week, the speaker talked about how we need to treasure the scriptures and love them. Part of doing that is reading the General Conference Ensign, for he said that those talks should be the "walk and talk of our lives for the next six months." We teach people that we have a living prophet on the earth today, which is a shock to everyone who's not a member of our church. What has the prophet taught us recently? What are the things we need to hear from God? That's the reason for a prophet right? To hold the priesthood keys, to admonish the world, to speak the words of God. I read everything Pres. Monson said in this last conference and it was wonderful, of course. I need to be better at making all the talks part of my walk and talk every day.

Mom, money situation is good.

Love you all,

kates