Conference and Easter!

Mi familia preciosa,

Mom--I have to address this first. You mentioned in your email that supposedly David Archuleta was in the MTC choir. He was. I didn't see him at first, but Sister Fernandez said, "David Archuleta! They just showed him. He smiled. I read his tag. It's him!" I didn't see him and I didn't believe her and when Sister Fernandez says something, she means it, and she won't let it die until you know that she's right. We went to an investigator's home on Saturday night and showed her President Monson's talk from Saturday morning (which was beautiful) and then she asked if we could watch the end of the session. He was on the front row (I think) and they scan over him (from an angle) at the very end. So there you go! By the way, Sister Fernandez is really into American Idol and she loved David Archuleta too (remember she's 31 and she wasn't a member when David was on Idol--summer 2008?). We have something in common! Well, we actually have a lot in common.

Stace--I received your package. YAY! I have the cutest address labels!! Thank you so much. They match my cute address book and business cards. :) Thank you very very much. I'm really excited to use them. And I got Tracy's letter in the mail with notes from the kids. Cute! I also got a birthday card from Lisa Van Gemert and a gift card to Target WOWOW!!! And a birthday card from cute Carrie Edwards. I can't believe my freshman roommate has a son who is almost 4. What the diddly is this?!?!

Jordan--have you had a little boy yet? Is that next month? I have no idea when your due date is! I don't think anyone's told me. And the weeks keep ticking by and I'm lost. But I thought of a really cute name--how do you like Cooper? Cooper Parks. Yeah? Yeah? No? I like Cooper.

Malinda and Dain--I want to open your ecard but I can't go to a different website! So that's why I haven't opened it yet. But I'm sure it was hilarious and talked about one eye or something great!! I want to see pictures of your house--I've heard it's beautiful! Are you all moved in? Is there a guest room with a bed especially for me? Red wall? :)

General Conference was so great, wasn't it? President Monson's talk was right on--I'm grateful that he spoke about the Plan of Salvation. I loved the talk by one of the Seventy who talked about the difference between the Church and the gospel. Going to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is what helps us live the gospel of Jesus Christ. We talk to so many people who say that we all believe in God and Jesus Christ and that's all that really matters. I see part of their point--it's true that we worship the same God, but I am so grateful for the Church, for its organization, for a prophet and apostles who receive latter-day revelation, for teachers and leaders who help us understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church provides us with the fellowship and support we need to help us build our faith, have a desire to repent and make and keep all the necessary covenants. Whenever I talk to someone, my heart aches because I want them so badly to come to church, to feel the Spirit, to understand what it means to learn and to LIVE the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness. That's the way to be happy--to find purpose and peace in this life and also to have the a surety of living with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for eternity in our families.

And wow, Elder Holland's talk about envy and President Uchtdorf's talk about passing judgment. Looks like we have a LOT to work on! We really can be a little kinder, a little more helpful and encouraging and gracious. We can be happier for others' accomplishments and grateful when Heavenly Father is merciful with someone, even when they don't think they deserve it. We're all children of our Heavenly Father, and we're here to cheer each other on, per se. How lucky we are to have the gospel in its perfect form--now we need to live it.

Sister Fernandez and I went to the Sacramento temple this morning at 7:00. The temple is only 20 minutes away from where we live, so I was really excited! Almost all of the Spanish sister missionaries were there, and my baby Sister Beale told me about one of our investigators, E, who chose a baptism date of April 14! I don't think it's set in stone yet, but I feel it will be soon. I love E! We were teaching her when I got the call from President Lewis about my transfer in between transfers and my heart broke because I wanted to keep teaching her all the way up to baptism. We found her when she came to an English ward with her friend M from work. She has such a wonderful spirit and is truly a searcher and keeps her commitments and is so great. I wish I'd gotten a picture with her and with my other investigators before leaving. :( Anyway, the temple was amazing!

Something pretty cool that's going on in the Church is that they're launching a three-day campaign this weekend (starting Friday) about our Savior and Easter. On Friday, Saturday or Sunday we as missionaries can go online to mormon.org/Easter and share our feelings about Jesus Christ, and anyone is invited to do the same! So maybe you'll be seeing my comments about Jesus Christ on online. :) You can also go on facebook.com/mormon or look for Church ads on YouTube--it's just this weekend. Just now I was thinking about all the cool things that are going on in the Church and I remembered that there's a billboard here with a picture of Jimmer (the Kings ads are a little crazy and goofy). Every time we pass it in the car and say hi to Jimmer. I'm sure he lives right down the street.

I guess I haven't mentioned that Sister Fernandez and I are staying together this next transfer. This is her last transfer on the mission, so I'll be 'killing' her in about six weeks. I'm really excited to be with her! We've been getting along VERY well these past few weeks, and I feel like we're going to see a lot of progress in the coming weeks. We're both ready to work really hard and use all our efforts to find those who will sincerely listen and strive to act on the things they learn. I wish I could tell people, "If only you knew." If only they really knew what they're learning, or what they're missing, or how happy they'd be--if only they'd experiment just a little bit. Come to church, pray, read the Book of Mormon, listen to the prophet and apostles. If only they had a particle of faith and a tiny bit of desire to learn and an open heart to feel the Spirit. But Heavenly Father is preparing those in our area and we're determined to find them.

Love you all!

Love,

kates

P.S. Happy early birthday, Quin!!!!!!!!! What is this? 31? Woohoo.