February 16, 2106

EL FIN
 
 Howdy, howdy, hey :)

Well the last email, I thought I better make it a good one :)

I am coming home next Tuesday the 23rd. One week, I cant believe how fast it has gone.

My mission has felt like a dream. I have learned so much, and I am so grateful for the chance I had to be able to serve a mission here in the Texas Houston South Mission. In 18 months I have had Tweleve missionary companions, 8 areas, I have served in English wards, Spanish wards, English branches, Spanish branches. I also served with the YSA, I served in a car, I served in biking areas. I was in the country, suburbs, city, downtown, coast, you name it. I served there. I am still curious to know why I got moved around so much throughout my mission. But it is exactly what Heavenly Father knew I needed at that time. I am so grateful to have served and to have loved all the people I had to meet and come in contact with. 

I know the people I have met on my mission have changed my life forever. They will never understand the impact they have had on me. I am so grateful to have met so many, and I mean sooo many people. Everyone has had such a different story and impact on my life. 

I know that Heavenly Father loves his children, I know we are all brothers and sisters. I know this life is hard, and people are even harder, but when we look at each other the way God sees us, we can understand the love God has for our brothers and sisters. I know the moments we have when we see how God sees, truly changes us. I am grateful for the moments I have been able to have.

 

I testify that angels exist. I know they have been with me to protect me while biking. I know they have been with me when teaching those who need those experiences. Angels are there, and they are real.

I know it is so much easier to hand everything over to the God. To do his will is what truly brings us happiness in this life. I experienced this on my mission when we finally give it up to him, and let him make of us what he wants, we become happier. We become better.

I have changed alot on my mission, and I know it's because of the change of heart and mind I had when I realized that Heavenly Fathers way is the easier way, and we are happier when we do what he wants of us. I learned this the hard way...

All I want to do is make my Heavenly Father proud.

I Know the mission has saved my life. I have learned so many things, I wish I could tell you everything that I have learned. But I know the mission was for me. I know without this mission I would be lost. I know I would never have the chance to truly gain the testimony I have now without it. 

The mission saved my future families lives. I think of my future children constantly. I am so excited to teach them the gospel, for them to find the happiness and joy I have felt. For them to be truly happy, I am so grateful that I get to be a mom. I am excited to tell my kids of the stories and experiences I have had on my mission. I am so grateful I have learned of the gospel, and how I can teach it to my kids. I am so excited for that. The mission has saved my future families life. I know that.

I know the Atonement of Jesus Christ changes people. It is amazing, to see the change people experience through the love of Jesus Christ. I know the atonement is what brings us happiness and is what helps us become more than what we can become on our own. I have learned, lived, and loved the atonement on my mission and I am so blessed to be able to have the knowledge of it.

 The atonement changes everything for the better. Nothing is to big for the power of the atonement. 

Grace is real.

God Loves me. 

I love my mission.

I know this church is true. I know we have a living prophet who speaks to us, and tells us what God would have us hear. I know that his apostles are called of God. I know they hold the priesthood, and I know they are part of his great work. I know that the priesthood is here on this earth again, and we need it, we need it!! I know it is only through his priesthood that we can enter into the kingdom of God. I know it's with our promises we make with God, we are saved. We have to do our part in order for him to do his.

 

I know God answers prayers. I know he listens.

I know the scriptures are the word of God. I know they are true.

 I love the Book Of Mormon. The scriptures bring me peace and guidance. I need the scriptures in my life. 

I need the power of prayer.

I need the Holy Ghost.

I need this gospel in my life.

I needed the mission.

It saved my life.

I am becoming who God wants me to be.

All I want to do is make God proud of me.

I am His daughter, and I know he loves me.

The mission has been the hardest, sweetest, most amazing thing I have done in my life yet. 

I am ready to see what Heavenly Father has in store for me :)

I am ready for the next adventure :)

I love my mission.

Love Your Girl,

Sister/Hermana Widdison :)

 

 

                                                                   February 8, 2015
  
40 pounds of bananas....

HOWDY HOWDY HEY :)

what a week :)

and when I mean what a week..

I mean.. prepare yourself for some pictures :) hahah

We started our week of with a trip to the Houston Symphony. LIKE WHAT!!

we have an investigator who plays the clarinet for the symphony, so he invited us.. (well.. sike, we totally invited ourselves... hehe ) We got permission and we went. It was incredible! It was amazing! The symphony is so talented! Our investigators name is Christian. but he is an eternagator.... haha he has been coming to church nonstop for 2 years, but just doesn't want to get baptized.

 One day :)

Then we were able to do some service with a food bank, where we handed out so much food! It was so fun and cold... 

The cars would line up and we would fill them up with food!! :)

It was so cool!

We saw a miracle that day, we texted a member in our ward and told her to come get some food! so she did..

then later we got a text telling us how we are servants of the lord, in tune with the Holy Ghost. Because she has had an empty fridge for two weeks, and had no idea where to turn. It was such a neat miracle to be apart of! All because of a simple prompting and a simple text message. :)

Grateful for miracles.

Then we spent time with my favorite family.. 

THE BAUM FAMILY :) so those pictures are attached.. 8 kids.. haha and I love all of them :)

One neat thing... 

Every fast Sunday, my little sister who is 10, Rebecca bears her testimony. That is how she has counted down until I get home... and so yesterday being fast and testimony meeting, I felt the strongest prompting it was time to bear my testimony. My last testimony meeting, I bore my testimony, and I just knew my little sister was at home bearing hers. I am so grateful for her example :)

(18/18 fast Sundays.. We are done Rebbecca ;) ) 

also, one scripture that hit me hard this week was Romans 5:19.

 I invite all to look it up :)

also...

think about this..

Our life is an open note, open book test.. we have all the answers in front of us.. it's the scriptures.. it's the gospel.. if we want to be happy, we have all the answers and keys for success :)

well, enjoy your week :)

Don't worry next weeks email will be the best final and last email y'all have ever read ;)

xoxo

Sister Widdison :) 

oh yeah.. I forgot..

they made us take home food after the food drive.. haha 

so they sent us home with 40 lbs of bananas haha

3 watermelon.. 10 things of corn..

2 cabbages.. and 20 lbs of potatoes... 

HAHAHHAHAHAH

Houston Symphony

Did I mention we had a few bananas?

Sure love the Baum family

Treats from home...Valentines day must be coming! Happy Valentines Day!

                                                                                                                                                                                February 1, 2015

 APOSTLES AND CHEERIOS

Hello everyone,

I am typing with my right hand.. and my right hand is what shook PRESIDENT RUSSELL M NELSONS HAND! ahhhhhh so cool!

So on Saturday the 30th, we had a tri mission conference with the Houston, Houston East, and our mission, 700 missionaries there. The spirit was so strong. It was so powerful, and so amazing. 

When President Nelson walked in, we all stood up and it was silent. It was incredible, then he asked that all missionaries shake his hand. It reminded me of how Christ visited the Nephites after he was resurrected, and had all of them come up "one by one." That's what it felt like to me. It was so special, and a moment I wont ever forget. (and his hands were soooo soft.. haha i put on peppermint lotion.. gotta have good smelling hands people :)) 

The training we received from him was amazing. The next prophet ... But what the spirit taught me was so special. I know that this church is true. I know we have a living prophet on this earth. 

President Nelson really taught us of how much our families are being blessed as we diligently work, and strive to do the will of the father. Don't worry Mom I am working hard, I know y'all need the blessings, hehe :) kidding he shared with us of how these latter days are made for us. We are part of the great gathering, and we will do that with the Book of Mormon, and how we are in this time, because this is what we were destined to do and be apart of. I just know my plan is for this time. I am excited for what more is to come in my life. 

One of the most powerful things, we all sang "I know that my redeemer lives.." for the closing hymn. As we started to sing, the spirit just rushed over my body, and I know that he lives. It was the cherry on top, to receive such a spiritual confirmation at the end of the conference. I am so grateful to have this knowledge of this gospel, and that I can share it with others. 

One neat thing, as we closed the conference, President Nelson bestowed a blessing upon us, and as he did, his total countenance changed, It was seriously like the spirit was just speaking through him. It is something I will never forget. He blessed our families, that they will come and they will stay all according to my service. I know that is true. He blessed us with health, and as we feast upon the words and apply them, we will be happy. I know it was a blessing from God. He blessed us with so much more.

I learned a lot, and I am grateful for the experience. It strengthened my testimony. I know my family is being blessed, and I know I am here to help bless other families. 

I love my mission.

I know President Nelson knows Christ.

I know he is an apostle of the Lord.

I know the my Redeemer lives. 

side note...

I GOT TO SEE A REALLY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE! basically my little brother... haha it was so hard to not hug.. Elder Andrew :) 

and I saw Hermana Sanchez! ahw I love her!

 We got loaded up with cheerios and cereal and valentines day goodies!

haha all in a days work :)

oh and I helped comb out lice! 

hahah oh the things you do as a missionary :)

well,

have a good week :)
hopefully it goes fast for you mom :)

xoxo

Sister Widdison :)

enjoy the photos :)

 

So amazing to see this kid! Elder Andrew

My companion Sister Hunter

My old companion Hermana Sanchez

This is how missionaries carry things

Then you ride your bike!

Thankful for members who remember us!