Wow! Can you believe that it's already not October? This is craziness! It's been a year since I was in Rocky Mount.
I'm
friends with many of the members in Rocky Mount, and every time they
post pictures on Facebook of things happening there my heart just cries a
little, and my brain says "Please! let me come back and be a missionary
with you again!" Speaking of pictures, it looked like for many of you
the November 1 Social Media Exchange went well. I saw many pictures of
service projects, and smiles. I hope that you each had a very
fun-filling day. :)
Hallmark
has started Christmas early. So it's been fun to spend time with my
family watching clean Christmas movies. The more media I'm exposed to
the more I realize how easy it could be to drown in it. So I'm setting
limits. And so far it's going better than it was last week. (thank you
personal interview.)
Cleaning
the temple last Monday was phenomenal! I loved it! My group was able
to clean the sealing rooms of the temple. It was neat to learn some of
the things that I had never recognized such as the no vacuum lines in
the carpet. So.... learned how to do that, which also fulfills my slight
OCD complex (if vacuum lines aren't seen no one will know if they are
straight!!! Wahahahaha!)
How
was Halloween? Did any of you have success with trunk or treats or
ward activities? Did you get any leftover candy from the Primary? :)
'Tis
now officially the season of gaining weight. So I admonish each of you
to only eat what you need to survive the season, and don't overindulge.
Thus you will avoid many plagues of life such as gallstones, and loss of
the Spirit from eating too much. And you will be happy. Don't follow my
example of sugar consumption. (It's gotten better, minus the hoard of
frozen snickers in the freezer leftover from last week. But as soon as
those are gone I'm off sugar! ;) Just kidding.... I think that we all
know I don't have enough resolve to have that happen in my life at this
point.)
I'm
learning more and more to just LOVE when people talk about God. It's so
refreshing! I the South you can talk about Him with anyone, in almost
any setting, anywhere. Grocery stores, gas stations, on the street.
It's an odd difference to feel here. People don't really want to talk
about their personal relationships with Heavenly Father, and Jesus
Christ. I think that it causes them to feel vulnerable. Let's have a
moment of truth. We are ALL vulnerable in some way, and Jesus Christ is
the only one that can make us strong in weak places.
I
loved that about the CES Fireside last night. Building a foundation in
Christ is the very most important thing. Above and beyond everything
else. If we don't have that, it wont ever matter what we have because it
is as sand running through our fingers, and is fleeting. If we build a
permanent foundation on our Savior, we have what cannot be taken from
us without our consent. And growing, and abiding love of God, and of all
our brothers and sisters here on the earth, peace that is lasting, and
the ability to "endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without
becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious...you hold up under pressure and
are able to face adversity calmly and hopefully."(PMG p.120)
!
I
love you all, and hope that you feel the added strength that is needful
for you to conquer this week. I know that you can do it, and I know
that Heavenly Father has qualified (and He will continue to do so) each
of you, through your faith, diligence, and desire, to do His work. I am
so grateful each of our paths crossed. I'm holding on to the
friendships that we've grown knowing that one day when I see you again I
want to be on the right path, and I'm willing to do what it takes to
stay there.
Thanks for being pals!
Love Always,
Sister Amber Garvin
P.S. For all you Utah folks.... My brother called me this morning and said that it was snowing in the canyon.
The seasons change so quickly! (parallel of life) but they're each beautiful. :)
