Dearest Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren:
You truly are one of Grandpa and I's greatest gifts. We love each and everyone of you with all our hearts. You are prayed for by name every day. Since serving our mission we are learning so much about loving others with an unconditional love. We want everyone we meet to have the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives. Everyday our testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ grows stronger. Our love for our Savior and His Atonement continues to grow and become more precious to us. We know that He went through the Garden of Gethsemane for each one of us. He died for us and was resurrected so that we might all be resurrected. If we utilize the gift of the Atonement in our lives we can return to live with our Heavenly Parents and our Savior Jesus Christ. I know this is true.
I have a great and deep love for the Book of Mormon. I know that if you read from it's pages everyday it will give you the strength to stay on the path that Heavenly Father wants you on. Heavenly Father has a plan for each one of you and He loves you more than you can ever imagine. You can always communicate with Him through prayer. Prayers work and miracle happen. Our family has been blessed through the years with many miracles. Maybe your parents can share some of those. They were there and experienced them too.
Grandpa and I are receiving miracles in our Missionary work everyday. It is amazing how the spirit works and how the Savior directs this work. I have felt the spirit throughout my life but it has increased so much more since serving this mission.
I do pray for you all everyday. I know that you have a lot of temptations and difficulties living in the world of today. You are all elite children of our Heavenly Father that were reserved to come to this earth at this time for a great purpose. I pray you will find that purpose. I still encourage you to get your patriarchal blessings. They can be such a gift in your life.
No matter where you are in your life; you can always, always depend on the Savior to aide you and to be there for you. All you have to do is let Him in; and I pray you will.
The gospel of Jesus Christ has brought me great joy throughout my life and it is a great blessing.
If you find that you have no hope at any time; there is always hope. This is a time that you should call your Grandparents; they will help you find hope in your life again.
We continue to be amazed at how we are blessed to know exactly what to say in the teaching moments and also in who to see and what to do for them. It is just so amazing.
I am going to share with you a very sweet moment of following the promptings of the Spirit on Saturday, February 13, 2016.
We put together some Valentine packages for a few of the families we're working with: cookies and a wood-carved Valentine memento for the adults and small stuffed animals for the children.
As we completed the deliveries we observed that we had an additional wood-carving. We were on our way to visit two elderly sisters in a Care Center - they are literally sisters who had taken serious falls abut one week apart and ended up in the same rehab center together. We picked up extra cookies for them and when we were through with those visits, had two extra cookies and the wood carving left over.
We had been thinking earlier about another sister and felt impressed that we should "go and see", and if nothing else, leave items and a card at her door. We had met and visited with her at the door a few times around Thanksgiving and Christmas- She invited us in once, but then labeled herself a "ward project" and decided not to let us in again. We continued to call and stopped by several times to no avail.
Her car was there and the outer entry door (which is generally locked)was open. We went down the stairs and knocked on the entry door a few times. She finally answered and began with familiar excuses- when she saw something in our hands. She asked us to wait a moment and left to take care of something, and then returned and invited us in. We were surprised and excited.
She mentioned that her daughter said she was glad that we were being so persistent. As we sat down she unfolded a very sad chapter in her life-one that left her divorced and despised by family members including some of her children. She blames herself for the destruction of her marriage and the collapse of her family. She feels that she is unworthy to ever be forgiven and that she deserves to remain in guilt and remorse - never to be happy again.
We poured out our hearts concerning the Atonement. She knows that the Savior is the answer, but she doesn't know how or where to begin with the first step. All she can see before her is a steep insurmountable mountain and doesn't think she can make it. She gets exhausted just thinking about it, and gives up. We talked and wept with her for over an hour.
She can't imagine ever being forgiven by her loved ones. She longs to come back, and to return to the Temple, and to be the woman she was years ago, but she can't see that ever happening. We plead with her to approach the Bishop for direction, and to allow him to bless her life- promising her that he is close to the Lord and very kind. We're hopeful she'll begin the process - We're grateful for the prompting: to "go and see".
Since that visit we have been able to see her again. She has opened up her heart even more and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we pray she will find the door to let him in and heal her. She did tell us that "we were an answer to her prayers for help"; we pray we can continue to be that answer.
This work is true and the Lord is hastening his work because we are in the latter days and His coming is near; I know that to be true through the spirit of the Holy Ghost. Learn to head and understand and follow the spirit in your individual lives.
May you always know that we love you all very much and that we miss you all and want you to know that we are here for you.
Love and hugs!
Grandma
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