Meek, Humble and Strong! 

Written 12-09-13

Love the SNOW!

So I got my reassignment! (This is where I will be serving until my visa to Brazil is approved.) So, I will be serving in the California Roseville mission! I've never been to California, and I have two mission calls. Sweet deal! I can't wait to get out in the field! Tomorrow morning I am flying to California! I AM SO HAPPY!!! My temporary companion and I are so excited to talk to people on the way to the field! Our branch president gave us pass along cards to give to people! Oh my gosh! I cant' tell you how excited I am! The gospel of Jesus Christ has blessed my life in so many whys I couldn't possibly count them, and I can't wait to share it with others!

Sister Seal and me with our teacher Sister Dangerfield

I was reading my scriptures yesterday, and I came across these verses that I absolutely love!

"Any why should I yeild to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations that the evil one have placed in m heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?"

     This is said by the "Book of Mormon" prophet Nephi when he becomes very discouraged by his enemy's attempts to kill him. I really like it, because we all deal with very hard things, and the adversary is just waiting for us to feel hopeless so that he can get to us and ruin our lives. Hope and faith are our greatest defenses against the adversary. If we have faith when life is hard, he will not have power over us. He tries so hard to make us miserable, but he needs our help to do it. Let's not give it to him! Nephi goes on to write this:

"Awake my Soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul."           --2 Nephi 4:27+28

     I am so grateful for the words of our prophets, both ancient and modern. They truly are inspired men of God.

Sister Neill L. Marriott shared the following

BRAZIL District
Far left is our teacher Brother Smith

in our Relief Society meeting (Sunday meeting for the women of the church): 

     "Meekness is great strength under perfect control." 

I love this, because we read in the Bible and Book of Mormon that we are to be meek and humble, and meek rhymes with weak... but we are not to be weak. We are exactly the opposite. We are asked to be strong! The power comes from turning our life, our thoughts, and our gifts over to our Heavenly Father. He knows how to use them with "perfect control." He loves us and will never lead us to unhappiness, if we just have the faith to follow Him.

Elder Lima and Elder C. from Brazil and Mexico are SO Cool!

So, I finally found motivation to keep my shoes on! My teacher told us that while he was in Brazil, he didn't always wear flip flops in the shower. He got a black fungus...under his toenails. It stayed for three months. GROSS! It will still be hard, but I can do it! I have to.

I hope everyone is doing well. It has been great to hear from some of you,and I do my best to write back, but missionary life is so busy! I hope you all know you are in my prayers. God speed!

Love,

Sister Arthur