Week 11

Hermana Lutze,

We loved talking with you on Friday. You look and sound great! I could feel the love you have for Hermana Rubina and that she has for you! What you have to share with the people of Mexico is so very precious! I'm so astounded when I think about the precious gift of the gospel of Jesus Christ that we have in our lives. I truly stand all amazed!

I worked on Monday and Tuesday and Hannah went with Liz on both days to see what trauma PAs do. She also spent some time with Michael who is with Life Flight. I think she really wants to be a flight nurse. She has great passion for it. We shall see. We took Papa out to eat at the Outback Steakhouse for his birthday and had a very nice time together.

Natalie played a great deal of piano and guitar this week. I love listening to her play. She got her own guitar yesterday with dad. She and Hannah actually went and bought their own Christmas presents for everyone this week. Wow! I wasn't surprised that Hannah did but that Natalie did.

Jakob played lots of video games, spent time with Christopher, and the Weight cousins. 

We went to Kaye's party on Tuesday where you saw that dad was a hit as Elvis and we went to The North Pole at Seven Peaks on Wednesday and waited in long lines to ride sleds and take a boat ride. 

I've enjoyed our time at home most... peaceful and relaxing... just spending time together. We, of course, miss you, but know you are involved in a very important work.

We went to Papa's ward today. I really enjoyed Relief Society. Sister Eddington is from Uruguay and taught a lesson about the 3 new apostles. She related some facts and what they each spoke about in their first addresses as apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. She talked about the importance of the enabling power of the Atonement to help them and us in our callings to be what he needs us to be. I've been studying about this a great deal in the last few months for our Stake Women's Conference in February. This morning I was reading in Alma chapter 17 and 18 about Ammon's personal ministry. We can really compare this to our personal ministry in life.

17 v 2-3 we must wax strong in the knowledge of the truth, be women of sound understanding, and search the scriptures diligently, and give ourselves to much prayer and fasting in order to receive the spirit of revelation then we will teach with power and authority (This is not only important on the mission but also important as a wife and mother. We need to be women like this so we know what our personal ministry is and can do it)

v 9 We must be instruments in the hand of God to bring our brothers and sisters to the knowledge of the truth (whether that is as a missionary, a wife, a mother, or in a particular calling. As I mentioned previously the church is only one generation away from apostasy. Each person is an important link whether they are the first, the middle or the last)

v 10-11 The Lord will comfort us as we go forth in our personal ministry and yet he does require us to be patient in long-suffering and afflictions so that we can be a good example (We often don't realize how much other people are watching us and basing their decisions off of what they see us do. I was about to quit choir this year when Tasha showed up for one of her personal progress goals. I couldn't quit. She doesn't know that her one action affected my decision to stay.)

v 13 they separated themselves, trusting they would meet again at the close of the harvest (This happens on a mission but this also happened when we came to this earth and accepted whatever responsibilities the Lord would have us complete and we went our separate ways) for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken (We have also undertaken a great work. Your work right now is a mission. My work is as a wife and mother and in my current calling. President Lyman was very direct in letting each of us in the Presidency know that we were there for a very specific reason. We each have important talents to share.)

v 29 We see how Ammon won the hearts of his fellow servants so they would believe his words (We, too, can win the hearts of those around us by our faithful service to them. Service or charity never faileth.)

18 v 3 ...because of his expertness and great strength... (What are your strengths? What is your expertise? Do we see it in ourselves? Do others see it in us?)

v 10 "Surely there has not been any servant among all my servants that has been so faithful as this man; for even he doth remember all my commandments to execute them." (Can the Lord say this about us?) 

v 35 "And a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge, and also power according to my faith and desires which are in God." (Finally if we keep the Sabbath Day holy and renew our covenants each week we will have His Spirit to be with us and we will have the knowledge and power according to our faith and desires to be what Christ needs us to be. He will help us know what that is and that we are on the right path.)

I love you and I'm praying for you!

Love,

Mom