Natalie April 16, 2013

My dear family Hello everyone, I sure do miss you and love you a lot. My heart broke when I got news about Josh. Wow people are going through hard things. Seriously breaks my heart. But how blessed we are to have the knowledge that we do. Thank you so much for the package. It brought tears to my eyes and I may or may not have jumped up and down for like a straight hour. My companions get so sick of me. But letters and packages mean the world. Mom the workout stuff was perfect. Thank you! It's been nice. I've been able to do splits and run around 3 miles everyday and do some abs as well. It feels so good after sitting everyday.The food was amazing and I savor each one of those cookies. the bars were awesome too. so thank you. and your letters and talks and quotes! gosh I had some cool experiences with them. I'11 send a letter soon. So this week has been pretty cool. Last Tuesday Gerald R. Lund came to our devotional. It was so cool. Then on Sunday I walked into Relief Society and guess who was there??? MARY. ELLEN. EDMUNDS. Yep mom. I almost cried...well pretty sure I did. But don't tell anyone that. haha It was honestly the best talk I've ever heard and I took $azy notes for you. I'm excited to send them to you. She's so incredible. Then Brother Droubray came Sunday night. He's the director of media for the church in missionary work. He came to UVU the last week I was there. IT was awesome to hear how the Lord is hastening His work. I can feel it happening. It' s crazy being right smack in the middle of it. But I wouldn't be anywhere else. It's wehre I'm supposed to be and I feel that everyday. So one thing that's kinda cool, our investigator Christopher, turns out is really our teacher. How cool is that? So we taught him as a progressing investigator for a week then surprise. he's our otherteacher. He is unreal. He just retumed from his mission to Paris about 3 weeks ago so he still has a fire in him. I've already leamed so much from him. He pulled us aside one on one just to talk and give and advice and stuff. It meant a lot. He cares about us each a lot and I can feel it. So yesterday me and my companions taught him as Christopher...side note...he acts as one of his investigators from the mission.... And it was one ofthe coolest experienoes. My companions are worried abotrt frenoh and are struggling with it. And I'm having a hard time frying to figure out how to help them learn and stuff. So we prayed about what we could teach and we all thouglrt ofthe Book of Mormon. \I/e studied a lesson. Wrote i few notes, then went in with nothing but our scriptures, our faith, and the testimonies we had of Christ. Usually my comps would read like a soript but this time I challenged them to speak from their heart with the words they knew. Go forth with faith. haha So we did it. I sat back and we all spoke evenly and testified of the truthfullness of the Book of Mormon and how it could help his life. We testified of how much we loved him and how much we'd prayed for him and we felt like he needed a certain scripture. He read the chapter in Alma about repentence and soon the spirit filled the room. Shong. There were tears in his eyes. I looked over at my companion. The one who knew NO french before 2 weeks ago. She looked at me then at him, and suddently bore stong testimony of the Savior and His love personally for Christopher in fluent french. I was shocked and tears filled or eyes-all of us including Christopher. She glowed and radiated His love forhim. Then my other companion, who hadn't learned any french before coming to the MTC, but her notes away and with tears in her eyes committed him to baptism. And guess what he said? He said yes. I have never felt the spirit that strong and it was a turning point for me on my mission. My mission isn't about french. IT's about bringing souls to Christ and helping them feel His love for them personally through the spirit. It was an experience I'll never forget. French is ooming along nicely. I have a love and passion for this langugae and feel honored to speak it in France. Today I was able to go to the temple. That was great and much needed. I love the temple and the blessings of the initiatory. So I decided to do something cool and want to invite you all to do with with me while I'm out here! So you know how we have FIIE's together every month? Well I was thinking it'd be cool if we focused on one attribute of Christ each month from PMG. Would you want to do that?? I started with Charity and love this week because I felt like I needed that the most right now. haha But let me tell you about my experience. I was studying the scriptures I Nephi l9:9 and finding out how the Savior Demonstrated charity in His life. I got thinking about His life and what He went through. I thought of His last week on this earth and the awful things that happened to Him. I thought about the men who scourged Him, who hit nails into His hands and feet, who spit upon Him. And I wonder what it was like for Him. I almost wonder if it was more painful to watch the faces of those that were doing it to Him. I wonder what it was like for Him to watch them. He knew them by name. He knew who they were and what their lives were like. And even more than that? He knew them before they came to this earth. He knew them because they fought with Him and for Him for His plan to come to this earth. The very men who crucified Him, chose to come to this earth. I wonder what that felt like? It says that He suffered through it because of His loving kindness and long suffering towards the children of men. He loved them still. It made me question and wonder, Am I standing by Him? Through my words. My actions. my thoughts. am I still supporting His plan? Am I still fighting for His plan as I did in the war in heaven? No one was foreordained to be wicked. We all chose to be here. The more I stive to not just serve a mission but become a missionary, I realize that my calling is different than I thought. I'm not just here to teach people about the gosple. I'm here to help them remember what they already know. I am growing to love that word. Each day do I remember where I came from? Do I remember why I'm here? Do I remember not only who I am but who's I am? Do I remember the covenants I've made and the ones I will make? Do I remember the times the Savior has healed me or when I've personally witnessed His miracles and tender mercies? Do I remember how blessed I am to know not only who God is but who I am to Him? Do I remember the trials that have made me stonger? Do I remember to let Heavenly Father and Christ love me? There is a lot to remember. And I'm so grateful for that. As I shive to consecrate every minute as a missionary, I become closer to Him and realize that thig is.n't about me. This is about God and His children. Mary Ellen Edmunds said that He's a happy God and He loves when wehe happy. He loves us and missioinary work as all about love and remembering who we are, and wete, and what we can become. Everyone on earth overcarne satan through their faith. All we're doing as missionaries, is helping them realize it. Revelation 12:11. We overcarne him by faith. I love this gospel and I love my calling as a missionary. I have already felt such joy and love in this work and I'm not even in the field yet. I have less than a month to go here in the MTC and I'm trying to make each day count, I love and miss you all so much and I hope that you feel my prayers. I put yorn narne in the temple each week as I go. I'm writing another leffer to send today to tell you some other stories and cool things that have happened! This really is a sacred place, and a sacred work. I feel like they're preparing us for war literally. There are strong strong spirits here in the MTC and I can feel a strength. We just found out that 44Yo of the missionaries here are sisters. pretty cool huh. It's an amazing miracle to be a part of. I loved the dear elders and it's fun to hear from you each day or whenever you can. We only get mail after lunch and dinner and can't look at it until 9:30. so at9:30 everything just picture me in my room running to wash my face and brush my teeth so I can read precious mail. Then I read them over and over each night until I get another one. haha San Fran was so much fun. Hope you got my letter about that. That bishop was so kind and I'm shocked he called you. how kind of him. I didn't go with anyone in my district so I made some new friends. it was fun. Also I watched the new MORMON MESSAGE on motherhood? thought of you mom. loved it. I'm so excited to be a wife and mom someday and I feel like I'm preparing each day I'm here. It's so cool. So I'm going to try and send some pics later today? And I have a health physical for Belgium. Apparently they have crazy restrictions and stuff and have to do a lot of fun tests...haha I'll let you know how it goes. I love you all with all of my heart! I hope you know I love you and pray for you throughout the day. Be expecting a letter from me soon and wish Just a happy bday for me:) Sent him a little something and hopefully he'Il get it in time. LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCHHH Love, Sister Cameron l00% no regrets. I have promised to give more. stole it &om Just. Gonna keep it. Love you all