The Joy that was set before Him

The Atonement is so real.

This week I have been able to see the Atonement work in so many different ways. I have seen it help a Sister go from not believing in God to coming to church on Sunday and knowing that this is where she needs to be, and knowing why we need church and why we go every week. I have been able to see it in a brand new missionary who has changed so much from day one to day 7. I have seen it in my life as I have been able to forgive and try again. The Atonement is there and it truly is the strengthening and enabling power that we receive. It is the only reason we can keep going. It is only through the Atonement we can change. 

In Hebrews 12:1-2 it reads 

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

We had to memorize this scripture a couple of months ago but something hit me this week as I was studying the Atonement. What Christ had to go through was hard. It was excruciatingly hard and I can't even begin to fathom all that He went through. But in this verse it says. "For the Joy that was set before Him, endured the cross" Because He knew what Joy it would bring us what joy it would bring Him to be able to see us again He endured the cross. He suffered the Atonement so that we could have that joy. So that we could be united with our families. So that everyday we could become someone better. We could use the gift that He gave us and change. 

I know how true that is. Our Heavenly Father and Savior love us so much. And they want us to find joy in this life. So much that they were willing to give all that they had to us so we could change and find that lasting joy. I love this gospel with everything that I am and I want you to know that Your Savoir is aware and He knows trust Him and turn to Him.

Love,

Sister Wade

FUN FACTS:

1. We got to ride bikes this week and yes, it is still my favorite thing in the entire world. I hope the weather stays good so we can ride more often.

2. We went to dinner at Bishops house and his son who is Deaf was there and their little boy translated the prayer for his dad and I think it may have been the cutest thing I've ever seen in my life. 

We got to help Bishop

 and Sister Twitchell 

build their LFL (Little Free Library)

 

Sister Orton and I (:

Saying "goodbye" to Sister Markus
was pretty hard ):
This picture may or may not
have been right after we cried.    

Generation pictures!! 

Sister Bowen trained Sister Ingold, 

Sister Ingold trained me 

and now I'm training Sister Orton!

Prayer is...

Prayer is Vital.

Prayer is strength.

Prayer is a sign of love.

Prayer is a Miracle.

Prayer is our spiritual life line.

Isn't it amazing that God could have us call Him anything but what He asks us to call Him is Father. Not only does he want us to know that we are literally His spirit children but He also wants us to know that we can turn to Him in any moment. He wants each of us to have a personal relationship with him. He wants us to know Him and come to rely on Him. In all things. Prayer truly is one of the greatest gifts we could ever have. We were talking this week in District Council how the only way we can know spiritual truths is through prayer and I sat there and thought about it. I realized how vital prayer is to each of us. Whether we have a relationship with of Father in Heaven or we are just starting out. We need prayer more than almost anything. Without it we are stuck. Without it we can't progress because we can't talk to our Father and learn more fully to trust Him. 

In Alma 31:10 it talks about how prayer can be our shield against temptation. Prayer holds a power unlike any other. Think about how powerful it is that a simple heartfelt prayer to our Father can help us overcome any and all temptation. Yes, temptations are still going to come, but we can over come them because of prayer. This week I have learned to rely more fully on heartfelt one on one communication with the Father of the universe. I truly have come to know how much of a blessing it is that our Father did not cut that spiritual life line to Him as we came to Earth. It is such a blessing to have. 

I can't imagine my life without prayer. Next time you go to pray think about what you're really doing as you communicate with our all knowing Father in Heaven. 

Love you lots and hope today is the best!

-Sister Wade

FUN FACTS:

1. I got to talk to a Deaf person on the phone through an interpreter. (I'm convinced I was secretly called on a sign language mission (; )

2. Oh and Sister Markus and I may have role played a lesson in Sign Language, in preparation for our lesson with Fernando, and man it was amazing. It helped us to truly teach super simple and to allow the spirit to work as we tried to figure out what to sign next. It was super amazing.

2. That moment when you are talking to a guy and he turns to your companion and says "Why do you have a Spanish name (he thought it was marques) but *pointing to me* she looks Mexican?" I don't understand why people don't realize I am American. haha

More pictures from last week's hike.

#BestZoneEver