Wir Dienen SEHR Gerne!

We Are Very Happy To Serve You!
The "Service Coupon" we gave to the members of the branch on Sunday! We had a fun little photoshoot and then took the pictures to Rossman"s (like Walgreens) and used a template to make this card with a scripture and our names and numbers on it, offering to help them with anything they needed. We already got a couple service projects this week, and I'm so excited!! Missionaries love to do service!

This is a bad picture because it's just one a member sent to us on WhatsApp but it shows you what we gave all the members that made them laugh! 

A Little Bit About Everything - Oct 14 + Pics

Heyyyyy MOM!!!
So our internet was out for an hour so we just did an hour of our work time, so that might be why this comes in a little bit later because we have an extra hour to write now!

Ahhhhhhhh I started to sign up for classes today! I'm mostly just looking and then I will actually do it next week. I'm going to take a German class with all of my RM sister friends, I'm super excited! I love German so much and I'm so glad that I was sent on my mission in this group because I'm surrounded by just super fantanstic sister missionaries (we are a group of 16!) and a lot of us are going to BYU. I hope that I'll do well in the classes, the reviews on this German class say the professor is a little tough! (but then again, I'm used to Germans by now so actually that's no biggie! ;)

Okay, I know you are the original Sister Ingalls but that is actually my name now! Seriously, NOBODY calls me Macey it seems so foreign to me haha.

Sara is sick on Mondays or what haha? I'm really sorry about her losing her job, let her know she is in my prayers and I hope things work out. God has a bigger better plan, maybe this is finally her chance to stay home with her kiddos.

Speaking of the dentist, may I go in December or something? :D I actually really want to, I feel like Europe was not friendly to my teeth. Oh Dad, such a baby. They always give us stickers afterward for not biting their fingers off, so that's a big perk to not forget!

That's so sad about Br. LaClaire. That all seemed to come so unexpected. They are really great people and God is watching over them.

Hey I feel with Grandma, we are in this little office at the church typing and the heater doesn't work! And I'm in a short sleeved dress, it's freezing in here! It's really hard to concentrate when you're cold! It's so cold in here I'm wearing a towel from the baptismal font  on my head to keep warm haha!Grandma does seem as active as ever, I'll be surprised the day that life can catch up with her :)

That's so awesome that you got to do baptisms this time! That's funny how you described the water going up to your chest, I bet you barely had to go back into the water haha! Just like bend your knees a little bit! ;) Wow, that's quite a long time since youve done baptisms. Was this the first time that Dad baptized you then? I miss getting to do baptisms, I think they are so fun and they remind me of really good memories as a youth. That sentence just made me sound really old... But they were awesome and I was so blessed to have friends to go to the temple with me.

Speaking of which, do you have any idea what's up with Becca or Stacey? I haven't heard from Stacey at all and Becca stopped writing over a year ago. It's no big deal, I understand, but I hope that they are doing okay and are happy!

WHAT?! JASON IS IN CHINA?! Haha what in the world that's quite the surprising move. Jason was Ruth's main focus, I bet that must be really hard for her, especially not to be able to communicate very often. Is he still dating that one girl from the Phillipines like Hannah or something? Oh I'm glad you and Ruth are friends and can support each other, I think you are right that you are a good influence on her. She needs you :)

Hahahah your Halloween costume was awesome! It looks like you had a fun time together. Were there any other funny costumes there? I love that you ward members are friends with each other and have activities for fun!

Sally's dress was really pretty! I can't imagine wearing my Grandmas dress, I'd be a giant in either Gma Cherry's or Leta's hahah! But she looked really pretty in it. That poor guy! That's such bad luck to get hit in the face with a softball before the wedding. Note to self: don't play softball before weddings!

Speaking of lovebirds, thats exciting that Bri is coming to Minnesota! Oh I hope she falls in love with it, this is the best time of the year at home. I forget, have you met her? and has Dad met her? What are you planning on doing together? They should go on a little road trip to Taylor's Falls, it's so gorgeous there! Hint hint, great place to pop a ring and a question, am I right? ;)

So, now to tell you a bit about my week and life! I feel like my life was just flipped upside down! I haven't been transferred in so long, I was very comfortable where I was. I guess it was inspired because I don't think I realized how wonderful I had it in Neukölln. It's wonderful here too, but it's a lot different. I actually think I'm homesick for Berlin haha!

 
 

When I got here to Plauen, we had pretty much a blank week ahead of us. The only thing scheduled was district meeting on Wednesday and teaching German class on Friday! Yeah, to sum it up, it was a very long week. It felt like 2! We did a lot of good, but I think I need to explain this area and I'll try to do my best.

Before I got here, I found out he branch president is actually from Zwickau (I know him!).. I also found out when I got here that we don't have any investigators, just half hearted contacts and eternal investigators (they've been investigating forever and never make progress). So the first thing I thought to do when we got my stuff into the apartment on Tuesday night was to call the branch president. After talking with him for about 5 minutes, it was very clear that the branch is struggling  spiritually. So, our plan for the transfer is to build up this branch to be a little tiny farmland Zion haha! We focused a ton of time this week (well, we had a ton of time too haha) on serving the members and getting to know them. Sister Walker has only been here for 6 weeks so she doesn't know them well either, so it's a pretty good excuse to go visit all of them.

I feel like you would be so proud of my creativity this week! I got this idea back in Neukölln and I ran out of time there but it's perfect for this area too. We did a little photoshoot of us in service clothes holding cleaning supplies, and then went to Rossmans (it's like Walgreens probably) and used a template to make some funny little service coupons! We just wrote on there that we love to serve, put a scripture on there and then our names and number. We gave them out to the branch on Sunday and they loved them!! We already got a couple service projects this week, and I'm so excited! Germans love to help, not be helped. Unless we beg and make funny little cards for them. We also got the idea to make little Book of Mormon challenge cards like the ones we get in seminary to keep track of progress while reading. On Sunday we watched the women's sessions for the 2nd and 3rd hour and then gave them to all of the women. That also went over really well! Those 2 things took a lot of work, but it was so good I can already see how much little things make a difference in this ward!

Just a little side note, I talked with Sister Patterson last week before I left (she's like my best friend, she reminds me a lot of you. She came and said goodbye the morning I left, we have some pictures together) As we were working on her table refurbishing, I asked her what she could see me studying in college and then going on to do in life. She immediately said something creative! I was so surprised, I never thought that would be me! But it made me happy, I've definitely developed that talent a lot on my mission, and I love creating things! Hah, I'm still clueless as to what I should study in college, though.

Oh yes, I was answering your questions. My new comp is awesome! I love Sister Walker, and we get along so well! She's been out for a little over a year, and is from Perry Utah. It's by Brigham City. I will do another interview next week, but I can tell you a couple things now! She loves basketball and practically any sport (except at 6:30 in the morning, I usually just run around the field by our house by myself;) and looooooves her family. Her family is really tight knit and they own a few movie theater #freemoviessss!! and so she loves talking about them. Her family is super trunky, and so it's actually really good because I just kind of move the conversation to something about the work and it keeps me completely from feeling trunky haha. She even brought that up one night that she thinks I'm really focused because I'm always talking about the work or just generally life out here. That was really sweet of her, I promise I don't forget about you ever, but there is just too much to do here and we need to enjoy the here and now! So keeping her from getting trunky is basically my solution to not thinking about the fact that I only have 5 more weeks left.

I haven't heard from Maddie yet.

No lie, it was a hard adjustment and I miss the success I felt in Neukölln for a couple days. Then we started feeling our own types of successes here, especially with the ward. I LOVE the ward! They are sweet people. I think because we made such an effort to focus on them, they are really impressed. We have at least 4 member appointments so far this week! They are really kind welcoming people. It was really funny, they all ask me the typical question how long I have left on my mission and I always respond "I think that I'll stay here until the end of my mission!" I think it's really funny. I just don't want them to not bother with me because I'm kind of in and out (not here for very long) but that wasn't the case at all. The branch president wants to throw me a going away party and invite the Zwickau members too! Haha I think we won him over, he's a good guy. I think I'll be very happy here my last transfer. I know I'm doing what God wants me to, so that's enough to fulfill my happiness. It's definitely harder here, though. But I can take it and I'm glad that I'm the one here and not a younger missionary, I can handle them :)

The accent down here is not pretty though haha. I refuse to pick it up.

I will try my best to take better pictures this next week! I was so focused on making sure we got places or we were out finding that I didn't take the typical new area pictures. Or I'm just lazy haha. We only have one phone here and I don't always carry my camera because my bag is like 8 lbs already. I'm just making excuses. The members told us about some really pretty hiking here so I want to do a little bit of that!

Okay, the dirndl thing was all in God's plan! We just found out we are in charge of the Hof area now, which is the most southern part of the mission and it's actually in Bayern. Everyone says thats the best place to get a dirndl! Plus, next week we will get a car, so we will definitely be going down there more often. We might actually go down next week! They are the real dirndls, so I hope I can get a cute one! I don't necessarily want a really expensive one or anything, though.

Do you want anything from Germany? I need to start gathering some things if you want it! I could get you some house shoes or a German license plate or I dont know, a shirt?! Most of the cool things were in Berlin, but there are some really pretty Christmas decorations and ornaments in this region. It's the type of stuff I sent home last Christmas!

I hope that answered all of your questions!

As I was listening to the women's session again on Sunday, this time in German, I noticed different things and learned even more. Most of all, I just got this huge longing to see you again. Everything they talked about I just imagined you watching the same session and probably liking a lot of the same parts I did. Oh I love you so much and miss you like crazy. It is starting to feel like a really long time. I hope to never be away from you this long ever again. I need my Mom!! But don't worry, I'm good for another 5 weeks or so, but after that I hope you have lots of time for me!!!

I love that you're reading through the Book of Mormon, I'm plowing through it too! Isn't it awesome?! I just got to 3rd Nephi this morning so I'm excited! What's your favorite scripture story in the Book of Mormon? Where are you reading right now?

I wrote down 2 thoughts in the week that I'll end my letter on:

1. I cannot thank you enough for doing Family Home Evening with our family over the years. I've found out that a lot of people (especially my companions) never had it and feel the missing piece in their life. I know it didn't seem like much, or it felt like way too much some weeks, but thank you for being our warrior mom that kept doing it. It made a huge difference for me, and because of your example I know that I can do that with my family.

2. You must be really in tune with the spirit because you saved me this week! I think it was wednesday, you sent me an inspirational quote. Well, let me tell you about the 20 minutes before that happened. We had lots of time that day so we had a big chunk of finding time (something that rarely happened in Berlin but I love finding so I didn't mind). The day was generally slow (maybe this was Thursday? Both days were slow). We went to a members house and chatted for a few minutes and then asked them to say a prayer with us before we went out finding. That was a relly good idea! We started finding and the very first person waved me off and shook their head before I could even finish "hallo!" ouch, that didn't feel good. Well, that happened over and over again! In that first 15 or so minutes, we were just cold shoulder rejected. I couldn't even believe it, that never happened in Berlin! Everyone is so liberal they at least chat for a couple seconds or are a little polite. Oh that hurt so bad, finally I saw a guy with a little girl and thought for sure I could at least say hallo. Again, rejected. I couldn't even believe it and I probably wore the emotion on my face because I then called back "it's nothing against you I promise!" I was just like noooo you reject me, you reject Jesus and you make him sad therefore I am also sad!!!! That one brought tears to my eyes. I saw a little public book lending thing and distracted myself for a second with it to not cry. I said a little prayer and the spirit helped me to keep going. The next people that we talked to were awesome and such a tender mercy and we had an awesome conversation. I know God blessed us because we kept going. A minute later I checked the phone and saw that you sent that little quote. Normally I don't open emails during the day just to stay focused, but I opened this one because I knew it was a little quote. Ohhhh that was so sweet and I just felt so blessed. Thank you for that little big difference you made for me!

I love you a million little picture quotes during the week! You are the best. I hope you have a wonderful wonderful week with Logan and Bri.

Love Sister Ingalls Jr.

Because of the Love of God - (Oct 14 - Group Email) Plauen

Hey friends and family! I don't have a ton of time this week but here's just a little blick at my week.

One of my first days in Plauen we went to the Tafel (food kitchen?) for service. On the way, my companion saw someone laying on the sidewalk. This wasn't uncommon in Berlin were we`d both served, but then we saw it was an elderly lady! We ran up and helped and called emergency. The poor thing fell and broke her nose and wrist. It wasn't a well traveled street and I'm glad God guided us to help her. So that was a very interesting start to the transfer!

We also got to support the Zwickau sisters who had a baptism on Sunday a.k.a. I got to visit the ward I served in at the beginning of my mission! Oh, God is too good to me. There were a lot of joyous reunions, it was as if I was barely gone. I seriously felt so loved, and I love those people with my whole heart. I could remember a good story with each and every one of them. They're also such an example and welcomed their new member, Dat, into the ward extremely well. He even bore his testimony at his own baptism, it was so sweet.

A scripture from my study earlier last week stuck with me throughout the whole week. Its 4 Nephi 1:15 in the Book of Mormon. 

"And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people."

True love of God will lead us to have peace with others. If we really love God with our whole heart, might, mind and strength, we will be peacemakers and love and serve our families, friends and really all of Gods children.

Sister Macey Ingalls

Last Pictures in Neukölln - Oct 12

Transferred to Plauen - Oct 7

Hey Mom!
Haha I read your email and right away I was like woahhh my name is not Macey! Then I was thinking, oh right, I wonder if they still call me that at home? Nobody calls me that ever, maybe I forgot my own name!

Okay so first things first, the big news! I'm getting transferred! Woo hoo, that was a little surprise! I'm going to Plauen, which is in Sachsen (which probably says nothing to you haha!). It's just a little west of Zwickau, it's the ward right next door so I'm basically going back home to where it all started! 😄 I never would have guessed, but I'm excited.

I would compare Plauen to Farmington, MN. Well maybe. Maybe just because its kind of farmish and in the boonies? 😂 Its' really beautiful there, so I've heard. Ah there's so much to tell! Sister Grisham served there before and loved it. I'll be serving with Sister Walker who is I think almost at her year mark on her mission. I was her Sister Training Leader for 4 transfers so I know her really well and I'm so excited, I loved working with her before and we will have a blast together again.

The Bishop of the ward is actually part of the Zwickau ward, so I met him before he got this calling! I actually know a couple of people so that'll be nice. It's going to be crazy quick trying to learn all of the names and help the ward in just 6 weeks! I already wrote an email to the Bishop letting him know I'm coming just to get a little head start, so I think that'll be good.

I kind of feel like I'm going on a 6 week exchange!! When I packed my things (I'm mostly packed) I did what we did at the beginning and packed one that I wouldn't need to open at all. That'll definitely make it a lot easier for next transfer. That is smart and efficient, not trunky! 😉 you said to send things home that won't fit in my suitcase but I don't think it'll be a problem. We will see. I finally went through my clothes and got rid of the gross ones that are so worn out I shouldn't wear them anymore. Missionaries go through clothes, let me tell ya! I don't know if I told you this but a family of girls that we teach didn't have any skirts to wear to church so we collected clothes from 2 apartments plus a few of my things and they just look fabulous at church on Sundays! 😊 I just gave them a few things a little too short for missionary dress. I packed away pencil skirts, other short but nice quality skirts and the jean skirt away, I still really want to wear them in the future! I love wearing skirts! Also you'd be proud of me, I cut up a ton of old g's today! They did not look pretty at all. Do your silk g's turn grey?

Also, thank you for going through my clothes! That's really kind and you're right, I probably won't want all of them. I've found I don't need a ton of clothes, just the right ones that can go with a couple other things! Don't go missing me though, it'll come too fast that we see each other again and you have a little pest around you all the time 😉

Whoops that was a tangent. So Plauen. Yes this is what I know about it. It's smaller than Berlin (hah everything is smaller than Berlin!) and it's a branch. Apparently it should be a ward but the change hasn't been made yet. We serve at the veeeeery bottom of the mission. We also just found out yesterday that we will cover the Hof ward that's even more south, in fact its in Bayern! That's kinda like serving in Minnesota and Iowa at the same time! I've heard its absolutely beautiful there and this is the best time of the year so I'm up for it! Sadly, I found out we are getting a car.. I've made it 11 transfers without a car! Who knows though, because Sister Walker didn't get her license yet and I can't get mine (because I'm from Minnesota and Germany doesn't accept it!) so it'll at least be a few weeks until we can drive. I definitely prefer walking and riding trains, that's how I've met practically all contacts! So that'll be different. I'm just laughing because Sister Walker called me panicked asking if I had a license because she's terrified to drive 😂 wish me luck😂😂😅

I know they don't have a ton of investigators there because the ward is needing support. I really do love working with members and hope the Lord can use me to just spark them up a little bit to love the gospel and love missionary work!

We got the transfer call on Thursday, which is a day early, and from President! That meant change haha! He released both of us as Sister Training Leaders (the program shifted to Dahlem, that'll be better) and asked me to go to Plauen. He told me he sent me there specifically because my positivity and energy would help this area a lot. It was very kind and sweet and helped me feel better about leaving. He told me to really focus on building up the area, so that I will do! I love my new companion already so that'll be good. I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for me to learn this time!

So that's all I know! I'll let you know more next week about my new area :) new adventure woo hoo!! I'll get on my train tomorrow morning and arrive in Leipzig around noon and Plauen around 17, so pray for me to travel safely!

Aghh the phone died when  we were out so I couldn't write more! I'll make sure to answer your questions though!

What did you think of my interview with Sister Barker? :)

P.S. I'll put some more pictures on google drive later, I don't have time before our appointment tonight!

I'M SOOOOOO STINKING PROUD OF YOU FOR READING THE BOOK OF MORMON! That makes my missionary heart just sweeeeeell with joy. I love when people read it especially the members. It surprised me how many members do not do scripture study regularly, if at all. I think this challenge and the new Come Follow Me curriculum will help so much. I'm in Helaman right now with another project but once I'm done I think I can still finish the Book of Mormon a second time before the end of the year! Or at least until Helaman again 😉

I'm really sorry about the missionaries cancelling, that's not cool. Like come on, free food and time with members?! And especially the Bishop and his wife?! Man, that's really lame but don't let it bother you. Us missionaries aren't always the best at explaining why we do this, but for the most part we are really just trying to do the right thing. So they definitely didn't do it to hurt you, they just maybe could've handled it differently. I hope they reschedule. And I really hope we get Blaine ward missionaries back! I want to work with them, I need them to teach my friends!

I spent sadly almost all day looking for a dirndl and no luck. The places down south are better so I think we will try to look for one in Hof. I did get hausschuhe though! That's was Birkenstocks are, inside shoes. Everyone has wood floors here so they all wear shoes inside and I'm starting to get cold feet! They are cute and were cheap!

I think you have a special light about you too that radiates when you laugh :)

I don't know about kitty heaven but I know all of God's creations will resurrect so I would assume so! Hehe what do you think?

I love you Mom, I love you a million happy days as a missionary- I've truly had a countless number of those.

Love, Sister Ingalls Jr.

One Last Adventure, Passing the Test and Following the Prophet - (Oct 7 - Group Email)

1. IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
I'm getting transferred for my last 6 weeks! I'll be going back down south to Plauen and I'm PUMPED!! Serving here in Neukölln for the last 7 1/2 months stretched me into more of what God wants me to be, oh I love Him and He is too good to me. I love what I've learned here from the most incredible people. The goodbyes were painful as ever, but it's nice to know I'll see a few again very soon.

2. PRÜFUNG BESTANDEN

We finally made an appt with Johannes, a friend we made about a month back. It was an AMAZING lesson with his entire family of 5. At first I thought he was trying to bash us but at the end he's like, "you passed my test!" We were so confused but apparently we gained his trust on interpreting the Bible so now he's pumped to read the Book of Mormon. He loved us so much he welcomed us any time and even offered us a house key. 😂

3. Ether 12:27

We got a call from a member this week wanting us to help her friend stop smoking. We helped Igor this week and he's doing so well! That is not an easy task, but he knows only the Savior can get him through it, and he will overcome it, I know it.

4. "Then I'd be a German Shepherd" -Elder Uchtdorf

The Elders and us Sisters put together a general conference party with friends and members, it had an awesome turn out! Naturally, general conference was jaw-dropping! 2 hours of church, 12 temples announced and glorious gospel instruction (including learning the word weltschmerz!) in between, the spirit impressed revelation on my mind and heart.  Thank GOODNESS we have a prophet of God today to guide us as the Savior wants his church to be. I absolutely recommend it to all, you can watch it on lds.org.

Hab euch lieb! Sister Macey Ingalls

Let's Be Real, I'm the Boring Emailer! - Sept 30

Hey Mom!
Let's be real, I feel like I'm the boring emailer! I'm like uhhhhhh what did I even do this week that they would find interesting? I honestly just love hearing from you, so I think every single one of your emails are awesome! :) Plus, your week sounded crazy cool!

Isn't the Primary program just the cutest thing ever?! I loved it here too, we had that last week I think. It sounds like the heft of the Primary in Blaine is made up of girls! Here we have mostly boys. It's funny talking to the Primary President, we had lunch with their family yesterday and she said the Primary just likes to sing the loud stomping songs like Book of Mormon stories and follow the prophet! It's true, our program was made up of some good boy shout-singing! P.S. our Primary president kind of reminds me of you! She only has 3 boys though. But yesterday she walked past the entryway and squeaked and got giddy for a second and said "Oooh girl shoes! Those are so cute! It's so nice to see girl shoes here!!" It was so funny. I imagine that's how you were for a good portion of raising the boys.

Those little Lehman babies are ADORABLE! And funny, like what baby doesn't like wearing a coat haha?! The babies here look like their in eskimo parkas and it's only the anfang of Oktober! Anyway, it's good to hear that they are doing well. Do they know that their last name is German? They most definitely have German ancestry. "Lehmann" is an older word notused much anymore, and it means sledgehammer! Thats quite the powerful last name :D

I am also excited to see Nash! He needs to hold a little sign saying "I've been waiting my whole life to meet you!" nah I kid I kid, but crazy to think I haven't met him yet and he is already so big. I don't have baby fever but I totally just want to hold a baby... So I'm excited! I'll pass on cuddling the cat though, I've been scratched by too many evil cats here..!

That would be hard to not see Grandma very often, but I'm glad that you got to spend some time together on Wednesday night. You really are doing a good thing, even if it's hard. I'm so thankful that you support Sara and take care of each other, I think that she would do the same thing for you. That's what its all about! Isn't this so much nicer, being really close with the family rather than being far away or being distant from each other? I love that our family comes together! Family over everything!

I can't believe you were in a tshirt and shorts though haha!

Woohoo go you for cleaning the house and organizing! It really does feel good afterward. A house of order really does have the spirit in it. I mean, it takes all of an hour for me to organize my things and have a fresh new apartment but it's similar! It's super satisfying to have everything I own fit in 3 suitcases. Germans do it right and live very simply and don't have a lot of unnecessary things.

Front row tickets to a Twins game?!?! Free hats and food?! Talk about best double date ever! You two go on lots of fun double dates, I'm glad you take the time to enjoy yourselves! Those were super cute pictures you sent, I want to steal that beanie! :D

You asked me quite a few questions about things going on in between me getting home and going out to school. My brain hasn't really planned that far and is good with anything. As long as we do things and keep busy because I don't know how to handle myself otherwise! Do children act at the Children's theater or is it a theater for children? [We are going to see ELF at the Ordway Theater when she comes home! MOM] I think that would be really fun, I'm up for going to things and just spending time together! I'm not sure I want to work at the temple though. I want to go often, hopefully every week, but I think if I were to work at the temple I'd want to do it in Utah. I don't have a lot of time with you all, and a flexible schedule would be nice. It sounds really nice though, thank you for being willing to check!

Okay, top 3 hymns. I'm assuming probably English. I couldn't pick so you can decide!

Battle Hymn of the Republic

Press Forward, Saints

Savior Redeemer of my Soul

Where Can I Turn for Peace?

Abide with Me; Tis Eventide

My favorite song is Hark, all Ye Nations!

And this song is crazy fun to sing! Do you know it?! Not my favorite but I think its fun.

Master the Tempest is Raging

Maddie did get back to me, and said she is planning on moving as well so she will look for us and would love to be roommates! Woohooo! I'm super stoked. I just responded and told her to message you on Facebook if she finds anything soon. Hey, if I live in a box, I am not homeless! "no matter what, no matter where, its always home if love is there!"

Sorry I forgot a title for my group email again haha! I've written so many of those things... Maybe you could title this one something about Divine Choreography or Gods plan. Idk my brain is so tired today.

Sister Barker approves of the October calendar, that's hilarious. I would please like to take my contributions to October 16th off though :D

That's really beautiful what you wrote, Mom. I mean that what you wrote about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Thank you for taking the time to write your testimony. I'm so thankful for you! You are a wonderful example to me of great faith. You are just able to keep going and trusting and fighting and loving even when it gets hard. I can see that you are humble and willing to lean on the Savior for extra support. He does carry you, and He does it lovingly.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is something we often misunderstand. I've felt forgiveness before, but I didn't completely understand how that happened. I've prayerfully studied that for months and I've come to know that, yes, there is way more to it that I just can't understand right now! But it will come. I don't understand exactly how Jesus Christ is the Son of God as well as Mary's son, but I believe and know that it had to happen for him to perform the saving event of the world. I can't even begin to imagine how much pain he felt as he suffered every temptation, pain, sin, sorrow sadness you name it, just to know exactly how we feel.

I found a beautiful scripture this week that built my faith. In 2 Corinthians 8:9 it says,

            9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor,

               that ye through his poverty might be rich.

The spirit told me there was something more to it when I read over it, so I read it again. Then again and again and I finally got it. Jesus Christ was rich as to the things of eternity, He inherited everything that God the Father has. But he wanted us to have that chance too, so he came to the Earth and became poor as to things spiritually, he was tempted, he suffered, he even felt abandoned by the Father as he hung on the cross. Through what He did, we have that chance to come to God.

Jesus Christ is there for us, and always there for you to lean on Mom! He loves you will his whole entire heart!

I love you a million chapati and all types of Kenyan food! Love, Sister Ingalls Jr.