October 7, 2013 - Well I love ya dangit.

Hellooo!

 

It's confusing to feel this happy when some of the darkest days of life just passed yesterday. But they're over. And what I realized is this: (just now while writing this)...

 

The darkness was encompassing and completely engulfing me. Dimmer and dimmer the light got, as I slipped out of reality. I was gone. For three days, I sat in the dark, having escaped warmth and comfort of soul. I was here, in body, but it was as if there was nothing inside of me. Like I was watching my own life, but not taking part in it. The prophet's voice, on the morning of the third day, is what softened my heart enough to hear the voice of the Spirit, resucitating me back to life. As he spoke of his angel wife Frances, I saw a much broader perspective and path. And now the curtains have been place back, the light has filtered into every crevice of my spirit. The prophet's voice, and your voices, brought me out of a very dark state.

 

"People like you, save people like me. And I love you for that."

 Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

 

 But I claim those words as my own to each of you.

 

Sometimes, the light is not as bright as the sun. That is when we must walk in the light of the sparks we have kindled. You, and the fire of a testimony, are many of my sparks. I think of you as the sparks that I have kindled, that carry me through the dark until the morning comes.

 

I love you very much,

Hermana Patton

September 30, 2013 - Let it burn.

The Lord let the Provo Tabernacle burn so that it could one day become a holy temple. The same is true in each of our lives. He will let us burn to the ground. To be cleansed, to be purified, and so He can build us back up to something much, much better than what we left in the ashes. I guarantee it hurts Him more as our Father to watch us burn, than for us to suffer through it for a time and season. But He needs to build us into temples, and there is only one way. To let the wordly edifice burn down to the ground.

 

This is the most incredible and most painful experience in my life thus far. He is preparing us to be eternal. That is a painful transformation. To become a new creature; nothing about that sounds easy. But it is what we have been asked to do. To me, it's a beautiful concept. Learn to become.

 

This is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, once again on the earth. The very same church Christ set up and established as His way. The priesthood is real and healing. This is the work of the Lord. There is no other way. 2 Nephi 31:21

 

"The only way out is through."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

 

We must each go through. But there has already been a plan set, a path marked, and the way made known. He is the way. And there is no other way. And when we come to the end of the road of mortality, there will only be One to greet us. Because He employs no servant there at the gate. 2 Nephi 9:41

 

This is His work.

 

Hermana Patton

September 23,2013 - I have to go to the bathroom!

Oh my gosh I have to go so bad, but I have exactly 16 minutes left and I am not getting up.

Okay. SO. This week was pretty great. I learned some lessons. Favorite scripture of the week: Matthew 24:46.

Also, this hurst. Haha. Dad, it's just parked here. Nobody drives it. It has tons of skulls and stuff in the back. And a casket. I'm pretty sure it sits here year round in this random, ghetto apartment complex. So great.

Also: TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR. Every day. It was like this my first couple of months. They say it is this way for 10 months out of the year. I definitely did not pack for this...I packed for Kennewick, which is hot, deserty farm-land. Whoops.

Well, yeah. I seriously have to go to the bathroom so bad.

September 16, 2013 - Haha yikes

So we were walking with Rafaela, and she took us to this ice cream shop. Awesome little hidden garage. Authentic Mexican ice cream made and packaged right there. Anyways, glad to find out that the owner (woman) is obsessed with me. She gave us plantains haha, and I cooked them up; that's what this picture is of. I'm doing pretty well for myself. Rafaela told me after that the owner thinks I look like a princess, and later she even called me "nuera"......daughter-in-law. YIKES. I ONLY MET HER ONE TIME. HAHA, it's so much weirder because we are trying to get her son (our age) and her nephew to meet with missionaries. Anyways.

Dear family and friends that are family,

Thank you so much for making my birthday last forever, and informing me of things yet to come. My goodness! I haven't had a birthday like this since I was 5. Lindsey, I have a picture of you and Jake on my board that Barbara sent to me haha, love you Barbara :) Well, I got to go to Portland this week on exchanges, thank goodness. I love it there. It's so...full of opportunity haha if you know what I mean. Probably not. There are a lot of hispanics is what I mean. Okay I mean that it's ghetto. I have a feeling that I will be there SOON. If not in two weeks, than the transfer after that for sure. We don't get any new hermanas until November, so I won't be training anybody new. We'll see! General Conference: 6 month mark. WEIRD. 1/3 over! Yikes!

Dad, can you find and send me the quote by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, about the star in Bethlehem being placed in orbit long before it shone that night? And if possible, the story of President Monson walking past the casket of President Hinckley, and hearing, "Retention, retention, retention." Thank you :) Oh! And if it's not too long, the prophet Joseph's dream about the Savior standing directly above His Apostle's heads and they didn't know it, because they wouldn't look up.

My favorite scripture right now: Proverbs 14:25 A true witness, a true testimony, can save people. Read it!

All of my love, Hermana Patton

September 9, 2013

I can't really write because the system keeps shutting down, and now I'm out of time! But my birthday keeps getting better! Still reapin' in the goods! I love you!

September 3, 2013 - Pictures

September 3, 2013 - Birth

Thank you for the birthday salutations! What a sweet surprise! I had the best birthday of all time. A new investigator was hospitable and kind enough to make a huge bday feast. Her friend and brother, (strangers to me) bought the cake, complete with Feliz Cumpleanos Hermana Patton. It was a humbling day that strangers would do something so kind. And the branch president's wife brought me a cake, and the big breakfast we have with all of the missionaries in the stake landed on Sep 2, and afterwards, we hiked the Ape Caves next to Mt.St.Helens! Woot woot! What a great birthday!

 

I have 2 minutes to send pics.

 

Love you!

Hermana Patton