He Is Risen

On this day we remember that the Savior rose again. The Resurrection is real. We will all live again with perfected bodies.

I love the lyrics to "Savior, Redeemer of My Soul":

Savior, Redeemer of my soul,
Whose mighty hand hath made me whole,
Whose wondrous pow’r hath raised me up
And filled with sweet my bitter cup!
What tongue my gratitude can tell,
O gracious God of Israel.

Never can I repay thee, Lord,
But I can love thee. Thy pure word,
Hath it not been my one delight,
My joy by day, my dream by night?
Then let my lips proclaim it still,
And all my life reflect thy will.

O’errule mine acts to serve thine ends.
Change frowning foes to smiling friends.
Chasten my soul till I shall be
In perfect harmony with thee.
Make me more worthy of thy love,
And fit me for the life above.

You Have Been Assigned to Labor...

...in the OKLAHOMA TULSA MISSION! 

(English-speaking) 

Report to the Provo MTC on May 8, 2013!



I'm so stoked!!! I really felt like I was going to go stateside before I opened my call. Thank you for the heads up, Heavenly Father! :)

So! Let me tell you a little bit about the OTM! (Oklahoma Tulsa Mission, aka Only True Mission, Obesity Through Members, or Ogres Throwing Midgets)

1. It is the best mission in the world! Of course. :)

2. They have fireflies there!



3. They also have tornadoes!



4. The people call shopping carts buggies.

5. I was thinking the people would have Minnesota-like accents, but they're really more Southern twangy!

6. Oklahoma is next to Texas...not Michigan. haha. When was the last time I looked at a map of the U.S.?! How could I forget that it's the only state that resembles a pot?!



7. It gets super hot and humid there in the summer - over 100 degrees in the summer! Luckily living in Idaho has prepared me for that?

8. My mission president and his wife are AWESOME! I found their blog...not creepy

9. Tulsa is also called the Oil Capital of the World, Tulsey Town, T-Town, the 918! haha

10. My mission also covers parts of Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas; in fact, it covers more of Missouri than it does Oklahoma. Holla!

11. Their state vegetable is watermelon. No, really! And listen to this! "State meal: fried okra, squash, cornbread, barbecue pork, biscuits, sausage and gravy, grits, corn, strawberries, chicken fried steak, pecan pie, and black-eyed peas." If I gain 30 pounds in the next 18 months...please still be my friend

12. High school football is huge out there.

13. Their state flag is hipster!

14. My friend told me that they have some sweet sayings out there like "Oklahoma - where the trees are made of wood" and "Oklahoma, Oklahoma - there, I said it twice". hahaha! These are my kind of people!

This mission just seems right for me. Just like my roommates' missions were perfect for them! I am excited to meet the incredible people out there! TWO MONTHS from now I will be there!

Sorrow the Eye Can't See

I'll tell you what. People have trials! And it can be so hard to see sometimes, even in the people you are closest to. I have been blessed with the opportunity lately to be allowed to know about the sorrows of those around me. I have been praying for opportunities to serve others and Heavenly Father has answered my prayers. I have learned that there is so much beneath the surface. I didn't even know that my roommate was having a hard time a few days ago until she opened up to me. The same has been true in at least four other instances lately. I'm grateful that these people have let me into their lives - some of the most tender aspects of their lives. It has given me fulfillment that I haven't found elsewhere.

(Russian Accent) Hiello.

Caitlin, this one is for you.

HHHHHI.

I am writing this because you are one of the only people who will probably ever read this.

I hope your ulcer is doing well. And by that I mean, I hope you ulcer is being destroyed and that you are doing well.

I luff you.

I mees you.

Also

My papers are in! My call should come by NEXT WEEK. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THIS IS ALL SO CRAZY

P.S. I have new tabs! You will notice right above this post are tabs "Home", "Tips for Life", and "Powerhouse Words". There are nuggets of wisdom there, if I do say so myself! ESPECIALLY in the quotes. Holla!