Mission Letter - Sept. 15, 2013

Just thought you might enjoy reading Sister Alba's e-mail that I mentioned! Love you and enjoy!

Missionary Letter Sept.15, 2013

Unbelievably…It’s Transfer Week!

If you don’t know it already, you have just experienced the transfer of a lifetime… and this is just the beginning!  We, the California Santa Rosa Mission have been greatly blessed.  We, the CASRM have been given a great trust…  Like no other mission in the world.  It happened on our watch.  Make no mistake; it is no coincidence that you are serving here at this time.  The Lord has chosen you to be here.  You have a great purpose to fulfill.  With your obedience leading the way to victory…we will all rise and shine and fulfill our greatest potential as missionaries.

I hope that each one of you has written the experience of the 8873 coming to our mission down in your journals.  If not, it’s time that you did.

Elders and Sisters we have only begun to see the miracles of the 8873 being in our hands.  We have only seen the tip of the iceberg …where beneath lies wonders, amazement and miracles we have never before seen.  Are you with me??  Do you get it?  What an exciting time!  What joy!  We are learning all together step by step.  We may need to alter our course again and again until our course is set firm and true. So I ask you again be prepared for change…Remember, our mission ‘embraces change’.  We must all be flexible and adapt easily and promptly. After all…We really are the ‘Greatest mission in the world’!  You make it so.

Thank you. We love you, we are proud of you, now it is time to turn our thoughts forward.  New companions, new areas, new wards or branches, new leadership, new challenges, new disappointments and new victories are yet to come.  New strength, new wisdom, new knowledge and new friends for all of eternity to be gained. Wow…what more can we ask for?

Determine dear Elders and Sister to make this coming transfer the very best of your mission so far.  Determine to become a better you, a more humble you, a more obedient you, a more loving you, a happier you. Determine to be a harder working you, a more forgiving you, a more understanding you.  Be your best self…and joy will come to you like no other time before.

Embrace the joy that surrounds you.  Yes, we work hard and feel pressure but we must also laugh together and count our blessings and give thanks to God our Eternal Father. Have fun every day. Because if we are…  The Greatest Mission… and if we are… The Most Obedient mission…it follows that we are also…

The Happiest Mission… a mission full of joy. Recognize it, embrace it, let it fill you countenance with radiance. It will make you glow.

On Friday President and I attended the funeral of Elder Ward who was serving in Idaho but lives here in Vacaville. He and his companion were driving… his companion at the wheel when for an instant his companion got distracted and ran a stop sign. A truck plowed into Elder Ward’s door and he died a couple of hours later. It was a very sad, yet tender day for us as we witnessed his mom and dad stand next to their son’s casket. Tears came as we thought of our own sons who did come home… and of all of you who are in our care here. As I shook each missionaries hand in attendance that day, I was so grateful that each one was alive and healthy. I love you all so much.  Be careful out there and know that you are in our prayers each and every day and night.  We pray to return each one of you to your mothers and fathers. Help us make it happen and be careful in all you do. Especially when you drive.

Love to you…to the universe and beyond, Sister Alba

And since I am posting the letter, I love you more than Sister Alba loves you – always twice as much.

Be great and become the men and women that God wants you to be.  Let go of yourselves and let Christ mold you into His servants.  I promise that what he returns to us – a better, more refined and purified person we will be amazed at what He will do for us and to us because He needs us at this time of hastening in the work of salvation.

Arise and be men and women of God! Arise and be Great!

Love,

President Alba