Joy and more joy in the journey!

My heart is full today. Hearing from all of you this week has just been the> icing on the cake to this spectacular week!! I truly cannot thank everyone> enough for all the prayers, the emails, letters, love and support I feel. I> know that the Lord is on my side in all things and I know that my family is> my greatest blessing from my heavenly father, you all keep me so motivated> and happy. THank you for all that you do, I promise you that I can feel it> and I truly am so sorry for all the years of craziness, and probably all the> future years of craziness you will have to endure from me, but really just> know that I love you and I am SOOO grateful for all of you!>> So this week has been absolutely full of miracels!!! Its amazing. I know> that I am doing the work of the Lord and He has truly strengthened me in all> things. I feel comfortable in this life now, and I know I have so much to> learn. I have no fear talking to anyone because I know that coming unto> Christ, following His example, being able to use His Atonement, and being> led by the spirit brings an inexplicable happiness to one's life and has> done so since Adam and Eve. I would challenge you all to read Mosiah 2> specifially focus on the last few verses, actually focus on them all they> are all so good. But, in the last verses King Benjamin who is just a stud,> asks you to think about those people that you know that are truly happy, and> so I echo His question... think about the people in your lives, who are> truly happy, they don't anger easily, bad things may happen, but they just> keep on smiling... ask yourself how they do that? Your own happiness is> solely dependant on you. You define your own destiny. You can choose to be> happy amidst turmoil, or just around someone who really knows how to push> your buttons, because your stregth comes from some where else. During these> crazy times, peace can be found in your homes and in your hearts IF you> build your foundation on Christ, We have been given EVERY tool imaginable to> experience joy in this life. We have a loving heavenly father and brother> there with us every step of the way. If yuo are not happy, i beg you to> think about the things you may not be doing or you may be doing and CHANGE> it! Don't wait till tomorrow. Become that person today!! Why waste the> days being upset and wishing for something more. You have God on your> side!!!> I am in aww by the amount of love and care that goes into this work. I have> been able to see the miracles of God in every place I turn. I never imagined> how much goes into the less active. I think its among those, that my heart> truly breaks. I see these people who was tasted of the joy of repentace and> of the gospel and now their lives are insane and they do everything to find> peace, except for turning to the peacemaker.> I know the lord truly prepares the hearts of people. What I have noticed,> the people who are truly prepared have just gone through something> devastating and then as guided by the spirit we show up. They are in a> place, a point of their lives, humble enough to be open to this message of> glad tiding of great joy! I would never wish anything bad on anyone, but if> it changes their lives for the better, if it brings them closer to their> maker, then I hope that it would happen to everyone.> SO enough preaching on to the stories... just know that I am happy and I am> doing the greatest work in the world, and you can too, just because I am a> full time missionary, doesn't by any means diminish your missionary> opportunites or mean that you can't share your testimony and lift others to> new heights!!!> Well so this work is fun and funny and exhausting and exhilirating. Its> just everything. Things I've learned... 1. There is serious planning that> goes into this work... I thought I was pretty good at it before cause I> would make my little lists of things that I thought would be nice to do> at some point. No way, we plan and plan for hours and plan to plan and then> plan some more. It really helps you to be more effective and efficient with> your time and being on the Lord's time we can't be wasting a second.> Sometimes even eating feels like a waste of time. 2. I am learning how to> become a social life planner, and match maker. Its constantly a ..> so who do you think will get along with this person, oh he was in the army> too so they can talk about this or she pregnant too so they can talk about> that... and then we try our best to get them involved with the people in the> ward in things outside the church. For example, we took Jessica our> investigator who is getting baptized on the 30th with her husband Shawn, who> has two beautful girls 3 and 4 and is prego with twins. (yeah talk about a> burden), so we took her and the girls to a park play date that like ten> other women in the ward go to every friday. Can I say that I am SO GLAD to> be a missionary and not a momma right now. (no offense to anyone who is a> momma, actually mad props to those that are) It is seriously intense and> crazy and you have to know and do so many things. Like bring snacks and toys> and make sure they aren't jumping of the playground to their death plus with> new borns etc... I don't know how they do it! I'm boggled.. anyways I am> learning many life lessons that I never thought I'd learn and I know thats> going to continue throughout my mission.> Oh... and so I experienced riding bikes for a day, cause we are spoiled and> get to do to save miles. but pretty much when we want to. But, just picture> this. I am offcially a dorky missionary.. its a humbling experience just> putting on the cute helmet we get to rock. But, then I of course wear> the wrong skirt. SO I am just riding down the street with my and my cute> helmet with my crazy hair just frizzing out all over the place, and I am> turning bright red because riding a bike to get places and just cruising on> my beach cruiser, totally different experiences, so yes its a nice 75 degree> day partly cloudy and I am sweating in places I didn't know I could, and to> top it off my bag was falling all over and my skirt that normally goes down> to the flattering mid-calf just hikes up with every movement and I look down> and not only are my knees are showing (which I forgot exsisted) but yes my> Gs are showing. and so I am frantically trying to keep my skirt down, and> ride up hills that I thought I'd never be able to make it up pretty> much about to pass out. Thankfully my trainer who is just a doll and so> much fun and riding oh so gracefully, is in front of me so she doesn't see> the show I am giving all of San Antonio, and then when we stop to talk> to someone on the street I look like a mad person. NOt to mention> lessons! Sweaty crazy curly helmet hair in this humidity not so cute! and> its not even hot yet... its perfectly pleasant!!! So mom although I do get> nice and ready in the morning, the moment I get on that bike its all over.> But So much fun, I just laugh at myself the whole time, for how ridiculous> my struggles are!> Oh and this story is not for the faint of heart or even children. But, so we> went up to talk to this guy, he was latin, it was in spanish, in his> driveway with tons of children palying in the light of day across the street> and as we walk up to him I see that his pants and super low... like really> low.. okay. So we start talking to him and he's asking all these questions> about church and where it is etc.. and suddenly I realize something is> showin that SHOULD NOT BE SHOWIN and I don't know what to do cause he was> keeps asking all these questions and my companion is just talking to him> both completely oblivious that his manhood is just comepletely out for> everyone to see and I start laughing uncontrollably becuase I can't believe> that this was really happening. and my companion got the picture and he is> just jabbering on like he wasn't exposed or something!!!! And I keep saying> that this haloween skull thing across the street was scared me cause I am> just laughing away. We probably talked to him for like 15 minutes, no joke> and he SHOOK our hands goodbye and we ran away as fast as we possibly> could! YEah, welcome to the mission!> Well I love you all I know I belong here I am happy and slightly healthy> and on the Lords errand!! Have a fabulous week and if you made it through> all of this congrats it was quite a feat.> Love Hermana/Sister Rooney