Try a little harder to be a little better of a missionary

Hello Everyone!!!!> I absolutely loved thecake fight pictures!!! Leave it to the Rooney/Jarman> Clan to turn a nice respectable graduation party into a food fight. Its the> cake, for some reason its in our blood, we feel that cake belongs on> someone's (the honorary guest in general) face and not in our stomachs. I'm> glad to know that we have yet another graduate in the family, it was touch> and go there for a little with Cami... I'm kidding! But, really Congrats> Cami! ANd Sean for making it through your first year in college. I swear it> was just yesterday that you were crying because you couldn't stay at Chris's> house or something and now look at you!! I'd be lying if I dind't say I am> SO proud of all of you!!! We really hit the jackpot in the pre-existence or> something to have been allowed to come down and be tohether. Yes. extended> family you are included in this!! We all hit the jackpot. (by the way I> don't have anyone's address' Grandma, Grandpa, Kim and Kurt, Deb and David,> Camie and Nate, Trent and Kendra, Grandma Phyliss, I think I have Russ and> Joni but if you wanted to send me theirs too it wouldn't hurt!!!) p.s.> seriously Sean you let dad clean that gross bathroom for you!! Haven't you> heard of the 5th commandment?>> SO this week, full of more adventures!!! Shwan and Jessica are getting> baptized this FRIDAY!!!! Yes they are entering the waters of baptism and> getting on the road to eternal family!!! So cool. It was funny cause they> both worked at the prison in Arizona (they met in the army in Iraq) and so> the baptism jump suit remind them of the prisoners... and so they will both> be wearing white pants and a t-shirt of some kind!! I honestly love them SO> much!! I know we'll all be friend forever! Literally! We were going to go> fishing with them today at the Mansfield Dam, but we didn't plan our time> right so next week! Shawn is going to teach me how to fly fish! Which all> started when I said I've never really been fishing. I guess its not> okay. SO we are really excited about that! Then we have Patrick who is> amazing, as well. He has long black hair earings and tatoos, his wife left> him and lives down the street with another guy. And so he turned to> heavenly father for the first time in his life. He is reading the book of> mormon and his new translation bible (which we are weening him off of)> everyday and we have taught him all the lessons, he went to general> conference and a baptism and this sunday was his first sunday at church> since he was like 6, he is now 34! Big steps! He is just waiting to get an> answer that this is the correct church, he and we fasted this sunday for him> and I know that he'll get his answer soon. THEN THERE IS APRIL... so she is> definition elect or golden or what ever term you prefer. So we get to her> house and in the first five minutes she tells us she wants to be> BAPTIZED!!! Then goes on to tell us that her boyfriend has pretty much> taught her everything. She has been reading the scriptures and come to> terms with all her doubts and one day she really wanted to go to the church,> but she had work... so all day she felt like she really needed to go to the> church. She had previously looked up the address so she knew the vicinity of> the church, so after work she went driving around looking for the church,> and when she found it, she could feel it was the right one even though she> couldn't see the name of it. she just sat in the parking lot and prayed> about the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, Thomas S, Monson and whether she> should be baptized. She immediately got her answer and just sat in her car> and cried for joy for 30 minutes! and to top it off she already had up on> her calendar that she was going to church this past sunday AND was so> excited for us to come on Tuesday that she couldn't sleep all night!!! What> have we done??? Nothing! Her faith is unshakable. Everytime we teach her she> wants us to come back the next day. Even though the things we teach> sometimes go against the baptist beliefs, and her mind goes crazy she> recongnizes that her heart is calm. .... yeah! This is truly the Lord's> work and I am just a lucky bistandard! Alma 13:24 the angels have prepared> her!!!> So with that.. I gave a training at district meeting on how faith+works=> miracles, (which I have to admit I pretty much stole completely from this> AMAZING letter Nate sent me, he taught me, I taught the district it was> great) But, seriously it is so true. Today is still a day of miracles! God> still talks to men! He is in every detail! And he endows those with faith> with the power to command the angels in heaven, and then your faith can in> truth become unshakable. ANd this is not a promise to missionaries or> general authorites. But to ALL!!! If we have faith that God can really do> all things, without the fear of rejection or disappointment, or the doubt> that Satan loves to put in our hearts. If you truly have faith that God can> work miracles in your lives and act accordingly, I promise you that those> miracles will and DO happen. the time of miracles have not ceased.> And this sunday I kinda called the leader of the ward to repentance, in a> very tactful manner don't worry. We were in PEC with all the brothers that> lead the ward and they all have been given a family mission plan, and as a> ward they have committed to give us 5 referrals a week. SO the bishop> challenged them, the leaders of the ward, to committ to each give us a> referral in May. To be the examples of the ward. And their reaction was> shocking! They were almost mad! They were like, well we aren't going to> just befriend someone and then immediately invite them to church because> they'll think that was our motives and they will be offended and that will> ruin the new friendship and they'll hate mormons ect.. SO I asked them and> I ask you now, well what is your intention behind the invitation? Or the> friendship? If it is just to complete a challenge, then of course they'll> feel that way because that was in fact YOUR INTENTION. Right? If it is> because you love them, becuase you know this church is true and you know> that it will bless EVERY life for the better, then when you invite them,> they will feel of your love and your intent and even if they are not ready> just yet, even if their hearts are hard, they will not be offended. Why> would someone be offended if you offered to carry their groceries in, unless> they thought you had alterior motives?? And trust me giving a firend the> gospel is a MUCH better service than helping them rake up their leaves or> what have you!!!! SO please realize that the Lord has called us all to the> work!! The Lord has blessed every single one of us immensely. It is not just> for the full-time missionaries! Every member a missionary wasm't coined> because the prophet thought it would make everyone feel included. .. it is a> commandment from the Lord! Everyone says "I don't know wher I'd be without> this gospel" I do!! Look at your neighbors! Not that they are unhappy or> living miserable lives, but they could have SO MUCH MORE! Think about how> grateful you are for your blessings and then that gratitude moe you to> action. Make it a matter of prayer and fasting. Cause the celestial kingdom> would be a lonely place if you were the only one there. It truly is the more> the merrier. 1 Nephi 20:18 is my favorite new scripture.. and 1 Nephi 21:4> hit me really hard. If I am doing this work for anyone, it is for my Savior> Jesus Christ, that the blood and the pain that he suffered for me and for> anyone I can come in contact with will not be shed in vain. If I can do> anything to make it so people could truly come to understand and more> importantly use that great and infinite sacrifice I would yet be an> unprofitable servant (Mosiah 2:21) And that is WHY serving your fellow men> is service to your God, every single son and daughter is so precious to our> heavenly father that He sent his PERFECT son to suffer for every sinlgle> pain, sorrow, stress, sickness, sin, that we may have joy in this life and> eternal life in the next. SO Invite everyone to do a little more! Try a> little harder, because heavenly father and Jesus Christ would never give up> on you!> Well. sorry that got a little intense there. But, I am a passionate person> and I am passionate about this work!! I truly love everyone of you and that> love grows everyday. THanks to Lilian, and Frank and Kyna. your emails were> a delight!I'll write Chris if I can have his address! I love you and don't> worry mom I am still having fun EVERY DAY!> Love your sister Rooney