What a week.

Hello!!>> Hello everybody!! Hope everything is going well in every one's life! I'm> just you know doing my missionary thang and it some how gets better every> single day. There is a girl in our ward who gave a homecoming talk this> week, she just got back from Chicago south. And it totally freaked me out.> I know I'm new and have like my whole mission ahead of me but it is FLYING> by! And I know I'll blink and I'll be in her shoes and for as much as I> love high heals I want the whole flat sister missionary shoes for longer> than I've got. But, I'll just keep living up every day I've got here! I'll> do my best. I completely love just being able to walk up and talk to> complete strangers and bear my testimony about how the gospel is true. That> we do in fact have a prophet on the earth and the book of Mormon is the> proof of it and that anyone who sincerely asks Heavenly Father in faith will> receive the life changing answer for themselves and they will never be the> same in the best way possible.> This weekend we had a ward service project. We planted trees. It was so> much fun. There were 33 trees to plant and we were doing it under the> direction of the city. It was absolutely incredible (not only cause i was> in normal clothes in public) but also because it was amazing to see all the> members of the church working together, doing hard labor to better the> community. There were little kids, pregnant women, grandparents, teenager> all working hard and having fun and bonding. The in charge said they have> never gotten so much work done in so little time. Usually other groups will> take off after all the trees are in the ground but we stayed and mulched and> drove stakes into the ground and helped tie down the trees and on top of> that we helped clean up. He was very impressed. As I reflected on that> service project I thought about how that is true Christianity in action. We> as members of the church, if we live the way that we know we are supposed to> live, then we are living the way that Heavenly Father wants us to live. We> are not here on this earth to take care of number one, whether that entails> ourselves or just our families. We build our character and the strength of> our families through the service we render to the community, in church, in> our neighborhood. And we are blessed and a happy people who live peaceably> one with another. And others see that. There is something different about> a home that has the spirit in it. We are the very fruits of the gospel.> The fruits of the prophet Joseph Smith, and long as we stand strong and stick> to our values we will have the strength of the Lord on our side.> Also, for the first time I talked to someone who completely threw me off.> We talked to this crazy man, who hit me from an angle I wasn't expecting. We> got talking and he talked about his masters degrees and blah blah blah, then> went on the say that he had been catholic since before he was born and been> educated by the "Jesuits, the ones who kill the muslims" He went on the say> how he knows life is all about to being a good person and taking care of> your neighbor that Jesus Christ metaphorically suffered for us, and> then some absolutely horrendous things about Muslims and how when he was in> the marines he would just kill them etc... I just started crying, I have> never come in contact with such evil. and I was thrown off for the rest of> the night. That is not the way the Lord would have us live. We should love> all men and I'll be honest loving that man is pretty hard... but that is the> teachings of Jesus Christ. Our lord and Savior who is the son of God who> came down here to be the perfect example, who loves all men and women,> black white, Jewish Muslim, etc and who suffered for our sins and sorrows> and trials and EVERYthing difficult that we would pass through and then died> on the cross by the very people He had just suffered for, His people and> gloriously rose again three days later and still lives to this day! That is> real I know it is and that is what I share with all. To come unto Christ> and Heavenly Father is joy and happiness now and forever.> Okay, to change notes real quick... This Sunday was quite a surprise for me.> I was just standing with Sis. Derenthal just passing our programs before> church. When I see this guy who kinda reminded me of Sam Gray, then as I> look I realize that Sam and Roxanne are walking up the stairs to the> church. I freaked out!! I started shaking I didn't know what to think or> do!! It was crazy and wonderful! So Sam and Roxanne just hung out with me> at church! No big deal! It was so fun! they showed me all their wedding> pictures and I got to ask all the question I wanted to about their lives.> And they are just so happy and wonderful! And they got to meet Shawn and> Jessica and April who is getting baptized this Saturday and the members> that I adore and Sis Derenthal who really has become one my best friends!> But I'll be honest it was SUPER WEIRD!! I was stuck in this limbo of my> real life and my mission life and to have them collide like that was crazy.> I realize why we serve away from our friends and families and only talk to> them through emails and letters. Because I became pretty selfish. I did> talk to April and the ward but, I only wanted to talk to Roxanne and Sam and> just be me, not missionary me. It was only momentary and really so much fun> I am glad they came! The ward thought they were investigators cause they> were sitting with the missionaries and they all went up and asked them who> they were. It was fun. we talked and laughed and were giddy and then> parted ways. And I reverted right back to missionary me no worries!> Oh I totally got bit by a spider or some crazy bug. Need I remind you I am> in Texas and not the amazon, but looking at my arm you might think other> wise. I have six bites on my arm one the size of a tennis ball. It looks> like I have a disease of some sort. Every one kind freaks out when they see> my arm and I get a little embarrassed but I'm seriously spoiled in this> ward. THey were all babying me. They gave me anti itch cream and benidryl> and everything. We eat with the members every night and probably have like 8> or more families that would feed us on the spot if we just showed up. I> really love them all so much!! Oh and momma sis Hyatt the family I talked> about last week. She called you like a month or more ago and I think she> left her number and I forgot to tell you she was from my ward. She said that> you guys probably thought she was some crazy person, but she just wanted to> call and talk to you about how to raise the perfect daughter. I'm kidding> Im not exactly sure why but it was her. She said the answering machine cut> her off though.> Thank you so much for the love and support you offer me, and thank you for> your faith in this work.> Love> Sister Rooney>> PS - Jay I pray that you will be like the sons of mosiah upon their return from> their missions that Alma 17:3 you may speak with the power and authority of> GOd in defending yourself!