A Heart full of Gratitude

My dearest Family and Friends> I am just sitting here in the library, full of emotion. Full of the> absolute gratitude that I have in my heart for all my many blessings. I can> not adequately express in words the peace and joy I feel with knowing that> my family is doing wonderfully. I have lately contemplated much on the> great blessing of being a member of my beautiful family. Which each day I> am more and more grateful for the personalities and strengths and love that> each one of you has. I would not be the same without you. Today I know that> Heavenly Father is taking extra special care of you. I see so much here. I> see the suffering and the sadness of wrong decisions and how it lasts for> generations, yet because of you mom and dad and your examples and sacrifice> and dedication to our family and to the Lord, we have been sheltered. We> have been able to grow up emotionally physically and spiritually fed. And we> are who we are today because of you. I don't know how you have done it, but> I hope and pray that I can live up to half of who you are and what you> represent to me. Thank you.> This week has been another beautiful week in missionary work. My dear> companion is one of those who has really suffered in her life. Her parents> divorced by the time she was 5 and her dad was excommunicated, and only a> few years ago was rebaptized. Her mother was ill with cancer for most of> her high school years and then passed away after her freshman year of> college. Most of her siblings are not active and she, the youngest is the> first since her father to serve a mission. We are really learning from one> another how to do this work in this area. And I am grateful for such an> opportunity. There are families all around that have similar circumstances,> so many in this ward come alone to church because their spouses are less> active. Many have never left the San Antonio area. And to see their> strength and dedicated service to the Lord is humbling. I love these> people, so much. There is a beautiful recent convert who suffered from a> stroke and could barely speak when the sisters found her. They taught her to> speak and to read. She had not known Jesus Christ and now we sit there as> she struggles through verses with the biggest smile and greatest sense of> gratitude and joy. She does everything in the name of Jesus, she even> answers her phone that way. It has made me think about my life a lot. For> all I have taken for granted. For the silly things that I let bother me,> when all I should be doing night and day is praising my God for the life> that I have.> How incredible was it to see the family from Abundancia in the General> Relief Society broadcast. Their story is one of millions of dedicated> saints of God. I am sure that we saw their family when we visited, if not> met them personally. It made the story all the more precious and personal.> Emilee Rivera was baptized yesterday, she is nine. She is so sharp and so> intune and she was jumping for joy about being baptized. She adequately> understood how precious that day was for her. When she would be recieving> the gift of the holy ghost. I believe we as members can sometimes take for> granted this precious knowledge that we have. We have it all. We have a> knowledge of our lord and Savior and through the restored church of Jesus> Christ have full-access to His atonement. The fullness of the gospel is> back. And we are the chosen and blessed people who are here to prepare for> the day of His coming. What an honor, what a privledge, what a> responsibility. I can not wait for the day that I can thank my Savior in> person for all that He has done for me and everyone I love. For these people> who suffer more than I ever could handle. What peace I have that they can> find comfort and peace and calm through the storms of their lives. I know> that anyone who will turn to Him and repent can have the blessings of> eternity. How glorious is His plan.> I love you all so much. I am thankful for your examples and your service and> your patience with me. Have a wonderful week.>> Love your Sister Rooney

New and Wonderful!!!

Well hello hello everyone,> First, HOW COOL was the MTC young men's conference (a little sexist I think,> cause girls should have a similar experience too because we need more> sisters in the ranks). It sounded like a good solid experience for everyone> involved. Our stake rocks, I can only imagine how excited the missionaries> in your area were to see such a solid focus on this great and most important> work. ANd I do wish that I could have seen Sean in all his wisdom tooth> extraction glory. Although Cam I'll be honest I am glad I didn't have to be> the one road tripping with him.> My impractical suitcases> I am now emailing from San Antonio. I packed up my oh so impractical wish I> would have listened to my dad and gotten bigger suitcases and I am now> serving in Windcrest and oh my goodness what a change it is. There is only> one area for sister missionaries in urban San Antonio proper and this is> it. It is very very poor and there is both spanish and english in the ward,> so I have already in these past few days used more spanish than in my last> two areas combined. There are even a few parts of our area that we really> try to avoid at nights, which is a drastic change from the ultimate suburbia> of Round Rock 7th safest city in the country. It is so fun though, I> already love it with all my heart.> It is so incredible to me how much for thought and revelation goes into> this work, during the leadership training confeence that we had, I was> staying the nights in this area, so I had already met the Bishop and Relief> Society president and other investigators and less actives. Leaving Old> Settlers was absolutely devastating for me, so many people that I had come> to love so deeply. I recieved flowers and notes and so many hugs and tears.> And so when I got here, it was mentally a emotionally hard to have a new> companion and a new ward. (My companion is Sister Collins, I am her> step-mom, which means I'm her second companion. She's from Seattle,> Washington and studied at NYU) But, as I have come to meet more and more> people I know this is where I belong. Its interesting to come in and see> the people and how much they miss the sister that just left. It makes me> think of my investigators, and all I want for them is for the new sister to> be awesome and to love them and work her hardest. And so that is what I am> doing for them. I love them and going to give them everything I've got,> because they deserve it, because they are children of God.> There is this beautiful little girl Emilee getting baptized on Sunday. ANd> I actually taught her when I was here a few weeks ago. Her mom is a less> active and was so nervous about the change and so she was so relieved to see> me on thursday. The Lord's hand is in everything. The work is booming and> the people are so humble and so loving. I love this work. It is a little bit> uncomfortable, but it is in these times we learn and grow the most.> I have no doubt this is where I am supposed to be.> Before I left I remember that Bishop said something that really struck> me. He said that he loved his mission, but the past two years were the best> of his life. and he said that after next year it'll be the past year and> that year. That is the way I feel about the mission. Every new companion,> will be my new favorite and every area my new favorite. I believe that if> we look forward to the future with an eye of faith and hope then we will> continue to increase in happiness and joy. We are meant to progress. Line> upon line, precept upon precept, joy upon joy, and we stay close to heavenly> father we'll always be able to say these two have been the best two years of> my life.>> I pray for all of you and I am so thankful for all of you and your> support!!> love> Sister Kimi Rooney>> New address:> 6700 N. Vandiver Rd. #905> San Antonio TX 78209