7/18/11

I'm staying in Chico! So that's pretty exciting. I really do love it here and I was thrilled that I would be staying again. This is my 5th transfer here and my companion goes home after this one so maybe 6 or 7 for me. I'd love it. This area is saturated with prepared hearts and willing members. Mom and dad, I love loving the Lord. I have so many experiences each day that fill my heart with gratitude and propel me forward in this work. I'm so grateful that I came out with the testimony that the Book of Mormon is true. My companion and I ran another 100 miles last transfer for our morning exercise and we're really trying our best to be exactly obedient. The pursuit of exact obedience doesn't get old. I had a couple of tender experiences this past week. A man named Mike Goodrich passed away not to long ago and his service was last week at the church (I'll tell you my relationship to him when I get home). As I was sitting there watching people weep over the loss of their dear friend and relative I was blessed with so much comfort and peace. I thought about how much faith it would take to be on your death bed and still be unshaken. I'm sure it's a growing experience in itself. I listened to the speakers speak and a lot of them mentioned how he only wanted to be forgiven and how he'd done this and that and that he knew he wasn't perfect and had maybe hurt a lot of feelings in his days but he loved everyone and that's what he would want to tell them if he were there. I thought that if it was my funeral service I would want people to know just a few things. That I know Jesus is the Christ and I would want them to know that because of the way I treated them. That's it. It was a very real pondering experience for me and I know the day will come. I'm excited to love and serve everyone for the rest of my life. Life really is too good. We're excited for this transfers. We've been blessed with a 100% increase of Melchizedek Priesthood holders who are Hmong in our ward last transfer. It went from 1 to 2. the one that moved served a mission 15 years ago and he's solid. His family is pretty big in the church down in Sacramento so he'll add a lot to our work here. His name is Ntaj Neeb Xyooj which means spirit sword in Hmong. Xyooj is his last name. Elder Jones and I are almost done with the Book of Mormon and it's blessed us so much reading it together. I love talking about it and listening to his thoughts as we read. I've also been reading Our Heritage. I think if we all would just stop and Remember our pioneer ancestors then we'd recognize even more so how blessed we are today. K sorry I'm just going on and on but I just hope ya know that I know this work is real.


I can't wait to hang out with Landon when I get home. I also can't wait to embrace all those littles! They are so cute! What a little army of righteousness. Could ya give all of them a "hard hug" for me. Peighton will know what I'm talking about. So is aunt Kathy staying there as well? You got a lot of work to do mom. Thank you so much for your testimony mom. Your faith blesses me so much every day. I don't really get too down but when I do I can think of you and dad and it always strengthens me. I was reading in Our Heritage this morning and it talked of the time when The Prophet Joseph watched his father get baptized and how great his joy was. I have no doubt that that joy reaches to the eternities and it goes back to the pre existence. We're sealed and I'm grateful for the strength you give me each day because of the way you live. Oh and as a family will you try and finish the Book of Mormon together before I get home so we can start fresh when I get there?That'd be awesome! Thanks for hugging dad for 5 minutes! I love him too.

You've got the best attitude mom. I know that you were called to your position because of who you are and they way you've utilized the atonement. You'll be such a strength. K I love ya. I hope all goes well this week! Thanks for all you do and please know that I love and pray for you all as well. If there's anything I can do for ya let me know.

Love Elder Paramore