Remember Him and the experiences He gives us 1-28-2015

This week has been really great! Things are definitely a lot quieter here than they have been in the past, but I am loving every day! 

Sister Bellais makes our days fun. This week we've been learning so much! I feel like my English will be improving, too, because Sister Bellais asks me so many questions every day about English. It's forcing me to evaluate how I structure my sentences and whether or not they are actually grammatically correct. 

We are focusing on finding people this transfer. We have 2 amazing people who have a date to be baptized and we are SO excited!!! One of them actually lives in Layton. (I think that's how you spell it...) It's about 25 minutes away from Temple Square. His name is Caleb. One of his friends gave us his number and we ended up calling him last week and then he came to Temple Square. It is seriously the best because it is so rare that we actually get to teach someone past the first lesson on the Square. He is so open and is so excited about the gospel. It makes me excited.

A goal that I've had since I got to Temple Square is to read the New Testament. I have obviously read parts of it, but I've never taken the opportunity to read it cover to cover. I met with my mission president and he advised me to first read the Book of Mormon and then the New Testament and then the Old Testament. 

I've been able to finish the Book of Mormon. This week I've been reading the New Testament. I have no idea why I have waited so long to read it. I love it so much. 

One of the less-active members that we teach, really struggles with feeling God. It's so interesting how God works. Yesterday, in my personal study I was reading Matthew chapter 27 about Christ's crucifixion and when he goes before Pilate to be judged. 

Verse 46 is when Christ has been suffering on the cross for 9 hours and he says "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" 

I instantly thought of her and how Jesus Christ, who was perfect in all things, questioned where God was at one point. She actually ended up texting us last night saying she felt so alone and like she had no purpose. We were able to share that verse with her and I truly believe that God had inspired us to read that verse that morning so we could help her.

So much of the time I think we stress about whether or not God really does love us and whether or not He is there. I know with all of my heart He is there, but I think it is normal to feel like we are sometimes alone. That is why it is so vital that we remember the experiences God gives us in our lives when we know, without a doubt, that He is there. 

I am the worst at writing in my journal. But it is one of the most important things we can do! To always remember Him and the experiences He gives us. 

As I've been thinking about the concept of "remembering" it has come to my attention that in the Book of Mormon, the word "remember" is pretty much on every single page. I think God is trying to tell us something! I want to be better at writing down those moments when I know God is with me, those moments when I know the words I am saying are not my own. 

If you have had any experiences where you've known God was there and He loved you, write them down. That way, when you feel weak or alone or doubtful, you can reflect on the moments when you have known He is there. So many of the people we talk to have had incredible experiences with God but have simply forgotten about them. God is so real. He loves us so much. I know He does. One of my favorite scriptures is Alma 30 verse 44 and it says, 

"The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

Remember it! 

Love you all so much. Hope it's a beautiful week and I hope the Seahawks win. ;)

xoxoxo,

Sister Helton

BEST WEEK! Sister Belais 1-19-2015

Sister Belais from Tahiti (French speaking)

Ok, SO much has happened this week. I guess I'll start with the big news, I found out who my new companion will be today!! She was actually in my district this transfer. Her name is Sister Belais from Tahiti! She speaks French and is going into her 3rd transfer. She is so sweet, I can't even wait! 
Sister Campelo used to be roommates with her and loves her to death. We will officially be companions on Wednesday. 
I also found out what my new assignment will be for this transfer, I'll be serving at the Humanitarian Center 1 day a week!!! It has been my dream to serve there since I first got here so I am beyond excited!

I will just tell you the highlights of this week (it has by far been the best week of my mission) So on Tuesday, Sister Campelo and I took a tour and it ended up being one of the Sisters who is coming here in April. Her name is Sister Rodriguez and she just wanted to take a tour to see what it's like being a missionary here. I can't wait for her to serve here.

On Thursday, Sister Campelo and I got to take the directors of the visitor center in Wyoming on a tour... (it is called the Mormon Handcart Visitor's Center at Martin Cove, Wyo.)... but they are President and Sister Bushman. We got to show them how we teach in the teaching center and show them how to incorporate teaching the gospel with resources! They were the best. We were so nervous, but it ended up being so fun.

On Friday, we met with one of Sister Campelo's recent converts from Brazil and he brought us Brazilian treats!! I'm obsessed with this thing they have called Brigadeiro. It kind of tastes like nutella rolled in a ball covered in sprinkles...that description sounds gross, but it is so good:). It was so funny. One of the less active members we call, he struggles with the Word of Wisdom and so we have been working with him a lot and we committed him this week to only smoke 8 cigarettes a day. So we asked him how it went and we totally forgot the last time we talked to him, we told him we were going to stop eating treats because we were  "addicted" too. Pretty sure he thinks we're obese now haha. So he did really well at only smoking 8-12 a day and then he asked us how not eating treats had been going!!! This is like 2 hours after we had eaten a ton of Brigadeiro and felt so fat. So embarassing because he was doing so well at keeping his commitment and we didn't keep ours.

On Saturday, another one of our favorite people that we teach, came to the Square. Her name is Leah. She is the person who has really helped me understand grace. She drove all the way from Provo to see us. After we talked to Leah, we did MTC contacting. It's where the Sisters who are going to serve at an LDS Visitor's Center come to Temple Square for like 3 hours and they get to be our companions! I got to be with Sister Funk from Cali. I'm so sad, she's going to the Omaha Visitor's Center but she was the sweetest. (I'll send you a pic next week, she said she'd send it to me) I feel like we were so meant to be put together because a lot of the things she was unsure about, or areas she felt inadequate in, I had felt exactly the same in my first few weeks.

On Sunday (yesterday), I figured out what I will be learning this coming transfer! I will be learning more about who God is and about the love He has for each one of us. Literally, in the past 3 days, God has blessed us with incredible people to teach. Some less active members and some just learning about the church. All of them, literally all, struggle with feeling God. Feeling his love. It's something that I've struggled with feeling, and sometimes still do. Just understanding him and his love. I really do know that a belief in God and Jesus Christ can change your heart. I am so excited to see how God will change these beautiful individuals hearts and lives. I love the gospel. Also, I can't forget to mention this, Sunday was the best because I got to see Tawnee and Grant!!! I love them both so much. It literally made my week.

So today, has been the most amazing day. I'll be really brief because this is the longest email on the planet, but this guy Sister Campelo met on the square who served his mission in Brazil, gave us the name of his friend who he thought might be interested in learning more about the church a few weeks ago. So we called his friend a few times and set up an appointment for him to come to the square this morning and have a tour with us! So Caleb came and Nathan came with 2 other members too. We were a little nervous that he might feel overwhelmed with so many Mormons sharing their beliefs but it was the most powerful lesson I've ever had the opportunity to take part in. 
 Sister Campelo and I cried (after they all left of course) because it is so rare to actually be able to teach someone in person and see how understanding what Jesus has done for them, change their eyes and their heart. It was the best. Then, we had an hour in the teaching center to call a few people and take incoming calls. I ended up receiving a call from a woman who had had so many trials and still was searching for God. It was the most inspiring thing to me.

Mario and Suzette - our adopted parents

Anyways, I love you all so much!! Here are some pics :) One is of our bff Jerrica, and the other is of our adopted parents, Mario and Suzette. I will send a pic of my new companion on Wednesday because that's my new PDay! 

Love you all,

Sister Helton

Sister Campelo, bff Jerrica, and me

Grace and Works 1-12-2015

Hi!

So, first things first. I have THE best family in the world! Thank you Briggs and Becca for the lil' package you dropped off for me. I love you both so much! I attached a pic of Sister Campelo and me with all our goodies. :) 

  I can't believe next Tuesday is the last day of this transfer. Sister Campelo is going out bound which makes me a little sad but I'm so excited for her! She's going to the Georgia Macon mission.  

  It's kind of crazy because Sister Campelo is in her 5th transfer so her whole class (all the sisters she came to the mission with) are leaving and almost all the sisters in their 4th transfer are going, too. That means next transfer (March 4th) I will most likely go!! Either March 4th or the transfer after that. 

 

  This week I have learned so much. It's been pretty slow on the Square since the lights turned off, but I love it. The few people who come to the Square are so ready for the gospel! 

  The biggest thing I have learned this week is about grace and works. There are soooo many anti's that come onto Temple Square or come on chat debating this issue.

  I should probably have studied this earlier, but this week I felt desperate to understand the Church's stance on it. 

  We meet with an amazing lady who has been less-active for the last 8 years and her issues with the church are really, really deep. Her main struggle is that she feels that unless she does all of these things (works), she cannot receive Jesus Christ's atonement and be saved. She doesn't have any problem with works it's just that she says the Jesus she believes in, gives his grace freely to all men. 

  When she said that I decided I really needed to understand this for myself, the ongoing issue of grace and works. So, I've been thinking/reading about it a lot and I think I finally understand. 

  

 Jesus Christ came into the world to atone for the sins of ALL mankind. Not just those who accept him as their Savior. He suffered for every single person who has ever lived. His atonement is there, in full, for us. 

  So why do we need works if Jesus Christ has taken care of everything? 

  Why did God even give us commandments? 

  These are the questions I kept asking myself. What I have learned is that Jesus Christ has done everything for us to be able to live with God again. Everything. 

  The reason he had to suffer is so we can change. Through our works, we choose to change ourselves and can become more like our Savior, more like the person we want to be. 

  The reason we need works, is not so we can receive the blessings of Christ's atonement, it is because through our works, our nature is changed. Our purpose in life is to return to live with our Father in Heaven again. We fulfill that purpose by continually striving to become like our Savior (works). 

  Jesus Christ is full of mercy and grace. He did not sacrifice himself for us because He had to, He did it so we could grow and change and become perfect through Him. No unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God and so Christ has given us a way to be cleansed of our sins every single day. It is the most amazing thing.  

  I've read Brad Wilcox's talk, "His Grace is Sufficient," once before this but we read it again this morning in our companionship study. If any of you have not read it yet, read it today!! 

http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1966

  I think one of the reasons it is sometimes difficult to explain Christ's atonement is because it is an individual thing. Yes, Christ suffered for the sins of the world, but that means he suffered for my sins and your sins as an individual. I think the application of Christ's atonement varies from person to person because obviously, not all people commit the same sins. What I think is so beautiful is that no matter who you are, no matter what you have done, the result of Christ's atonement for each one of us is the same. Jesus Christ's atonement provides every single one of us with lasting peace, happiness, cleanliness, hope and strength. It's perfectly individual and perfectly equal. I love it so much.

  I love you all so much and I miss you everyday. I am so happy I'm here though. It's already going way too fast, I can't believe I've been gone for almost 5 months. Everything is so great. I LOVE TEMPLE SQUARE. Talk to you soon!

xoxox,

Sister Helton

In 2015, go to God for answers 1-5-2015

 Where to start... I guess first of all, New Years Eve! 

  Sister Campelo and I have way too much fun together. So, obviously, we had to be asleep on New Years Eve by 10:30 pm, buttt we didn't let that hold us back from partying;) She had like 1/4 of a jar of Nutella left and we both decided that in 2015, we would eat way healthier. SO, we decided we obviously had to finish the jar of Nutella while it was 2014 or we would just have to throw it away in the morning. We ate it all and did a little New Years Eve dance to the songs on the BYU Men's Choir CD we got for Christmas. hahaha. 

   I've never told you about Mario and Suzette, our favorite people on earth. Sister Campelo took them on a tour like 3 months ago and invited them to set a date to be married in the temple (they've been married since August but not sealed yet).

  She ended up running in to them on the Square like 3 weeks ago and somehow recognized them! They are the funniest couple ever. They were meant to be with each other. Both of them have been married a few times and they met on LDSplanet (apparently that's the best site for single LDS people to meet). We've been talking to them for the past couple weeks and encouraging them to work towards the temple. They set a date for August 6th and they want Sister Campelo and I both to be there! I can't even wait.  

  "Meet the Mormons" is at Temple Square now! It's playing in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, so if anyone comes to the Square, you must go see it! 

  This week we have had a lot of really cool little miracles. We had a TC Pump-Up - which just means we set aside 3 hours to call all of our former investigators. (Just people who stopped answering the phone or we have never been able to get a hold of.) This one guy named Abraham (Sister Campelo taught him in her first transfer) ended up answering the phone. He came to the Square yesterday and met with us. 

   It was a really good testimony builder for me. Lately, I have really been praying that I will be able to have an experience that will strengthen my faith and help me work harder to help people come unto Christ. 

   What I learned from talking with Abraham is that so many times we want evidence that something is true. We want there to be a black and white answer that God exists. What I really know with my whole heart is that evidence can only get us so far. There are scriptures in the Bible that support that this gospel is true. There are scriptures in the Bible that can be interpreted in different ways to contradict certain things we believe. 

   What I know is that we have to go to God for our answers. It is so hard to just accept what other people tell you truth is. When we receive an undeniable answer from God that something is true, no matter what people may say, it will not cause us to doubt, because we will know we received an answer from God. 

   I love 1Corinthians Chapter 2. It is seriously the best. It talks about how man, if he uses his own wisdom, cannot understand things of the Spirit. If we are open to being taught by the spirit, we will be able to receive all the answers God wants to give us. 

   During our little pump-up, we also got a hold of this lady named Jhennifer who was baptized a month ago and her son (Sister Campelo taught for a while) is now getting baptized too! It was a miracle because we set our goal for baptisms this transfer and we weren't sure how we were going to make it, but with Jhennifer's son being baptized, we will! 

   Today I had to fill up President Poulsen's car with gas. It was sooo scary. He has SUCH a nice car. I was so nervous to drive it. But we got it filled and parked back in the garage without a scratch. 

   Today was also really good because we finallyyyy finished all the Thank You cards for Relief Society. People gave us so many things for Christmas and so we want to thank them all. We were asked to get all the Sisters in the mission to sign the cards and to also make the cards! Luckily a Sister from Denmark is super crafty and helped us with the cards. I attached a pic of them :)

I love you all so much!! Pray that the snow will melt in Utah. It's been so cold! I'm ready for Spring.

All my love,

Sister Helton

Crafty thank you cards made by a sister from Denmark

A video emailed to the Helton family by someone visiting Temple Square
(Dave Johnson)