Tuesday, September 16, 2014

[13] Song of the Heart, Bright Moments and Scatter Sunshine (Even If It's 106) :)

Good Morning from California!


Scatter Sunshine

This past week the temperatures have been in the 100s! (One hundred and six to be exact) :) Sister Xayadeth and I are grateful that we have a car so that we can blast the A/C in between knocking on doors looking for service. We know we are so blessed to have a missionary vehicle. We are thankful for it and always add it to our 'grateful for blessings' part of our prayers.  We also keep water with us at all times and try not to melt :)

We still have been doing a lot of finding, so we are knocking pretty much everyday. As we talk to different people we have also been trying to push the JustServe program. We ask everyone we meet if they need any help or know of any service opportunities we could help with.  I am so glad for this program.  It has been a huge blessing. At zone conference they told us that offering service softens hearts, and it's true! When people first open the door and see us many of them say "We have our own religion!" Which we are pretty use to now and are happy they have faith and a religion, but then we smile and say we are looking for ways to serve our community and would love to help them in any way. I think they see that we really mean it and are not just trying to bother them. They are very surprised after that. Most say no thank you, but are more willing to take a Mormon.org card from us after that:) 

Here's one example. One time this guy saw we were missionaries and asked us if we wanted to fight (in a joking way, but he didn't seem interested in what we had to say) He wasn't really a 'basher' though. After we said we were looking for service he completely warmed up to us and basically told us his life story! It was great! It truly testifies to me that the Lord's way is the right way. What did He do while He was here, He was serving Heavenly Father's children. He was doing good continually and that thought helps my companion and I keep going and loving to serve.

More Bright Moments:)

We had another miracle at church this week. The wonderful family that came to church last week came again this week!!! They even came to our sacrament! The kids love practicing for the primary program which is in a couple of weeks and their mom enjoyed coming too. It felt so amazing when we saw them walk in yesterday. It's hard to explain the overwhelming happiness felt for them. As a missionary it's incredible having this love you feel for others. And I love this family so much. It is wonderful to have them come to our church and feel the Spirit, hear the sweet music and know they are loved by us and their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ:)

Song of the Heart

My thought this week is focused on music! As many of you know as missionaries we don't listen to the radio or songs on the top 10 list of iTunes. We mostly listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir :) They have done so many beautiful songs and hymns, and I'm thankful that they are known world round, as part of our LDS church.  So I think they are wonderful, BUT recently we found a Christian store and they have some great music too. The CD's they have are a little more modern, but still have great messages about Jesus Christ.  Also the Elders, who didn't really like our music :) gave us some awesome music to listen to. (Yanni is amazing music.) And my family in Montana sent me great music too. (Especially my favorite Prince of Egypt! We listen to that on repeat.) Thank You!
So as we have been listening to them in the car I realized how much music has an effect on us. As we listen to these uplifting songs, it gives us motivation to work and be happy! 

In my studies this morning, I found these two great scriptures about singing:

D&C 25:12 "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart, yea the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me. and  it shall be answered with a blessing on their heads."

D&C 136:28 "If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving"

I'm thankful that we are blessed to be able to have beautiful music in our lives. And that it's not just a small thing, but that the Lord knows that it is good for us.  "If thou art merry". I love those verses! They make me happy.

Until next week, hope you get to listen to some great music:)
I love you all,
Sister Skinner-Karatassos

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