I'm all out of Lies...

Hello Family and Friends-

The letter that follows may be hard to believe.. Trust me when I say

I'm all out of lies... I've got nothin but the cold hard truth. Ive

nearly escaped my ways to say I've died this week. Barely avoided

being hit by a crappy purple scion downtown Chicago. Got a blessing

sent from above aka. I was pooped on by a bird. Yeah.. It was

DISGUSTING. Right after I got out of the car... It hit me... All over

my hair.. And dress! Sister Webber could not stop laughing.... It was

pretty much the worst! Looking back now though it's pretty hilarious.

Oh. And ps. I'm going to the doctor today because I have a boil on my

forehead. But hey, all is well that ends well.. And we had an amazing

lesson with Michael and he is on date for July 28th!

On Tuesday we went on exchanges... I went to sister Davis's area. We

saw many miracles! We didn't have any appointments scheduled so.. That

meant referrals and finding! It was Super great we WALKED a lot a lot,

the lord was literally placing people in our path. We prayed to know

what direction to go, and what referral to contact.. So we headed on

our merry way... As we got to the referral a saw a woman walking down

the street... And guess who it was... CARA!! Out of all the streets,

out of all the people... We bumped into cara! It was so great we were

then able to go to her house and have a lesson with her! It was the

coolest miracle ever.

We started a new institute class with Jess this week. She has so many

questions and such a strong desire to learn it inspires me! She helps

me to strengthen my own testimony! I love her so much! We had a great

lesson with her this week, one of our recent converts joined us and

shared her testimony a bout when she was baptized.. It was so

powerful! Jess is working towards finishing the Book of Mormon before

she is baptized.

On Saturday we drove down to Indiana for a baptism of someone that

sister Webber helped teach! It was so great to see my old companion

sister Patterson.. And also to get my experience of Indiana! It's a

whole lot different than Chicago! That night we had an appointment

downtown with one of our investigators. On our way back home we

witnessed a miracle! So.. We were waiting for the train... And the

line we needed just wasn't coming! Turns out the girl standing right

next to us was having the same problem! We started talking to her and

ended up hoping on another random train.. Anyways, long story short we

got to know her better throughout this confusion with the trains. Her

name is Bethany and she is studying world religion! She working

towards her doctorates and has heard about Mormons before but hasn't

studied it too in depth. She wants to meet up to learn more this next

week! She is the sweetest girl. God has definitely prepared her to

learn about this gospel and the truth it contains! The lord is

blessing us in so many ways!

I had an enlightening moment this week when everything just seemed to

"click" in my mind. I was sitting on the train thinking... How does

God know and understand all of these people?... And not only that! How

are we all children of God? I thought about this long and hard... Did

I truly believe that? This is something that I teach EVERYDAY, but I

had a slight moment of doubt and questioning. It then hit me... Like a

ton of bricks. Almost as if a voice in my head said..."I KNOW them and

I LOVE them." There is such a power that comes from knowing we are

literally children of God! We are his children and he loves us more

than we can comprehend. Heavenly Father has a body of flesh and bone,

we (as spirit children) wanted to become like him, but we knew we

couldn't progress or receive a body unless we came to earth. God knew

this from the beginning and he presented a beautiful plan! We would

come to earth and receive a body to be tested and tried. THE WHOLE

PURPOSE OF THIS PLAN is ultimately so we can return to live with God

again. But... Things will be different! We will have our families and

resurrected bodies, and will be able to eternally progress. The power

and beauty of life is incredible. So back to my original question...

"How does God know and understand each and everyone of us?" Because we

are HIS. When this finally "clicked".. The knowledge I have been

taught my whole life... This spirit just hit me so strong. It was

almost as if I had an awakening moment that God was telling

me.."Rachel! You are to be an instrument in my hands in reminding my

children who are lost or who have gone astray of who they truly are."

The plan of salvation is so simple, yet it can never be fully

understood. How great and wondrous are the works of God. This life is

so short. We can't comprehend the happiness we will feel of when we

are reunited with our loving parents in heaven! I have testimony of

Gods merciful plan. I bear witness that he knows and loves each and

everyone of his children and wants them to turn to him.

Well. As you can see it has been an eventful week. I can't believe

this transfer is almost over! Thank you for all of your support!! Love

and miss you! Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Parke