Behold the Wounds..

Happy Fall Y'all!!! 🍁🎃

As I mentioned in earlier posts, before coming out on my mission I went to EMT school and went through the Firefighting Academy. I was able to do all of this during my Senior year of highschool! It's so crazy how one choice can change the course of your entire life. I had no idea when I was sitting on my bedroom floor debating whether or not to hit submit on my application, that not only would I get accepted but that it would change my life forever. I learned so many powerful lessons and met so many amazing people that I will never forget. 

Right before I left on my mission, I working as an EMT for Goldcross in Salt Lake City, Utah. I absolutely loved it and am so grateful for the lesssons I learned there that I am able to use here everyday. 

My dad a couple months ago told me about a Public Safety Devotional that was happening for all the first responders in Utah. He told me that I should ask to see if I could get permission to watch it and to hand out invites to my friends! I (my mom) printed out invites and I began handing them out like candy. I got permission from my Mission President to watch it and he told me to go to the fire department by my house and to give them one too! I was able to watch it and I absolutely loved it. This devotional was so powerful and had me in tears the entire time. 

I invited all my friends to watch it so I hopeful at least one person was able to. I know that if they did their hearts would be forever changed.

Elder Brian K. Taylor, of the Quarom of the Seventy, spoke and he talked about how by using the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives we are able to better use the Atonement of Jesus Christ. When we better understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ we are able to feel more love, peace, and happiness in our lives. It was really weird having both of my worlds cross like that!

Elder Taylor quoted, Elder Neil L. Anderson and his words really struck my heart. Elder Anderson once said, "The wounded who nurse the wounds of others are God's angels here on earth." That is pretty amazing when talking about first responders because it is so true. I know that not only with first responders but every single person here on earth. Something I have learned in my life is that everyone is fighting silent battles. I know I do! I have fought so many silent battles and people are shocked when they find out about them. I have been able to witness that so much as a missionary. I am in a ward right now that is the most loving and most service oriented ward I have ever been in. Except the crazy part? Every single family has and is currently fighting some kind of battle. Whether it's a lost child, or spouse, or kinds that have fallen away for the church, everyone of them is so loving. 

I have also seen that with missionaries out in the field. I know that every missionary is fighting something but they still go out.... everyday. They are away from everything they love, living with a random companion, talking too strangers but they still get up and get out. 

Everytime we serve someone else we are in some way helping to heal their wounds. That is exactly what God wants us to do, to serve and to love everyone. I would like to invite you all to prayerfully consider one person you can serve this week. The trick? Once you get the prompting, act on it! I promise that the inspiration, the healing and the blessings will come. 

I know that we might have struggles, sins, experiences, and griefs that give us wounds. I know that we sometimes feel like we are the only one that understands what it feels like but Jesus Christ does. All of our wounds can be healed because of the everlasting Atonement of Jesus Christ. We might have wounds but so does he. Wounds that he bore for us, in his hands, wrists, side, feet and heart. Elder Henry B. Erying once said, "The Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection give Him the power to deliver us in such a trial. Through His experience He came to know all our griefs. He could have known them by the inspiration of the Spirit. But He chose instead to know by experiencing them for Himself. This is the account:

And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." 

"Never give up" Elder Anderson says, "—however deep the wounds of your soul, whatever their source, wherever or whenever they happen, and however short or long they persist, you are not meant to perish spiritually. You are meant to survive spiritually and blossom in your faith and trust in God" No matter how deep your wounds and pain might be His Grace Is Sufficient. Don't give up on God, on your faith, or on yourself. God and Jesus Christ haven't!! You got this, do everything you can to be his hands and his mouth piece on the earth today. He needs you!! 

How have you been able to feel the power of Jesus Christ's Atonement heal your wounds? 

Love, 

Sister Pickett 

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On Halloween we had the amazing opportunity to go to one of the most amazing couples house for dinner. This couple is seriously some of the most Christ like people I know. They are both heavily involved and honestly heading the Days for Girls program here in California! Days for Girls is such an amazing program and is saving and changing so many girls lives. Karen Wilkes has said about the program, "In many parts of the world, girls and women do not have access to feminine hygiene products, so they stay home during their monthly period and missing school or work. A washable reusable menstrual kit is a solution that allows a girl to stay in school during her monthly period.

Our team relies 100% on volunteers and on donations! We have created over 7,000 kits, which, at a value of over $10 per kit, is a huge undertaking! Production of these kits was made possible by over 1,000 humanitarians like you who wash, iron, cut, trace, sew, serge, snap, thread, fold, and assemble kits.

We believe that our “Pure Religion” is visiting the widows and orphans (James 1:27) and “when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God”

(Mosiah 2:17). While we often fall short, we try to follow Christ’s example of loving our neighbor." 

They hand-make so many girls sanitary kits everyday AND hand deliver them to the girls in different countries!!

 Go check out their Facebook page to see how you can get involved! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064529806674&mibextid=ZbWKwL

By day she might be changing girls lives in the Philippines but on Halloween she was changing mine here in California! She made the most amazing carrot cake ever!! It was so moist and fresh! I have to admit, I don't super get all the hype with carrot cake but I am hyping this one up all the way!! It was so good! She put this amazing frosting on top that seriously put it over the edge. The frosting really brought the perfect balance of sweet vs. healthy ;)  I seriously recommend making this cake for your next sweet treat! If I wasn't already having a cinnamon roll as my wedding cake, I WOULD MAKE THIS!