Happy week of
Thanksgiving!!!! I just want to say how truly thankful I am for every
single one of you and all that you have done for me, whether you knew it
or not! Every one of you has impacted my life in a way that has shaped
who I am today. I am truly grateful for the privilege of knowing and
having every single one of you in my life. I am so grateful to be on a
mission, to be in this area, at this time, in this mission, with these
amazing people and missionaries. I am so grateful for this opportunity
to learn and grow and become more of the person I want to be and to be
able to learn so much more about my Savior and the true power of Our
Heavenly Father and His Love and plan for each of us. I am so grateful
for this amazing church that I know has the fullness of the Gospel and
the Restored Priesthood on the Earth again. It's the greatest blessing I
have in my life, the knowledge of this truth.
Also, Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!!!!! I don't
even know how many years hehe. I Love you both soooooo much!!!! and I'm
sooo grateful for both of you and, seriously, all you do for us! I never
truly understood how blessed I am! Tell Emily this, cause she'll miss it
when she's gone! haha. (aka do your chores now) hehe.
So, I guess I will just get it out here right now.
Dad, you can put this on the blog or not. edit it or whatever you feel
is fit, but I just want all you, the familiy, to know what's been
happening this week. I don't know how publicized it is, probably more so
in the LDS community, but it's been much publicized here in
the Henderson/Vegas area. There was a young man, 26, named Scott Bybee who
was a less active member in our Royal Mesa YSA Ward. Scott was the
sweetest, kindest, funniest guy. He suffered from a number of difficult
mental hardships including depression and bipolar disorder. We had a few
dinner groups with him and had been meeting with him a bit. Hadn't seen
him for a while, but we texted him and asked how he was, we hadn't seen
him in church for a while and he said he was having a real hard week. We
set up a time to see him Tuesday
night. We were on our way to his house when we got the voicemail
message. A little less than an hour before, Scott went to the Las Vegas
Temple, walked into the atrium and committed suicide.
In church this Sunday,
the bishop called a meeting in the 3rd hour and talked a lot about it and how we
can learn from this and let this experience help us instead of hurt us.
We talked about how his depression got so bad that maybe he just couldn't
progress any more in this life, but now he can. I don't know. It was a
lot to take in. but all I can say is that I know Scott is an amazing young man and had such a testimony of the Gospel and always tried to do what
was right. The truth of the matter is, we never know the trials of
others or what they are going through. Especially in this time of
year, but for every time of the year, be thankful for those you have
around you. They are given to you as blessings to be those angels that
will be there for you and lift you up when everything is falling down.
Don't ever ignore that blessing! And even if everyone else abandons
you, there is one who never will. Our Savior has felt it all, He's
fallen below us all, and has risen above it all, as well, so that we
don't have to do it alone. I know this to be true. and I know that we
can't know everything behind everyone's story. But we can know that
each person goes through their own struggles. It's not our job to necessarily know
their struggles. but it IS our job to help them through it. to love them
no matter what. Unconditionally!
I love you all so much, and I know how loving you all are to
all those around you, but sometimes, that's just not enough! We have to
make sure that everyone around us KNOWS that we love them. Don't be
afraid to reach out to those in need. or just to reach out. You never
know just how much of a difference this can truly make. We are never
alone, neither should we be. we're put here on this earth TOGETHER to
help each other get back to our Heavenly Father TOGETHER. It isn't a
competition. It's a group effort. I love you all so much, and i want you
all to know this.
I know the power of the Atonment is real. I know
that my Savior lives, that God lives, and that He has given us this
Church to help us all return to Him. I know that there is no other way to
true complete happiness than by Jesus Christ . I know that He is there
for us no matter what and that through His Atonment, we can overcome all
things. I am so grateful for this gospel and for my Savior and my family who has taught me these things since childhood. Thank you all for your prayers and love and support! I love you all sooo much! You
are ALL in my prayers always.
Com Muito Amor,
Sister Yoshimoto
AND: Please read: "Like a Broken Vessel" by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.
ps.
what ever happened to Adrian? That one investigator who was super
logical and went to church every week sitting on the right near the
front?
pps. i might need some coats from DI.... IT's gettin cold here!!
:(( i already bought a scarf and hat so i'm good just need a good
jacket. thanks sooo much!
ppps. transfers!!! Sis Jensen-Coon and I are staying here in the YSA! woohoo!!
pppps. we just got a BUNCH more VISA paperwork to fill out.
apparently we need to do a bunch of FBI Background checks now too....
sighh. more paperwork haha. :P
ppppps. LOVE YOU ALL <333
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