Friday, November 6, 2009

PostMart

Hey Everyone! Just so you know. While Jasmine is in the MTC, you can send her stuff and have it get there the same day. Just go to PostMart, by Shopko and Buy Low in Provo. You don't even need a stamp if it's a letter. All packages are $2.00 no matter the size. If your sending her delicious treats, just make sure that they aren't going to spoil because they won't call her out of her classes to get her packages. If you want her to get something that day, just make sure that you go there before 3:30 Monday - Friday and 10:30 am on Saturday. And of course, it does not apply on Sunday's. Thanks guys. Send her lots of letters!!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Random Things About Me that I should have posted along time ago.....

My favorite colors are dark red and green. I am right handed but I am working on the leftie. I sleep in the middle of my bed.I love music! My favorite season is Fall, because I love the many colors that are out. I love chocolate. I love cookies. so therefore I love chocolate cookies! muahaha onto a more serious note.. I was raised by two wonderful, loving parents who did everyting in their power to raise me right. I have 3 brother's and 1 sister, by blood.Around 25-30+ brothers and sister's through adoption over the years. I love my immediate and extended family, they are the solid foundation in my life and I am forever grateful for them. My friends are just as dear to me.Friends are the family members you couldn't have here on this earth. On to more recent news, I am preparing myself to serve as a full time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I will be serving in Rochester, New York at the Hill Cumorah Visitor's Center. I am so grateful for this oppurtunity I have to serve the Lord and bring my fellow man onto Christ. I look forward to working hard and getting my hands dirty for the next 18 months!

MTC Address

Hey Guys! Jasmine's Address at the MTC is:

Jasmine Charmaine Kalehua Stone
MTC Mailbox # 109
NY-ROCH 1130
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

She will be there for 3 weeks. Thanks everyone!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

My Farewell Talk

Brothers and Sisters, Talofa!

First I want to thank all of you for coming today. Secondly, the last time I can recall ever giving a talk in church was at my older brother’s mission farewell... which was over 10 years ago, so please forgive me if I am a little rusty…

Bishop Toelupe has asked me to talk to you about what helped me come to the decision to serve a mission.

To give you some back ground on my life, as a child I was raised in the church. However the importance of the gospel wasn’t stressed in our lives. Going to church was something we did because my mom wanted us to. So we never really developed an appreciation for the gospel. So as I grew up from my adolescence to my teenage years, I just didn’t really care much for the church and its role in my life.

But looking back on it now, I am grateful for my mother and her persistence in trying to raise us in the light of the gospel.

I can recall a story that I can relate myself to in the scriptures. This young man, like me, was raised in the church. His father was a prestigious leader that had a strong testimony. This young man was Alma the Younger. Something occurred in his life to turn against the church and invite others to do so as well. Like Alma, I had gone through an experience that caused me to turn my back on the church.

I can recall the exact day my life changed for the first time. March 13, 2002. I was only 13 years old and a dear friend of mine had taken his life. This loss struck very deep cord in me because I had recalled being taught that if you are ever in need, the Lord will always be there for you. After hearing the news about my friend, I grew bitter and angry towards the Lord for not being there for my friend in his time of need. I began to believe that if Heavenly Father didn’t save my friend that he didn’t care much for me or would let alone help me in my time of suffering.

From that time on I pushed anything and everything that had to do with the church out of my life. My family didn’t know how to help me; whenever they tried to reach out for me I revolted and closed myself off to them.

Pretty soon I forgot what it was like to live with the spirit… the constant feeling that I carried with me was, Pain, Anger and I always felt a great void; I tried many things to try and fill it but whatever I tried… it could never take away these feelings.

When I was 17 almost 18, I had found that I had slowly allowed the gospel back into my life with the help of a group of people I had grown very close to over the years; as well as my parents and their understanding hearts in allowing me to take me time to heal. They didn’t judge, or ever make me feel like an outcast. They accepted me for who I was and offered me their love. Though I as healing, I still kept my walls intact for fear of being wounded again, and I didn’t want to have to go through that pain all over again, because I didn’t know if would be able to handle it a second time around.

Another moment I remember that changed my life again was when my parents approached us kids about this new ward that had been formed. It was the Samoan ward. They had heard a lot about it and were hesitant at first because they didn’t want to force us into something that we wanted nothing to do with.

But us kids had agreed to go and visit that ward for a day and check it out.

Walking into that chapel gave me a feeling that I had never felt before. The best way I can describe it is like coming home after a long trip. When we had gotten home, again my parents pulled us aside individually and asked us what we had thought. I told them, that I have never experienced anything like that before. I remember having the feeling of peace with me that whole day, it was amazing.

When my parents asked us how we would feel if we transferred our records there, I told them, for that ward, I would attend. So they next thing I knew, we became members of the Orem 9th ward. Then eventually the ward grew and got split and became Provo 10th.

I had been serving in the youth for a while when I found myself in rut. The best way I can describe this is, I had a mid life crisis. Within the very depths of my soul I felt like I needed to be doing something, but I had no clue as to what that was and it got to me pretty bad. One night I called my sister and we were talking and she was trying to give me some comfort and she was like, “I know you never really had a desire to do this, but would you consider going on a mission?”

I was at a loss of words when she had said that to me because the truth is… I never wanted to go on a mission. But for some reason… it felt right. And at first I tried denying it, you know like it was indigestion. But I kept thinking about it and I wanted a confirmation.

So I approached my parents and told them about some concerns I had. Such as my knowledge of the gospel or rather the lack there of. But my dad reassured me that if I work hard and do my best, the Lord will provide a way.

We decided that I should get my patriarchal blessing and that it would help me make my decision… A little under a year ago my parents and I went and got that blessing. Long story short… It mentioned me serving a full time mission. And again I denied it… because it could mean that I would be serving a mission in my later years... so I prayed about it, asking for an answer that it was now that the Lord wanted me to serve a mission.

Well as it turns out, later into that week, every person I had spoken too; “mission” came up without fail. So, I got the picture. The Lord was trying to tell me that He needed me on the front line, bringing the gospel to his children whom are struggling. Like Alma, I hope that I can be the instrument that helps bring the Lord’s children onto Christ.

Not too long after, I got my papers started. And ever since I made the decision in my mind and heart, it had felt like I have been on cloud 9.

My life in general had just felt amazing; I have my family and my friends whom have been the biggest help to me and I am grateful for all that they do and putting up with me. I also have my ward family to whom I am grateful for. You gave me the experiences and the friendship bonds I had missed out on. Serving in the youth gave me the bonds of brothers and sisters, with mother like figures whom I look up to greatly.

I would like to share with you something from my first temple experience. Walking through the doors I was overcome with a feeling of great peace and love. All that I could think about was, “I can’t believe I’m here, I can’t believe I’m here, I can’t believe I’m here.”

Because from when we are young, we are taught that the temple is the house of the Lord, the most sacred place on earth, and I couldn’t believe that I was finally there, I was home. Looking back at my life, I never thought that I would be here. Sometimes we ask ourselves, How can I be forgiven, or I’m not worth it. The lord does not expect us to be perfect. We are bound to make mistakes. That is why our Savior atoned for our sins. The ultimate sacrifice has been paid. And despite what we may think, the lord knows our hearts and the greatness in them. He knows we are worth it.

I am grateful for this opportunity I have to serve as a full time missionary for the Lord because I have never thought that I would get here. 18 months is but a small time frame for the glorious works that will be done. I have hopes that with this mission I can do my part to share the knowledge of the gospel with those who are searching for the truth. I know the path laid out before me will be hard and challenging, but by being steadfast and immovable and have great faith in the Lord, he will always be there for me to give me the knowledge I seek and the strength I need to rise above any obstacle that may come my way.

I encourage the youth to keep an open mind and heart to the Lord, one day he may call on you for your help and your testimony to bring others onto the light of Christ. The Lord works in mysterious ways, you never know of the great plans He has for you, and the blessings that you shall receive for your work.

*Testimony of Atonement and Gospel*

I am so grateful for our Lord and savior for his atoning sacrifice he did for me; I know that it is through our savior Jesus Christ that we all can return home to our Heavenly Father. I’m grateful for Joseph Smith and the role he played in and all his hard work in restoring the true church here on earth. I don’t know where my life would be without the gospel in my life, not only has it brought me happiness but also brought me closer not only to my Heavenly father, but to my family as well. With this I leave you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.