Mission Life in Independence!

We have been here just 2 weeks.  We are loving it here and are trying to get familiar with the surrounding areas.    We have been able to go to the Temple twice.   It is a beautiful temple....but small.   Only one endowment room.  Today we went to the ward our Mission President assigned us to.   We were touched by how kind everyone was to us.   Very friendly ward, and we are so excited to get involved with activation and missionary work.    We arrived to Church and noone was playing the organ(my biggest fear)!   The Counselor in the Bishopric came down and asked me to play the organ or piano.   Keep in mind I haven't played the organ in 27 years.  I'll tell you, I have never prayed so hard as I did on my way up to the organ.  I begged the Lord to help me.   He really did!!   I wasn't nervous at all and I did quite well.   No mistakes.  HA!   Not on your life.    But Glenn said he was actually surprised how well I did.  Then when I got to RS they didn't have a pianist so I played for RS.  During Sunday School,  the counselor in the Bishopric came and asked me if I would play in Primary.    So I did.    Now I'm not a pianist by any means.   I'm the one who usually has to have at least a weeks notice to practice.    But I'm hear to tell you that if we are willing to serve in any capacity,  the Lord will bless you to do it!!  I was told that I would be the permanent piano player in RS.
Last week we went to a play/musical put on by the Remnant Church of  Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.    It was interesting.   This Church broke off from the Community of Christ Church because of all the things they were changing!  They were celebrating the dedication of the Kirkland, Ohio Temple.  Interesting!!  When people ask us who we are with, we say we are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We are Mormons from Utah.   Cause they get us mixed up with all the branches of the Community of Christ Church that go by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   We found out today that the Community of Christ Church do not like Mormons.
I am so grateful to be here serving a mission with Glenn.   I'll be glad when we get busy!   We are planning a trip to Nauvoo sometime in May.   Glenn want's to go visit the full-time Dr. who is serving the 200+ senior missionaries and about 40 young sister missionaries.   He is really busy.    I found out that he is the Dr. who delivered Rebecca.  Small World!
I am out here because I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's only true Church on the earth.  I have a testimony that Joseph Smith was foreordained in the pre-existence to be the Prophet of the Restoration.   I have a testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.  I love my Heavenly Father.   I am so grateful for His tender mercies. He has blessed me more than I feel like I deserve.    I love my Savior and I am so grateful for his Atoning Sacrifice for me.  I know that if I was the only living human being on the earth He would still do what he did just for me!!!  This is why I am serving a mission.    I hope and pray that Glenn and I can serve more missions in the future if it is Heavenly Father's will for us.