“How great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth.”

Last night a young man across the parking lot was booking it to his car to escape the freezing cold air. We ran up to him and said, “Hey! Hold up a minute!” As we shared the great message of Gods love, his eyes lit up. He was drawn to the truth we shared and intently asked genuine, heart-felt questions. At the end of our conversation, sister Thomas gave a beautiful prayer and prayed for him. After there was a second of silence. He looked in our eyes and smiled at us and thanked us. The spirit was strong even though we only talked a few minutes. Before we parted, he (Tyler) asked “Do you guys want a cookie?” haha I was like HECK YES. I WOULD LOVE A COOKIE. He had just bought a bag of cookies and I took one haha. It was honestly the best cookie I’ve ever had. It was so nice of him. I thought about that a lot. Cookies are just awesome! They remind us of home, they are comforting, they make us happy and they make us super giddy and hyper. And do you know what else has those characteristics? Yes, you guessed it. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the greatest cookie of all cookies. It reminds us where we came from, it brings the Holy Ghost, it brings us joy and energy and purpose. When we have something so delicious and so wonderful, isn’t it just natural to have desires to share it, just as Tyler shared that cookie with me? I know the Lord is aware of us.

Out here, I try to share cookies with as many people as I can. It makes me so sad when people don’t partake of the wonderful basket of cookies Christ offers. However, all those no’s are so worth it for that one person that says “You know what, yes. I seriously want this cookie. I have been waiting for this cookie for years. Thank you so much.” When that happens, I get SO HAPPY. The other night, we had some incredible lessons with some incredible people. That night I could hardly contain my joy! After we turned out the light, I laid in bed just smiling this huge fat smile. Kinda creepy, but true. My smile was so big that it filled me from head to toe and made my heart so warm. I felt the Love of the Lord and I couldn’t contain the tears of happiness. They were the type that just roll down the sides of your face and hit your ears and its super weird and ticklish haha. That joy was a result of sharing the light and truth that has been so freely given to me. We taught an atheist how to pray- It was a beautiful prayer that asked for answers to real questions she was struggling with- ‘Are you there?’ ‘Give me courage to stand up for myself’ ‘Help me find my path.’ We sat on a picnic table and taught Tim how to find his worth and purpose in the scriptures. We knocked on a door and met a cute couple with 4 kids and one on the way. We went back to teach more and they had 5 kids! Haha I love new born babies. I taught them of Gods plan of happiness, I could see light coming in their hearts, we knocked on a potentials door and it turned out to be the wrong apartment, but there was a woman named Lexi there who said, “You have to be kidding me… are you Mormon missionaries? I have been looking for you!” Apparently she just moved here from Florida and had taken all the discussions and was going to get baptized, but loved her beer too much haha she was anxious to meet with us and go to church here. SO CRAZY. We had so many other neat experiences that witness to me that the Lord loves us and is aware of us!

Oh! And remember that dude Shane from the ice ream place? We got to go in his home and teach he and his mom. They went to all 3 hours of church with us yesterday. It was the first time in 12 years they stepped foot in a church. They said they never thought they’d come back, but they are now here to stay. The Lord is aware of us.

My challenge to you is to share a batch of cookies. Whatever it is that makes you happy- share it! It could be sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies. It could be a new yoga pose, a favorite song, pretty picture. It could be the truth of the gospel, it could be a favorite scripture, uplifting music, Mormon message. It could be service, a complement, The Book of Mormon, the Bible, a conference talk. As you do, I promise you great JOY and satisfaction. I promise you answers to prayers. It is of the upmost importance to share truth and light with our fellow men. I know the Lord is aware of us brothers and sisters. Now go share that cookie!