Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful week! Things have been great here in Cali :) I love it here. It's strong. Sometimes I honestly forget that I had a life outside of this one. I love being a missionary so much. I love the transformation that the gospel makes. Yesterday, during sacrament something hit me that I had never thought about. I will try to explain it in the best way that I can, I hope that it makes sense to you. We celebrate the atonement of Jesus Christ. The fact that He lived and He died for us. The fact that HE LIVES. That is the amazing message of the Resurrection, He lives and because He lives, we will all live again. And then I connected that to the sacrament. Every week we go and we partake of the sacrament. The water represents His blood. The blood that He shed for you and I. For our sins, for our pains, for our heart aches, for our weaknesses! He suffered all of that for us so that He could take it away. Then we have the bread, which represents His body. He died just like all of us are going to do, but unlike all those who die here on earth, He rose from the dead! And by doing so, broke the bands of death. Because He lives we all will live :) We take the sacrament for several reasons, to be washed of our sins being one of them so we can be worthy of the Holy Ghost, another reason we take it is to show Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that we will always remember Him. Showing Him that we love Him and want to follow Him, that we know He lives and that we love Him. So in a way we celebrate Easter every single week! It's not just a once a year thing, we have the chance to partake of the sacrament every week, therefore we are celebrating Easter every week!! Ahhh the church is so true!! :) 

I hope there is someone out there who needs to hear this. I just wanted to share my thoughts specifically on Christ's sufferings. Because Jesus Christ suffered for literally every little thing bad we have felt He can take it away. There have been times in my life where I have felt that no one could understand what I was going through, the pain that I felt was so deep. But by turning to my Heavenly Father I have felt my burdens be made light. Of course I have suffered but they pains have always been completely taken away by my Savior. He is always there to lift us when we need Him. We are never alone. There is never a load too heavy that He cannot carry for us. He will set you free :) I know with all my heart that this is true because I have witnessed it first hand. 

Itzel is finally getting baptized!!! She is so excited and so are we :) I will definitely be sending pictures home soon!!! 

I love all of you dearly!! Can't wait to see my amazing families faces in less than a month via skype!! I love you :)))))

<3 Hermana Shea McCartt

Us and Itzel :)