He lives.

"The Atonement is the sacrifice Jesus Christ made to help us overcome sin, adversity, and death. Jesus's atoning sacrifice took place in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross of Calvary. He paid the price for our sins, took upon Himself death, and was resurrected. The Atonement is the supreme expression of the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ"

The day I learned about the Atonement was the day I knew the church was true. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave His only begotten son to die for us. Think about that now. Sit by yourself and soak that up. That is love. Our Savior is love. 

Our Heavenly Father let us come to this earth and experience hard trials that seem never ending because He loves us. Don't blame Him in your times of tribulations. Imagine a life where things always went our way all the time? It just doesn't seem right. Be grateful for your trials. It makes you stronger. So thankful that my Savior allows me to feel sorrow and joy. I don't know where I would be without my trials. 

There was a time where I felt like my trials would never end. It was like a domino effect, one problem after the other. One night I went outside, sat down and poured out my heart with tears coming down my face. I asked Him to please help me, guide me, let me be at peace and have patience with the things that were going on in my life. I instantly felt at peace and felt the comforting love of my Savior. I knew everything would be fine. Friends and family, what I am saying is that everything will be okay if we trust our Heavenly Father and remember the Atonement in our lives. 

A man so humble and loving gave us the greatest sacrifice ever. He gave us His son!!!!!!!! I literally cry all the time thinking about how we have a loving Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. His son, Jesus Christ obeyed his Father and atoned for our sins. He bled from every pore, was hated by many, suffered on the cross, had rocks thrown at Him, He was mocked, He had many followers betray Him and more but He did that because he loves us. 

You are not alone.

HAVE FAITH IN THE SAVIOR. HE WILL GUIDE YOU. HE WILL BE THERE FOR YOU. HE LOVES YOU AND KNOWS YOU. TRUST HIM. 

"And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men." 

1st Nephi 19:9

Xo, Sister Pito 

Must read talks!

Everyone who knows me knows I've given this talk to everyone I know. It's so amazing.

Becoming a consecrated missionary:

http://scottsdalemission.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/becoming-a-consecrated-missionary/

This Day by Henry B. Eyring:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/this-day?lang=eng

The Diving Call of a Missionary by Ronald A. Rasband:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/the-divine-call-of-a-missionary?lang=eng

The love of God by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/the-love-of-god?lang=eng&query=the+love+of+god

His love for me

16 days until I enter the MTC (missionary training center).

If you asked me 2 years ago if I wanted to serve a mission, I will of gladly told you "No". Never would I have thought that I would be here in this time of my life, 2 weeks away from entering the MTC and going to serve a mission. It's crazy the things that have happened in my life that has made me feel my Savior's love and change my whooooooole outlook on serving.

Growing up, I went to church often but never really listened. I was a kid/teen and listening to the lessons just didn't seem fun. My sophomore year of High School I moved from Bellflower, CA to Long Beach, CA. I'm not very good at change and it just wasn't for me. I went to class every Sunday and just sat there and because I didn't really have a lot of friends I had no choice but to listen. I started to listen to my teacher and everything that He taught. I started to question in my heart and in my mind if everything he was teaching was true.

One day after a couple of months of being at that ward and listening to everything being taught I decided to read the Book of Mormon. When I read I always remembered being told if you want to know if what is written is true, pray. So I decided to earnestly pray to my Savior and ask Him if this was His true church. I knelt down on my knees and poured out my concerns and questions. In that moment, I felt as if the Savior was standing beside me testifying that this was the true church on earth and that the Book of Mormon is the true word. I felt so at peace. My eyes were opened.

My Savior allowed to understand His love for me. He loves me so much that He allows me to feel sorrow and joy. He allows to make my own decisions, good or bad. He gave me the free agency to choose Him or the world. I wasn't forced to go to church or read the book of Mormon. I simply challenged myself and found out for myself as did the prophet, Joseph Smith. If we just try to understand Christ, He will guide us.

 He loves us and wants us to have eternal happiness. Go to church. Pray and plead with Him. Love Him. Be like Him. Ask him what it is you need to do in your life. He will help you know through the quiet promptings of the Holy Ghost. He lives and loves, I know it.

Xo, Sister Pito

DO NOT PROCRASTINATE.

Advice for you sisters: get things done NOW. Do not delay. I thought 90 days was a lot and that I should just get stuff a couple weeks before I leave and omg I was wrong. Totally wasted 70 days not studying effectively and shopping for things I need. Do it now. You think you have time but you don't, OMG. It will sneak up on you and next thing you know you're going to find yourself in the MTC. I'm like jam packed with things I need to get done. Ahh! Other then that 19 days and I'm out. Read the talk "this day" by Henry B. Eyring. Like legit.. read it soon.

Xo, Sister Pito

Satan is powerful.

Satan is powerful. 37 days until I enter the mission field.
     The moment I decide to serve a mission I was flooded with trials I never thought would end. I started to worry and question myself "Can I serve a mission?" "Am I ready?" and the hardest, "Can I leave my family?." During moments of tribulation I told myself NO! I had no confidence and I had no desire. My family was/is going through stressful times and I could dare leave them.
   One night I was pondering about the good things in my life and not dwelling on the bad and stressful times.  It made me so grateful. It made realize how much my family needs me to serve, how much my friends need me and how much the people of San Antonio, Texas need me. I started to do something that I wasn't doing: TRUSTING IN THE LORD.
    Satan knew that I would be going out in this world and preaching this beautiful and true gospel and tried to tempt me. It almost worked because I LET HIM IN. I had no faith and I didn't trust The Lord to guide me.

      "Trust in The Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding"  - Proverbs 3:5

    I've come to understand the love of my savior. He is LOVE!!!!! He understands. He sent His son to die for us. He provided us with a plan and if we CHOOSE to obey, we will be blessed. He's given us so much and I can't wait to dedicate 18 months of my life to serve in The Lord's vineyard.

God is love. Turn to Him. Love always. Be Christ like. Be charitable.

& always always always remember that somebody out here loves you so much that He sacrificed His son for ya.

Xo, Sister Pito

Keep calm and serve a mission

"Dear Sister Pito,

 You are hereby called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Texas San Antonio Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, July 23, 2014. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language"

Xo, Sister Pito