Many of you have probably heard about the missionary effort going on in Oaxaca, Mexico. Today, we're sharing a special testimony (reprinted from the HFF Newsletter Vol. 21, No. 1) and a video from one of the recent trips there. When you get a chance, remember to pray for the mission in Oaxaca as well as the many other missions throughout the world.

For May, in celebration of mothers, we asked kids, "Why do you think God created mothers?"

Sister Jessie, the teacher in Herndon, VA, sent a very insightful response from Abigail, age 4, who was visiting from Monongahela, PA one Sunday: "God made Mommy so she can run away and then I can call for her."

This past semester, I had a professor who was very outspoken in her belief that many cultures have been lost over time due to the spread of Christianity. During one of her "rants," she went on to say how we're all sinners and we all need salvation because we're all bad, not just the convicted criminals of the world.

It got me pretty mad.

Today is our last communion-related Miracle Monday. A big thank you to Sister Dianne Maddox for sharing this one.

A few months ago on a Sunday morning at our branch in Lake Worth, Florida, another deaconess and I were confused over whose turn it was to bring the bread for communion that day. Neither of us had brought it.

As we stood in the kitchen of the church building, we looked at each other in panic and disbelief. The communion table was supposed to be set within the next 15 minutes. Within a few moments, a brother came into the kitchen and asked us what was wrong. We explained the situation.

Today's Good Word comes from Colossians 4. What a great reminder of how we as saints should conduct ourselves! We pray that the Lord blesses your lips with wise, salty words for the world to hear.

I saw a cute cartoon the other day with an illustration of a frazzled woman, and the words next to her said, "I'm ready for some blessings that aren't in disguise."

It made me chuckle because I've felt that way many times. So often, the Lord uses trials, struggles, and afflictions to teach me important lessons that I couldn't have learned otherwise and to bless me in ways I couldn't appreciate otherwise.

Are you walking through hard times right now? Are you bombarded by temptations? Weary from croaking out the same prayer year after year? Facing serious consequences for doing the right thing?

If patience is a virtue, then it's one of the ones I lack. I can be patient with people, but when it comes to waiting for the things I want, fahgetaboutit! I want things when I want them ... NOW! I guess I have a little Veruca Salt in me. But one of my favorite scriptures talks about being patient — go figure, right?

James 1:2-4 reads "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

Wait, what? I'm supposed to count it all joy when I fall into divers temptations?

My daughter Maria has a best friend — her toy robot Kasey the Kinderbot. Many a night in our house is filled with Kasey's beeps and boops and the sound of Maria singing along with Kasey.

I should point out that Maria is autistic and also mentally challenged, so even though she is now a teenager, she is very much like a child, and she still enjoys many of the same toys she's had since she was a small child, many of which — like Kasey — are no longer even sold in stores.

In the summer, Maria's favorite thing to do is to go in our swimming pool. She loves it so much that we have to remember to keep the back door locked or else she'll run outside and jump in the pool, clothes and all. One day last summer, we forgot to lock the door, and when I saw the door standing open, I knew where I would find Maria.

Today, we've got two communion-themed Miracle Mondays for you!

Submitted by Sister Teri-Lyn Tunno on behalf of her branch

Brother Paul Palmieri: I have been a minister since 1967 and have passed communion many times, but on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015, I was blessed with a wonderful experience during communion.

Brother John Mark D'Antonio and I were at the communion table enjoying the Spirit of God and feeling His presence. We were talking about the precious blood of Christ, and I went to pick up the crucible of wine. As I went to lift it up, my hand fell back down. I ... could ... not ... lift ... it ... up.

We hope that today's Good Word motivates you through the weekend. Let your light shine!

We've also got the answers from last week's trivia!

If you caught our top 10 takeaways from April Conference a few weeks ago, you may remember a reference to the video that the IMOC shared.

(By the way, IMOC = International Missionary Operating Committee. This is the organization that oversees all missionary work outside the U.S.)

The video captures many of The Church's current missionaries on video answering the question, "Why do you continue to be a missionary?"

Reprinted with permission by the Student Support Program. This is from the April 2015 newsletter. These articles are longer than a normal blog, but they're worth it. This one was written by Sister Michelle Watson.

You've heard it a million times. Maybe more. From the pulpit. In Sunday school. From godly mentors. We Christians say it all the time.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and..." What comes next? "all these things shall be added unto you." This oft-quoted verse basically means that when you put God first, He provides everything you need. That's a pretty comforting thought considering the fact that most of you have a lot of life ahead of you, and you may be wondering just how it's all going to fall into place: college, career, marriage, etc. Just put God first, and He'll take care of it. Sounds simple enough.

But wait, Bible scholars. Who can tell me what words are missing from the verse I just quoted? Anyone know?

Some years back, on a trip to Italy, we spent a week in Florence visiting my family there. My son was 8 years old at the time. One hot, humid Sunday afternoon, my uncle suggested we take a ride out of town to escape the heat in the city. As we drove the winding roads into the surrounding hills, we enjoyed the beauty and cooler temperatures of the wooded countryside.

At one point, my uncle stopped at a spot where he knew there was a natural spring of water. We spent a few minutes there enjoying the water. After we'd all had our fill, or so I thought, it was time was to leave. Every time we moved toward the car, my son would quickly run back to take another drink.

Today's Miracle Monday is used by permission of the True Stories Publication Committee, and it's the experience of Brother Darrell Rossi. We actually don't have any more communion-related Miracle Mondays to publish for the rest of the month, so if you have one, please send it in ASAP!

Today's Good Word is a favorite of Sister Betty D'Orazio and a wonderful promise going into the weekend — not a bad verse for Mondays, either, especially if you have a stressful job. Thank you for sharing, Sister Betty! If you have a favorite verse that you'd like to see turned into a graphic, then please send it to us!