Monday, November 9, 2015

The Last Letter: 11/9/15

Even though I am half packed, I am still in denial. But I finally finished the poem I started back when I was home for medical leave. I would get in these hate spirals where I would think of all the reasons why I didn't want to go back. Here are some different titles we have brain stormed: "For the Lord", "A Willing Heart", "John 6:38", and my personal favorite, "Eye Single to I'm Single" (haha that last one was a joke courtesy of Sister Keil). I would like to share the actually written down and probably not completed version with you all:

I may not love waking up at 6:30 every morning
But I love the people and I love the Lord
I may not love always having to put on my happy face
But I love the people and I love the Lord

I don't love talking to strangers who don't want to be bothered
I don't love walking in the snow with no one to see
I don't love having appointments all day to watch them all fall through
But I do love the people and I do love the Lord

I'll put on my dress, Clip the black nametag on
The Savior steps in and those don't loves are gone

I love the change that is wrought by faith
I love the doctrine that we get to teach
I love being the answer to somebody's prayer
I love the sweet spirit when I'm on my knees

Relaxation replaced with planning
Updating records instead of sleep
But letter by letter I see the person
The Lords making of these people and me

There are so many other things that I love about being a missionary. I love my mission. I wouldn't change it for the world. Missions are hard, but they are worth every step. There is a scripture that my stake president gave me before leaving for my mission the second time, Romans 10:14-15.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

I can promise you that my feet are NOT beautiful. Throughout the mission they get raw, they get blistered, they get callused, and (as many sisters can testify) during the summer they can get weird multi colored tan lines. But it has been a beautiful journey. Every step.

If this is your first time reading these email or if you have been reading faithfully every week, I just want to thank you for taking the time you've taken to listen to my random adventures! I hope to see many of you soon :) BYE!



Yep, we burned a dress.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Finish Strong: Sister's Conference and Dean's Baptism: 11/2/15

So much has happened This week! It's been crazy.

Monday: We carved pumpkins and sang songs. Then we met this AWESOME referral that came to church this Sunday

Tuesday: Ward trunk or Treat. We were very original and switched name tags. I think the saddest part was no one really noticed because no one knows our names without the tags. But we passed out candy with Tim and Melinda (Who were missionaries in Pday clothes with our extra tags) and Barry.

Wednesday: We get a call in the middle of the day saying that a family has a little boy that cam to said Trunk or Treat and talked to his mom about wanting a Book of Mormon. He's a funny guy.

Thursday:I got to go on exchanges with Sister Underly in Carson River. It was just like old times and we saw so many of our favorite people. It was also dean's baptism Interview... and we couldn't find it... and we lost our phone... By some miracle and many many prayers all day, we found him and got him to the interview. 

Friday: SISTER'S CONFERENCE! from 12 to 9 we had a special conference for all the sisters in the mission. It was a blast and really brought us all together. The theme was based off of President Uchtdorf's message in the Oct Ensign "Finish With Your Torch Still Lit". The last break off section had the mission divided into three sections: Start Fast, Keep Going, and Finish Strong. The whole day was very powerful and amazing.

Here's a picture of ALL the sisters in the mission
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Saturday: DEAN'S BAPTISM! He is HILARIOUS. We was definitely one of the funniest person we worked with in Carson River. When I left him and his wife we half begrudgingly taking the lessons but the next time I saw them, that Sunday at church, they were set to be baptized! It's been all uphill from there.

Sunday: We contacted another AMAZING referral. She is already coming to our Activity on Wednesday :)



Something I started praying a lot about was how I should treat these last few days. and I think it was Wednesday, the thought came "How would christ treat the last days of his ministry?" and I came to the realization, when we think of the life of christ most of what we think about occured in the last 7 days. He raised Lazarus from the dead, Palm Sunday, instituted the sacrament, suffered in the garden, healed the ear that Peter smote off, held his peace while on trial by the world, died on the cross, broke the bands of death and hell, and rose from the dead to invite everyone one last time to come unto him. I doubt I will accomplish anything of that magnitude, but a lot can happen in a week and it's not over until it's over.


At sister's conference, this scripture was read:
Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life. (3 Nephi 5:13)
Sometimes I would get in these hate spirals before I would come back and think of all the reasons why I didn't want to come back on a mission and when I thought of it as an ambigious "they" it wouldn't be enough. Then I would think about Celina, Shaun, Quinlin, Trish, Sister Lolies, Josh, Elizabeth... and I couldn't fathom not being there for them. I thought about how horrible I would feel knowing there were more Celina's, ect, that I needed to meet. Now that I'm at the end of my mission, I know almost all of my they's and I re-wrote the verse.
Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they, Celina, Shaun, Quinlin, Trish, Sister Lolies, Josh, Elizabeth, Autumn, Lori, Jan, Samantha, Shelby, Tim, Dean, and many more might have everlasting life. (3 Nephi 5:13)

I'm grateful for my mission. I have learned a lotand have been part of the best work in the world. If there was only on of those names in that sentence, I still would have come. Even if there was no names, I would have come because I know that I have grown. I know that God lives and loves everyone of his children. He has established His church throughout the history of time and he has revealed it again because he loves us. Through Christ we can grow and change everyday. It will get better and better, until the "perfect day". Love you all!

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Not trunky at all!