He is the Gift

I love being in Hamilton! I love being in a family ward! I love Sister Pettus! I love the Christmas season!

This past week was too good. (Except when I hit my HALFWAY mark...)

churchin

Monday we visited the friend of a member. She is old and German and ended up telling us about her childhood and started crying. I can testify that old German woman do not cry, but she did! We were then able to testify to her about the Atonement and about how much her Saviour and Heavenly Father love her and how the trials she endured have taught her how to be a good mother to her children. It made me grateful for my German grandmother who blessed my life with the love and guidance I needed as a child.

Tuesday we had a special zone conference with half the mission! It was AMAZING. The means of our vision is switching gears a little! We will be working A TON with members and I'm so excited about it. 

We also talked about the new He is the Gift initiative that the church is producing! It is AMAZING. 

DISCOVER

EMBRACE

#SHARE

I invite everyone to 

1) watch the video "He is the Gift" on christmas.mormon.org 

2) and then to think about how Jesus Christ is God's gift to you

3) and then share that with your friends and everyone else! Share it on your social networks, send it to a friend, invite a stranger to watch it. 

Let us flood the world with the gospel. Discover the gift, embrace the gift, then share the gift!

After the meeting, our mission President and His wife surprised us by showing us the movie, "Meet the Mormons"-- IT IS SO GOOD. EVERYONE GO WATCH IT AND JUST CRY YOUR EYES OUT WITH TEARS OF HAPPINESS.

yum.

So this week we visited a lot of members! I'm excited to get to know more. Yesterday in sacrament, I was invited by the Bishop to share my testimony and I bore testimony of the simple truths I know about the restored gospel and about our Heavenly Father's love for each of us. Good thing I did not specify where in Texas I was from because it gave some members a reason to come up and ask me, so I got to know lots of members that way!

One night we had dinner with the Pulsiphers. They are C E L E S T I A L. I love them dearly. It was truly one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. I left their home a different person. I am so grateful for them and for the spirit. A quote they shared with us was, 

"...the one power, even beyond sight, that can burn doubt out of us and make it, as it were, impossible for us to disbelieve—is the Holy ­Ghost."

I KNOW that this is true. This ^ is how our Heavenly Father communicates to us-- through the Holy Ghost.

Yesterday, Satan was suuuuch a stink! 

So there we were-- tracting (also, something I never have done in YSA, but it's so fun!). We saw a couple leaving one of the houses and so we approached them. The husband began asking us a little about who we were and about our main message and we shared a portion of the restoration and he immediately began telling us that what we believed was false doctrine. The woman whose home they were leaving said she even met with missionaries in the past and said she read from the Book of Mormon and prayed about it and felt she was SINNING (what?). The man went on further to tell us more about what we believed (I love when people do that!) and said that we do not believe in the same Jesus Christ as he does and that we are a cult and that he cannot even wish us luck on our missions because we are preaching false doctrine (as he pretends to shake our hands and then slowly and so proudly pulls away).

Man! I feel bad for them. I feel bad because Heavenly Father loves them so much and they don't even know how to return to live with Him.

This restored gospel of light and happiness and hope and TRUTH teaches us how to return to live with our Heavenly Father and everyone needs what we have. Think about who in your life is ready to receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and then invite them to partake of the sweet goodness we feel and value!

I love the gospel and my Saviour so much. 

He is coming again one day. 

Are we prepared?

xoxo

wimpy Christmas light we love! and AMERICAN flag

mormon.org everywhere you turn

hello from hamilton!

First of all...

big hugs to Megan Berge and Hillary Owen for RETURNING WITH HONOR. I feel like you both went into the MTC yesterday, and now you're home. I know that you were both such good missionaries and did wonderful things. I love you!

So this week was crazy. But here I am. In a family ward. In Hamilton (which is Gotham City for all you Batman lovers). We sisters don't go downtown, but it's still great! I miss Toronto YSA more than anything I've ever missed as a missionary before (besides my sweet companions), but it was my time to move on and I'm grateful that the Lord is already helping me grow in ways that I wouldn't have been able to otherwise. He knows!! We don't, but He does.

It's really weird being the companion that has come into an area where I don't know any of the streets or members or places or ANYTHING. It's been really good, though, because I have never really had to turn to the Lord so much! I love the feeling of not having to rely on ourselves, but instead, learning to rely on the Lord and take counsel from the Spirit. I love feeling close to the Lord. It's such a beautiful feeling of love.

So my new companion is Sister Pettus! She is from Hurricane (huur-i-cuhn) Utah! She has been out a little over a year and she is so great. She is so good at bringing the spirit when she testifies and I loooove that. She has only been in this area for a transfer, so we are kind of learning how to build it up together as we go!

She actually had a birthday this week so a big THANK YOU to Kelly for the leftover birthday things I happened to have that hopefully made her birthday a little colourful and fun! :)

This morning, I was reading something called the "Sister Susan Fulcher case study" -- it's so good! If you know anyone that is a missionary or going on a mission or if you want to be a better member missionary PLEASE READ THIS AND SHARE IT. It has changed my perspective on missionary work and I know that it will help us bring more precious souls into the gospel.

"It's funny, but I don't even feel discouraged when I ask someone to learn about the church, and they tell me they're not interested. I know I just offered them something more valuable than a $100 bill, and if they don't think they need it, I just offer it to someone else. And I always hope that the people who reject the invitation felt that I loved them, and felt God's love for them. At some point in their lives, they might remember how they felt, and remember that it came from God through me."

We don't know who is prepared, but the Lord does and they need what we have. So let's do our duty to God and preach the gospel. Our ward mission leader actually put together invitation ideas. You member missionaries out there should try some of these!:

-invite someone to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional with you on Dec. 7th

-invite someone to church during the month of December

-invite someone to join you for family home evening

-invite someone to read the Book of Mormon as a gift with your testimony inside

-invite the full-time missionaries over for dinner during the month of December

-invite the Saviour to assist you and guide you with your invitations and your desire to share his gospel as you join in hastening His glorious work

I am grateful to be a representative of the Lord. I know that His hand is in this work.

Please reach out to someone you don't know this week. Be a friend to them and love them and help them to feel God's love through you. You never know who might be praying for someone like you to come into their life.

I love y'all, but God loves you more!

xoxo

HAMILTON

Yep, I'm getting transferred to Hamilton! I'm leaving my dear area of Toronto and all the YSA here! How dearly everything and everyone will be missed.

Toronto YSA is where I was changed and raised and shaped and tugged and stretched and tried and built, and I'm super sad to leave, but I'm also happy because I know it's time for me to move on and I know the Lord knows me, because everything that has happened to me on my mission is evidence that He knows me and what I need and who I need. I'm excited to move forward!

Also (here comes the missionary in me because I'm about to use an analogy)... a new area is suuuuuch a small portion of our mission, and a mission is suuuuuch a small portion of our life, and our life is suuuuch a small portion of the eternal plan that God has for us. So when challenges arise, remember that they will be but a small moment.

So this week was actually a little rough! haha. Downtown Toronto has some crazy people and there is always just lots of wickedness and sad things happening everywhere. My tender, missionary heart can't even handle it sometimes!

As missionaries, at least for me, I think we forget that there really is a lot of hurt in the world out there. We forget that there is a lot of sadness and cruelty and sin and abuse. But that is why the Atonement of our Saviour Jesus Christ was not performed in case we needed it, but because our Heavenly Father knew that we would need it. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is not beyond the reach of any one of us. Change IS possible, joy IS available, and the love of our Saviour and Heavenly Father is and always will be present, perfect, and unchanging. The things I've seen and felt, the good, bad, and the ugly, have all been for a reason. I'm grateful for that.

On Saturday, we had SMT! I kept feeling like we should talk about charity and I couldn't figure out which direction to take with it or how to really apply it to ESL, but I went with it. We started talking about what our missions have taught us about charity and the spirit was SO PRESENT. It was so great to hear, not only the testimonies of what these missionaries have learned about loving others, but also about what they have learned from the examples of their companions. (shoutout to my former companions for teaching me so much!!) LOVE IS ALL WE NEED IN THIS WORLD.

Yesterday was oh so good. A few investigators and less-actives came, the talks in sacrament were so perfect, and a girl that I handed a mormon.org card to on the subway WEEKS ago showed up at church with her friend! Man, miracles happen! When I first talked to her, she didn't seem thaaaat interested, but then she came to church?! So great. And after church, the Elders had another baptism and it was so happy. We got to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ during the "changing" time and it was so special. I love teaching and testifying!

After church, we had some lessons and Robert got Sister Coleman and I gifts! He is the best gift-giver because he got Sister Coleman legos (general conference family tradition for her!) and he got me a selfie card game (because I always take selfies on his phone)- he knows us too well! ONE DAY ROBERT WILL GO ON A MISSION. PLEASE PRAY FOR HIM :)

Gifts from Robert

That evening there was a missionary fireside! President and Sister Clayton spoke. I love them! Sister Clayton speaks soooo tenderly. These were a few of my favourite things from last night:

"We don't know what we don't know."

Let us ask ourselves each day, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me do?"

"Give Him a place in your heart."

I love being a missionary! I love the gospel! Please think of the people in your life who need what you have-- pray for them, love them, invite them to partake of the things that can bring them the joy they need.

I love y'all!

 

 

here's my heart

 About a year ago, last October, there was a Halloween stake activity. There was a bright, 18 year old boy there, named Elliot. There were no warnings that peanuts were in any of the food items, and Elliot had an allergic reaction. He ran outside and called for help immediately; by the time he got to the hospital, damage had been done to his brain. Doctors said that the damage was so severe that he would be completely immobile and mentally handicapped for the rest of his life.

His sister Eloise, was on a mission. She had the choice to either return home or stay on her mission. She knew that in order for her family to receive the strength and blessings they and Elliot so desperately needed, she would need to stay. When she returned home at the end of her mission, she went to the hospital to visit Elliot for the first time in 18 months. She saw him, she held his hand and said in his ear "Elliot, I'm home."

Despite being immobile and completely unresponsive, tears came out of Elliot's closed eyes. He knew she was there, and he could hear and feel her.

I've heard of Elliot's progress since being here and have heard of so many miracles that have happened since his accident-- one of them being that he has returned home with his family just last month. He still resides in a hospital bed, but he is there-- body and mind. He feels when people touch him, he blinks twice when he understands, his eyes get big when he tries to see, he can almost, barely say "hi". Sometimes he will look around the ceiling frequently or just stare in one spot for a very long time-- angels are there taking care of him.

Saturday night I had the privilege of meeting Elliot for the first time. He has quickly become my favourite human. I tried soooo hard to fight back tears! But, I'm such a softy, dang it! Pray for him and his family. I love that boy and I admire his family so much. The strength they have and the blessings they have received from this trial has been such a testimony-builder for myself.

Elliot :)

I know that this is a very frail existence that we have chosen to be apart of. But this life isn't it, there is so much more. The beautiful things we see and the tender mercies that are apparent and abundant in our lives, are only glimpses of what our Heavenly Father has in store for us. He loves us, and He hasn't forgotten us, and never will. It reminds me of the lyrics to hymn number #136:

He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul's complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.

He does, I know He does. I've felt it, and I know you can too as you turn to Him.

This week was good though, but this transfer went but so stinkin' fast!! I'm praying that I stay JUST ONE MORE. Maybe I can bargain with Heavenly Father? We'll see how that goes...

This week, we also met with our investigators! Yesol is still hanging in here! She will be baptized one day!! Pray for her!!

We met with Ben, too! He was sooo sick and still met with us to talk about the Book of Mormon. What a good guy. He is the one who comes and translates at our ESL class for us and plays the piano beautifully and has long hair-- he is a kingdom-builder, for sure.

After we met with Ben. our member that came with us was leaving to go hang out with the rest of the YSA, and sometimes being YSA while serving in YSA is hard! But we went on being missionaries and went to visit our dear Shaunna-- and it was one of the most spiritual moments of my mission.

She talked to us about how she is so ready to start coming back and asked us questions about how to know if Heavenly Father has forgiven us and so many other tender things that cannot be written. It was so good, and I love her so much! It's so cool to see how her testimony is not only becoming more apparent, but is also strengthening.

We also had Zone Council this week. We role-played talking to people on the bus and at the end. We all went into a small room and watched the "Because of Him" video and then our zone leaders opened the baptismal font and the spirit FILLED THE ROOM as they began testifying that this is what it's all about. MAN I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY. Testimony meetings with other missionaries is one of the most powerful things to be apart of.

Also, the greatest baptism in the history of baptisms happened yesterday. Mordecai is this African girl that has the most solid, powerful, pure, testimony. She literally smiles with her eyes! She came out of the water laughing and crying. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. She said that when she told her mom at first, her mom left her room and didn't talk to her for 2 hours-- but it was because she left and cried because her prayers had been answered that her daughter was being baptized. After she bore her testimony, her mom was bawling and they just held each other. It was so precious!

Sister Coleman and I and Elder Lasley and a member (Jesse) did the musical number, too! I played Come Thou Fount on the piano and they sang the lyrics to Joseph's Smith's First Prayer. It was fun :) and we also taught the Restoration during the baptism-- the spirit was so strong.

This week was the best week ever. I love my mission, I love these people, I love the spirit, I love love, I love this gospel, I love my Saviour.

The church is true, if you don't know it, I invite you to get on your knees right now and pray-- ask your Heavenly Father and He will answer your prayers. I PROMISE. Gain your own spiritual witness.

I love you all.
xoxo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glQYsxJhv_E

8 months of blessings

This week was the best week ever, with the exception that a few unfortunate things happened.

Ah man! There were just so many miracles this week! This week, Sister Coleman and I put forth an extra effort to talk with everyone. It's interesting, if you want to see some miracles, you talk to some people; if you want to see loads of miracles, then you talk to loads of people!

Even though not everyone was interested or super prepared, we met so many great people. Alanna, Jack, Fuat, Eric, Melissa,  Josh, Matthew, Rose, etc. So many cool people! I think sometimes we underestimate mankind! But really, people are cool! and have great stories and perspectives on life; and as missionaries, so many stories and perspectives are shared with us. I love it.

Throughout this week, it was neat to see how when we just got out of the way and opened our mouths, that the spirit just gave us words to say!

The other day, we prayed and felt like we needed to go to Bathurst station. So we took the bus and subway there, got off, and just started walking. We met a guy named Samuel. At first he was like "nooo I'm good, it's okay, I've found my spirituality" and because it's the missionary thing to do we kept walking with him and talking. We talked to him about music and life and then he started to ease up and open up. He began telling us about how he is homosexual and how it was really hard for him when he was younger because he tried to repress it and hide it and he would go to church and pray that it would be taken away from him and it was just a really hard time, and how over time he just began to accept it and even embrace it.

It was really interesting because as we talked, we began telling him about the Atonement and how the fact that he has overcome many obstacles in his life is evidence that the Atonement has already had an effect on him and his life and how it can continue to do that. We talked about how Christ loves him and has felt everything he has. It was really cool to see how to spirit completely changed his countenance and how he truly felt God's love, even if it was for just a moment.

I know that we don't know everything. We don't have all the answers. But there is a God in heaven who does. But something I do know, with all of my heart, is that the enabling power of the Atonement is real. I know that it turns hearts and changes lives. I know it because I've felt it in myself and I've seen it in others. I love my Saviour and I know He loves us. Our trials are but a small moment, but if we endure them well, our Heavenly Father will exalt us on high!

This week we also met a really cool guy. We were almost about to just pass him and keep walking (hating so hard on the natural man these days), but we talked to him (and Sister Coleman later admitted that it was simply because he wore his hat like Harry Styles-- thinking of you, Sierra!) anyway! We talked to him, and I don't know whether to be offended or flattered, but he was super surprised that we were really normal and "not freaky". Anyway. As he talked to us, he told us how he and his girlfriend just got in a fight the previous night. He talked to us about his life story; we talked to him about our message and what it does for people. Then he said, "...it's funny. Talking to you both about this stuff has made me not think about everything that's been happening."

The spirit is real and it literally touches people so that they can feel that God is real.

We also met with a guy named Daniel who Sister Coleman found while we were driving one day (really discouraged and having a bad day actually, but she saw him on the side of the road and 5 minutes later turned around to go talk with him- she's so cool), and we taught him the Restoration. He believed it and wants to continue meeting to one day prepare for baptism. He also went to institute and made lots of friends!

(Also at institute, before we left the church, we saw a table with hundreds of loaves of free bread! so, you can probably guess what happened next... #missionlife #naturally)

This week, our less-active friend Chris took us to eat, too! He always takes care of the missionaries and he is actually such a good missionary himself! What a kind, Irish lad. We think we'll keep him.

Saturday and Sunday was Stake conference! Crazy because last time stake conference took place was 6 months ago and I was with sister Waldron. And Sister Coleman and I just hit out 8 month mark/anniversary yesterday. Precious, we know.

Common theme in stake conference: choose, feel, do, believe, act now, don't procrastinate, hold to the faith you have, testimony comes after we act, etc. I felt the spirit so strong when a returned sister missionary bore her testimony of the Book of Mormon and missionary work! I, too, love this work! We must always defend our Saviour by vocally standing up for the truth of His restored gospel and by helping others.

"The sweetest thing to know in mortality is that our Heavenly Father has worked through us."

Also, a girl named Jacquelin walked into church yesterday and said that God told her to wake up, put some church clothes on and head over here, so she did. (BECAUSE THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME). She loved it! And she wants to prepare for baptism. And! two less active girls, who are like best friends, came to church yesterday and loved it.

This week was beautiful.

Except for last night when we forgot our apartment keys in our car that the Toronto sisters took so we had to borrow our zone leaders' mini van and spend the night with the Don Mills sisters, and then bus and subway all the way back downtown early this morning to pick our car back up.... ripple effect. Every decision we make affects so many people. My testimony has strengthened on this concept.

Well, the church is true! And a late thank you/shoutout to Aubrie and Crystal and Crystal and Sirima and Hayley and Carly for the birthday packages and cards! I love y'all!

Also! The new depression mormon message is beautiful! Everyone please watch and share it!

goodbye october, hello november

This week was the week that we saw the fruits of our labors! Wow, so blessed.

So, where to begin, really?

Sick Sister Howle

REWIND:

Okay, so one day a few weeks ago, we were going to meet up with someone downtown. On our way there, we were kind of lost, so we asked this lady that was walking toward us for directions. We chatted and she told us her name we Beth. We told her who we were and started talking about our Heavenly Father and this earth and the restored gospel. Something I loved that she said was, "It's stupid to think this is by chance and it's vain to think it's all about us." Amen, sister friend. She was so cool, but not interested at the moment. She never gave us her number, but we gave her ours and she wished us good blessings as we went our way.

FORWARD:

This past week, we were headed to an appointment with a potential investigator named Brian. When we got to where we were meeting him, he stopped answering his phone, not too uncommon. So, we decided to talk to people in that area. As we are walking, we find a really cool guy named Adam who actually met missionaries years ago! We got his number and went on, convinced that we went to that area to find him. After a while, we are heading back and guess who we see? BETH. She gave us the biggest hugs and told us she had been thinking about us the day before! (ahhhhh) and then when we went into her antique shop there on the street, we pulled out this record there and guess what it was? Mormon Tabernacle Choir. 

SIGNNNNNNNSSSS.

Sister Coleman & Sister Howle

She gave us her number and address and wants to meet sometime soon!

THEN, Brian ended up actually calling us back because he forgot his phone! So it was a great day!

This past week, our friend Chris came teaching with us a bunch! He is such a good missionary! He is a convert and has a strong testimony, just a little shaky at times. But! When he teaches ad testifies with us, it's so powerful! It made me reflect on my own testimony. As missionaries we learn to just cut the fluff and keep things simple, but with that, I realized that I want to work on being sincere and personal when I bear my testimony! So, it's coming along!

(If anyone else feels the same, I HIGHLY recommend studying chapter 3 of PMG and making a list of blessings that you have received from each of the principles taught! I'm doing it, too!)

We also went on exchanges. I love our Sister Training Leaders, Sister Hsiung and Sister Bodine!

Church was so good yesterday! We had quite a few investigators finally come to church and it was fast & testimony meeting and the spirit was so strong! I love the YSA! So many of our ivestigators finally came, that Sister Coleman and I didn't even attend Sunday school or Relief Society because we needed to meet with them before they left! Briefly:

-hyunee came back! she first came in July, but came back and wants to learn more about the Book of Mormon

-Yesol came! She felt the spirit and missed many people. It was so good for her to be there with everyone! She loved it!

-Calvin FINALLY came for the first time. He loved it! He said it was very impressive and that he felt honored to be there. ahhh. And he brought his friend! Yessss! So good.

-Daniel came and met so many people and even told other missionaries in the church that he knew the church was true. (Sister Coleman actually found him when we drove past him one day and after 5 minutes, turned around because she felt that we needed to talk to him-- super prepared!!)

-Karen. Oh man, is she special. After 8 years and a bailed baptism date so long ago, she felt something different and special at church; particularly when they talked about the sacrament. Through her tears, she admitted that she just wanted a big sign-- we told her that she has gotten so many of them already. She is praying about a date for baptism this week :)

-Jacquelin came even though it was hard! The spirit prompted her to come church!

Before my mission, when I was preparing, I started to feel this love for people that hadn't met yet; in testimony meeting yesterday, I expressed that a portion of that love was for them-- the YSA and our investigators there. I NEVER WANT TO LEAVE THESE PEOPLE! I love them so much!! I am so grateful that I've been here for so long because this area has changed me. It's been such a blessing to see it grow and to see the miracles that take place here. Toronto is my sacred grove. I love this place and these people.

I love y'all! xoxo

sniffles and other sick stuff

this week requires a list of my thoughts since I can't put them into proper sentences:

we were going to meet with our cool friend Slava, but he bailed. Seed planted!

our cute friend Shoko from ESL came to sport night and had fun with the YSA!

a less-active, Chris, took us out for all-you-can-eat sushi-- and this is the real stuff. yummmm.

we met with our cute investigator, Karen! She really just wants to put more into knowing if the Book of Mormon is true. So we made her a cute project of some scriptures to read, some talks to listen to, and some mormon messages to watch! Prayers that she will FEEL something as she seeks the spirit. (she also gave us these cool vitamins (what every parent want to hear) and a nice prada candle, so that was cool. We burn it every night and feel super posh.

Friday we had district meeting! I love my district! We are all sooo different but we are one big family, I love it!

Also, being sick on a mission is THE WORST. When sick, you really just want to bum around and sleep and cry and stuff, but on a mission, you gotta get moving! So it's teaching me discipline, but it's also teaching me about turning outward. Its funny how when we are talking to other people and worrying about them and concerned with their needs, that we forget about ourselves and find more happiness while doing so.

So yeah, the weather is getting colder, but it's nice! I just kind of want it to stay the way it is right now, and not get colder. Too bad I probably won't be able to feel my feet within the next couple of months.

Also, Sister Coleman and I hit 8 months this week. WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?! We hope we stay together just one more transfer! President made an announcement recently that we would be staying in our areas longer, instead of being transferred as frequently. This will allow us to gain the trust of members and investigators and really strengthen our love for people here! So.... maybe 6 transfers in Toronto YSA??? PRAYERS :)

That's also something I was reminded of this week during studies, that the prayers of the righteous are what hold this world together. It really is through the righteous prayers of righteous people that wickedness doesn't prevail. When we pray for another individual, they are strengthened. I know this, because of so many prayers that have been said for me. So thank you, I'm really grateful for all of y'all. xoxo

This week we met with a guy named Nick. He was actually stopped by other sisters, but because he is YSA, they passed him off to us. So we taught him and the member that came with us was a less active and it was such a cool experience. Nick has a strong christian background, and so with people like him, it's hard to explain baptism and about the apostasy and how the priesthood has been restored but ONLY in THIS church, and so they'll act like they are understanding everything about it and then when we invite them to be baptized they are like "oh yeah I've already been baptized" soooo haha we always have to reexplain that in a round about sort of way, but it's always good. Church is true and we can't deny it! But the cool part was after the lesson, when we met with the less active, Ulisses, he told us about how he wants to start coming back to church and that he regrets not going on his mission (he is 25), but that he knows the church is true and that he wants to raise his family in it, etc. He is so cool, but its really interesting to see how real the light of Christ is, but also the natural man. Because when we talked with him, deep down, he wants so badly to do good and be good, but when the natural man is the one that is being acted on more frequently, it becomes harder and harder to grasp that light within.

Anyway, it's a work in progress. I love being a missionary for this reason---  because people just open up to us and tell us their personal stories. No one does that with just anyone; but people do do that with missionaries. It's cool that we have that authority that makes people recognize that we are people that can help them. So yeah :)

We also met Dwayne! He is cool and plays soccer and is very open to learning more. Good things are ahead!

We also met with our Chinese friend names Ben. We actually met him OYMing weeks ago, but we met with him yesterday! He really is only interested in helping us out with ESL, but we taught him the restoration and he asked great questions ("Is there a prophet today?") <----- when they ask this, it means they are listening AND understanding. But he is cool! Hopefully, he comes to church!!

And yep. Please pray for Calvin, Yesol, Tiffany, Ben, Nick, Ulisses, and other people you love!

"...for “unto whom much is given much is required” (D&C 82:3), and at times the demands of discipleship are heavy. But shouldn’t we expect the journey towards eternal glory to stretch us? We sometimes rationalize our preoccupation with this world and our casual attempts to grow spiritually by trying to console each other with the notion that living the gospel really shouldn’t require all that much of us. The Lord’s standard of behavior will always be more demanding than the world’s, but then the Lord’s rewards are infinitely more glorious—including true joy, peace, and salvation."

Amen, Sheri Dew! I love this. Life isn't easy, but because God loves us, it can be beautiful. Have a great week!!! I love y'all!