Bonjour mes Soeur!
You guys are awesome.
I'm so happy for Mondays when I get to email you all.
So being home is way
fun and sometimes sad. I have quite a few friends and family members who have
lost their ways and are living in darkness. BUT, opposition in all things, I
have so many who have become so strong in the Gospel and others who are on
their ways back to the Gospel. Its amazing.
I'm so grateful for
what the mission taught me! I can see so much more clearly people's struggles
and strengths! And how I can help! That's a miracle!
Let it be known, I
went on my first official date. It was one of my friends who I've know since
middle school but it was fun. I'm really grateful it was with him because it
was so much more comfortable. I didn't have to stress too much because, heck,
this kid saw me go through all my awkward stages. No pressure. It was funny
though because he's try to be all flirty sometimes. Saw right through that. I
just had to laugh.
That's Eric Porter in
all his glory. What a good kid. I guess he's a man now. That's weird too.
Everyone is an adult. Weird.
Missionary work is in
full swing! I think you all know, I have an older brother who is less active.
Well he has a girlfriend who is also less active. Both of them are living with
my parents right now. So that's kind of awesome for me because I get tons of
missionary opportunities! Lots of little things. Family prayers. Going to
church. You know, being a good example. Well, I put both of their names on my
Personal Mission Plan and this morning I really wanted to up my game with the
missionary work. So I was praying and I just asked Heavenly Father to help me
have some opportunities and help me to recognize them. As well as, give me the
words because I have no clue what to say sometimes. Miracle. This morning I was
putting on my shoes to hop on the treadmill and my mom saw and asked if I
wanted to go walking outside. I said yes and went into my room to change into
warmer clothes. I had a thought that I should invite Alyssa (my brothers girlfriend) to come with us.
So I was a little
nervous because she usually just stays in her room all the time. I hollered down the hall and just told her we were going and asked if she'd like to come.
She said she was putting away laundry and I just said ok and left it at that. I
walked up stairs and not even two minutes later she came running up and stair
and said she would put her laundry away later. AWESOME! So my mom takes us on
this long walk around the neighborhoods and towards the end I just invited her
to come to my homecoming talk this Sunday.
We get chatting more
about the church and she tells me how she was baptized at 8 years old but her
family was never really active. She had some experiences with some people in
church that made her a bit angry towards members of the church and she decide
that was it for her. She was done. But since she's been dating my
brother and has been around my family her thoughts and feels have started to
change. YES!
She said she struggles
when it comes to the idea of God because she likes to see things and she hasn't
seen him. We talked about how we don't see him but we can see evidences of his
love all around us. Its a feeling. We feel that he is there and he loves us and
that's how we know. We then had a great talk about prayer and how we can know
he's there through prayer. She said Chase had also been talking to her about
how she should start praying and how there were other things that had been
telling her she should start praying. She said she knows that the Church is
where she needs to be its just getting there that is hard. So I'm really so
excited to be able to keep helping her! I mentioned how that's what I did on my
mission and that's what the missionaries here could help her do when she was
ready. SO EXCITED! The Lord really truly answered my prayers today and what's
better is he is answering her unspoken prayers too! He is just so good to us
all.
So I had my first
little "homecoming" talk yesterday. I spoke in the YSA ward and it
went well. I talked about service (and of course tied in the Gospel of Jesus
Christ and testified of the Restoration) and then challenged them all to pray,
observe then serve this week. They have to do it every day for one week and
then they have to report back to their home/visiting teachers. I'm doing
everything I can to remind them. I'm blasting it on the YSA Facebook page, I'm
going to make an announcement at Home Evening tonight. I have so much hope and
faith that this really will help this ward. They have so many struggles and I
think a lot of them would go away if they turned outward and served each
other.
Funny side note from
speaking on Sunday. My YSA Stake President came and sat next to me on the
stand. He is like President Patrick but more giggly and match makery. So funny.
So first thing he asks me is if I've gone on a date yet. I was happy to say
that I had. Then he asked me if I kissed him. WHAT THE?! I died laughing.
"Nope President, I didn't kiss him." "Why not? That's how you'll
know that you're really home." I died. Mind you, my dad is sitting like 5
feet away from us because he is in the bishopric in the YSA ward.
But the awkwardness
didn't stop there. Before the meeting officially starts, he's leaning over to
me and pointing out cute boys who are in the congregation. Are you kidding me?
He then asks me if they are too young for me. I informed him that I was 24
years old. He then said, "Oh, so what? He's cute isn't he?" This my
President!
The funniest part was
right before I go to speak. Literally, I am siding off my chair, he pulls me
back and says something to the effect of, "Well, you know, there are a lot
of cute guys out there and they're all single. I just want you to have your
purpose in mind when you get up there." I died. Are you kidding me? I am
on the stand, about to speak about service and the Gospel of Jesus Christ and
my Stake President is chatting it up with me about what my true purpose is.
Yep. That's cleared it up. I'm definitely home.
Life is funny. I go in
for orientation to start substitute teaching today. Excited for that. Still
trying to figure out what I'm suppose to be when I grow up and where I'm
suppose to live. I probably won't move till the first of the year because,
let's face it, I'm broke. But all is well!
I have a testimony
that daily good habits protect us from the whirlwinds of temptations. Its so
crazy to see all the opposition that is in this life but I know that Lord is
there when we turn to him. He helps us figure things out and he truly answers
our prayers! I love you all. Do some good today.
I invite you all to
take part in the week of service and see who you can't find this week! Alma
17-18 :)
LOVE
YOU!!!!!!!!!!
Bisous,
Soeur Tribe
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