What a week! A lot of action at home as usual! Lauren, where are your senior pics?! I would love to see a sneak peak of my big little sister! Sure does sound like a lot of movement at home between baseball, graduations, homecomings, family and more baseball! I do love you ALL!
Haha, well you stole my thunder- I AM BEING TRANSFERRED! I was pretty surprised- I expected to be here for at least several more months, but am nevertheless sure that where I am headed will be full of amazing people. These past couple of days have just made my stomach upset with trying to give all my good byes, writing letters, and packing! I worry for the people that I can't keep up with, but hope that in giving them my testimony and memories and a piece of my growth that they will remember the change they have made and want to continue to draw nearer to Jesus christ! I do have full faith that this next area will bring me much happiness and that I will work very hard. But man, if just leaving my area is hard, I am dreading having to leave the mission field.
I feel so grateful to have witnessed Ed and Brenda begin to come closer to Jesus Christ and progressing towards baptism. This week we have had some super neat experiences- particularly with Brenda. We actually went on a temple tour with her, bishop and sis Mixon, and even bro makinson joined us a little later! It was so wonderful Friday night Orlando traffic was insane, but somehow we got there just in time. There was a one hour orientation given by a member of our mission presidency where the restoration, plan of salvation, and process/why temples are built was discussed. We then went over to walk around the temple. It was beautiful. Brenda was beaming. She was so open in asking questions, and was recognizing the spirit. She felt it to be such an honor that Bishop came to accompany us.
One other highlight of the week was when we were able to bike all up down and around lake Helen. It is such a quaint little town that we don't go to very often because so most of our work is done in the northern part of Deltona- but in between all of our biking we gained 4 new investigators, had a wonderful discussion with a less active sister in our Ward, and had several really neat contacts. It was such an enjoyable day. It was lightly raining for most the day, we were able to eat our lunch at a nearby canopy, and ... even took pictures!!! Haha, but I am so glad that I have been taking pictures this week- Deland 2 South has meant everything to me! A perfect first area!
Quick Highlights:
This week was also interviews with President! It was so refreshing to speak with him. I really have gained a testimony of the authority and discernment of priesthood leaders in these last 4 months. He asked me so many inspired questions. He said the things that I knew I needed to hear.
One other fun thing we were able to do was service for this wonderful single sister in our Ward. She is such a staple for us and this ward, so we were thrilled to finally be able to do something for her. We spent a very enjoyable Saturday afternoon weeding, painting, and raking. It's funny how things (scripture study, cleaning etc.) once a chore, now are a huge relief to do on a mission. I loved to be outside and getting to work with her!
Yesterday was pretty much spent going from house to house and taking pics, trying to eat one more desert that each member would inevitably offer us- haha, and saying the temporary farewell. I love this Ward, and am so pleased to leave it knowing that I have invested everything here. I am very excited to see where I will be serving next- wahoo! We will see tomorrow morning and let you know next week!
I have come to be comfortable in biking this area, in building relationships with Ward members, having edifying interactions with gators. As I reflect on the use of my time and results of my effort, I can see that because of the success I have experienced in developing relationships and seeing people change, it's time for a change myself! I am grateful that I can again experience the growing pains of becoming completely unfamiliar, because it forces me to dig my heels even deeper and try to bloom faster in new ground. Lately we have shared Alma 32:34 -For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. I know that the Lord blesses those that desire to work with Him in his field- I feel trusted and strengthened. And so so blessed!
According to Princess Diaries, "a picture is worth more than one thousand words" :) So I am going to try to spend the remainder of my time trying to download pictures. The computer is very slow, but will try try try to send you as many as I can.
Press forward! Be steady! Be excited! Keep on keepin' the faith!
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