And they all lived happily ever after..... eventually... probably.

I've finally gotten the Guts to write my last Mission post... *sob sob*

My last week as a missionary... was well... I won't lie and say that it was great... haha  but it was definitely a week full of learning for me. It started just like every week does... P-daaaaay! it was our last week of the transfer and i was ready to finish the transfer with a bang...Little did i know that that was exactly how i would finish the transfer... and my mission.

Tuesday went just as planned, we carried on with the usual missionary work and then got to bed a little early since we had to leave for the hospital at 6 am Wednesday morning.  Here's the thing... i was expecting to go in there and have my ECG and ultrasound of my heart and they'd be like "yup you've got a murmur but it's no biggy... carry on with life"  that's usually how things had worked out before... I just carried on and nothing was ever a big deal... so i'm lying there and the technician leaves.... brings back someone else to double check... but i'l still in LaLa Land thinking it's all good.  Before i leave they tell me that the results will take 5-7 days to get to my doctor and then he will discuss the results with me.  sweet! so we head home... by this time it's like 9:30 am and i'm like... I need a nap yo! because we got up so early... an hour later the doctor calls... "Sister Botts, your results just got back to me, I need you to come in immediately so we can discuss the results"  well, there goes my optimism... all the worst case scenarios go through my head... worst worst worst case is that i have to go home right?  so i'm sitting in the car, mentally preparing myself "They're going to send you home Christi, but its ok. it will all be ok"... Sometimes i prepare myself for the worst in hopes that i'm being a drama queen and it's not going to happen... so I get there... the doctor comes in and tells me that the issue with my heart requires surgery... so i'm a little freaked out but still smiling like an idiot because i'm so so so in denial....  "How long have you served sister Botts" He asks "14 months as of today".... "well Sister Botts, your mission is served"
I'm so prideful i'm trying desperately to hold back the tears like it's all cool... but i couldn't. i sat there sobbing like an utter fool... Cleaned my face and headed out to my companion... slightly red eyed but no longer sobbing... Thinking, the longer i can go without saying anything the longer it will be before i start to cry again... i probably made it like 30 seconds... we didn't even get to the elevator door before i was sobbing once again like an idiot....

one side of me is recognising all the small things that Heavenly Father had given me to prepare me for this happening... the other side of me is still so sure that these things don't happen to me and everything will be fine.  it always ends up just fine right?  

They had scheduled me for a CT scan to double check the results... they said that it would be in about 5 says...  well that gives me some time at least... So once i stopped crying enough to be in public i picked up the area book and we picked a name to go and see... not even a minute after we decided on who to visit the phone rings... so much for 5 days.... CT Scan in 30 minutes... Great.  but that's ok... because everything was going to be fine... This test will point out that the other test was wrong.. sweet!!

Ok... not so sweet... But i'm still hopeful that despite the CT Scan confirming everything, they will let me finish!! I only have 4.5 months left!  I can finish!   I had been in contact with a member from my first area with everything that was going on and she was coming to meet us for dinner near the hospital... She brought Back Up!  Roxsan and Emily! I don't know if you will ever know how much i appreciated you two coming that night! it was just what the doctor ordered...  well actually he ordered Surgery... but i like you guys more than i like surgery! hahah

Thursday morning I still hadn't spoken to president about going home... so i'm happily assuming that it's not happening...   Nonetheless some Elders came to give me a blessing.... Straight after the Blessing the mission President called... I would have preferred that there were't 4 elders there to witness what happened next... because i ugly cried... like REALLY ugly cried! President confirmed that i was being sent home... He suggested the next day... well i'm rather stubborn and said no...  we managed to decide on Monday morning instead...  so i went to a member's home ( I freaking love you Emily Asbury!) to skype my parents and let them know what was happening... lots more crying... i don't know why i even bothered to put on make up that day... TWICE!
After Skype we went and had lunch with the other Elders in our District! I loved that district so freaking much! we had so much fun together!

Friday was zone training... it was good because i got to say goodbye to so many people that i loved. I just love the missionaries in my mission so much! but it also sucked because i'm just such a cry baby!! so bad! Then i went to the mission office to pick up a package that had arrived for me... as we got there so did the mission president and his wife... with my travel itinerary.... So... yeah you guessed it... More crying!!   The rest of friday was spent packing and then we had a dinner appointment. They bought me a birthday cake!! it was so sweet!!  I love the members!  after our dinner appointment we went back home and prepared for the next day... WE WERE GOING TO THE TEMPLE WITH THE LUJANS!! They were being sealed!! what a great birthday!

Saturday was Glorious!!
I was still feeling rather sorry for myself, I felt like I was being punished and like God had decided that i was not good enough to be a missionary anymore. I was still Heart broken. (both literally and Figuratively) We Met up with the Lujans and then drove up with them to the Denver temple! I was so excited to be there with them! I had never been to a sealing before so they would be my first!  I love them so much, after 3 months it felt like i had never left... Got straight back to beating up the boys! hahah

While we were waiting in the waiting room for them, Bishop Lowder from The Rio Grand ward (My previous area) Got there! Happy days! Bishops have like this magical power to make you feel better when things are crappy!
So then we went in for the sealing. it was so beautiful!
After that we headed out of the temple... as i got to the foyer i saw a familiar face... AH!! a sister from my second Area That i had grown very quickly to love very much! She recognised me and stood up and i walked over and we just had a really big long hug!! we talked and i let her and her husband know what was happening... then lots more hugging and some more crying... She Said "I knew i was going to see someone that meant a lot to me today" it was at that moment that i realised that Heavenly Father didn't hate me. He wasn't punishing me. He cared about me and wanted me to get better... and He was showing me this by giving me all these little blessings during what was really the hardest trial of my life... I have never done anything harder than going home early from my mission. it meant everything to me and i thought i would still have 4.5 months to prepare myself for it's end.  now i got 4 days instead... But this was just a little sign to me that Heavenly Father was still there. He hadn't abandoned me like i thought he had.

After the temple we set off to have lunch together! I hadn't eaten properly since tuesday so i was pretty hungry! Bishop Lowder had left but sent me a message saying he felt that he needed to ask if i wanted another blessing... I said yes! I felt like it was totally okay to have a bajillion blessings right then! I needed them all!  So once we finished our lunch... They sang to me... Awkward hahaha... we headed back to colorado springs to Meet The bishop. Once we got there He and Brother Lujan gave me a blessing in the middle of a Wendy's parking lot... it didn't matter where we were though. the Spirit was there. The blessing was exactly what i needed. It confirmed to me that I was not forgotten about and although this was not what i wanted, It was always the Lord's plan that i would only serve 14 months. (i Wish he would tell me these things before the time! ) And with that, We all said goodbye in the parking lot... cry cry cry some more.  but it was an amazing day! it was a good way to end things... If i really had to end things...

From there we headed to see Sister Kirby! She had prepared a Birthday meal and cake for me!  Mmmm steak and potatoes!  my fave!  we spent the rest of the evening there with Sister Kirby and Emily. It was a fun night! we played Apples to Apples... they usually don't like playing that with me haha and then we headed home... to pack and cry some more.  sad days.

Sunday was both terribly hard and awesomely great!

After Church on sunday Roxsan came to say goodbye... and let me hold her baby.. because i just had to do that before i left...  When all of a sudden, Elders Zaugg and Nelson show up at the apartment with cake and banners and balloons and streamers... it was like a party in a box!  how sweet was that? I just love them! Loooove them! After they and Roxsan left we headed out to Choir and dinner... we had pot luck at choir!  and then from choir... we went home and i packed my stuff into the car and we headed out to the Work of Salvation Missionary Fireside... when i got there there were a ton of members from my first area!  what luck that they were there on my last day as a missionary! i got to talk to a lot of them and say my goodbyes... Goodbyes suck!

The only upside to leaving so unexpectedly (in my head) was that i didn't have to give a departing testimony... i always dreaded that part... and i was happy to have gotten away without doing that... when suddenly... President Rehm calls me up during the fireside... and had me give it there and then... dun dun dunnnnnn...   once that was over i had to meet with president and Head over to spend the night at the Sister Training leader's place so they could drop me to the airport on Monday morning.  it was all kind of a daze and i felt like it still wasn't happening.  it was all going to work out and i'd get to stay.... i felt that way all the way up until i stepped on to that first plane. Then i kind of just died inside.  It was all over... Allllll over.    That was the hardest four days of my life... Literally! But through all of that i was reminded about blessings and advice i had received during my 14 months as a missionary. One blessing said that i would know when to work and know when to rest... another said to rely on the atonement of Jesus Christ, that He knew what i was going through and could help me.   It's funny because at the time i had received those blessings they helped... but i didn't realise that they would help me even  more much much later.

I was sad and heart broken the entire time but i still felt of the Saviour's love. I hate that i'm not a missionary anymore. sometimes i'm still surprised when i wake up in my own bed in the morning but at the same time, i know that This is in the Lord's hands. I may not like this plan right now but I  am comforted by the fact that i know it is HIS plan. and His plan is always better than mine.
I'm probably still going to get frustrated with things... all the time... i probably murmur more than my heart does! But besides all of that, all of the times when i know i'm going to feel like a whiny baby... like "Why meeeeeee?!"   I know that there is more to the plan. And that the plan is a good one.  The best one.

We're Your People!

This week started out pretty poopy! haha We had Zone Conference on Tuesday, so we spend our P-day washing our car... old school with sponges and buckets! It was pretty sweet!

Then... we wanted to be extra sure, so we went through a car wash for a cheap rinse! Then we needed to vacuum it... cuz it was full of random little junks! But the machine would only take coins.. We had none and I wasn't willing to pay 3 bucks to draw cash! So... off to the house we went... picked up our vacuum cleaner, and went to the chapel to use an extension cord... Finally got the vacuum to the car... and oh... well look at that... it sucks!.... or should I say, it doesn't!!! Grrr!! So... we swept and wiped and swept some more... sooo much effort... so we gave up and go to our appointments and decide to wake up early before Zone Conference and get some cash to change into coins... sweet! Plan! We get there... stick the money in the machine... *SLURRRRP* Gone... ok forget that... off to Zone Conference with our unvacuumed, yet sparkly clean polished car!... Luckily we got a "Great" for our interior.. happy days!!  Zone Conference was good!! It always is!


We spent a lot of time this week helping people with moving!! It's good though!! I miss the good hard manual labour!! PUT ME TO WORK!! haha

I've spent part of the week just daydreaming about rugby... so weird. Sometimes I find myself thinking about home things... and then I wake up and my companion reminds me that it was 14 months to the day since I left home... and then I die a little bit because the time goes so fast, and I still feel like I haven't done anything! How the freak has the time gone so fast!! I don't believe it!

This week.... Has a very special day in it though!... March 5th... Why is it special.... No!!! not that!! :/


Because I get to go to the temple with the Lujans as they are sealed as a family!!!! How exciting is that!!! Nothing better to be doing on that day!!

At the Denver Temple in October

Freak I Love my mission so much!! We have been sharing with the active members a message about Missionary work and the importance of it... and that's just reminded me even more of how important it is!! During one of our lessons I just felt that I needed to turn to 3rd Nephi in the Book of Mormon... I didn't understand why, I thought that surely there is no relevance there to our lesson on missionary work... and then I came up to the page that I had marked when Elder Nash was here... it was in ch 11 when Christ appears to the Nephites and when they recognise who He is, they say "Hosanna"

Christ appeared to the Nephites

That word doesn't just mean like "Oh yay" like I had thought a few years, back but it actually means "Oh Grant Salvation"

3 Nephi 11:17
 Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him.

... then in verse 21 Jesus Christ tells them that he is giving them the power to baptise the people when he is gone...

21 And the Lord said unto him: I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

So in essence... Jesus comes, the people say "Oh, Grant salvation" and then He does! He gives them that power to baptise and bring people to His True Gospel.




And now we have that power! That Priesthood Authority to once again "Grant Salvation" how freaking sweet is that? So it's not only a blessing that we have... but a responsibility to share the gospel with others and to help them come to the gospel... and we can't do that alone... we really do need to involve the missionaries in that process! If you have friends that are interested in the gospel, have the missionaries help teach them... We had this discussion with a member last night... He is returning to activity in the gospel and he has a lot of friends who are not members. We told him that he was in a position to share the gospel with so many people... Then we told him that he needed to involve us in that process...  He thought he'd be smart and said "you just want more people to teach" I had my sassy pants on and responded quite honestly with "No, They're your friends, I'm sure you want them to have the gospel... but the truth of the matter is that we're probably 100 times better at teaching the gospel than you are... so ..." And that ended that... haha... It was funny... but true. I'm not talking only about myself, all missionaries are set apart to do this! So if you want success in bringing your friends and family to the gospel... we're your people!! haha

We're your people

Anyway! I freaking love this gospel! I love the people that I've been able to meet in the last 14 months and I'm so excited to see what the next 5 will bring!! Transfers are next week so we shall see where I end up or if I stay! I'd like to stay!


Anyhoo.... I love you all!!


Make Good Choices!!


:)

Off Road and On Track

I legit spoke to an Olympic rugby player this week.... Freaking made my day!
We went to the Olympic Training Center and took the tour.

I, of course, was wearing my Springbok rugby jersey because... just because. So anyway... we're walking down the stairs at the end of the tour and I'm talking to Sister Kirby and Sister Adams about crocodiles eating people (seriously!), and this woman is looking at me kinda strange and she turns around and says "Rugby?" and I'm like YESSS!!! Just excited that someone actually wants to talk about rugby with me. So we chatted and then she's like.. Oh yeah, I play for the Eagles... which is the USA team... so there's that. It was pretty schweet... and now I've been wanting to play rugby all week. When I get home... I'mma kick some serious butt.... that'll be fun!!

That'll give me a reason to start seriously working out in the mornings again!! Ok Go! I have like 5 months to lose 20lbs... that's possible right? I probably drink like 60 lbs of soda a month anyway! Haha ... and since I've given that up for "Lent" hahaha...


Other than that it's been a pretty quiet week! I got to have breakfast with someone from my first area!  That was so great! We also had breakfast at Denny's on Tuesday before we had to go to an early appointment ... it was sweet! Our server was Baptist and we had a good talk! She said to us "well since you are in your missionary uniforms, we are going to give you your 10% "uniform discount" haha that was pretty sweet!


I found my soul mate this week! His name is Lugnut and he is super buff! We pretty much made out for like our entire appointment. #true love. #calmdownitsadog

New love- Lugnut

I am loving this area! I'm scared to say it because whenever I do, I usually get moved... But I really love the people here! You know how you go somewhere and you find the people that you were supposed to go there to find. I think that really happened this week! So many people that I've just been like... aaagh! I love them! Such good people here that I've learned so much from!! Let me staaaaaaay!!! hahaha




On Saturday it was super sunny and we didn't have any set appointments except for one at 10 am and then later in the afternoon, so we got our bikes and went to the park to talk to some people! It was so nice! Super sunny and there was a bike trail that we took with a bunch of people on it... and a sweet lookout point where there were binoculars, and so we got off and looked... and there were turtles lying on a rock... I got way over excited! It was like being back in South Africa in the KNP again!! It was pretty sweet! So we ended up talking to a bunch of people. My butt hurt after all that off road biking, but it was sweet! I forgot how much I loved being on my bike!!

Back on the bike

It's almost the end of the transfer again... and thus the end of training! That 3 months went too fast and dragged all at the same time! 3 transfers left. That blows my mind!! I don't get how that happens! Missions are supposed to feel like forever, and you're supposed to count down the days until you get to go home.... right??? Because I'm not there yet?!! So maybe I'll just stay here until that day comes ok?






I've been thinking about prayer a lot this week and then we taught a few lessons on it also...  I realised how my prayers were not sincere enough... or at least I don't think they are. Sometimes I think prayers are just for things I can't do by myself, or that asking for things is weak.... even from Heavenly Father... But then as I was thinking about prayer, and I remembered the scriptures in Matthew 26:36-39  

36 ¶Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Even Jesus Christ prayed to Heavenly Father for help and comfort....and if He needs to... well I'm nothing compared to Him so I definitely need to right?


Alma 37:37 in the Book of Mormon is my fave! Because it says "counsel" which suggests that it is a two way conversation... not just leaving a message on the phone.

 37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

Anyway.... the time is almost up... and we have to go wash our car... it's filthy and Zone Conference is tomorrow! Have a great week!!


I love you all! :)

Turtles and Tracksuits

Well, well, well... I feel like I start every one of these entries with some form of "well", which just shows how my communications studies in college have not helped me much. I'll try to figure out some more interesting ways to start these emails from now on.... excluding today,


Today when I logged on there was like 3 billion emails... ok... I'm possibly probably exaggerating... but a lot of them... and so I want to say thank you to everyone that emailed me this week! You guys are all so great and you made my day!

Sorry to those that I did not respond to yet... I will deffo do that next week!


This week has been ... ummm... interesting... lots of crazy things happened but also a lot of awesome things happened! We had an investigator at church on Sunday which was sweet!! And it wasn't one of those Sundays where you cringe at the talks and wish the visitor had picked a different Sunday to come for the first time! Luckily I've never had one of those on my mission.... but I have had those... you know what I mean!! hahaha


We got to go on exchanges on Saturday! That was pretty great! Sometimes I just love spending the day with people who I have no clue about and just teaching them. It's so much fun. Did I even just say that?! Hahaha can you imagine?... Me, Christi, liking strangers!! There was this super Ghetto set of apartments...I just wanted to tract them all... soooo ghetto!! Could you imagine how fun that would be?

Exchanges on Saturday

Someone today said to me "I'm excited to see you this summer" and I got all excited that they were coming to visit Colorado!!! I was like.. yes!! I wanna show them a cool place on P-day.... This is so exciti.... oh. oh . no.... I see what she means. oh... yeah. I'll be home this summer.... nope. Back into my turtle shell of denial... Thank you bye! hahaha

So this week at service, we were sorting some clothes... and there was this super fresh 80's track suit... It was so sweet man! Then... the woman in the back was like... 'Well... no one's going to wear this... you should take it home....' so guess what... I did! Freak... I should have been around in the 80's just saying!

The 'super fresh 80's jog suit'

So... I'm almost out of time and also things to say... so here is my fun study for the week...

 
I was studying the Book of Mormon... not from it, but more about it, and I came across the scripture in Matthew that says "in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

So I'm like oh yeah... the Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ... but I already knew that... but then I got to John:1:1 where it speaks about "in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word Was God".... and then I'm like... oh yeah!!! Mind blown. Every word, Christ being the Word, Established by the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses... and the Book of Mormon is that second witness of Jesus Christ... or as John put it "the Word"...

I don't even know if it makes sense but my mind was a little bit like... crazy! I get way excited about stuff like this... anyway... there's that!


It's been good!! I've learned a lot this week. about myself and about loving other people... even when they suck... cuz let's be honest, people will always suck....!




But... the gospel helps you to see past their suck and helps you work on loving them!! I'm so grateful for the Gospel and for my mission in helping me love people...even when I seem like I want to smack 'em... I do love them! I just need to work on the part where I show that now... haha!!  I have 5 months left to work on that!! Plenty of time right!


Well.... ( I think I always end with "well" too... )


I love you all! Thank you for your love!! You are all so great!! And you put up with my craziness... that's always a plus!!


Have a wonderful week!! Love you!!!!!

Drifting and Driving

Well... I guess another week has passed. Can that please stop happening now?




I learned a very interesting lesson this week!
So it snowed like a whole ton Sunday through Tuesday! It sucked because we got parked... but... you know me and how much I love when people freak out because of the weather! People were stuck everywhere, it was great.... anyway... back to the point. Thursday came and all the snow was melting away! It was pretty sunny, but there was this big grey cloud headed our direction! So I decided to ask people if it was supposed to snow again this week... Each time, after consulting their various mobile devices, they would say, 'Nope, zero chance of snow this week'... Well after asking about 4 people I kind of got irritated because I thought that by now I know what a freaking snow cloud looks like, but, in the words of my wonderful sister, "Compu'er Says No" haha so that was that! I gave up on my dreams of chaos and went to bed... Awkward moment when you wake up... look at the weather to decide what to wear and you see... everything is covered in snow!

What the heck? So before we left I took to clearing the car off, and while trying to blow my now popsicle fingers warm, I thought to myself "But the internet said there would be no snow?"

And then straight away realised how stupid I am, because I saw the clouds! So I felt a little stupid for being unprepared for the snow when I had totally seen the clouds! I knew that it was going to snow, but instead of believing what I clearly saw and knew, I believed everyone else who told me their info from the inside of their houses without ever having looked at the clouds.

I think we... especially me, have moments in our lives where we know for sure that things are true! Where we have a strong testimony of the Saviour because of things we have seen and felt in our own lives... but then as soon as the world tells us over and over again that we're wrong, we are tempted to, and sometimes do, believe them over what we have seen and know to be true.

I think of when Korihor, in the Book of Mormon, went around and tried to tell people that they were wrong, that the things they believed were just the foolish traditions of their fathers... and so many of them,  even after having seen the miracles in their lives and gaining that testimony, still believed him, whereas Alma did not. When Korihor said that there was no proof of God, Alma didn't just refute with saying "well... you can't prove that's there's no God either so nah nah Nah" No, he bore his testimony to him and told him how he knew for sure that there was a God. He said that all things are a testimony of God, and that all things around us, the planets, they way they orbit, everything that we have... denote that there is, in fact, a God.

So that's something I learned this week... and also... that setting mean traps to be funny will come back to bite you in the bum... or more like... Frost Bite you in the bum! Sunday night we went to the dog park in the complex with one of our members so she could take her pup to do her business... and there in the park is a big hole that the dogs have dug up... well I thought it would be hilarious to cover the hole up with snow... and just imagine someone falling in it... hilarious! Well Monday night came and I had not yet forgotten about this hole... I knew in which general area it was and so I was trying to find it... then I gave up and Boom!!!... Found myself on my butt in the hole... Genius! That'll teach me. Probably not though.

This week was full of fun things! We went to our dinner appointment on Tuesday night and while we waited for dinner we played with the sister's two daughters. They are just the cutest. They have a piece of my tiny heart! After dinner and our message, when we were getting ready to leave I felt so bad... they each grabbed a leg and cried because they didn't want us to leave... so I was stomping around with two little munchkins on my legs!! I miss my babies!! Haha... for real though!

Wednesday we were finally allowed to drive again! Happy days! I love Drifting in the snow... did I say Drifting??? I meant... Driving! Hahaha jokes!!

We got to go to do service and that was fun. There was barely anyone there because of the snow still on the roads.
Thursday we were meant to do weekly planning... but probably only got to do a few minutes of it and had to do the rest on Friday because we ended up being so busy on Thursday with appointments! It was nice! I like days like that!! This week I also got to hold a sweet-A Lizard! Happy days..

.



So... it has been a good week! Lots of things to do! We have a sister in our ward who just got home from her mission this week... that's slightly terrifying... because ... yeah... I feel like it's so close now!! No thanks!


Well.... that's it from me this week I guess... I feel like I've talked about anything that I had to say that was even slightly interesting!!

A record of the good things that happen every day

So... yeah!! I love you all!! Thanks for being great and always saying nice stuff about me... that's cool... hahaha

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!




BYEEE!! :)

Just a Little Bit Crazy

Well another week has flown past! Freak!! It's been 13 months since I left! Well, thats just crazy!
It finally snowed!!! Happy freaking days!


Tuesday was interesting! Got to say goodbye to some pals. I always thought people were dumb when they said "oh, I'm getting to the point where I don't know any missionaries any more, all my friends left" then it happened to me. Awkward! Multiple times I wanted to pick up the phone and let people know funny things that happened... and then I'm like... oh :/ never mind, I guess.

Missing friends

Also got to have lunch with my Li'l Sister Park, since she was waiting for her new companion to arrive... We're not doing transfer meetings any more so it was a little different this time round. Different but good!
So that was pretty nice!

Lunch with Sis. Park

This week we had a lesson with a less active sister who is just great! I love her. We would have been friends even if I wasn't a missionary! We planned for her lesson a week earlier, and then when we went to see her. As we shared the message, we only got like 1 scripture of 11 words read... then she told us how the entire week she had felt like Heavenly Father was trying to talk to her, and telling her that things would be ok! She said our message confirmed it. He really was talking to her. Her countenance changed drastically just from that time! It was so awesome to see! So grateful again that Heavenly Father knows His children well enough to direct us to be able to help them!




My companion and I got matching hats this week... so that happened.

Matching hats

Also got hit on A LOT by old people this week... that's awkward. It's not much of a boost for your self esteem when they're like... ancient! And probably going blind! Haha
And I made it a goal not to have my hair just dangling around everyday any more... so I tied it up for District Meeting. Our District Leader told me I looked like a feminist. well.... thanks!!... I'm like the least feminist person in the world hahaha! But it was funny! Our district is pretty great!


This week we also met with a less active member and his non-member wife. Her mother was there too!! A sweet old lady in her 80s. We had such a good discussion with them! It was so great! I wouldn't be surprised if she was the one dragging them to church in the near future! haha I love this area! It's so great!


This week I've been missing my little ninos at home! They're growing so much! Little Steph is better at counting in Spanish than in English. That's impressive! haha Weird how fast they grow when you don't see them.


This morning I got a call from one of the members in my previous ward! It was so awesome to speak to her! She is the Best! Such a good example to me! Then her butt husband (yes, Scott, that's you) took the phone and said hi. Then me and her talked a bit more! It was such a great way to start my day because I was feeling pretty grumpy before that!  I'm so grateful for amazing people around me that keep me sane. I know keeping me sane is rather a large task!! haha

Little bit crazy

So funny story... We were walking back to the apartment after checking our mail, and these two dudes moving stuff ask "Are you the building manager?" and I'm like oohh... no... these badges are because we are missionaries. So he's all like oh yeah we saw the badges and thought maybe. so I said sorry, BUT if you want to learn about Jesus Christ and his restored Gospel, we are your people!! He was like... if I wasn't in the middle of working I would!... so... he's pretty much getting baptised.. hahaha


We also helped the housing coordinators move some stuff in to the apartment next door.. A senior couple is moving in. I'm excited! I bet they're nice. Also... I'm just excited to help move more stuff!! At the beginning of my mission we freaking moved people all the time.. now no one asks cuz we're girls... but like.. we have arms. So yeah. Anyway. Not a feminist! hahaha



I love this gospel!
I'm excited to bring everything that I've learned on my mission into normal life... and my future family... if that exists! Maybe my future family is me, Thor and nothing else... but that'll work too I guess. haha. He's a good companion!
Anyway, I'm trying to not think about going home... because I kind of never want to... but I miss the babies and my dog. Can they just be fedexed to me? Is that a thing?


Today I was studying a talk called "All is Well" by President Uchtdorf!

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Admittedly, because I've had a hard week and was feeling rather pitiful and sorry for myself. I recently had a Priesthood blessing that said "All is well" and I kinda laughed, The Lord must really have a sense of humour because I always say "all is well" when it's clearly not... anyway.. so I read this talk. It was all about the pioneers and how they, if anyone would have had reason to yell from the top of their lungs "all is not well" and yet they didn't just sing this song during their hard times, They freaking wrote it! I'm just saying! Shame on me for being such a whiner this past week


I'm so grateful for people in my life who have carried on despite life sucking at times. Trav, you are my Hero! I love you so much! You were never wishy washy about the Gospel! Even when I was. Even when I wasn't even bothering to go to church. (sorry Mom and Dad.... I don't know if you knew that. Awkward)

Travice, Dad and Christi

And the Saviour! He did everything for me with such love! Even when I screw things up multiple times a day.. sometimes multiple times an hour... He just never gives up on me. What's more, He knew very perfectly about every time I would mess things up... and He still felt all that I felt and chose to suffer for me. And you!

Blows my mind!


I read about the Anti-Nephi-Lehis this week!!  (Book of Mormon Alma chapters 23 and 24) They are so boss! When they buried their weapons of war it wasn't just that they physically buried their weapons... but they spiritually gave all of that up. Everything that was holding them back. I think sometimes I give up bad things and I think.. well I'm so great I gave that up! And then I think I'm even more blessed if I give up stuff that I still want to do... but really I'm more blessed if I give them up AND stop desiring them!!


Earlier this year I had my Mom get rid of a bunch of music and movies  for me before I get home so I don't talk myself into keeping it, and listening to the same crap that made me crazy! The Anti-Nephi Lehis, however were not like that. The didn't ask Ammon to bury their weapons in case they were tempted... they buried them themselves! They're way stronger than me! That's for sure!! And then to add to that... when they were about to be killed they still didn't take up arms!! They kept their covenants! AND THEN!!!! When some of their people were killed, they were sad for their dead but MORE sad for those Lamanites who died without the gospel... They knew that their brethren were safe but that the Lamanites were not... how Christlike is that?! I'd be like.. ah yeah!! Rot in H.....  But they weren't. They were truly sad for them! I wish I could be more like that!

Well... like I said before... sometimes life is crap and sometimes that crap is fertiliser...

Our zone leaders once said in a Zone training meeting "Life will be crappy but we will still be happy"

It's true!! Life gets hard... but daily Gospel living will save your life. It wont take the trials away... but you'll get through it!!

Thanks everyone for being so awesome! I love you all!!


I hope you have a great week! And make good choices!!

BYE!!! :)