May 28, 2018 -- A Lot of Water This Week
Hey Everyone!
Some of you may have heard that the first big storm of Hurricane season is headed towards the panhandle, so we are on lockdown in our apartments today!
This week has been full of amazing experiences involving water. Rain, a filled font, and many tears. All positive things, in my opinion!
Firstly, Hurricane season is upon us. That means it rains at least for a few minutes everyday. I was reading back through some of my journal entries and emails from when I was in Madison a year ago, and seeing the rain reminds me so much of that time. When it rains just on you with sunshine all around, it really does remind you of how short trials are. The rain comes and washes everything clean, and then it goes and the sun comes out again. There has got to be a poem in there somewhere! I have also fallen in love with the smell of the rain. There is nothing like standing under a palm tree in the pouring rain and watching dropplets drip down off the leaves.
Brother Tom got baptized this week. I can't even begin to describe how wonderful it all was. We got to the church early to fill the font, and I had forgotten how amazing it is to sit and listen to the water run. It's an experience I recommend that everyone have. Brother Tom is pretty tall and the font at our building is a little small, so he almost hit his head on the way under, but he didn't! A recently returned missionary in the ward, Blake, baptized him. Sister Burnham came too! It was great to see her again. We asked Brother Tom how he was feeling after the baptism, and he told us that he felt like he had joined a family. I agreed, especially because I am his granddaughter now! I am just blown away by his commitment to Christ. He is 75 years old, and has changed his entire life to comply with God's commandments. His humility and love continue to astonish me everyday.
On Sunday, Presdient Smith came to Pace! We had a discussion about missionary work with the youth in the ward, and President sat on a panel with us and Blake. The youth could ask us any questions they wanted to about missions/missionary work in general. It was an amazing experience, and though I was nervous about it, it ended up being wonderful. They asked questions about the hard things, the good things, the boring things. They asked why they should serve, and what we think about our missions. My favorite question was, "What was the best day of your mission so far?" I told those kids about Autumn, and how when I met her, I met my sister. We all sat on this panel and thought back through the time we have been out, and for me, that's a year of memories and more to be made. I don't regret a single moment. I could spend the rest of my existence on my knees, thanking God for my mission, and it wouldn't be enough time to express my feelings and my gratitude towards my God for sending me here. I only cried twice during the discussion, which was a win based on the amount of waterworks I usually create.
Oh also Sister Shumway taught me how to solve rubik's cubes so I can solve those now and I am really proud of it.
That's it for this one friends! You will never regret a moment that you spend in the service of God. He loves you- he really does. I do too. Until next time, don't forget to read the Book of Mormon!
Some of you may have heard that the first big storm of Hurricane season is headed towards the panhandle, so we are on lockdown in our apartments today!
This week has been full of amazing experiences involving water. Rain, a filled font, and many tears. All positive things, in my opinion!
Firstly, Hurricane season is upon us. That means it rains at least for a few minutes everyday. I was reading back through some of my journal entries and emails from when I was in Madison a year ago, and seeing the rain reminds me so much of that time. When it rains just on you with sunshine all around, it really does remind you of how short trials are. The rain comes and washes everything clean, and then it goes and the sun comes out again. There has got to be a poem in there somewhere! I have also fallen in love with the smell of the rain. There is nothing like standing under a palm tree in the pouring rain and watching dropplets drip down off the leaves.
Brother Tom got baptized this week. I can't even begin to describe how wonderful it all was. We got to the church early to fill the font, and I had forgotten how amazing it is to sit and listen to the water run. It's an experience I recommend that everyone have. Brother Tom is pretty tall and the font at our building is a little small, so he almost hit his head on the way under, but he didn't! A recently returned missionary in the ward, Blake, baptized him. Sister Burnham came too! It was great to see her again. We asked Brother Tom how he was feeling after the baptism, and he told us that he felt like he had joined a family. I agreed, especially because I am his granddaughter now! I am just blown away by his commitment to Christ. He is 75 years old, and has changed his entire life to comply with God's commandments. His humility and love continue to astonish me everyday.
On Sunday, Presdient Smith came to Pace! We had a discussion about missionary work with the youth in the ward, and President sat on a panel with us and Blake. The youth could ask us any questions they wanted to about missions/missionary work in general. It was an amazing experience, and though I was nervous about it, it ended up being wonderful. They asked questions about the hard things, the good things, the boring things. They asked why they should serve, and what we think about our missions. My favorite question was, "What was the best day of your mission so far?" I told those kids about Autumn, and how when I met her, I met my sister. We all sat on this panel and thought back through the time we have been out, and for me, that's a year of memories and more to be made. I don't regret a single moment. I could spend the rest of my existence on my knees, thanking God for my mission, and it wouldn't be enough time to express my feelings and my gratitude towards my God for sending me here. I only cried twice during the discussion, which was a win based on the amount of waterworks I usually create.
Oh also Sister Shumway taught me how to solve rubik's cubes so I can solve those now and I am really proud of it.
That's it for this one friends! You will never regret a moment that you spend in the service of God. He loves you- he really does. I do too. Until next time, don't forget to read the Book of Mormon!
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