My Mission Doesn't End In 17 Months...

We had a devotional about conversion, and how it is important that you are converted before we try to convert other people. During a mission, you are your first convert. If you were teaching yourself, wouldn't you want the best teachers to teach you? I know that I would. All missionaries and all people can be the best teachers when they listen to the spirit. When you listen to the spirit, it will tell you exactly what you should say in the exact right moment. I know that this is true. I am still learning the Spanish Language, but when I give lessons to people here, I am able to not look at my notes, and my brain will tell me what to say in Spanish. I know that without the Spirit with me while I am teaching, I would not be able to be good enough at Spanish right now to give these lessons. I know that the Lord, and the Spirit will be with me as I teach others, as I remain worthy and keep trying my best. 

With my morning teacher, we talked about how it is our last week here in the MTC and she asked the question What can you do to fulfill your purpose today? I think that is a very important question to ask, because each day is a new day, and each day will have different trials and difficulties. I have been making a to-do-list every day while I have been here, and checking it off as I go. I had been focusing so much on Spanish this and Spanish that, and I had to remind myself that a mission is about sharing the gospel, and not just about talking to people. It was a good reminder, because my personality is to be good at something before I show others it, and with Spanish I am not fluent, so I feel the urgent need to master it as fast as I can... so that I don't make a fool out of myself. This was a reminder to have faith in the Lord, and his confidence in me and my ability to learn the Language, but even more in my ability to share his gospel.

As for "my mission doesn't end in 17 months" that is because when we are asked to be missionaries- it is forever. I strive to be a missionary my whole life, to share my light and this wonderful gospel with all that I know. 

So... funny (ish) story. My morning teacher had us do this activity about the Atonement, where each of us had a part (gethsemane, death on the cross, and resurrection) and we were in groups that formed a mini debate about why the part we were assigned was the most important part of the atonement. We had a moment to come up with what we wanted our points to be- and then we shared. I know that the point of the activity was to recognize that each part of the atonement is equally important for each and every one of us... But I took the debate seriously. I made my points and had my pad of sticky notes out to write down my rebuttal notes. My team (the hermanas) went first and explained why suffering in gethsemane was the most important part, and then it was the other two teams turn to say why we are wrong. As they were explaining why ours wasn't the most important part, I took notes on what to say to each to prove them wrong. I addressed each of the elders in turn in order of who spoke and told them off. I don't think that they were prepared... But anyway, every part of the Atonement is important, and God and Jesus Love us haha. 

Oh also, I saved a bird this week with my companion. It flew into our laundry room and kept flying into the windows. I tried to help it onto this bucket so that I could help it outside but I scared it and it flew under the laundry machine. Eventually my companion and I scared it out from underneath it and I think it was in shock or super tired because after that I was able to just pick it up and walk it outside. But my companion made me use a towel to grab it because she was worried that it had diseases. 

We had the opportunity to go to the temple again today, and I got to take another family name, This was the first part of my mission that I think I felt homesick. I was sitting in the temple after we finished and I was just kinda sad, because I remembered that the last time I was in the temple was with my whole family. I remembered when I went through for my endowment and everyone was there and gave me a hug. I love my family. And they are the most important thing to me. I know that I will be with them forever, and that my love for them will never dwindle. I am excited for my future family, and the love that I will be able to have for them; and I can't wait till I can be with them in the temple too. All of you that are reading this email, take advantage of every moment you have with your family, because they are always there for you and love you more than you can imagine. 

Have a great week, and know that the lord will never leave you alone when you need him if you ask for his help. John 14:18

The question for this week is: What would you do/or how would you feel if Christ walked into the room that you're in right now?