A Mission Isn't Supposed To Be Easy

This week has been a real struggle for me and I have cried every day- but here is what I have learned from it. 

My study for this week was Prayer of Faith. And I know that this topic couldn't come at a better time for me. 

Here are the talks I reccomend:

- The souls sincere desire (Mcconkie Oct 2016)

- Peace through Prayer (Pinegar Apr 1993)

This week has been full of self-doubts and discouragement. But each day for the last 10 minutes of my personal study- I walked into our closet and spoke a whispered Prayer. Each time I felt comforted and knew that I needed to be on the mission, and that God and Jesus Christ were with me. I wasn't struggling alone. In the first talk by Mcconkie it said "but in times of trouble, our prayers become a lifeline of love and tender mercy. In our pleading, we may be strengthened to go forward and fulfill all that we have been ordained to do." I know that prayer is my lifeline here, and it can be for you too! 

One random thing that has helped me recognize the presence of Jesus Christ and God in my everyday life is the clouds. I look up into the sky and I see the light amongst it and I know that they are there to strengthen me in my trials. 

One other quote I really liked was from a general conference talk by Thomas S. Monson called "the Prayer of faith." This was a quote from one of his stories:

"I know not by what method rare, but this I know God answers prayer. I know which tells me Prayer is always heard, and will be answered, soon or late, and so I pray and calmly wait." 

God hears each and every one of our prayers, and I know that the perfect and correct time, he will answer them- we just need to have faith and be patient. 

My mission president said this in a mini training "a mission isn't easy, it isn't supposed to be easy." This was such a good thing for me to hear this week, because I have had such a hard time- he talked about trees and how if trees didn't grow within wind and storms, they wouldn't have the roots necessary to withstand the winds of the adversary. I remember a couple of years ago in Utah when we had a huge wind storm and tons of the trees were blown down and the roots were exposed! It is important for each of us to grow and have these challenges because one day an even harder challenge will come and we will be able to endure that trial because we will have grown our roots.

Here are some fun stories from the week:

We played charades with the family we have been teaching like a little FHE, and they loved it, we had so much fun! They seem to keep wanting us to come back, so I can't wait to tell you more about them!

One night, we were doing a quick visit to our friend Pedro- we ended up meeting him in the parking lot of el rancho (a grocery store). We were talking, and a guy pulled up and Pedro went to talk to him, and the guy just wanted to learn about the church- so Pedro came and got us and literally gave us a referral right there! I just think that he would be such a great member, because he already wants to share the gospel with people!

We had dinner with one of the members on Thursday, and his wife was trying to explain something to us, and the husband pulls out his phone to use Google translater- and she wanted us to help her draw trees... so we drew and colored trees! (She is teaching the relief society on Sunday and was talking something about family trees).

Speaking of members, we were visiting a inactive member and invite her to this ward party we having... and she just decided to feed us- so we had two dinners haha!

We can't use the sink or dishwasher right now because a pipe is broken and had flooded the people that live below us- so we are washing dishes in the bathtub!

Last super fun thing!!! Noche de Hispana! This is a party that my ward does for the Hispanic cultures here and we invited everyone!!! But before the party, we had a member ask us if she could do our hair, since she doesn't have daughters- only sons. We got there and learned that she had watched videos of how to braid hair so that she could do one hair- she also bought ribbon and flowers to put in our hair- it was super sweet. It reminded me of home and how my momma would braid my hair for me:) But back to the party! Two of our main families came, the family with the 4 kids that we have been teaching, and an English student who became a friend! It was such a blessing because they had so much fun! They had tons of food from all the different countries and they demonstrated the different dances from their culture too! It was such a good end to the week!

I love you all so much, and I know that trials can shake your faith, but it can also grow your faith. Don't let the winds blow your tree down- it can shake the leaves off, but your roots will hold you you down! Focus on Jesus Christ, and remember that he is your Savior and redeemer!

My question for the week is: What station are you tuned into? Doubt? Fear? Faith? Frustration? Discouragement?