Arrived in OHIO

Tuesday- 

I witnessed the coolest blessing ever. My companion got a blessing from one of our Elders and it was so special. He didn't know what was going on with her but he said exactly what she needed to hear. That's not a coincidence but a surety that we do have a God who knows us perfectly and speaks to us through the holy ghost. That night the sisters in my room talked about experiences with God. I had a lot to say. Never can I or will I deny the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints. This is the lord's church. I was promised I would see many miracles in my life and I know that will be so. I already have. 

Faith has a short shelf life. It takes work. Shake the dust off. 

Wednesday -

I had cereal and salad for lunch, a bummer. I was starting to feel so sick half way through the day. I was nauseated and dizzy for hours. I am assuming it was from anxiety about leaving the next day. I asked Elder Hall for a blessing. The moment he put his hands on my head my stomach pain and nausea went away, I was no longer dizzy and felt completely calm. It was a tender mercy. My dad always gives me blessings before school or big steps in life but we forgot to do one before I left for the mtc. It was so tender to receive one from the Elder in my district. It was the first blessing of comfort I have received that hasn't come from my dad. The things that were said were so special and I knew it was coming from God. At the end Elder Hall explained he had no idea what he was saying it was not his own words and I know that to be true. I said goodbye to my district, well more like see you later. I have so much love for them all. I will be seeing them again I know it. 

 Thursday September 14

 I woke up at 3:20 to get dressed and head out. I struggled with my luggage. We loaded a bus, then a front runner, then another smaller train thingy. The last train was the worst. We were in the way with nowhere to put our luggage and this guy was not being very nice. I made it to the airport and my dad was there. He was flying out an hour after me. It was a tender mercy to have him there. My heart is so full and I feel as ready as I can to go out and serve. I am confident that the lord is with me and all is possible with him. Fear not doubt not. Me and my companion did not get to sit together on the first flight but on the second a guy switched seats with her. Its getting real real. About 5 I realized I wanted to be back home. Everyone knew each other and no one talked to me and my companion. We only had each other. The mission president was nice but said about two words to me. We were talked at for hours and then brought to a hotel at 10:20. We're supposed to be in bed at 10:30 but still had to shower and get ready for bed. We are running on 4 hours of sleep and have to get up tomorrow at 6:30. We didn't lay down until 11:30 . I do not feel capable today of doing this. Positive side, the hotel was nice. I read Ether 12 and started to feel a little better and then I wrote my testimony down and left it with the hotel Book of Mormon

Friday September 15th 

Literally wanted to vomit all morning. 

When it came time to get our trainers/ new companion,I was looking around and noticed one sister/ trainer that just looked terrified. I immediately hoped and prayed she wouldn't be mine. Fast forward that scared new trainer is mine. I had tears I had been praying for a trainer that would be outgoing and not new to this. This sister has only been out for a few months and has never trained before. She is quiet and shy. All the other new sisters were getting talked to and hugged and my trainer was not doing that for me. We couldn't be more opposite. I am honestly discouraged and frightened but I carry on. The day was overwhelming. My apartment constantly smells of weed and we cant drink the water, it has to be filtered.I had to carry my heavy luggage up a flight and a half ot stairs and about died. Then I had to carry my bike up by myself. My trainer has been in this area her whole mission so far. Oh I'm in the Kirtland zone. The town is Solon. People say it's a blessed land but she has only been teaching three people the last couple of months.The plus side is the members feed us like three times a week. Oh today I had almost nothing to eat. So on top of being tired I'm starving. The lord always provides though so I will survive. I trust in the lord and know things will be okay. Today was rough, scary, and discouraging but I have hope for tomorrow. 

Saturday September 16

 I'm so confused. We prepped for a lesson today and I wanted to teach and expound on things and my trainer is all about only teaching the bolded words in preach my gospel not the dots underneath. If you have no idea what this is its basically like teaching God is our father who loves us, we have prophets, we believe in christ. Simple short ended statements with no explanation. Whereas I want to teach all the points with explanation and testifying between sections and clarifying questions. This feels like half effort to me. Its the first day so maybe I am the one that doesn't know what she's saying. 

She also doesn't believe in reading a few verses and then asking questions or explaining she just reads the whole chapter. All new things. I feel like no one prepared me for this lol.

So I taught today like I actually had something to add and I did not follow the bolded words I shared what I felt was needed. I taught Justin, Kenny, and Keith today. All very nice, all struggling. We visited a member who broke her leg. Got turned down a few times, had unanswered doors, and a member meal. Which was so good and she was so kind and sent us home with some gluten free food. Which is a blessing because we had no food for tomorrow because shopping didn't get done before I arrived. I've been living off crumbs which may be playing a part in my excessive tiredness. Our area is what they call the slow area but other areas they are teaching 30 lessons a day. At the end of the day we share how many we taught, how many members participated in lessons, and some other things I can't remember. 

Sunday September 17th

I spoke today in sacrament not real sure what I said but people said thank you and that they needed to hear it. Definitely wasn't my own words the lord was speaking. We had a member meal and lesson that was very awkward. We then visited a guy who believes and wants to get baptized but has to be able to commit to following the Word of Wisdom. 

We went to visit a self referral and they didn't open the door. We get fed a lot by the members in this area so that's really nice. 

You can't appreciate the good times if you don't have bad times 

The lord promises all things will work together for your good 

No matter what I trust in the lord. I love him and I know he's aware of me

I have been struggling a lot but hearing from my family and from my bishop at home has been such a tender mercy. God is good

Saying goodbye to her district at the MTC and good friends!

 

    

Mission President and wife.

She left her testimony in the drawer with the Book Of Mormon at the hotel they stayed in the first night of arrival.

Saying goodbye to her MTC companion and forever friend.

Some quick training before meeting their new companions.

New companion Sis. 

Logan's 2nd week of MTC

Week 3: Sickness has taken over 

Tuesday, September 5th-

P day was super busy. I got to go to the temple and do all the little chores that needed to be done. We had a great devotional with a guest speaker… Gary E Stevenson. It was fantastic. I am so ready to go and invite people to learn about something that has made me so happy. What a privilege. The whole mtc is sick, and it hit our district. A lot of the Elders have colds, and we had a sister start throwing up and go to urgent care. Before she went to urgent care, some of the Elders from our district gave her a blessing. As we saw them coming marching towards us, I could feel the spirit and see the lords little army. It was really impactful. As they gave the blessing, people stopped out of respect and after they shared how strong the spirit was. Blessings have so much power, and elders going to serve and bless others' lives with the priesthood is more than special and powerful. The lords work can not be stopped and will not. I could eat our elders up(not literally just meaning they're pretty cool) 

Wednesday, September 6th

I have been at the mtc for a week now. Feels like it's been forever but also so quick, which makes no sense. Our district is sick. 7/14 have either a cold or flu. I gave everyone emergen-c to drink. Meals were okay today. For our service project, we vacuumed one of the teaching buildings. The teachers are supposed to vacuum their classrooms, and we just had to do the halls. As I went by, so many classrooms looked awful with food on the floor, so I did a bit extra. Played some volleyball, which was fun. Did lots of studying and marking up my scriptures. Found out I'm awful at going from a normal conversation to a gospel related conversation. I am not smooth at all. I did, however, teach very well with Sister Jacobson. We taught two Elders in our class for 5 minutes. We were supposed to teach from the spirit and not with notes, and we really shared a good message with a strong spirit. I feel confident in sharing what I do know to be true, but I have lots to learn. I did bad today and ate a donut. I couldn't resist, and I am now feeling ill and am so bloated. Can't complain it's my own fault, but I did make it a whole week without gluten prior to this incident. Patting myself on the back. I have ate half a bag of frootie tootsies in three days. That might also be contributing to my stomach problems. I should probably cut myself off, but whenever I look tired, my companion sneaks me one in class. I blame her. 

Thursday, September 7th

Today, I was wide awake for once. Class was so good we had time to do some personal study and I studied covenants and what it really means to take Christ's name upon us. I taught two good short lessons today. I had gluten-free waffles that were super good and a gross hamburger that I drowned in ketchup, which resulted in me getting made fun of. Apparently, I eat an insane amount of ketchup. Dinner a random Elder talked to me for 25 minutes with a ginormous smile on his face the whole time and this polite country sophisticated voice. He's from South Carolina. He was so kind, but then he started talking about things I had no idea about and could barely hear him. I also just wanted to get some food and eat. Poor chap. He's ecstatic to go serve in pocatello idaho. His sister is going to BYU I, which is super close to him. He'll be a great missionary, but when I had nothing left to talk about and made the intense "help me eye contact" with my district, no one came to help carry the conversation. Apparently, Elders don't understand what "help me eyes" are. The last eventful thing of the day is that I planned my lesson for Sunday. I got asked to speak in sacrament, and then I exercised with my district. Which was super fun. I got some running/jogging tips from Elder Possin that were quite helpful. I've never laughed so much in one day. Our district is hilarious. I quite enjoy each individual and their uniqueness. 

Friday, September 8th

The sister in my room has now contracted the cold or covid that is going around. I am stuffed up, so I'm probably next. 7/14 are sick in our district. Ran into another elder who told me multiple people in his district have pneumonia. The MTC is literally a germ pool, my worst nightmare. I have been snorting vitamin c and hand sanitizer. Breakfast, they didn't have my milk, so I ate dry cereal and was sad. Elder Croft shared an intelligent insight with me today. It's on my Facebook. Taught two helping others appointment one about the Book of Mormon and the other about the Godhead and prayer. I feel we did very well. I saw Elder Bourett again and got to play some volleyball with him and my district. A good day. I am surprised my social anxiety has completely diminished. I have no fear in talking to random Elders and Sisters. I've met so many cool sisters these last two days. I love being friendly and bubbly. I think my roommates are ready to get rid of me. A few nights I get on my hour long joking tangents. It's my yapping hours. I'm sure my parents do not miss it. Prayers always took an hour longer than expected because as soon as it was time to pray, I felt the need to share my whole life story and become a comedian. Now my roommates get to enjoy this. Xoxo. 

Saturday, September 9th

Today, we went to the temple. Food was below average today. My stomach is not happy. Highlight of the day was finally getting my grandma's letters all at once. She is pure joy. I love her. She shared a fantastic scripture 

Micah 7:7-8 

Today was pretty bland 

Sunday, September 10th

I gave my talk during the sacrament. Today I was able to meet Bonnie Cordon. It was so cool. She is a powerful disciple. My special milk was all gone, so I had to branch out for breakfast and try a different milk. lunch was fantastic. Dinner was so mid. They put rosemary or something like that in the gluten-free French toast. It was not great, but I am grateful for the people here volunteering to make sure everyone has food they can eat. I have only had anxiety about packing. I'm so calm, except I keep dreaming of my bags being too heavy. I fly out on Thursday. I don't think that has set in. My social anxiety and fears are basically non-existence here, I thank God every day for that. I loved talking to so many people this week. Something about giving others real genuine compliments each day makes me so happy. I think the Lord would want them to know how great they are, so every day, I seek to find someone to compliment. 

4/14 people are left healthy. The rest are all sick. 

Read this it's the most important 

The Lord needs more people who are all in. There will come a time when sitting on the edge will not be enough. The Lord's grace is not just for the worthy. You have never strayed too far, and you are never too late. Some worry they're not worthy of God's love, and I can testify that God's love is for all and worthiness is all about being honest and trying to improve. God will never get tired of waiting for you. He will never tire his efforts to help us. 

The savior sends personal messages in the exact time that you need it. The Lord is so mindful of all of us. He sends tender mercies all the time, but we must first be faithful, obedient, and have humility. You have to trust in the Lord, believe in his power and love. I have had so many tender mercies just this week. I have no doubt that God exists and is our loving heavenly Father. I have no doubts our brother, Jesus christ, our savior, died for us and took upon him our infirmities. I know he felt exactly what it's like to be each of you individually in your darkest of times. He knows you. He knows what it's like to feel temptations, and he knows what it feels like to not resist and give in. He knows what it's like to live with guilt. He knows what it's like to fight anxiety and depression. He knows what it's like to feel so far gone and so lost that there's no hope. He knows you. He knows how to help you and provide comfort. Because of him, we get the opportunity to live again. We get knowledge of what happens after death. I know we don't have to suffer alone. The Lord is waiting to take upon your sins and heartaches. Let him carry your pains and bring you eternal joy. It is not about who you are now but who you can become with his help. All it takes is faith. 

I know all who seek the truth with a sincere heart will find it. This is God's true doctrine. This is his church. If you have seen miracles, seen the truth, and you turned away from it. I invite you and challenge you to come back. Gain that testimony and hold onto it. It takes great faith to hold onto what you have felt and known to be true when it suddenly seems to dry up or life gets hard. "Do not minimize the faith you already have. It takes faith to join the Church and remain faithful. It takes faith to follow prophets rather than pundits and popular opinion."- President Russel M. Nelson

The words Remember Remember keep going through my mind. Remember the moments when I knew what was true. Remember the moments I felt the spirit undeniably. Remember what you've felt so when the hard times come, your faith will not waiver. I can not and will not deny the truth I know. 

Elder Hall, Aydens twin 

Bonnie Cordon 

Elder Paine

Elder Hall, Elder Possin, and my companion

Elder charcheknos twin

My favorite photo

Me and some of my besties 🩷

The coolest district misisng a few plus a random Elder 

Elder Smith 

First Week In MTC

Wednesday the 30th. 

The drop off at the mtc was absolutely horrendous. They swept me away and dropped my bag off somewhere and I went through all these lines in tears while everyone else was just fine no tears. But while I was in line I found sister Jacobson my companion. I'm so grateful for her. I hugged her and we did the rest together. We had 10 minutes to unpack and set up our phone and head to our class. We got so lost and were 30 minutes late to class. So embarrassing. Wanted to come home. During that I realized I left my medication in the car yayaya. My head has been pounding. The teacher was like you can really feel the spirit here and I'm like I feel nothing but stress anxiety and scared. Oh and exhausted. After class we went straight to a big meeting then straight to dinner. There's like no time to eat. I had to shovel my food in and I had only one option to eat. Yay. At least I got a gf cookie. After that was a devotional and it went 35 minutes over. But it was good except my head was pounding. Then showering was low key hard because they're so small and only two hooks. I am so tired. No tears. Sister Jacobson got me my favorite frootie tootsies. Made my whole 18 months. 

 Thursday August 31st 

 I had no tears. Good day but felt misplaced. Got to go to temple for baptisms that was great. Elders got a talking to about chasing the spirit away with childish things they need to leave behind. Gluten free meals are actually good here. I've only been drinking apple juice even though there is every option. Gf cookies are fantastic. Another meeting that went over 30 minutes later than suppose to. Bad meeting. Lots of incorrect things said, elders being attacked for not being able to talk to sisters without flirting and how their phone needs to be watched by companions because elders are the ones with problems. Stuff about Elders always being the problem basically. Sisters only concerned about others not liking their dress color. Trust me that's my last concern. Lots of judgmental, not loving comments coming from our branch president's wife. Super uncomfortable meeting. We move past it and remember we believe in the doctrine|gospel of Jesus Christ which is what the church really is. The church isn't the people and people aren't perfect but the gospel and Jesus Christ are. We have a great district with unique talents and personalities that makes learning so much better. Ultimately today was good. I am so tired, very tired.

 Friday September 1, 

 Woke up feeling great and had a good breakfast. Companion study was focused on our helping other appointment( a lesson we get to teach) . We did really well and were able to teach the sweetest lady. By my second class I was dead. Everyone was falling asleep and struggling. Meals here have been really good especially for me having to eat gluten free. My companion is still amazing. I am working on memorizing the first vision. Got half of it down today. I wish we had more time to study what we want to. A lot of our study time is used to prepare to teach. But today in personal study we studied what we have been wanting to and that was so great. Our workshop(basically a devotional) was good. I really like the analogy of being fishers of men. Sometimes reeling in a fish takes forever sometimes its quick. Same with conversion of others. Sometimes fish grab a bite but never get reeled in and sometimes as missionaries we just plant seeds and never reel the people in so to speak. The longer our pole is in the water the more likely we are to make a difference and reach more people. There's lots more I can say but I'll end there. I am having a good time and adjusting well. Excited to go to bed tonight a little early.

 Saturday September 2nd, 

 We got to go to the temple today and it was amazing. I had such a good time and could really feel the spirit. You really can feel the lords presence. Food today was not good and I realized tomorrow is fast Sunday so pray I don't pass out because I didn't have much to eat today. Today was hard but good in different ways. I was really missing home but then we exercised as a district and I got to know them better and that kept me really occupied. I got a little caught up in my home life but oh well I can only keep improving and try and stay focused. I feel like I knew some of my district in the pre-existent world(life before earth where we were all just spirits hanging out with god) they just seem way too familiar but I can't place why. 

 Sunday September 3rd.

 It's been two weeks since I have been set apart as a missionary that seems so crazy to me. I taught in relief society about the book of mormon and how it can answer questions of our soul. I ate a horrendous dinner and felt so sick before and after it. During the devotional and district meeting was the best part of the day. An elder shared that he might be going home and the reasons he felt that God was telling him he needed to go were reasons I felt confirmed to me that I was where I needed to be. I was overwhelmed. He shared exactly what I needed to hear it felt like the lord was taking to me through this elder. God is so good and knows you. 

 Monday 

 We got a new teacher, our second teacher got reassigned due to school starting. We had a sub today and it went great. "The mission is 10% of your first 20 years on earth. It's the tithing of your life" I found the little store and got myself some chips and salsa. It was dang good. Played some volleyball for exercise today. 

 Spiritual thoughts moments etc 

•  Eternal families are so dear to me. I've always stated I will get married in the temple because I want for eternity not till death do you part. I was talking with some sisters about this subject and started to choke up talking about wanting to be with my family forever. I love my parents, my siblings, my grandparents, my cousins, my aunt, my uncles. It's special to me to think through Christ we can live for eternity together.

•  Prayer is so real. I have prayed a lot this week and I'm telling you god is listening. If you go with a question and an open mind and heart you will get answered. I have seen this a lot this week. I prayed for an awesome companion and got the perfect one. I prayed for the spirit and I had it. I prayed for my teaching lessons to go well and I said things I didn't even know. I prayed to love more and I saw people in a whole new way and just really enjoyed them. I have prayed for sleep and have slept better than I have in my queen bed for the last idk 8 years. I prayed for strength and I have been so happy and not worried. I have prayed and prayed and I have been given what I need. Guys prayer is real. God is real. He wants to hear from you and wants to comfort and guide you.

•  We need to have faith without sight. "

• Truth is restored again, truth is on the earth once more" the spirit testifies that those words are true 

•  Alma 29:3 "But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me." MTC president shared this when talking about his conversion and asking if the BoM is true when he knew it was already. I learned today that a lot of us struggle with having crazy personal revelation, conversion or discerning the spirit. Most people have a sunrise testimony which gets brighter and brighter with time. 

• "We need to have faith without a sign constantly, having a sign is kind of like taking away our agency of choosing to have faith."

 

•  "You didn't get the answer because you know enough."

 

•  "Through faith you don't need that big woah, sometimes it's a sunrise." 

•  "Don't look down look up, the sun is rising, God isn't going to tap us on the shoulder, we just need to look up, look up the sun is already there" 

•  "No matter what happens god will still love you he will guide you down the path you need to go... you need to listen to my promptings. Heavenly Father loves you and is never disappointed. He is so very proud of you. He forgives you of all your mistakes. He will give you strength for the things he asks of you." 

• "What your expectation is of life is not what God has planned for you. " 

 Sometimes God's plan is confusing but it is indeed his plan. He knows what he is doing. He knows you and knows what's best for you. He has the ultimate power to see the ending before it has come. He knows where you need to go when you need to go. Get that relationship with him so you can hear his plan for you. Our God is a God you want to come to know. He is waiting at the door, turn the handle and let him in.

Logans Mission

August 30, 2023

Well it's been a very long time since I have done any blogging. My purpose of this blog is to keep a copy of all Logan's Mission letters and pictures she sends throughout her mission so when she comes home we can create a printed book so she can look back at her mission experience.

So It was never Logan's intention to serve a mission. She felt it wasn't for her and she was going to apply for the nursing program and get her RN. Well... God had different plans for her.  She started getting promptings around Dec of last year and kept trying to dismiss them, but God kept knocking louder until she started listening. More and more things started happening (thoughts, talks, friends) that just kept confirming a decision to serve a mission. So she started the process of getting all the necessary things done to be able to submit her papers.

Getting the wisdom teeth out is never a fun ordeal.

She got her papers submitted in less then a week after talking to the bishop telling him her desire to serve. She got her call and it was to Columbus Ohio.  It was a rather funny story because when she submitted her papers she marked that she would be willing to serve foreign, and she had a good friend that said your gonna get called to Ohio and Logan was like no way I better not. And everyone was putting there guesses in and most were foreign but when she opened it up she almost thought it was a joke when she read ohio, because her friend who said she would be going to ohio had been the one to print off the email of her call and sealed it in the envelope so she had thought it was her playing a joke, but nope she was called to Ohio.

At first she was a little disappointed that it wasn't foreign, but then as time went on she came to realize she prob wouldn't have done very good in a foreign place, and that Ohio is where she was meant to go. She put Aug as her availability to go so she could have the summer to be with her family and go on our summer camping trips. 

She took her endowments out June 9th at the Ogden Temple. I love the date because it is the same month and day I took out my endowments out as well 28 years ago. And she was able to have her good friend Milaina (sp?) come to her endowment before she left on her mission the following week.

  

Next came the photo shoots

And then it got real! Summer was about over and it was time to get her set apart. She received a wonderful prayer by her father before the stake Pres. did the setting apart.

                                                                           

She started Home MTC on Aug 21st. She was so worried all the week before about what if her companion didnt like her or what if they didnt get along. The first day logan came up after meeting Sis Haylee Jacobson and she just started to cry saying she was so awesome, and that her story was exactly the same as hers and that they had so much stuff in common. She was able to see the Lord's hand in her mission all ready on the first day! We were so happy and excited for her. The rest of the week she had some pretty great High's and just a couple low's. She forgets that it is normal not to know everything and feel like you dont know what to say when teaching. That's what the MTC is for. Most of home MTC was awesome and went by way to fast for me. Sunday was her farewell in church. It went a little long, but oh my gosh was it a powerful talk and she did an incredible job. You could just feel the spirit and you knew she was ready.

We had some awesome friends come to show her support. Some that was a total surprise, and one was very special. One of our sweet residents who we get to serve, and love on at the Assisted Living home we  work at was brought by one of our co workers. It was such a wonderful surprise and you can clearly see on Logan's face how much we love love love our residents. And it was bittersweet knowing that it was probably the last time she will get to see our sweet Norma!

And then came leaving for the MTC day. We had a very close family friend who also was starting his mission at the same time, and would be entering the MTC the same day, so we were able to meet up with them for lunch before dropping our missionaries off. We met this family when we lived in Michigan and our kids hit it off with their kids, and our daughters are still best friends to this day. They now live in Colorado so it is in a days drive to go visit them so it has been so nice to get to see them more often. I wish I would have gotten a photo of our whole group at the restaurant.

We had some time to kill before it was drop off time so we went to the temple and walked around and get some photos. Jessie was doing a zoom class in the truck while we were doing photos so Steve was able to get one just as we were leaving with her so I will have to add her in a little later. Logans tummy was twisting and turning most likely due to nerves so she had to potty a few times and we were in a rush to find a bathroom real quick before we had to have her at the MTC. Thank heavens Dairy Queen was there to save the day!

I thought it might be a little better this time around where we had done this once before with our oldest daughter, but it wasn't.  This is my baby, and one of my best friends and it was so hard. I have been dreading this day all summer. I tried not to think about it much or I would just start crying. We had gotten pretty close over this past year, and getting to work with each other was just the best! My heart hurts so much, but I know she is exactly where she is supposed to be, and I know she is going to do amazing things in Ohio. And at least now the missionaries get to skype their family once a week so that will be so awesome to actually see her and not have to wait for the letter to come.

I am posting her first email of her mission.

Week one: 

Hey Family and Friends, 

I Have only been a missionary for one week now. Last monday was my first day of the home mtc. Although it has been a short time it has been impactful. I have two classes that are both three hours long. In between those I have a workshop that is one hour long. I have short breaks and am so exhausted by the end of the day but it’s so worth it already. 

Key points:

1. I have felt incredible peace and have been so calm and excited (this is miraculous because if you know me I am nervous about how new things are going to work out, I thought it was going to be like the first day of school all over again)
2. My companion has the same life story as me just in a different font. We will be best friends. I know that her being my companion is not a coincidence but truly a blessing. I needed her and I think she needed me. This was another confirmation I was where I was supposed to be. I love her and already think she is the coolest. 
3. There are so many people serving. The workshop was filled with 601 missionaries the first day  and there were two of these workshops. How cool is it to be surrounded with so many people having the same desires as you, serving the same lord. Truly the Lord is calling all to come and gather israel. He is sending so many disciples all around the world to gather his sheep and restore the truth
4. Brother in-laws are so cool. I listened to an amazing story that he recommended and it really brought me a sense of surety that I needed to serve a mission and that I was capable of doing it. It confirmed that I am going where I need to go and that there is someone that is waiting for me. I shared the story on my facebook and I recommend you go and listen to it. There is a lot to take away from it. I could go on and on but I hate long emails.
5. I went to the Little Mermaid play at the heritage theater and it was so good. Ayden Andrews my best friend was Eric and he did so good. Those of you in Perry I strongly recommend going and seeing it. 
6. I am constantly starving I don’t know if it’s because I wake up so early but all throughout the day I am thinking about what I am going to eat next

1. If you weren’t there my farwell talk went extra long. When I timed it that morning it was 20 minutes long but somehow turned into 30. The elder after me did tell me to take up as much time as needed due to the fact that he had 10 minutes of a talk prepared. Now 30 minutes wasn’t my intention, 20 minutes was. I was just going to take the extra 5 minutes from his 15 minutes but somehow time flew by. At least he was able to give his whole talk still. Best part of the day was that my greatest work friends brought one of our residents to hear me talk. I guess I can’t say one of our residents because I no longer work there so I will just say one of my beautiful grandmas got to visit me. Tender mercies I miss all my grandparents so much. 

Week two: day two 

 I leave for the Provo MTC tomorrow, wednesday. My bags are packed so full. Wish me luck and wish me strength enough to lift my giant bags.

 I taught a lesson last week with my companion. We got excellent scores/ feedback. I was so impressed that we did that well. I felt it wasn’t my best so I can’t wait to see what me and my companion get to do further down the road but I will say we were so prepared for whatever way the conversation went. We put in the work and it paid off. We will teach again this friday. 

Oh last thing, as of last week friends are supposed to email, I am only allowed to respond to family on messenger( Facebook). Next week's email should be super interesting, so much is happening this week at the Provo mtc. I also decided to steal my companions' idea and do a quick summary of each day in my emails. With all that being said, Love you all!! 

Photos: 

1. My awesome district. They are all amazing and so funny

2. Elder Bourret in one of my classes ( family friend that I think the world of) we started the same day and will be arriving at provo the same day

3. My dad and his brother Rich absolutely loving their nephew attacking them with 100 different nerf guns. I secretly think they want to go purchase their own nerf gun