Jan 27 2025

• Updates on friends Elijah didn't get baptized due to Satan literally trying to kill him. Lots of tears were shed, lots of anxiety peaked, heart palpitations.  

• Tania is on date for baptism and is a gem 

• Kumar accepted a baptismal date 

• Tobi is praying for a date 

So, reality is we cried to our DL, prayed in the middle of campus in a grove of trees because we simply could not carry on. Treated ourselves to Zupas, the lady there was from Utah and gave us the food for free. I attempted to pray over the food but really just broke down crying. Humbling one could say. Got verbally attacked by our ward mission leader- cried in the pughes. Canceled a baptism, rescheduled baptism for next day, only to cancel baptism. Explored the 11th floor of the library that overlooks all of campus. Found the whisper wall a hidden secret on campus. Played some chair soccer with Ysa. Ate some gluten free French toast. Fought a migraine? Not really sure we're on day 5 of a headache. Guzzled some bevys that absolutely were delicious but did not help. Found peace in some children songs. Gave a fmt (note by editor, some kind of training) last minute to the whole mission and it was absolutely trash. Got rejected like crazy on campus but literally talked to everyone that walked by. Had a sisters zone conference that felt like high school. Nothing is worse than clicks within the church. Absolutely foul.

Devoured some scripture studies, found myself on my knees a lot praying. Oh Lord help thou my unbelief…. Mm maybe sometimes this is me. I always think I have real good faith until I get absolutely obliterated by Satan. Had lots of tender mercies though, so really God is good. Free Zupas plus kind words on a very hard day, bishop lowkey being chill about all the baptism switch up, Bobby bringing us sour patch watermelons, Josiah calling us saying we are the best Sisters and he wish we served in his mission, Sister Brockbank being pure joy, some good food, double pink Starbursts, a fresh sweet cream creamer for my bevy, warmer temps this weekend, Tania and Kumar accepting a date. Eating at Culver's as a district and the Elders giving me their scoopie tokens😎 (hit 10 so now I get some merch) so really many blessings. 

Trials are good, they're humbling, make you seek God more earnestly, strengthen your testimony, builds your ability to handle crap, gives you an opportunity to be merciful, patient, meek, long suffering, submissive. Ya know really all positives this week. I really said hmmm I want to be living my best Philippians 4:11 moment and God said oh yah??? Okay here's some trials, let's see if you're content. Hahahahahaha I have a long way to go. Glad there's repentance and a chance to grow and learn. 

note from editor: if you cannot receive the pictures you can go to her shared google photos album, or I post all her letters and pictures on this blogger website.

https://loganhoytohiomission.blogspot.com/

Jan 20th 2025

♡ Philippians 4: 11-12 

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

• Isn't this the dream! This is my goal that I'm confident I won't reach for awhile but I will Strive to be content in whatsoever state I am in. Input not output. Joy in christ not circumstances.

♡ Isaiah 1:18 

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

• He says come let's do this together. I paid for it but let's fix it together. 

• Hmmm yes there's no stain, no remanence, no crumbs, no trail, 

• Come now. Now, don't wait to forsake your sins. Come tell him and change. Let him restore 

• Rebuild, recreate, restore, recover, redeem, renew, He doesn't just build you back to where you were But He lifts you up, builds you up. Crimson to wool, not only red to white, but thin to thick, thin to full, complete. This is what the atonement does 

♡ Grace from Grace, until He received a fulness 

• Why would we be any different? Perfection won't come in this life 

• Weakness is not a sin 

• Our wrongs don't erase all the good we do

• Overcoming is not an event but a lifelong progress 

• Prone to wander Lord I feel it 

• Whose mighty hand hath made me whole 

• Never can I repay thee Lord but I can love thee

♡ Alma 8: 8-10,11,13-16, 20, 30

• INPUT not output 

• Along the journey got blesses us with many miracles 

• Got is in it for our personal growth and development. His plan is perfectly designed for us

So Basically all I want to share is that scripture study is divine. A time where we really can connect with our Savior and Father in heaven. Revelation really flows within the pages of the prophets. The gospel of Jesus Christ IS JOY! We truly can find it amongst all difficulties. This week had a lot of hard. Between doctor visits, foul college students, cold wind, Friends walking away, there was so, so, so much Joy left to be found. After the trial of our faith Saturday came and it was a blessing. No we did not reach our key indicators but ya know what we did do? We brought ourselves and others closer to Jesus Christ. A “W”. Input Brothers and Sisters. It's his work. It's his timing. He loves all his children. He works through imperfect people all day everyday. He magnifies effort. He provides. He carries. He lifts. He enlightens. He loves. He forgives. He fills. He brightens. He cares. He does more than words can describe.  

Elijah is going to make his date. Fasted Sunday with Him that his apartment manager would get his crap together and allow Elijah to move in before Saturday. Elijah is actually the most changed creature I've ever beheld. I stand totally confused thinking he cant possibly be the same guy I met in September.

The Atonement is REAL. Change, forgiveness, growth, development, is real. All because of Jesus Christ. 

Tobi came back from the dead, really he was just busy but gave us A detailed recap of what's Hes been reading in the Book of Mormon And filled us in that he prayed and knows it true. Us…  jaw drop…. Teach a little gospel of Jesus Christ and extended a baptism invite, he is praying about it. 

Kumar we invited to be baptized and he is praying about it. He's been coming since Juneish? He was the Elders friend but never actually got taught so we sat down and have had two lessons with him and he's actually so ready and so elect. He just needed to actually be taught rather than just come to church.

Tania came to church for the 4th time. Said Jesus Christ is her brother ( if you remember she grew up Muslim so this is a huge step) she came to volleyball, institute, went ice skating with the YSA, she basically acts like a member. We taught her the Doctrine and invited her to pray about her next step. Incredible. 

We met a few new people that seem quite amazing. Very excited about our new friend Eddie. This is our third Eddie haha.

We met him on the street during Saturday pros which is almost always uneventful. A real miracle. He even came to church the next day.