Feb 17th 2025

☆ Tania- Absolutely still elect. she's having her prayers answered and having powerful experiences with the Book of Mormon. Asked how to share the gospel with her friend and family. Told us she wants to be married in the temple. Met with bishop for an hour and still didn't run away. Never met anyone like her on my mission. So excited for her to enter into a covenant 

☆ Elijah- absolutely a king. met with him, he came to church after working a 12 hr grave shift and no sleep. Finalized his baptism date!!! He's been reading his scriptures and praying and feels like he is receiving so much strength and guidance. He said he missed church so badly! 

☆ Tobi is preparing for baptism!! Finally, we've only invited him 3 times haha. He tore his acl so it's been tricky to meet with him 

☆ Jacob- SO elect. Met him Wednesday he came to Thursday night institute and church. Read 12 pages of the bom in two days. Is totally chill asked about baptism…. really astonished such a king! Also, not that this matter to y'all but he's the first white dude that has come to church and not ran away… so glad we oym(open your mouth) to everyone! 

☆ Paige- wow just wow. She is the cutest catholic girl. She has a cousin in Utah who has been meeting with missionaries and telling her all about it. So, when we ran into Paige she really wanted to meet. She brought a friend named Devan and we had an amazing lesson. The spirit was so present, and they shed some tears. They openly and gladly took the Book of Mormon. Eger to meet again!

◇ This week has been a bit crazy. Well really that last two weeks. Sickness has taken over the Columbus area. Between the flu and some nasty cold everyone is sick. We took our turn and are now on the uppity up. Ministered to some cute sisters who had the flu and some cold or covid. Both have been in for a week just absolutely destroyed. Enjoyed interviews and got to give all the sisters a valentine! It was my last interview with President. Pretty crazy. I definitely am not ready to come home. Have been feeling a lot of anxiety about leaving Ohio. Finding has been rather difficult but nonetheless we are on our talking grind. Never pass up an opportunity to testify. We met a few people that could really progress. We are finding less but the ones we do find are actually keeping commitments so that's very exciting. Had a miracle. Our recent convert who took a step back came to two activities and even brought a friend. It was amazing. Our recent convert Bobby is in the BVI living his best life on a yacht. That about did me in. The jealousy is real especially considering it down poured snow. 

Have had absolutely phenomenal studies. It's been very healing for the soul. I'm Always so reluctant to end the study. Spent some good time with Jen this week. She's another recent convert who is a solid solid star!! We had an opportunity to serve a cute old lady. It was pouring rain, and this little grandma was hunched over taking the smallest steps I've ever seen, stopping about every 3 steps to put down two bags. Her pants were soaked and her shoes looked as if they were drenched in a swimming pool. At first, she denied Help but just asked for some direction. After watching her for a few minutes we approached again and insisted she allowed us to help. We got to carry her bags and get to know her as we walked her to a bus stop. She's a wonderful woman who has lived an amazing life. She has worked all sorts of Jobs and enjoys being outside and walking. I'm sure it is now very painful for her. She was walking to the hospital because her feet have been in a lot of pain. So sad. It was so hard not to give her a ride. Sweet, sweet Patty pray for her! 

There was some trying hours and days… lots of prayers. Lots of lunch naps. 

 

The 14th is coming up wayyy to quickly, feeling very connected to alma 26

Feb 3 2025

My heart is full of joy and gratitude. 

This week I had amazing experiences in my studies. Some scriptures I'd love to share 

Acts 20: 

• 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 

• 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 

• 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,( people of Ohio members and non members) repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

• 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem( osu, utah)  not knowing the things that shall befall me there:  

• 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 

• 24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

•  You're called to a marvelous work. The area may change but the purpose does not neither does the work. The work is filled with joy and tears. Opposition in all things. Trials and tribulations that bring us to our knees but oh how sweet is it that we come to know our Savior more personally and more deeply and along the way help. You are qualified. You are predestined, you are justified, you are glorified( romans 

• 8 ) 

• Acts 23 Paul gets rejected and God says what 

• Verse 11 be of good cheer for as thou hast testified of me 

Romans 5: 3-5, 8, 11

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us

.8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us

11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Alma 7:7 

7 For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people.

My heart is quaking that I only have 6 weeks left. I'm absolutely distraught. I love this work. I love the trials and tribulations. I love the lessons I've learned, the growth I've experienced, tears and joy. All of it. But most importantly I love the testimony that has been grown. I love the knowledge I have gained. The knowledge- a sure witness that Christ lives, this Is his work, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is his Church that contains the fulness of His Doctrine, Joseph Smith was an instrument in the Lords hands in reestablishing the Only way back home to our Father in Heaven ( 2 Nephi 31) I know that my Savior and your Savior Jesus Christ lifts us and gives us strength to do things out of our capability * you + Jesus = enough and I might add you + Jesus= the impossible 

I have seen that, I have felt that. He is our redeemer, our example, our advocate, He is the way. God's grace is insurmountable, incomprehensible, but also so obviously there. His grace is sufficient and he works through the most imperfect people. He takes our humble offering and makes it extraordinary. We are nothing yet we are everything to God

Wednesday was a sight to behold. Warm Weather was a real gift. Taught the Restoration, plan of salvation, the reality of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, His Doctrine, temples and temple works, patriarchal blessing and so much more. All in one day. Had the best personal study of a lifetime. I felt pure joy and energy. I have 6 weeks I get to spend on osu testifying and I couldn't be more happy. Walked Tania 20 minutes home and then jogged back at 9:00 in the doc martín boots. Really a sight to behold and very painful. We always get excited to have a dinner hour and then somehow we get home at 9:30 every night. Then of course at night is when I have all my deep thinking and need to yap. So then bed comes late. Which then we're disobedient thus leading to feeling bad. Really no winning. 

Thursday really has two highlights. Taught a guy who was working on some leak at the church and that was a real hoot and tender mercy. Institute was wonderful! Chandini who walked into the church like 2 months ago came and loved it- she even brought a friend. Tania af Kumar came! Bobby came! The study was incredible and God was in the details. The institute teacher quote two things we had said to kumar the day previously in a lesson. Things were said that was perfect for each friend in attendance and for me. What a tender moment. 

Friday was kind of a roller coaster. Started with a good long FMT with President Brockbank throwing down the law on obediance. Which always stresses me out because one wrong move and I feel a bit defeated And like the game is over. He touched on caffeine specifically energy drinks but I decided to give up my dr pepper bevys. A hard goodbye. I then created a list on every standard I could improve on and cried. I take everything a little personal, but I feel I made good goals especially about shutting up so we can get to bed on time, and Friday was a success! I also realized we have a member that really tries to seek counsel from us and so we had a little phone call where we talked about how we can't be their outlet. Really working on giving my 🫀💪🏼🧠 to God and his great work. I want to be all in. Holding nothing back. Slap it all on the altar. Put some posters up around campus with all the different activities we do throughout the week and then church! After a discouraging few hours we went back to the institute to find Tan in the howells office. She is from China and just walked in wanting to learn more. Very much Jill energy, chandini, bobby mmhm common theme. Baptism ya know. We had a great lesson with her and she just soaked it all up! Such a tender mercy God was like silly girls just go back to the institute, I brought someone to you. We immediately knelt down and offered up a gratitude prayer when she left. How heard and seen we are by God. We are known. After we hit campus some more and then returned back for game night. Tania came and a member brought up polygamy so then we had to do a lot of explaining and testifying. Got to bed on time and accomplished All of my personal goals. 

Saturday was interesting. We woke up to our Fridge and freezer not working. Locked ourselves out of the institute for hours, sat on the church curb outside doing all our church calls and companion study. Went on campus and talked to lots of not interested people. Today was tour day so lots of parents out and about. Someone came with a key and we were able to get back in. Lucky us. Ended the night with Jen. she's a recent convert and has the most amazing questions. We just sat on her couch and just did a Q&A basically. She always asks questions I've never heard before it's intriguing to see what the Lord answers with. Some of her questions I had only come to answers to, two days previously during an ahah moment in personal study. Amazing to see how the Lord prepares us. Really is line upon line, precept upon precept. Although today on paper at a glance may look unsuccessful or unfruitful It was wonderful and very much a success in the eyes of the Lord. This is His great work.