Transfer Talking...

Time is flying WAY too fast. Seriously. It's giving me a mild panic attack most days. I'm half way done. I wouldn't be thinking about it but for whatever reason every presentation I have taken at the VC this week has asked me how long I have left. Ugh. I don't want to think about it.

Transfers are this next week and it's mildly stressful. This is the doomsday transfer where those that go out to the other mission aren't coming back. I think I'm probably going to stay here but I know some of the sisters at the VC will probably go out and that makes me so sad because we have become such great friends. I also don't want to leave Blue Springs yet. We've been setting things up and I know we are on the brink of major miracles. I want to be there for them! I have been at the visitor center for a LONG time. Sister Sant is the only one that has me beat and she was my trainer. I am hoping to stay one more, but I could very well go full proselyting... just in time to sweat it out for summer. I do NOT do well in the heat... The hiking backpack with reservoir that my dad sent me has already come in handy. I'll probably average 2 liters of water a day.

We are still finding, finding, finding. It would be frustrating, but I'm not frustrated. I know that we have been led to many people so far and have been able to help a lot of people both in the church and out of the church, even if we don't have anyone that we are progressively teaching yet. I am very grateful for this experience though because it has helped me to develop so much faith and trust in the Lord.  This week has been a week of refining for me and I feel like I have finally been losing myself in the work more fully, which is great. I wish I had gotten here sooner, but luckily I've still got plenty of time left.

Awhile ago my sister sent me a letter that had a quote that has been my theme for this week:

I will live up to the spirit that is within me.

I love it! We can be so much greater than we are right now. I am pretty spirited at times... well most of the time. I also love it because we have unlimited divine potential within us to create and to become more like our Heavenly Father. This has been my goal this week, to become more like my Savior Jesus Christ... and to truly live up to the spirit that is within me.

Mother's Day

I feel like there is not a lot to say this week. I got to talk to my family on Sunday. I miss them. So that was the highlight of my week.

I am still loving the Blue Springs 2nd Ward. I never want to leave! Transfers are coming up and I have no idea whether or not I'm leaving or staying. My time is ticking at the Visitor's Center because I have been there almost 9 months! Crazy! So I don't know what will end up happening. It could go either way because Sister Morris and I opened up that area.  That was the 2nd time we opened an area.

Yesterday we had a miracle! We have been doing lots of finding recently so it has been hard to plan and study for specific people. At Zone Training on Friday they talked a lot about faith and increasing our faith. It brought me back to the MTC where we learned to plan with vision in our VC training-- meaning we plan for people we haven't met yet. So we decided to try it. On Sunday night we plan for Monday, so we felt like we would meet a single lady who was struggling with something and feeling kind of separated from God. So we studied for her. We went to do some service for an older lady we had met and it was her! Everything we had studied and planned for was meant for her, even though we didn't know her life or her situation. It was such a testimony to me that this is the work of the Lord. He loves his children and he will help me be an instrument in his hands to bless the lives of others.

#BS2S is the BEST

Look who came to visit!  Brother Carroll!
I had a great time showing him the visitors center!

3 of my 4 amazing companions so far...

I love my new ward! Seriously. They are the best. We are the first sisters they have had in 20 years, since 1993... weird to think that that was 20 years ago, because that was in my lifetime. Anyway. It is really fun and we have already been seeing lots of miracles. The work in this area is quite different than 1st Ward. It is a lot more affluent, so tracting isn't always the best route. We have been trying to do a lot of work with the members and so most of our time has been spent meeting members and less active members right now.
 

Sunday was great. I kind of felt like a celebrity because everyone was so excited to have us there. It makes me want to live up to the hype and set a high standard for the future sisters that come to the ward.

Well, I don't have much news other than that. I'll let you know when the miracles pan out next week. Right now we just have a lot of people we could potentially work with but no one solid.
 

I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission. I love it. So much. This week I had a rough day and it was one of those days where you just want to be mad... and I couldn't. I literally couldn't, because I am so happy! It was frustrating (haha). The restored gospel of Jesus Christ has made me so happy, and the more I learn the more I love it. I know that even the hardest moments in life allow us to become who God wants us to be. I know that he never leaves us alone and never leaves us comfortless, because he loves us. What a huge blessing that is!
 

I love this quote by Joseph B. Wirthlin: " Sometimes the very moments that seem to overcome us with suffering are those that will ultimately suffer us to overcome."
 

I have seen the greatest growth in my life from the greatest trials in my life. I have also realized that we shouldn't have any excuses. The gospel is there for us as a tool to use to help us through those things, not for another thing to be put on the "to do" list.  As I have made the Gospel of Jesus Christ a daily part of my life, part of who I am, through daily prayer and scripture study,  I have found my solace and my peace and happiness and really every good thing in my life.
 

I'm really excited to see what this next chapter of my mission has in store. I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord in this great work... and I'm really grateful that I get to talk to my family this week on Mother's Day!

the weather turned from this beautiful sunshiny tulip-picking morning to...

THIS!...snow. In May. Crazy!