Week 24 His Hands are stretched out still 2/24/2020

Hello friends! It's been a quick second! I don't remember the last time I emailed so maybe I'll repeat things, but here is an update on mission adventures with Sister Chou!!

Me and Sister Shay are still living and thriving. We are still sharing cereal bars every morning (and actually all of our food haha it feels weird to eat a food without sharing it with her), pumping out our workouts every morning, going out and meeting new people, we even post the same Facebook stories haha, and just being happy. Even when we have days when we don't feel like we have found anyone to teach, we still come back to the apartment happy. WE LOVE IT! This week Sister Shay got sick (poor Sister Shay) so we spent the day inside. Even that was a blast. I acted out veggie tales and high school musical to entertain her, and it was so fun!!! But we were pretty ready to go out and work the next day 😅😜

Still in Palos Verdes, still seeing Teslas left and right, and still waking up to the land of paradise. This guy in our ward travel A LOT and he says that he's still going to settle down here because this to him is paradise and there's no where else that's prettier. I'm feeling pretty #blessed. Also, 2 of our friends have baptismal dates, one is for March 21st, and the other is for April 25th, but we need a lot of faith and prayers I would so appreciate any extra prayers for our friends!!!

We really do have miracles every single day. This week I studied about patience, and I read all these stories about patience in the scriptures. About Joseph Smith in Liberty jail, the sons of Mosiah, etc. And the phrase that's stuck out to me is "his hand is stretched out still". Through these trails, we will not have immediate relief. But one thing can be immediate, and that is the love of God reaching out to us. When we have patience, it is faith that God will deliver us. When we have patience, we will reach out to the Lord for guidance. 

Week 23.... 2/17/2020

Week 22 The joy of repentance 2/10/2020

A journal entry from this week: 

February 7th, 2020

"Me and Sister Shay were talking about this the other day. I feel like way too many missionaries [and people] are too hard on themselves. But I've learned no matter what, God still loves me! I think the real joy in repentance doesn't come because I think, "Oh, I have so much to repent because I'm so bad and when I repent, I will be better." I feel that the true joy in repentance comes when we understand God and Jesus Christ's nature, which is that they love us and they are so proud of us. When we feel how amazing we are, then we can better understand how amazing we can become. God's perspective of us is so positive, and it takes a positive mindset to see it! Repentance is joyful because we feel how good we want to and can become, and then we want to change to become that person. Not because we're doing bad and that's how we're going to feel better. When we see ourselves through God's eyes, we see our perfection, which motivates us to change. If we see how horrible we are and that we still have "so much to do to get there," that is not through God's eyes. Because God works in encouragement. Satan works in discouragement. Repentance is just an invitation to change and become an even better person.  God already loves us. We don't need to repent to earn that. We repent because we know He loves us."

I just wanted to share this thought for this week. I hope everyone knows just how unique they are. How special they are. How important they are. Heavenly Father has already seen our potential, already knows who we can become. And this we before we came to this earth! So don't ever forget! I love all of you!!!

Week 20 & 21 Never Been Happier 2/3/2020

Honestly, this is the best time of my life. I could be here forever with Sister Shay and do this work and I would love my life. 

I haven't written too much about Sister Shay, and I blame it on the fact that I've been having too much fun with her. Well, we've been together for a transfer. This transfer was 7 weeks long, but I feel like this transfer was so short. Honestly, spending 24 hours together is the best thing ever. Not even kidding. And I think it's because of one thing: pure love. Everything Sister Shay does is motivated out of pure love, and I will be one of many to say she is just the best blessing. Wish I could wrap her up and take her home in one of my suitcases. She's just too cute. 

What is life like with Sister Shay may you ask? Well my friends, every day we have a new dance. For example, we've had a Christmas tree dance, dolphin dance, mario kart dance, and the list goes on. And it's just nonstop laughter. But the best thing is pure love. She has really taught me about real genuine charity. And that's what I want to write a little bit about.

One of my favorite scriptures in high school was Mornoni 7:45-47. In my first year of college, we had memorize passages of scripture, this was one I chose to commit to memory. 

45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

It means unconditional love. It means to love as Christ did to everyone. I truly believe that charity is a huge reason why there is so much joy in the gospel. As human beings, we seek to connect. And connection is ". . .energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgement; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship. " -Brené Brown

I truly believe that when we help others connect to Christ, they feel seen, heard, and valued. God created us to love others, and to receive love. I have never seen or found more joy than when we have true charity for others and help them come to Christ. The gospel is truly amazing, and so are you. The gospel is for everyone, and Christ invites you to come, learn, and be loved.