February 18, 2109
Funny: So, Valentine’s Day was this week. We planned on it
just being a normal missionary day, but then the Spirit gave us another idea.
Instead we decided to spend our day showing our people in Hot Springs how much
we love them! We made them all valentines with little candies (the kind you
give out in elementary school) and delivered to them! We saw so many blessings
that come from acting out of love. That night I made lasagna for my companion
and Sister Training Leaders, and we had a very romantic candlelit dinner. Also,
one of the members gave us each a chocolate rose and box of chocolates! Ironically,
I celebrated Valentine's Day more on my mission than I ever have before! đŸ˜„
Spiritual: This week I got to go to the temple for the first
time in almost 9 months! It was my first time going to the Bismarck temple!
(The only temple in our huge 5 state big mission) President Howell gave us
special permission to go to the temple (even though it's a 7 hour drive) so
President Stocks (his first counselor) drove us himself! We had to drive
through raging snow storms and -30 degree weather! It made me really appreciate
the blessings of living close to the temple. The temple never fails to bring
the Spirit into my life. It truly is a house of God, I am so eternally grateful
for the blessings that come from the temple.
Where I am at: I keep forgetting to mention this, but my
mission has been chosen as one of ten to be a test mission. The thing they are
testing is every companionship is trying their very hardest to get a minimum of
10 hours of service a week, to see if it helps our missionary efforts. We found
the greatest service opportunity ever! We have a Veterans hospital in Hot
Springs, and since I love art, I started teaching a free art class for the
veterans! We are currently doing pottery, and it is so fun! Next week we are
making garden gnomes! I really am not qualified for this, but the veterans and
us have become friends, and I love teaching them art! They open up so much to
us, and ask us for spiritual guidance all the time. A lot of them are Lakota,
and the Lakota beliefs and the gospel of Jesus Christ actually align really
well! I love learning their culture and beliefs and sharing mine. I have found
if everything we do is motivated by love, you can't go wrong! I love my
mission, my companion, and my area! I am so very grateful for all of it.
'Ofa lahi atu! Kou ofa lahi he tohi a molomona!
