Week 9: Lil Men

Happy Wednesday!

A lot of milestones have happened and are happening this week! I’ve officially been serving for two months, and tomorrow will mark halfway through the transfer. I’m already 25% of the way through training! Ack!

Hermana Petersen being the cutest while I’m just happy to be there.

I know I am still so very green, but I’ve gotten a real appreciation and understanding for missionary work this past week, now that I’m (mostly) over the shock of being in the field. It’s easier to just soak in everything that’s going on and focus on enjoying this part of life. Hermana Petersen has made the focus of the week “Embrace,” and while it’s mostly a joke, I’ve really enjoyed that idea of being happy in the moment. It reminds me of Elder Uchtdorf’s “Three Sisters” talk from the October 2017 General Women’s session of conference. It’s so important to appreciate the life you have right now, and not wish for something better.

Hermanas Likes and Harris got Christmas decorations for us! They’re so fun, and we’re happy to get into the Christmas spirit.

Also: I’m part of a rap group now? Hermana Likes’ initials are LIL, and for those of you who don’t know, mine are MEN. Therefore, our ultimate duo is Lil Men, and we will be coming out with a spiritual single shortly!

We moved to recording our phone tracting on Google Sheets, but here’s all of the paper Hermana Petersen has used.

Something that has defined my week is reading Saints during my free time. They’re these narrative histories that my mom is working on with the Church History Department, and I just finished Volume One! They are the best, and they especially contextualize the Doctrine and Covenants for me. This week,  I was reminded heavily of Section 84. It has this especially poignant verse:

 79 Behold, I send you out to prove the world, and the laborer is worthy of his hire.

I have *so many* sticky notes to help me focus on what matters, and this one is a favorite.

I love this scripture so much. It was one of many that encouraged me to serve a mission, so it’s extra special to run into it while I’m here, doing what it asks. I’ve always struggled with feeling like I’m enough, and I remember reading this and being assured that no matter my doubts, Heavenly Father would support me, wherever I was sent. And the same is true for each and every one of you beautiful people!

Even though I’m a servant of the Lord, I’m known to be Extra now and again.

Bonus spiritual goodness: Elder Uchtdorf’s talk “He Will Place You on His Shoulders and Carry You Home” from April 2016!

— I love you,

Hermana Newton