Growing Up

August 21, 1973

Guys!! 

Zone conference in Brasov!! If any of you ever go to România, just visit this city because it's absolutely beautiful! 

My mission feels so different from when I first entered. Both goods and bads. Before, our mission President was in Hungary and so we had a lot of independence. With this new mission president I'm realizing how much more guidance and revelation we have with him here!! On the flip side, the new group that came in have a lot of growing up to do. So many inappropriate jokes were made that totally took away from the spirit that Zone Conference is supposed to have. They apparently compared and bashed all their trainers on a group chat.. that's a lot different from the missionaries I met and looked up to when I got into the field. I'm sure they are still learning! I hope they can have fun but also keep the reverence and determination that we need to have in the spirit of the Lord's work in Romania. I'm praying for them.

But our mission President recieved revelation that 50 people will be baptized in Romania this year and to do that we need to contact 70 people a today. Which includes promises and invitations. WOAHHHHH. I was basically jumping out of my chair. 

I went on an exchange with Sora Nunez during the conference for a finding activity that we did as a zone. She is my SML and STL and earlier that day she had corrected ONLY ME and not my comps during a mock interaction. Later in the conference we were all paired up with different comps and I was paired w Nunez and I was scarreeddd broooos. Not right after she got done roasting me. 

But it ended up being FIIIRRREEE. We grinded hard and were able to talk about some things. I talked to this family and they invited us into their home and fed us! My heart melted literally in my chest. I don't know why but seeing the love that they had for eachother made me choke up. It was a mom, her downsyndrom daughter(23) and 3 nieces ages 4, 7, and 10. They hugged her tightly and the all laughed so joyously together. I felt like I needed to be there in that moment. We left them with a Book Of Mormon. 

I had a good talk with President Fowler and Sora Fowler about the happiness which we can find through the atonement. 

Guys I think I grew a couple inches in stature and spiritually. I have seriously found so much happiness in my Savior Jesus Christ and his plan for me. I'm so so so grateful to Him and I know that what I am doing now could not be done without Him. There are people in my life who are radiating happiness and I've always wanted that in my life, and I found put just now that it was their love and joy of the Savior shining through them. Which is so cool because our mission has been talking about this!! How we as missionaries are messengers, basically invisible as the light and love of the Lord should be the things that people see and that draws them nearer to Him. I'm so grateful to the examples of people who allow themselves to be happy, because of the atonement and gospel of Jesus Christ! 

I invite you all to find your happiness in Christ and His Atonement for you! I know that atonement does not only apply to our sin. Because of the atonement we can have peace and comfort, an eternal perspective, a deeper love and appreciation for Him and others, happiness, change and so much more. It is all encompassing! I love my Savior so much.

I love you guys!! Stay in touch!