HAPPY DECEMBER!

Before coming on a mission.. you don't know how much you're gonna love it. You can only dream of what the experience would look and feel like. Then you arrive and your heart begins to grow. It expands for a climate and a people unlike ever before. You would find yourself taking a deep breath, taking in a moment contrasting anything you would have experienced prior. Moments, for example, of hearing your eternal siblings clap and shout for joy as they learn their families can be together forever. Or, watching their eyes fill with tears as they explain the peace they feel is what they have spent a lifetime looking for.  Everyday for 18 months your loving Father in Heaven lets you be a part of  these experiences. Sacred experiences. The most merciful, loving God allows you to be a part of His army in the latter part of the latter days. And it will ultimately change you. Change you forever. 
     I am overwhelmed with a thankful heart for the change that has been wrought in my heart. Nothing could ever replace this mission. Nothing could even come close. 
"And behold, ye do know of yourselves, FOR HE HAVE WITNESSED IT, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a CHANGE OF HEART unto them" (Helaman 15:7) Our hearts are changed together. 

READ HERE FOR A MAJOR MIRACLE!!
Last Monday evening we met Yunus. Yunus was born in Turkey and was raised in a home that practiced the Muslim faith. For the last four years he has been in a spiritual crisis, and was even exposed to the Book of Mormon in that time, nothing seemed to help until.... Kanye West dropped his Christian album. Yunus is a BIG fan of Kanye West and this album solidified that Chrisianity must be the truth. He has been led towards Christ for a while, but let this be an example of that God works through the weaknesses (or the pure intended?) efforts/ albums of others. Anyhow, we met with Yunus three times this week AND he shared his testimony of how logical it is to believe in Jesus Christ during Sacrament meeting yesterday! Wow. He also realized Kanye is a false Idol but it's totally fine because he was led to find and accept the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Haha.
James is feeling so good about his baptism next week! He ALSO shared his testimony in Sacrament meeting yesterday! (It was a very spiritual meeting as you may have already guessed.) He shared how keeping the commandments has freed him. He said "I never knew I could have the strength to stand in the middle of a party and not drink and at the same time be the happiest one." 
Being a missionary is like showing up and watching the LITERAL POWER OF GOD work in the lives of others. 

While on an exchange with sister seaver this week we got talking to this guy named Justin. Justin proceeds to tell us that it doesn't matter what race or religion you are, he loves everyone. He says *pointing to sister seaver* "it doesn't matter if you're from China" (accurate) *points to me*",or Antarctica! I love everyone." 
Haha I know I'm white but Antarctica I thought was pretty extreme. 

It's December, and my days here are extremely numbered. (*cries) As a result, my appreciation for each opportunity to testify, each opportunity to show someone a baptismal font, to teach someone to pray, to place Christ's name over my heart, it has all become much more sacred than ever before. This has not been a casual time in my life because this is the least casual work in the world. WOW I'M SO GRATEFUL AND EMOTIONAL GOODBYE. 

Enjoy these pictures. Especially the one of me holding a stray cat. This was a big moment for me. I also realized I don't know how to hold cats. 








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