Sunday, July 21, 2013

"So do you wish you were going outside of the country?" -Everyone and their dog


.
NO.


No I am SO HAPPY about getting called to Alabama. In fact, it is perfect for me! Heavenly Father knows that this is where I'm supposed to go.

It's funny; I really do think Heavenly Father has a sense of humor...

When I was filling out my papers, I filled out the part about going foreign and learning a new language that I was "REALLY willing to go foreign and learn a language." People have said that you are pretty much guaranteed to go foreign and learn a new language if you write that on the paperwork.

Well, I think Heavenly Father thinks it's funny to send me to Alabama because yes, it will be all foreign to me and yes, the southern "twang" will definitely be different for me and something to get used to and try to understand.

Plus, having a stateside mission means that packages and letters will come to me quickly and safely and that walmart is just a quick stop down the street for any items that I may need.

The southern food is going to be either really really good or really really sketchy depending on where I go which I'm excited about as well :)

Oh. and let's not forget the AMAZING thunderstorms and random rain downpours during the summer time!!! AHHHHH!!!

I am just so excited :) 31 DAYS. A MONTH. THAT'S IT.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

36 DAYS!!!!!!??????????!!!!!!!!

okay. This is crazy!!!!! I will be going to the MTC IN 36 DAYS!!!!!!!! AHHH Time really does fly by and I can't believe it!!! :) I am getting so excited, yet nervous at the same time, but I know that with God by my side, I can do hard things!!!

I am so close to being done with the Book of Mormon. I have been using my "100 day" reading checklist which has helped me a ton! It's all just so crazy and I can't wait for the amazing adventure ahead of me!

I have noticed how much satan has been trying to attack me before I go which I heard is totally normal for pre-missionaries because he simply just doesn't want you to go. SATAN IS DUMB. End of story.

The Mesa Temple is closed for cleaning until later this month which I am super bummed about, but can't wait to go again and again before I leave!!! I love the temple. It's just a perfect place to find peace and answers to prayer. I had the chance to go through with Lexie for her first time on July 13th. There were A LOT of people there and they had us meditate and ponder the temple as we waited for people to be done. I just prayed really hard and started off by saying, "Heavenly Father. Please help me know.. and before I said anything else, I had this HUGE thought run through my mind saying to me, "Gracie. My daughter. YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS IS TRUE." Chills ran through me as I thought to myself, "duh. Gracie. You do know it's true. Just trust in the Lord."

I am so grateful for this gospel and for prayer and for the scriptures. Heavenly Father is mindful of us all and wants us to return to him with honor. :)

 
 
 
 

Missionary Work and the Atonement (This is what keeps me going!!)



"I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary. . .

When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him—the Way, ...
the Truth, and the Life. . .

I bear witness that He came from God as a God to bind up the brokenhearted, to dry the tears from every eye, to proclaim liberty to the captive and open the prison doors to them that are bound. 19 I promise that because of your faithful response to the call to spread the gospel, He will bind up your broken hearts, dry your tears, and set you and your families free. That is my missionary promise to you and your missionary message to the world."
-Elder Holland