Katie's Mission Blog: July 9, 2024-July 15, 2024-Week 62-Loma Nueve

Hey what's up!! I didn't really want to send this to everyone but just to my family.

Here's a little life update for my part...

I have a latina comp, Hermana Bran. She's from El Salvador. She's very kind and she is good at finding the joy in the little things. We have very different life backgrounds, and it makes me count my MANY blessings. I don't know how the Lord let's us have such good life's and parents and families and the gospel, but I know He gives us it to share it!

I had some conferences this week, a leadership conference and a zone conference. The first with the leaders in the mission and then with probably about 60 missionaries for zone conference. I love how the spirit touches our hearts differently. I think the lessons that I took away were to just remember the goals I had set

1) to have charity. Charity really is all the attributes of Christ in one. That's why it is the hardest thing because being charitable is putting on Jesus Christ. Being charitable is not judging, expecting the best of others, being patient, etc. The biggest challenge right now is my comp and just taking a step back and choosing her and loving her instead of being so focused on the work. At the start if the transfer this is all that came to my mind is to never have a regret and put my comp first. Sometimes it's really hard!!! But I know God never sends a challenge we can't handle with Him. Sometimes I just feel insufficient to help her with her traumas and the hardships of her life. It's really overwhelming and I feel like I can't keep my covenants to carry other peoples burdens. But I have been praying a lot and just reassuring myself that God will not penalize me for the other people I could have helped baptize because I am putting my companion first.

Choosing Charity: That Good Part

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2003/10/choosing-charity-that-good-part?lang=eng

2) to enjoy every moment. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the numbers or the lessons or the time or all the things we aren't doing. But we need to remember all we DO have, all we ARE doing and all that we are BECOMING. I am working on being grateful and seeing all the good. Just smiling in every moment.

I was able to talk to my president in passing and he just reassured me of what I had felt. But sometimes doing the Lord's will is so dang hard. But over and over again I learn that it is so much better. I feel overwhelming love for my companion, and great joy that I can be the friend she needed. Being a covenant keeper is demanding and hard and I cry a lot and am dead tired, but I also know He is the source of my ultimate strength. The work is slow and much different than how I would do it, but I must pick my battles. I chose to love my companion and love this transfer. I choose to be a follower in this transfer. I choose to smile and love and keep going!!

Just for grammy, the good looking Elder sat next to me at conference;) so that's a confidence booster! We also were given pupusas one day and they were so good, and our neighbor gave us free McFlurries (icecream from McDonalds). My companion also makes lots of smoothies, and there is an older woman in my ward who reminds me of my aunt Marsha. Life is good and God is in the details.

Basically I miss you so big!!

THE VIEWS

Leadership conference 7/9/24

Hermana Bran and Keeler and Roberts on our way to leadership conference

Hermana Shirley

All the sisters in leadership with sister Forsberg

Sisters Christensens

Me, Hermana Robert's, Hermana Bran, Hermana Christensen, Hermana Smith. All the American comps that Hermana Bran has been with

We have the challenge to read the Book of Mormon in this transfer and focus on the Savior and His atonement (notice our picture is shaped like a heart)