"You Don't Need to Shovel Sunshine" 9/23/19

Hello Friends and Family!

What a week it has been! Comparatively to the first week, it has just flown by. Sister Snelgrove and I have focused a lot of our efforts on building relationships with the members. So this week has consisted of a lot of stopping by members' houses, volunteering to help with service opportunities, and getting members excited about fellowshipping people we are teaching. While those numbers are few, we have still focused on knocking doors and street contacting but haven't found any success yet. It is okay though, we are staying strong and putting our faith in God. 

There are no really crazy stories this week so I apologize for the shorter email! But there were many little miracles, I'll share one. :) 

My very first day in Arizona Sister Snelgrove and I went out contacting in an apartment complex. We stopped a few people to talk to them about the reality of having an eternal family and part of the Plan of Salvation. No one seemed too interested but we got a few phone numbers and carried on. This week had a few days that were really discouraging. I began to question if any of our efforts, even with those who weren't interested, were doing anything. Then, on Friday, we got a cryptic text just saying, "Morning Sisters". We started a conversation and proceeded to find out that it was a friend of someone we had talked to our first night and that we had apparently made a lasting impact on this man. He gave us some advice on how to best get a hold of him, but made sure we wouldn't give up on him and to keep trying. This was an answer to my prayer. I may not make an impression on everyone I meet, but there are people who, even if they aren't ready now, need to hear the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to God for answering my prayers.

As to my title of this email, we had a dinner with a member who was talking about Christmas in Arizona, I said it was going to be weird to not have snow in December and she laughed and started talking about how amazing winter in Arizona is, then she said, "Listen, you don't need to shovel sunshine!!" It made me laugh. :)

I love you all so much! Thank you for all your kind emails and support, it is SO appreciated!!!

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Hello my amazing family!

What a week it has been. I mentioned roughly about how we are struggling in finding people. Yeah, it has been extremely difficult. We have knocked dozens of doors, talked to so many people on the street, and we aren't having any success. I kept reminding myself that it's only two weeks into the mission, to persevere and have faith, and I was doing okay for a little bit. Then on Tuesday I got to go to the temple with all the new missionaries that came out with me. I started talking to my old district sisters and proceeded to hear about all the awesome success they were having finding, putting people on date, and then I got discouraged. I started comparing my success and then started to think I was doing something wrong. Which is so silly to do, but when you allow the adversary to put negative thoughts in your mind, they just flood. 

I had a few rough moments this week but I was reading though 3rd Nephi 27:30 and Jesus is saying to His disciples, "And now, behold, my joy is great, even unto fulness, because of you...yea, and even the Father rejoiceth, and also all the holy angels, because of you... for none of them are lost." This scripture, for whatever reason helped me realize that God and Jesus Christ also rejoice in me, and my work. That by going out and sharing the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ I am planting seeds in all of God's children. I know God is mindful of me. I know He has people ready to hear the gospel in the Tempe Arizona mission, and even if they aren't in Ahwatukee, I have learned so much about the reality of my capacity to love others. I have learned so much more about the gospel and how applicable it is in my life. I have learned why it is so important to share the gospel whenever and wherever I am. 

I am doing good, don't get me wrong. :) I love the people and I absolutely love my companion! It really is so amazing to be here. I love Arizona so much already and can't wait to embrace all the other adventures coming my way. :) 

I love you all so much!!!!