Hey Fam,
Well, forewarning, I'll probably be short today. The greatest thing ever that happened this week is that Tanya was baptized and confirmed. Wow. She had a great baptismal interview on Thanksgiving, and then was baptized Saturday. She was so beautiful! We actually got her one of the really flowy gowns from the temple so that she was comfortable over her very big tummy :) She was so happy. She came out of that font with the biggest smile ever! When we went into the dressing room and I asked her how she felt, she said, "wet!" haha. After she changed she told me she felt so clean, like she wasn't sure how to explain it. I couldn't help but think of the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants: "And if so be that you should labor all your days (mission) in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him (her) in the kingdom of my Father!" That pretty much sums up my week :)
It hit me yesterday that this is pretty much my last week. I have this week, next Monday, then p-day Tuesday to pack, Wednesday meetings and temple, go home interview and everything, then my flight is early Thursday. So I shared my testimony with my precious little branch here, all 18 that were in sacrament:) Can you believe I've been here 11 months?! Craziness.
I'm having a hard time making sense of any of the thoughts I have about my mission. How could I possibly sum all of that into words? 18 months of working 12-16 hours a day completely devoted to others and to my own studies? People want to ask me what I've learned, or what was the most powerful, or most difficult, etc. I don't know! Everything! haha. Sis Burns and I were talking about not getting comfortable but working really hard together right to the end, to keep pushing, keep searching, keep consecrated. Trying to be creative, even though we feel like we've tried it all. I feel like I'm at a total high point, but almost to the point where I'm plateauing. Like I'm comfortable, spiritually, mentally, socially. I noticed it this last week, and I told Sis Burns the other day, and she said, "well, maybe that's not a bad thing." She might be right. Maybe that's another reason there's time limits to missions. Not that I've learned everything, but just that I guess it's time to go somewhere else so I keep climbing in my progression. And that this 18 months has been the jump start to the rest of that progression forever. Just an idea. It'll just be really hard when I have to do it without this name tag, when I'm told I can take it off. I'll lose my superpowers! Haha, no.
Well, I'm going to go. Thank you so much for your emails. I really appreciated your insights, Will, and your words Dad. Thank you.
Lots of Love,
Hermana Marks
P.S. Is there snow there? It was kinda coldish last week some days (like 40’s and I was freezing!) But this morning it was warm!! 70 outside and stuff inside so we finally turned the air on!
P.P.S. Mom, did you just love getting that text?! Fun, huh? :) Sis Wall was getting the mission home all decked out for Christmas so we helped. There's one thing I didn't think I'd ever be doing on a mission - haha. But it was a really nice break.
Well, forewarning, I'll probably be short today. The greatest thing ever that happened this week is that Tanya was baptized and confirmed. Wow. She had a great baptismal interview on Thanksgiving, and then was baptized Saturday. She was so beautiful! We actually got her one of the really flowy gowns from the temple so that she was comfortable over her very big tummy :) She was so happy. She came out of that font with the biggest smile ever! When we went into the dressing room and I asked her how she felt, she said, "wet!" haha. After she changed she told me she felt so clean, like she wasn't sure how to explain it. I couldn't help but think of the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants: "And if so be that you should labor all your days (mission) in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him (her) in the kingdom of my Father!" That pretty much sums up my week :)
It hit me yesterday that this is pretty much my last week. I have this week, next Monday, then p-day Tuesday to pack, Wednesday meetings and temple, go home interview and everything, then my flight is early Thursday. So I shared my testimony with my precious little branch here, all 18 that were in sacrament:) Can you believe I've been here 11 months?! Craziness.
I'm having a hard time making sense of any of the thoughts I have about my mission. How could I possibly sum all of that into words? 18 months of working 12-16 hours a day completely devoted to others and to my own studies? People want to ask me what I've learned, or what was the most powerful, or most difficult, etc. I don't know! Everything! haha. Sis Burns and I were talking about not getting comfortable but working really hard together right to the end, to keep pushing, keep searching, keep consecrated. Trying to be creative, even though we feel like we've tried it all. I feel like I'm at a total high point, but almost to the point where I'm plateauing. Like I'm comfortable, spiritually, mentally, socially. I noticed it this last week, and I told Sis Burns the other day, and she said, "well, maybe that's not a bad thing." She might be right. Maybe that's another reason there's time limits to missions. Not that I've learned everything, but just that I guess it's time to go somewhere else so I keep climbing in my progression. And that this 18 months has been the jump start to the rest of that progression forever. Just an idea. It'll just be really hard when I have to do it without this name tag, when I'm told I can take it off. I'll lose my superpowers! Haha, no.
Well, I'm going to go. Thank you so much for your emails. I really appreciated your insights, Will, and your words Dad. Thank you.
Lots of Love,
Hermana Marks
P.S. Is there snow there? It was kinda coldish last week some days (like 40’s and I was freezing!) But this morning it was warm!! 70 outside and stuff inside so we finally turned the air on!
P.P.S. Mom, did you just love getting that text?! Fun, huh? :) Sis Wall was getting the mission home all decked out for Christmas so we helped. There's one thing I didn't think I'd ever be doing on a mission - haha. But it was a really nice break.