Dear Family,
This week has been really hard. It is a combination of the holidays, my depression, and the fact that I am just really struggling in the area that I am in. It is all going to progress though. I hope. I keep telling myself that sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. I kinda remember going through something similar to what I am going through at the beginning of my mission. Change is hard. I am taking much comfort in reading past ensigns, and reading the scriptures. They help a lot. There is something about reading the words of others who have gone through hard times, and who have struggled with those around them, that can bring comfort. There is a scripture in Jeremiah that I found today. It is Jeremiah 33:3. It talks about prayer, and how the Lord will answer our prayers. I like it a lot :)
Okay. So. This week has been full of us doing service, and giving our ward some TLC. Tender Love and Care. There are a few people in the ward who are amazing :) One of them is Sister Cisneros. She is a convert to the church, and reminds me a lot of mommy :) She is very sweet. She loves ice cream, and we get along great. :)
I am also in love with our home-shares! They are the Padgetts. I probably talked about them last week, but they are even better now :) They have a little girl named Lauren. She is 9 and reminds me so much of Abby! She is full of energy, and has an old soul is what her mom called it :P She is 10 years younger than her brothers. She is like having a little sister, and we are her big sisters to her. She loves us, and does whatever she can to help. Before I came, the sisters would go over to her house and play games with her, but since I came, we haven't been doing that. She kept asking us why, and finally last night I told her why. I told her what our purpose as a missionary was, and that we need to fulfill that purpose to help those that are around us. I told her that if she wanted us to play games, then we would need to teach one of her friends. She said okay. It was way cute :) Sister Padgett is great :) Last night we were at the church for a baptism (I will talk more about that) and it showed on my face that I was having a hard time. I was doing pretty good at hiding it until that moment, and she was like, are you okay? I told her that I was fine, and then she gave me that mommy look. The one that means 'don't you dare lie to me, I know something is up'. I then told her that I had depression and was having a hard time. She got really concerned, and mentioned the holidays, and I said that it was partly that, and that I was struggling with other things. She then took me in a hug, and told me that she loved me. This sister, who has only known me for not even two weeks cared for me, and told me something I needed to hear. I have felt like I was just an outcast in this ward, and that not a lot of people could even begin to care for me. I needed to hear that. What was even cuter, is that Lauren was standing there and after her mom was done with her hug, Lauren wrapped her arms around me. She squeezed me tight, just like Abby does. It was really great :) They then both sat next to me at the baptism for the first part. It was really sweet of them. We are going to be spending Christmas with them. I can't wait :) They also can't wait to meet my family :) It is going to be very nice :)
Okay. Last night we had a baptism! Well, Sister Ferry and Sister Dowd had a baptism. I had only met the man who was being baptized like 3 times. He is Brother Padgetts Uncle. His name is John. He is really sweet. He had been waiting to be baptized for over 40 years. It is crazy. He has had a hard life, but is now doing great! His wife is a non member, but she was there totally supporting her husband. It was really touching.
Things are progressing. Life is getting harder, but will eventually get better. Sorry this is so short! I can tell you more about everything on Wednesday!
I love you all so much! Have a great week!!
This week has been really hard. It is a combination of the holidays, my depression, and the fact that I am just really struggling in the area that I am in. It is all going to progress though. I hope. I keep telling myself that sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. I kinda remember going through something similar to what I am going through at the beginning of my mission. Change is hard. I am taking much comfort in reading past ensigns, and reading the scriptures. They help a lot. There is something about reading the words of others who have gone through hard times, and who have struggled with those around them, that can bring comfort. There is a scripture in Jeremiah that I found today. It is Jeremiah 33:3. It talks about prayer, and how the Lord will answer our prayers. I like it a lot :)
Okay. So. This week has been full of us doing service, and giving our ward some TLC. Tender Love and Care. There are a few people in the ward who are amazing :) One of them is Sister Cisneros. She is a convert to the church, and reminds me a lot of mommy :) She is very sweet. She loves ice cream, and we get along great. :)
I am also in love with our home-shares! They are the Padgetts. I probably talked about them last week, but they are even better now :) They have a little girl named Lauren. She is 9 and reminds me so much of Abby! She is full of energy, and has an old soul is what her mom called it :P She is 10 years younger than her brothers. She is like having a little sister, and we are her big sisters to her. She loves us, and does whatever she can to help. Before I came, the sisters would go over to her house and play games with her, but since I came, we haven't been doing that. She kept asking us why, and finally last night I told her why. I told her what our purpose as a missionary was, and that we need to fulfill that purpose to help those that are around us. I told her that if she wanted us to play games, then we would need to teach one of her friends. She said okay. It was way cute :) Sister Padgett is great :) Last night we were at the church for a baptism (I will talk more about that) and it showed on my face that I was having a hard time. I was doing pretty good at hiding it until that moment, and she was like, are you okay? I told her that I was fine, and then she gave me that mommy look. The one that means 'don't you dare lie to me, I know something is up'. I then told her that I had depression and was having a hard time. She got really concerned, and mentioned the holidays, and I said that it was partly that, and that I was struggling with other things. She then took me in a hug, and told me that she loved me. This sister, who has only known me for not even two weeks cared for me, and told me something I needed to hear. I have felt like I was just an outcast in this ward, and that not a lot of people could even begin to care for me. I needed to hear that. What was even cuter, is that Lauren was standing there and after her mom was done with her hug, Lauren wrapped her arms around me. She squeezed me tight, just like Abby does. It was really great :) They then both sat next to me at the baptism for the first part. It was really sweet of them. We are going to be spending Christmas with them. I can't wait :) They also can't wait to meet my family :) It is going to be very nice :)
Okay. Last night we had a baptism! Well, Sister Ferry and Sister Dowd had a baptism. I had only met the man who was being baptized like 3 times. He is Brother Padgetts Uncle. His name is John. He is really sweet. He had been waiting to be baptized for over 40 years. It is crazy. He has had a hard life, but is now doing great! His wife is a non member, but she was there totally supporting her husband. It was really touching.
Things are progressing. Life is getting harder, but will eventually get better. Sorry this is so short! I can tell you more about everything on Wednesday!
I love you all so much! Have a great week!!
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