"And I'll Never Go Home Again"

This week has been interesting and super busy! I was a host for new missionaries, I was an example missionary at how to begin teaching, I met elder now brother christensen from the district, I went to infield orientation. said goodbye to my teachers etc. Oh and how lovely but I found out that my family is moving. Oh joy! (Just in case you couldn't tell that was sarcasm.) Pero there is nothing I can do about it, and everything is in the Lords hands so I guess I just have to pull up my muck-boots, deal with it and go to work. 

the other night i was reading a letter from someone and I just broke down. I realized I don't get to come home. One of the ways up till now that I have kept motivated when things get rough here at the MTC is by reminding myself that I would get to go home in July when the fireflies are out, and the stars shine bright, and I could go outside and play my guitar in the blanket of humidity. I had a dream, I had a dream, I just wanted to see the lightning bugs gleam, and with ever passing hour I'm not so glad I left my tower... this was my song for most of last week. 

The number one thing I have learned while being here is that it's all in God's hands, we just have to trust him and do what he asks even if it's super hard. 

Every sunday at the MTC we watch a church movie, this week it was the Joseph smith movie. In the movie there is a large portion dedicated to the Saints time in Zion I realized as I watched it that I was being slightly selfish. The Pioneers loved that beautiful place probably just as much as me, but they were sent away in much more dire, and sad circumstances. I started to think about what that might have been like. And it made me realize that I have it so easy, and I also realized that I have been so blessed to have enjoyed living in a place that they were so brutally sent away from. But look at all the good and growth that came from the early saints leaving. I know I can do hard things! 

When I broke down the other day this song came to my head "And I'll never go home again, place the call feel it start, favorite friend, well nothings wrong but that's not true...and all the things that we do for fun, can not be anymore..." Those words stung, I will never go home again. I wrote my name in that land, and I don't want that to change, but God knows what he is doing and I know good will come of it. 

this week has also brought me and the other sisters I live with closer together (don't know if that's a good thing as we all leave on Monday), but once when I was crying they all came in and sat on my bed and Herman T and Hermana L cuddled me. I am glad we are all friends now. Herman L reminds me of my Sister Smurf the way she tried to comfort me. It made me smile because God knows me and he knows how to comfort me. 

I also had the pleasure of playing "nurse" again this week. a sister from my zone got a really bad cold, I went over and took care of her and the next day she was a TON better. I love helping people. First Aid rocks!

I can't write a ton more, but one cool thing that happened was that my companion and I met our TRC investigator as a real person not as his investigator persona. He told us that usually he doesn't remember lessons or missionaries, but he will always remember the times we taught him because we showed charity, tailored the lessons to his needs, and didn't judge him when he told us about his "drinking problem". He told us he could really tell that we cared and he could feel the Spirit. I had also made a "bold promise" to him that if he would have faith in the Lord and read The Book of Mormon everyday that he would be able to stop drinking. He said that really hit him. We also introduced him to the ARP program. HA! Thanks Brother E back home! This work is all about humility and charity. 

I could write a ton more on this week but I don't have time. I love y'all! Joshua 1:9 

Hermana Shingleton