The Beginning of the End - June 17, 2019

I call it the beginning of the end because this week marks week 1 of my last transfer in the mission... It`s been a pretty crazy week. It`s been crazy since we`ve had leader`s counsel, zone conference, and we`ve been helping out with some sisters that went home today, so it was really fast and really slow at the same time. 

One of the many things i`ve been learning is that it`s more important what the Savior thinks of you than what everyone else thinks of you. We`re never going to be perfect, but we just need to try to do our best, and "He makes up the rest". I am so imperfect, it`s one of the things that i`ve realized most as a missionary, but I know that I can be better, and I`m trying to use the atonement to be better little by little.

I`m grateful for my family, I`m grateful for your support (as friends and family), and most of all I`m grateful for the Lord Jesus Christ. I know He lives. I know He loves us and wants us to be happy. I know the He atoned for us and that he understands every difficultly, pain, temptation, sickness, etc that we could ever feel. 

I hope that everyone has a good week. We can always make the coming week a better one than the last :)

(Talking to her today made me grateful for the new communication guidelines!!  She cried for most of the call.  I am so grateful that I could talk to her and remind her of all her good qualities, and that the Lord loves her.  She has been with this companion for 12 weeks and found out on Sunday that she will finish her mission with her (another 6 weeks.)  I think she was kind of hoping to be transferred and have a new area or companion.  She said she has enjoyed a lot of good times with this companion but they have also struggled a lot.  She was able to speak frankly with me and tell me about all of the troubles as she hadn't been able to in past calls because her comp was not sitting next to her.  From what she described this comp has made her feel bad for wanting to be obedient, and that anytime she (the companion) is mad at Jessica it is her (Jessica's) fault.  It was super hard as a momma bear to hear her cry.  I know that she will bounce back because that is who she is but it was also heart breaking.  I reminded her of her happy, loving, obedient self and told her that she is not responsible for the way her companion feels.  I told her also that she can set boundaries with her comp.  She does not have to allow her comp to yell at her (ya, that has been happening...)  We talked about ideas to help her have a good transfer.  She is going to try to journal her feelings more, focus on her own obedience and set boundaries.  We talked about trying to find what the Lord would have her learn from this transfer with this companion, and to find the balance between working hard these last 6 weeks and reminding herself that she only has to put up with this comp for another 6 weeks.  I am soooo looking forward to my hug from her!!  

She also slammed her thumb in a car door this week.  They have an investigator with a baptismal date and she is excited about that.  Missions are hard! )

Con amor,

Hermana Rowe