Woche 17: Journeys of Discovering Require New Eyes

I had so many great experiences with some of Gods children this week :) And have seen the simple kindness of people here. Last PDay we went thrifting (yes it's a thing here too) and at a Turkish laden we went to, the coat I was looking at had a button missing. Before I could say anything, the woman took it out of my hands and said wait, I'll do it for you. We were able to chat with her for a little while and explain our purpose here. She had such open interest in making sure everyone around her was happy. I really enjoy meeting people like that, who turn completely outward. 

First Day of Newly Fixed Bikes!!

...On the Train after biking 8 km (5 mi)

Our bikes are finally fixed! And the bike shop threw in new handlebar grips! Besides being excited to not have to wait for as many Bahns, I really anticipate us being able to have much more contacting time! My companion braved a haircut this week, though I think she winced with every snip  it turned out good though haha

Reading other missionaries letters this past week has made me think about the stark contrast between missions and how the work is done. What works here wouldn't work other places, how others teach may not be as effective here etc. Every single call is inspired and to me, almost seems like it arrives with your new potential in the envelope! I've been thinking about what God has planned for me and for us here in Mainz. It helps me pay closer attention to know exactly where we need to be to follow the plan He has. 

The Lord has been looking out for us a little more this week. Our mission set a goal of ten baptismal dates made by Sunday. We went to our next appointment with Michelle, armed with scriptures and a lesson plan, so ready to figure out how we could help her get there! Almost as soon as we came in, she said she didn't want to join any church and that everyone's worship should be more individual than that. My first Tschüß (good bye) It's easy to understand but harder to be happy with. But that was similar to what Desiree had done, and I hope that when missionaries find Michelle again, she'll be ready :) 

Frau Lange had asked us to watch conference with her so we watched 3 talks, including Elder Holland's about mothers. In the times we've talked about baptism before, she had always said that she had made a promise with Jesus. That when she got a new apartment, she would be baptized and live her faith more. I asked her why she was waiting and what she could do then that she couldn't right now. She asked about signs and how if God really cared about us moving forward, he would help us. We said that God is always willing and ready to bless us with answers and solutions but that our faith shouldn't be conditional. We were able to set a baptismal date with her for December 19th. Heavenly Father is working in her life and she knows it. 

And we were number 7!! The mission is on fire with a desire to bring people to baptism!!

God knows what we know and what we're capable of. He knows exactly where we stand and what we need. He'll never push us beyond our limits but is waiting for us to do what we can! 

We had an appointment with the Marx's this week! We played Mensch and ate Heiße Liebe (vanilla ice cream with hot raspberries) 

Playing Mensch

Oktoberfest has come to Mainz! Lederhosen everywhere. You can't escape it. We've agreed that if Sister Godwin is married by the time I get home, I have to wear a Dirndl (traditional German woman's dress) to my homecoming talk. If she isn't, then she'll wear hers to mine ;) 

Der Schriftsteller Marcel Proust hat gesagt: „Die wahren Entdeckungsreisen bestehen nicht darin, neue Landschaften aufzusuchen, sondern darin, neue Augen zu haben.“ 

(The poet Marcel Proust said: "True journeys of discovering don't consist of finding new landscapes but of having new eyes.")

Take a look at your favorite scripture again, review old conference notes, read your journal! You'll find so much more through the new eyes that time and experience have given you. 

My scripture last week to "ponderize" was 1 John 4:21 and this week is to be determined tonight :) 

I love you all a heck of a lot and I hope you're happy 

Sister Riser ❤️

Picture Highlights!

Letter that Sister Z had carried in her scriptures for years. 

Car Show

Car Show

Week 15 Splits 

just quoting yoda: do or do not there is no try

Apple Picking 

"I feel like I could rip trees out of the  ground, Ahem, small trees, maybe bamboo, or flowers, ok fine. Grass. Grass works."

Rise and Win

Woche 16: Already Four Months!

My companion can't read Moroni's commandments and calls to repentance without sounding like Professor Trelawney 

My oh my I love this place! Der Vater im Himmel weiss was er tut! (Our Heavenly Father knows what he is doing) A mission teaches me so much more than I could ever imagine. I've never felt so happy or FULFILLED. Time is absolutely speeding by and I can't believe it's already been four months! Mainz makes me so incredibly happy! All the members are missionaries that live as examples of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

I'm so grateful for our Savior. I have too many weaknesses and moments that I struggle to make it through this life without Him. He asks that I ACTIVELY repent. Which means not just when I sin but the Atonement is there to cover me

in every moment I need it. Teaching the power that Christ has to heal us completely helps me understand it more. Seeing the gospel change habits and perspective helps the Atonement become more personal for me. 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

We went apple picking again this past week, this time in Schwester Fröbel's garden, and came out with exactly 100 apples! I feel lucky. And also that our next apple cake will be delicious. We already made applesauce and cut up apples for our next magazine recipe. I get the feeling we're going to be all appled out by the end of all this. But what're you gonna do, it's apple season in Deutschland! And we haven't even hit the big orchards. The Hirsch family makes their own apple juice and has to pick one ton of apples to have it made with just their own- which are  from ancient, delicious apple trees. Allow me to repeat. One. Ton. Of. Apples. Crazy! I'm stoked to go and help! 

Persistence pays off! We finally were able to get an appointment with a woman that we met on a Bahn about two months ago. What set her apart for me was her simple desire to learn more. As we went into the appointment, she asked us again to make sure we weren't Jehovah's Witness and that we believed in God. Thankfully we were able to resolve those concerns :) She already has such respect for the scriptures that we know that she'll give the things she reads a chance with her head and heart. 

Note: day 3 of trying to convince my companion that we should incorporate charades into language study. Still no success. Will report back. 

At our last district meeting, we talked about how everybody is a somebody to someone. When thinking of what I would give to have every one of my family members back in the fold of Christ and active in the church, there's no limit. So why should there be for every other person we see? God has given us people to love and I'm going to find them all!! Our time is limited and I'd hate to miss the one that needs the gospel and our love the most. Charity is love without motives and love without limits. It allows to see past imperfections and see the someone for the somebody they are to someone else and to Heavenly Father. In Enos, it speaks of his faith in something that he had not before heard nor seen. As we practice charity, we have faith and hope that we will become the person God expects, though it's someone we haven't seen or heard before. As we practice charity, we have faith that God will expound our efforts even when they're so small that we've never seen or heard of them bringing us success. As we practice charity, we have faith that we will find the people that God has given us to love even though we've ever seen or heard them before. 

CONFERENCE! 

Our GML texted us at 10:24pm on Saturday night to let us know who the three new apostles were. Nobody guessed right haha but they will be wonderful apostles :)

Among many many many things I loved about conference, I was particularly impressed and grateful for the personal experiences that Elders Rasband, Stevenson, and Renlund shared and how they've accepted their call. They truly ready and willing to share and give what they have because it's not just a church calling. Serving the Lord and bringing forth His work is an active pursuit that can't be confined to just area of your life. I hope we can all see the blessings that can expand to all aspects of our lives when we immerse our selves in His work! 

Conference was marvelous and so much to offer. I'm so grateful that we had the chance to watch it! As we invited members and investigators this week to go in with a question, I had been thinking about the question I wanted to ask. My family at home had all shared something that they had hoped to get out of conference. As I finally chose a question shortly before conference, I saw so many answers and possibilities for change that I was looking for in just the first session. That strengthens my testimony of knowing that we are children of God and I have no doubt that He's ready, just waiting on us, to pass down answers and ideas and blessings and life changers and earth shakers! To simplify (thanks President Uchtdorf) it's all about what He wants. To be willing and wanting to do His will and ASK for ways to be more effective in doing that. What more can I do, what more do I lack.

Conference normally leaves me with both a slight feeling of chastisement and a huge excitement for tomorrows! One of my favorite parts of conference was the question of Who will you become through the Atonement of Christ? I can't become enough on my own. Even recognizing that opens us to be more easily taught and changed. 

Thanks to everyone who shared their questions and thoughts from conference. It helped me widen my perspective and see what's important to you :) 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Don't worry. Be happy now. Fears are nothing next to the power of our Heavenly Father! 

Liebe Grüße, Sister Riser

Woche 15: Make every day the best 24 hours of your life!

the view behind Desiree's

Busy busy week! We were in Frankfurt for a few days so we didn't have as much contact with our investigators as we wanted but it worked out alright. Some nights we get home with so much to do that I barely have time to write in my journal and prepare for the next day's lessons. It's awesome. It's wonderful to have every day packed to the brim with the Lords work! There's no better place to see miracles than while doing missionary work. And revelation comes best when you're on the move!

Zone conference this week! It was my first and was so incredible. I loved getting to know the missionaries in our zone and hearing so many themes. Those who spoke continued to emphasize being BoLD! That inviting others is not a burden to them but a blessing. 

For me, most hesitancy to approach someone comes from me thinking that I'm bothering them or that they have no interest. I need to remember that it doesn't matter! The gospel is the best thing in the world! It's like having found out how to cure the common cold and wanting to tell everyone you know. Some people won't believe you or some don't want to do what it takes but sooner or later everybody wants to free from that cold haha 

One other thing that I took from conference was change.  Sometimes you need a smack down to tell you "hey you can be better" and "hey I made you to be more than this." Everyone has something they're holding back. (The elders teaching sang Frozen (Jetzt lass los! Ich lass los!) as they invited us to let go of what we're holding back and seek the confidence of being exactly obedient, fully participating missionaries. 

We also had splits with our sister training leaders! I love splits, they're hilarious. Sister Funk and I were here in Mainz and were able to spend some time in Waldalgesheim. She's served in big cities her whole mission and it was funny to see her stare out the window the whole time hahah Bingen area is beautiful with quite a few churches, so many vineyards and some pretty decent sized hills. (No mountains sadly, but hey it's not the alpine mission) 

Mainz Moments:

-lunch at the church with the Hirsch family. 

-Desiree teaching with us! This lady is on fire!! In the appointments after her baptism she asked if now that she was a member, was she allowed to teach with us! Yes yes you can!

-WE FOUND RITZ CRACKERS. Germany has delicious bread but they're lacking the cracker front. 

There is indeed a secret to becoming a successful gospel teacher, to teaching with the power and authority of God. I use the word secret because the principles upon which a teacher’s success rests can be understood only by those who have a testimony of what took place on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of 1820. --Teaching with the Power and Authority of God by David M. McConkie 

There is no substitute teacher for the Spirit. 

There are no words more powerful than that of a sincere testimony. 

Such a simple principle. 

Our focus is to plan and teach lessons that they can have a spiritual experience. There's such power in kneeling prayers. I helps us be more open to guidance. You can feel the Spirit so strongly as someone you're teaching kneels with you in prayer to ask if what they're learning is true. 

We're getting geared up for general conference with living prophets contacting! Those are my favorite questions to ask, it gets people thinking. Because of the ward split two years ago, they've never shown conference here in Mainz. People have had to go to Wiesbaden or watch at home. But we'll be showing it all day Sunday this time! Huzzah for technology. We've been working with a few less active families and it'll be great to have something like this to invite them to :) 

Remember the Lord’s counsel: “And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.” Well might each of us ask himself: Today, have I increased in faith, in hope, in charity, in love? When our lives comply with God’s standard and we labor with love to bring souls unto Him, those within our sphere of influence will never speak the lament, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” -- President Monson: Missionary Work

Make every day the best 24 hours of your life! 

Liebe Grüße, Sister Riser ❤️

Woche 14: Of Regrets and Resolution

Falling in love with this sky

Our Heavenly Father sees our real potential. He knows things about us that we do not know ourselves. He prompts us during our lifetime to fulfill the measure of our creation, to live a good life, and to return to His presence.

      Why, then, do we devote so much of our time and energy to things that are so fleeting, so inconsequential, and so superficial? Do we refuse to see the folly in the pursuit of the trivial and transient?

When it comes to living the gospel, we should not be like the boy who dipped his toe in the water and then claimed he went swimming. As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we are capable of so much more. For that, good intentions are not enough. We must do. Even more important, we must become what Heavenly Father wants us to be.

Dieter F Uchtdorf 'Of Regrets and Resolution'

Don't just get a taste of the gospel. Immerse yourself in it! 

Don't just set goals and imagine who you want to become, do it!

It's not enough to listen to one prompting and think we've done all that the Lord wants us to do. 

It's not enough to skim our scriptures and think we're studying. We have to want to do good and then do it! 

God made us capable so why not do all that's in our power?

I know that I have talents and time and strengths but I have to continually ask myself if I'm using them in the right place. Am I giving too much time to things of little or no eternal value? 

We got approved for an overnighter in Frankfurt with the Sister Training Leaders!!! Our zone conference starts early the next day and our tickets only go after 9 so party in Frankfurt! 

New member lessons with Desiree are perfect. She's the perfect end to the day and is all smiles.  She chooses to be happy about the things in her life and is such a great example to us. She's so excited to start Family Home Evening and should be getting a calling next week!  Her daughter turns seven in October and has requested that we learn the Frozen songs in German so we can sing them together. And here I thought I'd never get to karaoke on my mission ;) We had our first performance together on Friday and I really got into my role as a mountain. 

One new thing we've begun this week is to make a German jar filled with topic prompts and questions that might be a little out of the ordinary. It's been interesting to have to use different vocabulary and to think beyond the norm. 

Saturday night we were dooring in the most polite neighborhood I've ever seen. Nicest rejections ever. 

There was one woman we talked to that shared with us a little bit about the experience she had as missionary for her Gemeinde (community?). She wished us luck and was thanked us for what we were doing. I find it so interesting and good that people are so accepting and appreciative of what we do even when they have no interest whatsoever. The love that these people have is amazing. 

“Desiring to receive instructions” is more than a willingness to listen. When our desire to receive instruction is a greater force than our comfort in remaining as we are, we become teachable.  --"Desiring to be Teachable" by Robert R. Steauer

I recognize having the desire to learn and to change but at times know that I'm unwilling to change my behavior enough to let me become who I can. The gospel should afflict the comfortable. Complacency is a roadblock to my progress. There's so many opportunities to learn that I don't want to miss out on all I can learn by not being ready to be taught, accept criticism, or change. The longer I'm here, the more I see what I need to to be giving, but more importantly who much more I'm really capable of giving. 

Part of our transfer goals is to treat finding time like a teaching appointment. We want to give it the priority it needs and be accountable to ourselves. There are so many new habits that I'm making and habits that I'm improving! I want to be consistent and know that I can carry them beyond the mission field. 

Today we went to the IAA!!!! Internationale Auto Ausstellung (exhibition) in Frankfurt!! It was massive and one of the most incredible things I've every seen!!! It comes every two years and is the biggest in the world!! (So I've been told. But the amount of walking we did agrees) Audi had a huge display which cost 32 million for the building alone. Holy mackerel. There was so much there I don't even know where to begin. Crazy crazy!! But one of my favorite P Days so far! The Messe is gargantuan!! And I was in an i8. And it was awesome. 

"RM" Returned Missionary... not there yet! 

Thanks for the wonderful updates and stories I hear from you all!! You're wonderful examples to me and remind me to recognize the important and small moments :) 

Liebe Grüße, Sister Riser ❤️

Woche 13: Desiree's Baptism and Transfer Calls

Desiree is baptized!! 

She was just glowing! She looked so beautiful and happy. She has such an amazing support system already and her introduction to the ward and FHV was so simple. We love you, we're all different and we help each other. She's already planning on going with the ward on their temple trip to Switzerland next month! 

Sister Godwin and I had the serious blessing of meeting with Schwester Zdunkowski this week. She's an inactive member because she isn't able to come to church each week. We've been trying to meet with her for the past two transfers but she is the busiest almost 92 year old woman I have ever met. She and her husband moved to Salt Lake, back to Germany, moved again to a tiny dorf, back to Salt Lake and finally moved to Ober-Olm. 

She met her husband when she was serving a 28 month mission in the Berlin mission office the year after World War II ended. Her husband was called up into the German army two days before he turned 16. And soon thereafter was captured as the Russians swept through parts of Germany. He escaped and made his made through Russian territory to Berlin to find his family, who had already fled before the invasion. As soon as her mission ended, he got called to serve in East Germany. Spending any time in East Germany would require them to wait even longer before they were allowed to immigrate to the United States. 

We talked together about hope and how it works with other Christlike attributes. She spoke about remembering times in testimony meeting where people said that they KNEW that Heavenly Father was there and that they KNEW the gospel was true. She talked about having a strong belief and testimony but to her, knowing was something that was evidence and something you saw. It wasn't until later in life that she felt that faith was knowing because there is no other way. Her beliefs are so tightly wound and apart of who she is and what she does that she KNOWS that Heavenly Father is there. She is one incredible lady. 

Some gardening before the Low Country Boil

We had our youth activity!! For those interested, it was comprised of three parts. Gaining the spirit, getting ready, and finding! American youth are great and have fantastic energy but I definitely didn't miss hearing swag and yolo these past few months hahah

We spoke about sacrifice in Gospel Principles and someone brought up Malachi 3 when speaking about tithing. The translation of 'the windows of heaven' into German is interesting to me. The word used -die Schleusen, makes me picture water being poured out the moment the shutters open. With such force that the window can barely hold it in. Obedience brings blessings and be if mindful of Gods will can bring us so much more that we can ever imagine. 

That night we had a Low Country Boil in the Fugals garden to celebrate Sister Fugals birthday. We made apple crisp (turns out there are perks to buying 5 kilos of apples from a Tuekish laden haha) and We had Frogmorestew. Marvelous. I'm making this a tradition. Suellen and David, two investigators, came as well. It started raining so we all ate inside the garden house which doesn't have electricity. So we had candles and jazz music- I had flashbacks to group dates... weird. 

We're going three (transfers) together!! There was some serious anxiety during transfer calls but we're in Mainz for one more!!! So ridiculously excited!!! 

This week is going to be great!! 

Love you all!

Sister Riser ❤️

Woche 12: Maintaining an Eternal Perspective & the FAR Formula

Don't let the label fool you, we made this applesauce. And it's delicious.

To quote my favorite Õde (Sister) Hilton :) 

If we are serious about our desire for greater faith, nothing less than maintaining a constant eternal perspective will do. If we place any condition on our willingness to serve the Lord with all our hearts, we diminish our faith. 

Second, pray for the missionaries serving in your area and their investigators by name every day. The only way to do this is to greet them, look at their badge, call them by name, and ask them who they are teaching. Elder Russell M. Nelson wisely contributed, “Until you know a person’s name and face, the Lord cannot help you know his or her heart.”

-Hastening The Lords Game Plan 

Get to know your missionaries! Know who they're working with! These are future members of the church and people that you should know! Use the skills, quirky habits and hobbies that you have to connect with others! 

Fast Sunday's are just great days. To quote a grand Institute teacher- our bodies need food every day. And our Spirits need food every day. So Fast Sunday's are like Thanksgiving 😊

Especially in preparation for our last street display, I've been focusing on what defines the gospel for me. In simple terms, how can I share what the gospel is to me? In reading an address by Merlin Fish, he mentioned the FAR formula out forward in the Ensign. 

F is for family. We are a family church. 

A is for answers. To questions of the soul and the great questions of life.

R is for restoration. This IS the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. 

It sounds impossible to share all that I think is important about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but this is what's necessary for people to know about what the gospel can do for their lives. I love that each testimony is individual and shows how the they've let faith change their lives. 

Making pumpkin soup with Suellen!

Suellen was in church yesterday! Each time she prioritized coming to church, she's so happy!! We talked about fasting in Gospel Principles and what we make it with our attitude. Then we broke our fast at her house last night and made pumpkin soup! Apparently the secret is coconut milk :)  

On Saturday night after our street preach (second one in Mainz woot woot!) we went with the Jarrards and Mainz Elders to Suellen's brothers Mexican restaurant. Best Mexican food in Germany guaranteed 

#texanslovemex

Afterwards the Jarrards were driving us to visit a less active about an hour away when Desiree called. She had just gotten out of the hospital and was calling to let us know that she wouldn't be in church. Sister Godwin asked if she would like a priesthood blessing and she said yes. So the Elders met us out in Saulheim and were able to give her a beautiful blessing. It's been fantastic to see how she's overcome so much to be able to be baptized. We're praying for her in the last week leading up to her baptism. Not today Satan! She's entering into the waters of baptism in 6 days!! 

I've seen our time be filled by what the Lord wants us to be doing. Each day is completely packed with teaching and finding and I absolutely love it! I feel like I have the best job ever!! This work excites and teaches. It's an experience like nothing else and challenges me in ways that I haven't been before. 

I hope each of you will take time to hear what the Lord wants. I know you'll see yourself develop in change as He refines you through the experiences you have and decisions you make. 

Liebe Grüße

Sister Riser

Woche 11: Do you feel like a missionary?

 1 Peter 3:15

Be always ready! Have your testimony ready to share when people ask you why you're different!  Let them see the reason and hope behind your actions.

This week we went to the temple for the last time! It was packed with missionaries and other patrons and we missed the first session and were early for the next one but they told us to change and meet in the chapel and they would work something out. We were waiting there deciding whether to spend three hours until the next session there when the temple president walked in. He welcomed us to the temple and began to talk to us about missionary service and the miracles we would see. It was a wonderful experience to have him speaking to just six missionaries so personally. He cautioned us to not let opportunities pass and reminded us of the great wonders we're capable of being apart of when we listen to the Spirit. Afterwards I remember looking around the celestial room and seeing so many missionaries and feeling so grateful to be here. The Lord trusts us with His children and it's a privilege to serve as one of His missionaries.

High Points of the Week

-Service at the Hirsch farm was so much fun and I loved being out of the city! They have beautiful Icelandic horses and miniature ponies and sheep that attack freshly cut bushes like toddlers to fruit snacks.

-Splits with the sister training leaders! Loved every minute. It's a nice change and fresh perspective that makes you excited to try new things in your area.

-Dinner with the Copeland family and the Jarrards. We shared about prayer and Schwester Copeland talked about the first time she heard about the church compared to the time later when she accepted it. It wasn't until she was open to change that she could accept the gospel. It's an almost visible difference in the people we talk to every day- those that want more and are ready and those closed off the change.

-I'm not sure if you should count disobedience as a high point but we definitely accidentally left our area and zone this past week. The Jarrards got lost on our way back from a dinner appointment and we ended up in Weisbaden. On the plus side, we saw a monster truck rally advertised there and we now know what we are doing next PDay ;)

-DESIREE. This woman makes my day everyday. She's getting baptized in less that two weeks!! I can't believe it's only been a month since we met her!

-German. I love this language. It's changed the way I bear my testimony and share what I've learned. It flows and expresses differently than English and it's grand.

-Being tired! The absolute only reason this is enjoyable is because we're so busy!! We've never been so busy finding and teaching and studying and eating hahah

-Painting at the Fugals. They took on a mass redecorating project while Bruder Fugal was gone and painted two rooms and rearranged a whole bunch. My favorite part was in Naomi's room where we painted a seashore and mountains. We went over twice to help and I told them that the only payment I wanted was to see his face when he walked in. They said I could if I could manage it without being seen. So if anyone knows where I could find a nifty looking spider, I'm looking for Spider-Man like grips to hang from the ceiling.

I've decided that the highest compliment given is that you have a good accent. Unless people start complimenting adjective endings, then I may change my mind.

We're gearing up for our youth activity next week- A Day in the Life of a Missionary! It's going to be the best!! It's a combined activity for two German wards and one American ward :)

Desiree is back in town!! She was asked to stand up in sacrament meeting and she stood up all smiles and waved to everyone her happiness is so contagious!! The ward hasn't had baptism in about a year so it's fun to see them get excited about missionary work!

For the fifth Sunday we gathered together to talk about the sabbath. It's times like these that I love how small our Ward is. It allows for everyone to speak and share. Our bishop, who taught, described an experience he had as a teenager. He wanted to be a profie Fußball player- don't we all (professional soccer). And he joined a league that would play and practice on the Sabbath. It took a while but he decided that he shouldn't play football on Sunday. Not two weeks later, the stake president shared a story where he and his sons were playing football on Sunday. After sitting fuming for a while in sacrament meeting, he came to see the difference. How do we think of the activities we do on the Sabbath? Do we play football for winners, losers, got to get better, practice practice? Or are we spending time with family?

I love that commandments are personal. They're followed differently for each person and the Lord knows that.

One of the greatest pieces of advice I've heard was from one of my sister training leaders this week. I asked her what has been helpful to her in being a successful and happy missionary. She said knowing that she's doing exactly what the Lord wants will make her happy and that leads to success. She said that she can judge every action, word, or activity by asking herself- Do I feel like a missionary doing this? Anything that doesn't make her the representative of Christ that she wants to be isn't something that she wants to do. I thought about it in other situations- Do I feel like a Latter Day Saint doing this? Do I feel like a good example doing this? Our actions and words define us and shape who we are. I would want to do what's going do to work towards that person I'm trying to become. 

Happy birthday to my beautiful mother! I'm happy to have you as an example and friend- I love you!! ❤❤❤