This week has been... crazy. That's about the only way to describe it. Its been up. Its been down. Its pretty much been all around and back again! Goodness. :)
Well first big news, our entire mission is on full bike for the entire month of April! I get that this is common in a lot of missions around the world. But this is weird for us. For my entire mission, pretty much every companionship has had a car, with a few exceptions. Its also starting to get very hot... which makes it even more fun. I pity every person that has to talk to us... sweat dripping down our face, mascara running, let's not even talk about what we smell like! Plus, it really isn't all that cute to ride bikes in a skirt. I promise, its not like in the movies. (Funny story, aboutThursday, day 3 of all biking, I asked one of the members to take a look at my bike because the break is broken. He knows a lot about bikes and so he takes a look at it and he's like, "you are going to be mad. How long has your break been broken?" Since Monday. And he laughed and said, "Your back break has been closed since Monday! You have been riding the break the entire time." I didn't find it as funny as he did. He also pumped up my practically flat tire. It was SO much easier to bike after that! Its like running on cement after running through sand!)
Anyway, the reasoning behind this is that when we are on bikes, we are able to talk to more people on the street. We are always out with the people. So its a trial to see if bikes are more effective than cars. So this may or may not be a permanent thing! Only one more summer... :/
Also this week, we had interviews with President Cusick. Normally I leave interview feeling pumped and uplifted. But not this time. I'll spare you the details, but I don't think I've cried so much my entire mission! But I did get a priesthood blessing from my ward mission leader. And another member took us out to ice cream. (Ice cream fixes everything). And I got through it. I'm much much better now!
Well, our work load doubled this week because the elders were transferred out. So we took over their teaching pool. So we have our teaching pool and theirs to cover on bikes... This week is going to be crazy!!! Our investigators are still progressing wonderfully to baptism. Hopefully the 93 year old will be dunked this week! We just have to convince the chaplain at the rehabilitation center he is at that just "sprinkling" him isn't enough... Prayers would be wonderful! The 9 year old is concerned about being able to live the word of wisdom... yeah our entire district got a kick of out that. And our other investigator is SOAKING it all in! He is loving everything he has learned and he is absolutely committed to this. We will probably end up moving his baptism date up a week. The elders also had a family that is working towards baptism but we haven't been able to get in touch with them yet.
So about General Conference! It was great, right? We got to watch it at the church. It was so wonderful. I loved the focus on eternal families. I felt like every talk was meant just for me! I learned so much that is going to benefit me now and also for the future. I came to conference with the question in mind, "What do I need to do here on my mission, to better prepare me to be a good wife and mom?" And that question was answered over and over again, in many different ways. That is something that is so important to me, and has become even more important to me on my mission! I hope that I can today and always be an advocate for families and the sacred callings of motherhood and fatherhood.
I also loved Elder Hollands talk. He is ALWAYS my favorite. I would love to shake that man's hand someday. The image of the younger brother holding the older brother as he dangled over the cliff, put the plan of salvation in perfect perspective for me. We really are dangling off a cliff. We cannot pull ourselves up on our own no matter how strong we are, or how much adrenaline is pumping in our blood, and without help we will eventually fall. But our loving Savior is holding on tight, and if we let Him, He will pull us up to safety. He will bring us safely Home.
I know that this Gospel is true. I know that Thomas S Monson is a prophet of God, and I'm so grateful to have a prophet on the earth today to guide us. I know that Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, repentance is real, and His grace is sufficient when we humble ourselves and turn to Him. God is SO good. He loves us so much. Even when we screw up:) I would even say, ESPECIALLY when we screw up.
I love you all, and hope you have an incredible week!
Love always, Sister Rowland
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