This week's miracle is ME

Hi Family and Friends!

 

Happy New Year! I feel like I haven't emailed you since last year! Ha. But I loved this New Years, we celebrated by going to bed EARLY. It was great! I know- what twenty two year old would ever say that?

 

I love new years because it is a great time to reflect on the person you have become over the last year. This new year is especially exciting because I will spend the entirety of 2014 here in Georgia on a mission for the Lord. What an exciting year it will be!

 

But even though I am only 1/4 of the way done with this the Lord's mission for my life, I have seen SO many changes in myself that I never thought possible.

• I am much more patient. Ok, I should clarify this. I still get very frustrated at how long it takes water to boil when I'm hungry. But I'm much more patient with other people. I have now figured out that the world does not revolve around me and my schedule, and it is so much easier to be patient that to be huffy all the time. I think I've learned patience from teaching people, because to me the gospel of Jesus Christ is easy because I've been around it my whole life. But when I put myself in other's shoes- I realize how difficult it can be. So that's how I learned patience- putting myself in other's shoes.
• I've been told I'm very good with kids. Do you know how strange that is for me? I'm an only child! I had to learn as an adult how to work with children. Maybe its easier that way. I don't know. But as long as you're patience, and don't take yourself too seriously, its really easy to love these sweet children of God.
• I'm a lot better at remembering names. I think that's just a talent the Lord gave me for the mission. I mean, there are a lot of tricks too, like repeating the name back to them, writing it down, etc. but I have had a much easier time with names out here. Hopefully this is a talent the Lord lets me keep after the mission. :)
• My knowledge of the scriptures has grown so much. That probably has to do with having an hour to study each day- but I'm also just hungrier. I study on my personal time as well, and I can now more easily retain the things I've learned and apply them to someone else. I think that comes from truly shutting out everything else, opening with a prayer, and reading with an open heart.
• My self motivation is a lot stronger. Even when everything in me is saying "no, you can't do this anymore", I know that I'm not here for me. I'm here for others out there who want to grow closer to their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. And that is a very powerful motivator.
• Most importantly, my testimony has grown. I cannot deny the existence of a God. I know we have a loving Heavenly Father who is very aware of us and our needs. He watches over us and knows how to succor His children best. I'm so grateful to know that I have a Supreme Being on my side every day helping me in my work. I have seen miracles every day. No, I haven't seen a blind man receive sight, or a lame man walk, but I have seen hearts change. And that is the greatest miracle of all in my opinion.

And there's so much more I still have to work on! But I'm so grateful for the person I'm becoming. I want to testify that the changing power of the Atonement is REAL. We can change to become so much more than we think we can be. The Atonement allows for that change, and I know without a doubt that with God, all things are possible.

 

I love you, best of luck in 2014! Have a fantastic week!

 

Sister Laser

Some of her favorite friends from Fayetteville that came to Sharpsburg to take Laser  & Comp to lunch.