Week 51

And this is life eternal

BUENAS TARDESSSS my lovely friends and family!!

Hermana Geary coming to you from the back of a bus full of missionaries - we had temple pday today and it was WONDERFUL! So I'll write as much as I can without getting too carsick

This week, like every week out here serving the Lord, was so precious and so amazing. Ups and downs, miracles and opposition, laughter and tears - and there is just such a constant joy in all of it

Scripture of the Week  

"I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." 1 Nephi 11:17

Some fun highlights from this week:

This week's consejo de distrito was so good! I felt the Spirit really strongly and I feel like we all truly learned a lot together!

INTERCAMBIOS WITH MY MOM!!!!!! It was so fun to be with Hermana Bryner again. We were finding and yapping all day, it was the best

ZOCO!!!! This was probably my favorite conferencia that I've been to in my mission. It was so filled with the Spirit and we talked about so many tools and things we can put into practice to truly make a difference in our sectors!

The elders had a baptism this Sunday! Her name is Esmeralda - she is such a QUEEN, she's been through so much and has grown a ton since the first time we met her. Unfortunately the hot water heater at the church stopped working, so she had to get baptized in freezing cold water But it was so good and she was sooooo happy with the biggest smile I've ever seen! It was so precious to see her joy, along with that of the other missionaries! Once again, the joy of making covenants filled the air

Did intercambios with Hermana Bennett and HOLYYY COWWW it was so milagroso. We prayed so so so hard to find God's children that are ready to hear the gospel and make covenants with Him, and we found SO many elect people! Including an entire family who are coming to church on Sunday! It was just SO JOY

WE WENT TO THE TEMPLE TODAY!!!! Holyyy cow, I just love my Savior so so so much.

Got bit by a dog

My foot is better than it was a few weeks ago, but it still bothers me a lot and gets pretty swollen. So Hermana Crump is helping me see what our options are with that!  

We've met so many awesome people the past few weeks, but they just weren't progressing or keeping their compromisos...so we had to do a little ️limpieza️ of our friends in teaching. We're kind of starting over a little! So pray that we can be led to the people who are ready to hear the gospel and make covenants with their Heavenly Father!

In my intercambio w Hna Bryner this week, there was a crazy huge storm that came through! The thunder was so loud, which is not common at all here - I haven't heard thunder literally since I was back in the states! It was kinda fun! Thennn it started hailing so that was kinda crazy but it was awesome! We had so much fun that day and saw some pretty awesome miracles <3

^^This is our neighborhood, btw

️Pensamiento Espiritual️

In this most recent general conference, el obispo Sean Douglas told a story about when he and his wife were serving as mission leaders in Perú. When talking to one missionary who went on a mission after being inactive in the church for several years, they asked him why he wanted to serve. The response this missionary gave has been written on my heart from the moment I heard it. 

He said, “I only want to be close to Jesus Christ and to follow Him.”

I love my Savior. And with all my heart, and all my soul, without lies or exaggerations, I testify that serving my mission has truly changed eternity for me, simply because I know my Savior better now. In a few days, I will hit my 1 year mark on the mission. This past year has been the most joyful, refining chapter of my life. And I testify of what that precious missionary said - I am serving the Lord because I only want to be close to Him, and I want to follow Him.

I testify also that you don't have to be a full-time missionary to feel this way! You can come to know your Savior deeply and personally, right where you are. You can make His voice familiar to you, and you can follow Him.

God loves us as we are, but He also loves us too much to leave us this way. So here's my invitation: What is ONE THING you can do this week to come to know Jesus better? If you can't think of anything, here's a brainstorm list:

☆ Say a heartfelt prayer

☆ Journal ways that you feel God's love

☆ Go to church on Sunday!

☆ Read the Book of Mormon

☆ Listen to a hymn or a song about Jesus

☆ Message or call someone that has been going through a hard time

☆ Choose a Christlike attribute to focus on

☆ Watch a church video

☆ Write a kind note for someone you're grateful for

☆ Share a spiritual experience with someone

☆ Invite a friend or family member to church

☆ Request to talk to the local missionaries near you!

Whatever idea came to your mind, whether in this list or another that you thought of yourself, I invite you to act on that impression and do it this week! I can promise that you will come to feel Jesus even closer to you and that you will know Him better. 

Let me know what your one thing is for this week! For me, I'm going to focus on journaling every day to remember how God has shown up for me. What's yours?

I love you all! And more importantly, I love my Savior!

I testify of all these things and promise them to you as a representative of the Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

OKAY HAVE THE BEST WEEK EVER!!!! I LOVE YOUR UPDATES! Talk on Monday

, Hermana Geary