Chapter 3: The deer

March 19, 2025

Weeks in the mission: 4

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🎙️ Quotes of the Week:

"What is a por que?" – Sister Scott "Last time guys last time I promise" – Elder Stout

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Hello friends and family! Welcome to chapter 3 of my journey as the Lord's servant! It's been quite a week. I've been learning lots! A couple things from this week:

• The sock detective front last week actually caught a suspect and put him on a full court trial. But later, we found out the suspect had been framed, so the bandit is still out there I guess.

• Last weekend was tough, again. We had an HOA that didn't go so well, and it caused me to spiral downwards towards negative thoughts and emotions. But I pushed through, and now I have some effective strategies to change my mindset.

• I got asked last minute to play the violin in sacrament meeting. I had 30 minutes to prepare. It went pretty well I'd say!

• There was a deer wandering around campus. Elder Stout got within touching distance of it.

• Oh yeah, this is kind of big news. I have to get a new visa, so the travel office told me I'll be getting reassigned somewhere stateside for a month before I head to Mexico! I hope the Lord calls me to where he needs me to go. It'll be nice because I'll get a bit of stateside mission experience and then I get to serve the people of Chihuahua, Mexico!

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📅 Daily Events 📅

Wednesday, March 12  A great day today! My first P-day. It was more like AP morning, because after 12, we went to the temple and didn't return until 5, and then there was class at 6. I was able to compose my second weekly email, talk to my parents, do laundry, and relax a bit. I met some new missionaries on the way to the temple and felt the Spirit strongly at the temple!

Thursday  Another day in the MTC! It's been going great! I should start counting the days I have left until I enter the field. Today was our first day in Spanish immersion. From now on, our classes will be taught in only Spanish. Luckily for me, I'm already proficient. Elder Larsen is really struggling, so maybe the Lord needs me in this district to help him out with his Spanish. Oh, also I ran into a few people I knew from school! Ashton Beehler just arrived yesterday. So did Haven Harris.

Friday  Another day. It was admittedly difficult. We had an HOA and I felt like we didn't do well at all. Honestly, I'm not feeling super well right now. I was also asked to play the violin for sacrament meeting this Sunday, but I barely have time to practice.

Saturday  I feel stuck. Just stuck. It's so hard to find the motivation to keep going.

Sunday  Today I feel a little better. I said a personal prayer to Heavenly Father for strength. I had lots of time today to study, ponder, and pray. I watched a lot of the Bible videos about Christ's atonement, which was nice.

Monday  Ok, finally! I feel like myself again! I truly love love being here as a missionary. I've had hard times already, but I can do this. I got a sweet package from my mom, with all sorts of things from home that I like. My 3D printed chess set is coming in clutch! There is a devotional tomorrow. I'll sing in the choir again, which will be sweet! We might have a 12 apostle come and speak. We'll see.

Tuesday  Wow. What a great day. I love being a missionary. Tough times and all. I'm learning so many things in many ways. One of my companions got really discouraged towards the end of class today, but we were able to help him out and encourage him. There wasn't an apostle this week, but it was a fire devotional nevertheless! It was Elder Calvocante of the Seventy and his wife from Brazil. I got a lot out of it.

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☀️ Spiritual Thought ☀️ I realized this week that I am a perfectionist. I didn't want to admit it, but I have all the tendencies for it. When something doesn't go to my expectations, it can be really easy for me to get discouraged. So I have to be careful that I don't wear myself out and try to do more than I'm able.

And there's a verse for that:

“And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.” — Mosiah 4:27

That is something I am going to keep in mind for the rest of my mission. It's so easy to feel like you're never enough as a missionary, but remember that the Lord knows you and is infinitely proud of you for choosing to serve Him. He knows you, weaknesses and all, yet He still trusted YOU to serve the mission.

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That's it for this week! Until next time!