APRIL 24, 2024 — WEEK ONE

 Hey everyone! Today is my third day of missionary training! So far it has been great! My days consist of zoom calls and talking to my companion, Sister Summers (Claire)!

Funny story about Sister Summers is that I HAVE BEEN IN HER HOUSE! Last year I went to one of my greatest friends, Rainy Smith’s graduation party in Utah! Her cousin is my companion, Sister Summers! Turns out they were having a joint graduation party! I remember watching a slideshow of Rainy and Claire growing up together and seeing their bond. Claire seemed like the sweetest soul and I lowkey was sad knowing that I would never get to know her. THEN in January, Rainy texted me saying that Claire was called to serve in my same mission! So I now have gone from admiring her from afar, to growing a strong friendship with her! How lucky am I?

I think I am already used to HMTC (home missionary training). Everyday has been good, but today was different. 

Today in our 7-10 pm class, we talked about our conversion stories. It was really special hearing everyone speak on the spiritual experiences they have had in their lives. It just makes me cry! Sister Ruby Hansen made me especially cry! She is so sweet and I could relate a lot to what she had to say. 

We have started learning Hungarian as a District! There are five other missionaries in my district and we all are going to the Hungary, Budapest Mission! We learned the alphabet together and it is really fun trying to pronounce all the strange Hungarian words! We are trying our best! One goal given to us is to learn the Missionary Purpose in Hungarian. This is what we are practicing.

"Másokat Krisztushoz hívunk azáltal, hogy segítünk nekik elfogadni a visszaállított evangéliumot, a Jézus Krisztusba és az Ő engesztelésébe vettet hit, a bűnbánat, a keresztelés, a Szentlélek ajándékának elnyerése, valamint a mindvégig kitartás révén."

This translates to:

"Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end."

This is what our purpose as missionaries is. 

We are here to share the love and light of Jesus Christ!

Hungarian is hard but anything is possible through Christ! I know I will master the language and become fluent!

There is no piece of knowledge that I hold closer to my heart, and that is that Jesus loves me. He died for me and He knows how I feel. If there is one thing I want all of you to know is that I believe in Christ. He is real, He lives, He loves, and He will come again. I know this to be true and I know many of you do too. I love being a missionary and I cannot wait to get to Budapest Hungary and share the love of Christ with everyone I meet!!

 Look for ways the Lord has blessed you in your life! I'd love to hear what you have noticed! I love each and every one of you! Please reach out to me! I'd love to talk to you!😍I hope you all have an amazing week! See you next week! (I will be at the Provo MTC in Utah!)