Hello family!
Thanksgiving here was AMAZING!! Elder Holland came with his family and spoke to us. His wife and some of his grandkids also participated in the event. It was amazing. My roommate is his niece so she got a shout out and was able to talk to him afterwards which was great because she needed the boost. He talked about what he was grateful for and a huge part of it was about Joseph Smith. The spirit was so strong and it was the best thanksgiving I have ever had. We did a service project in the afternoon making hygiene and education kits. It was fun because they were playing Christmas music in the background. The food was ok. The dinner at Christensens’ was my real thanksgiving.
At night we had a fun fireside where some people acted out the first thanksgiving. It was nice to let loose and laugh. Then at night they surprised us with bags of popcorn and we watched 17 Miracles. It was a great way to end Thanksgiving. I can't wait for Christmas. If they did all of this just for Thanksgiving I cannot imagine Christmas. It was so touching that our mission presidency stayed with us the whole day even eating with us when they could of been home with family. How great are they?
I have been praying to have more confidence and faith that this is the language the Lord wants me to learn and that I will learn it in time for the mission field. President Baker reminded me Sunday to focus more on the input than the output. He says it will come in the moment you need it but you got to put it there first. I am working on that.
Sunday was amazing!! I love Sundays because they refocus me and reenergize me. They remind me of why I am here. It's all worth it. No price is too great.
I went to the temple today and it was great!! I love being in the celestial room and feeling the peace that comes from being there.
I saw Hermana Walter here!! She is only here for one more week since she already knows Spanish. It is great to see a familiar face.
I don't think that I have ever prayed so much in my life. This is by far the hardest thing I have ever had to do. It is mentally, emotionally, and spiritually draining. (One day it will be physical) I sometimes feel that I am always being pushed beyond my capacity. By 8 pm every day I think just let me go to bed I will be better in the morning. But somehow my body still keeps going. I know that it's only with the Lord's help because he needs missionaries. This is not easy by any stretch of the means but it is so rewarding. I already feel that I am changing drastically. I am not the same person I was when I came in. I am more patient with others. I have more love for others that I did not even know I could have. I have come closer to Christ and felt his hand in my life in these past few weeks than I have my whole life.
I am just so grateful that I am on this mission! It is rough but it is great all at the same time. This is the place where God wants me to be and there comes with that an added measure of peace. I am where God wants me so he will bless me and make me stronger than I am. I am at a brick wall but as President Baker said I will push through it knock it down and then a few day/weeks later I will hit another brick wall. It will continue to happen and I just got to keep my head up. Because it's not my work it is God's work. I feel an added urgency to make myself better. This is the place where I can make mistakes out in the field I can but I need to do all I can here to prepare to be out there.
I know that this is the true church. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that he did see God and Jesus Christ. I know that God loves each one of us.
Love and miss you all!
One of Sister Anderson's favorite sayings is
THE CHURCH IS TRUE THE BOOK IS BLUE AND GOD IS A MORMON!
Love,
Sister Latimer
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