It's hard because it's WORTH it

On our way home for the night we stopped
to get our fave treat, Kinder Bueno bars
and DC :)

Wow, let me just say I regret so much not taking more time to study and apply the Book of Mormon. I have learned so much from it this week. One of my favorite stories this past week was in Mosiah 21. So the people of Limhi keep going back to the Lamanites trying to defeat them and they keep going back over and over. Each time more of their people are slain and things are just getting worse and worse for them. Finally after the third time they went to war the people were like okay, we have had enough we can't continue on like this we know we will loose. Eventually they realized they wouldn't be able to regain their strength and get out of bondage without the help of the Lord. It says, 'they did humble themselves and they did cry mightily to God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions. And God heard their cries and began to ease their burdens and they prospered in the land and they didn't suffer.' This was a huge testimony builder for me because I realized that as much as we try and as hard as we work, there is no way we can have a truly happy life and return to live with Heavenly Father again without His help. We really do need Him and when we ask for help He is always there even though we may not deserve his help He is there to ease our burdens. As a missionary I have come to realize that as hard as I try to be a good missionary and do all the things I am supposed to I won't be able to succeed and fulfill my purpose without the help of Heavenly Father and the Savior.  A mission is truly a humbling experience. When we give all we can and it’s still not enough you feel so defeated, but that is when our Savior comes in to help us and give us the strength that we need. 

So my challenge for all of you this week is to take a Book of Mormon story and apply and relate it to your life. Ask yourself what can I learn from this story and what will I change because of what I have learned? I would love to hear about your experiences :) I can promise that if you do this your love for the Book of Mormon will increase so much and because of it you will be able to feel Heavenly Fathers love for you as I have this last week.  

Highlights of the past week:

Found the Golden Post Box!!!

Last PDAY President and his wife took us out to a fancy dinner of very posh Thai food :) It was so fun to get to talk to them and get to know them better. They are such great examples to all of us and are really getting us to focus on how we can be better missionaries. They told us to ask ourselves all the time if what we are doing will help others and ourselves come closer to Christ. And I challenge all of you to ask yourselves the same question. You don't have to be a missionary to come closer to Christ ;) 

Had a Diet Coke with pebble ice from a fountain, the best one I have had in 6 months :) 

(cant believe I’ve been out almost 6 months!!!!) 

Went to an area we don't usually go to and stopped by some less actives. One of them was going through a very hard time. Her mom and brother had just passed away within a week of each other so we were able to comfort her a bit and get a ward member to give her a blessing. It was a cool experience and the Spirit was definitely guiding us. 

Got to skype with sisters in another area and their Thai investigator. Sister T. loved it and was able to help her feel more comfortable and help her understand more! 

Life is good, challenging but rewarding at the same time. 

Sister T. told me, 'Its hard because its worth it.' Remember that through the bad days.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

xoxo, Sister Stevens

Tea appointment with President and Sister Turvey.  Felt very honored. :)

when your dying on the bus

The Parkinson Building, where we teach most of our lessons