Hey all!
So...it's been another insane week. I'm pretty sure this has been the craziest transfer of my mission. I'm trying to figure out what Heavenly Father is trying to teach me! Monday night, we get a call telling us that we have to move...the next day. The zone leaders had to leave their apartment before the next month - so Tuesday was the final day - so they moved into our apartment and we moved in with the 3rd sisters, Sister Brewster and Sister Olson. I was a little bit wary of it, because I started having flashbacks to college. I loved living with 4 other girls, but I also had the tendency to turn anti social and cranky. It just goes to show how much I've changed on my mission...because it's been nothing but a party! Especially since I served with Sister Brewster and Sister Olson came out with me. It's been a fun time! But, moving wiped out pretty much an entire day of proselyting.
And then we still had to do another exchange...so we crammed one in after district meeting on Wednesday through Thursday afternoon, and then we had Mission Leadership Council on Friday...and then with General Conference on the weekend, I feel like Sister Fowkes and I haven't had much opportunity to be companions while out proselyting this week. It's put a huge strain on me, because all I want to do is throw myself into the work, yet things seem to keep getting in the way...so it's been interesting.
General Conference was a special one for me, though. Because it was 2 years ago that the age change announcement was made. In fact, 2 years from TODAY!! I've been thinking about that a lot. It's been 2 years! And I look back and reflect on all that has happened to me in 2 years. Before my mission, I had to learn how to receive revelation and how to trust the Lord, in order to actually make it on a mission. And then, while on my mission, I've learned SO many things. I've met so many people who I needed to meet. I've learned skills that will help me in life and gained strengths and attributes that will, hopefully, help me continue to serve the Lord and my brothers and sisters when I'm home. I've had the opportunity to be an instrument in God's hands. I've served and loved and grown, and now the WA-TAC is become holy ground.
In reality...I don't really have words for anything. General Conference was great! I truly learned a lot. I loved Elder Chi Hong Wong's and Elder Jorg Klebingat's talks as well and Elder Bednar's! They were definitely powerful. And I loved that there were talks in different languages. That was so neat! But, all that is in my heart right now are the feelings to gratitude, love, sorrow, and joy that pertain to my mission. I don't think there are words that can fully express what it means to me to be out here. Ever since I was super little, I've wanted to serve a mission. The past 18 months, I've literally been living my dream! It hasn't always been easy, and there have been several rough patches, but I wouldn't trade any of this for the world. I'm so grateful I still have a week left. I hope to serve my hardest this last week. I love this work. I love being able to serve the Lord in this capacity. I love being able to proclaim the Gospel. I love being able to testify to strangers - and to feel love for these strangers - about the goodness of the Gospel. I love being able to share something with people that they legitimately need. I love being able to share the message of the Restoration with people. I love reciting the first vision, and feeling the spirit that just overwhelms when you do. I love it!
I'm so grateful to be here, and I'm so grateful for all that has been done to help me be here, to support me here. I love you all! Thank you for everything!
Sister Beth Ann Root!
