We Aren't Going To Be Told Every Little Thing We Should and Shouldn't Do

Hey everyone!  

It sounds like it has been a great week!!  and your conference weekend sounds just like i remembered it :).  so fun :).  yep we haven't watched it yet, but we will this coming saturday and sunday!  i'm soo  excited.  and thanks mom for the quotes, makes me even more excited!  

Ali you have an anak! a child!  who's the father?? (Note from mom:  Ali brought home a fake baby for 24 hours for her Child Development class at school.)  also, reminds me of a funny story.  in the mission, a missionary you train is called your anak.  so one time while we were at church waiting for something, my companion says to me "you're gonna have an anak!"  and our branch president looks over at us so confused... hahaha! ahhh ali. I miss you :)

Me and my companion are doing great!  It's pretty amazing how quick it changes from feeling like a new companion, to someone you've been with for a long time :).  i guess that comes from being together literally 24/7.  She really is a great missionary :).  The other sisters in our apartment are sis. pui, who transferred in to biliran when i did, and sis. talataina, who's new and used to be my stl!   They are so much fun. Our zone there's 10 sisters and 6 elders.  Lots of sisters, we're lucky here  :).  We don't really have a lot of time for activities on p'days, since we don't have cars like josh and have to use public transportation which takes a while sometimes :).  but usually about once a transfer we have an activity.  Yep it's typhoon season now, but DONT WORRY mom ;).  We are very prepared and they text us as soon as one might even be heading for us.  so don't worry haha :).

A-- didn't make it to church... but we're planning to visit her again a couple times this week and really help her to come to general conference!  Brother O-- and his family didn't come as welll....and we'll do the same with them.  

Oh their temple trip was moved! to june 7-8.  josh's birthday! does that work still?  

also, that is one thing that i have really loved about being in this branch.  They are really focused on helping everyone get to the temple.  We just had branch council meeting and one of the things we talked about was the people and families that we can help be prepared for the temple trip next year.  and goodness it is so exciting!!  :)  when we visit these people gihapon, we always tie whatever we are teaching back into how it helps us be worthy for the temple.  So you guys back home!  the temple is so close!  take advantage of that, and go to the temple for me and all of us here who are hours away :) haha ;)

Haha mom, you and josh are right, this is the hardest thing i have ever done.  It reminds me of something from my studies this morning that i wanted to share!  From ether chapter 2, where the brother of jared is commanded to build the barges.  verse 18 says "O Lord, I have performed the work which thou hast commanded me."  he's followed the commandments, done what is required of him. but he recognized that he isn't finished, there's more to be done.  the next verse he brings up two problems that still haven't been solved---no air, and no light.  The Lord tells him how to resovle the first problem, to make the two holes.  But then leaves it up to the brother of jared to solve the second.  But even then, the Lord performs the miracle that makes it possible. but it is still up to the brother of jared to figure out what needs to be done, do his part, and then ask the Lord.  It's the same here in the mission as well.  We aren't going to be told every little thing we should and shouldn't do.  Even if we follow the commandments and mission rules, there's more to be done.  Like it says in d&c 58, that men should be anxiously engaged, and do many things of their own free will.  If we will be like the brother of jared, and recognize what else needs to be done, do our part, and then ask the Lord for his help, we can see miracles as well!  Just like the brother of Jared.  So yes, this is by far the hardest thing i have ever done.  But it's helped to begin learning how to rely on the Lord and His help.  So it's hard, but that's a blessing haha :).

sure hope that makes sense, no time to read over it again :).  just....read the chapter for yourself as well haha :)

well, i loooooove you all!  i'm praying for you always, don't forget that :)

Sister Mortensen