I LOVE being a missionary! February 16, 2016

Hey everyone! smile emoticon

This has been SUCH a good week. Mainly because I've just been SO happy and had lots of little moments where I realize how much I LOVE being a missionary.

We had interviews with President Miller last week and he gave me the motivation and enthusiasm that I needed. I've only got a couple of weeks left but that's all the reason to work harder than ever before!

Sad news: Jackie is moving. frown emoticon

Good news: We are finding new people to teach!

Everyone is in commotion here because on Wednesday the Pope is coming to Juarez. They even cancelled school that day! It's super crazy here!

We got to spend Valentine's Day visiting a couple different single sisters in the ward. It was the perfect way to spend it! I felt so much love and compassion for them and their situations but also marveled at their strength and testimonies even amidst such heavy trials.

On Sunday I got to give a talk in sacrament meeting about charity and love. I focused on the forgiveness part of it. I really learned a lot from preparing it. I love the quote from our dear prophet, Thomas S. Monson that says, "Love is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus Christ is our Exemplar." It is so true. He gave the greatest act of love to ever be given. He made it possible for us to love and to let ourselves be loved. Christ's love is the purest and most perfect love that there is. He also gave us the perfect example of forgiveness. If He could forgive those who betrayed Him and those who still do, we can learn to forgive anyone as well. I have realized that nobody is perfect and that when we withhold forgiveness from someone who has hurt us, we are only distancing OURSELVES more from perfection (Christ).

I'm so grateful for the trials that help me to learn and grow and show me that Heavenly Father is aware of me and that he knows me better than I do.
I sure love you all!
I invite you to pray and ask for more opportunities to serve and show charity this week.
The best way to feel God's love for you is to serve those around you!

Love,
Hermana Dearden