Last night I had some time to reflect on my mission experience thus far and I felt prompted to read a talk from April 2014's General Conference by Elder Bednar called 'Bear Up Their Burdens With Ease'. I'm sure you're familiar with it, but he talked about his friend whose truck was stuck in the snow.
Sister Samantha Tenney
Elder Bednar concludes the story saying, "It was the load of wood that provided the traction necessary for him to get out of the snow, to get back on the road, and to move forward. It was the load that enabled him to return to his family and his home.
Each of us also carries a load. Our individual load is comprised of demands and opportunities, obligations and privileges, afflictions and blessings, and options and constraints. Two guiding questions can be helpful as we periodically and prayerfully assess our load: 'Is the load I am carrying producing the spiritual traction that will enable me to press forward with faith in Christ on the strait and narrow path and avoid getting stuck? Is the load I am carrying creating sufficient spiritual traction so I ultimately can return home to Heavenly Father?' Sometimes we mistakenly may believe that happiness is the absence of a load. But bearing a load is a necessary and essential part of the plan of happiness."
Just as Elder Bednar explained, my "individual load" is truly what is helping me gain traction to move forward. It has been a heavy "load" the past while. But I know that the things I am learning, overcoming, and still getting through ARE helping me "get out of the snow".
On my mission I've had a lot of self-doubt, worry, stress, and feelings of inadequacy. But I've been able to recognize those feelings as mortal weaknesses and move forward with faith in Christ. He can and does make weak things become strong (Ether 12:27). I know that with Him, through Him, and by Him, all things are made possible.
I mean, really.. I'm on a mission! He can do anything!
Deborah was baptized yesterday. That was amazing! She is the most incredible person. I wish you all could meet her in person and get to know her. If their is anyone that is pure of heart in this world, it is Deborah. I believe she progressed so quickly because 1. Her faith, 2. She was prepared by God, and 3. She did stuff! She acted on the invitations we extended to her. She started reading the Book of Mormon and Bible together (currently she is in the Book of Helaman), and she has never missed a day of church. Now I'm just bragging about her.. But she also came to the Women's Session of General Conference, and all four sessions on Saturday and Sunday.
On February 18th, 2015 we knocked on her door for the first time, and on April 19th, 2015 she was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Immediately following the service she took the last 5 dollars she had out of her purse, put it into a tithing slip and gave it to the Branch President. She has no job, and hardly anything. We told her she would be so blessed and her response was this, "I don't do it for the blessings. I'm doing it for the love and help He has given me, so why not show the love right back and follow His ways? I couldn't ask for anything more than what I've got now."
Haha what can I say more? She's the greatest person ever! I've been really blessed to have been one of the missionaries to bring such a stalwart member into the church.
Oh yes, and the Child's from Bayshore came out all the way to Queens to see me! I feel so blessed to know such great people here in New York City!
Missions are hard, but so is life. 
🏻️🇨🇦
Something my mission President said to me yesterday is this, take it or regret not taking it.. Haha "if you cannot find the joy in today, you will never find joy in tomorrow". - President Calderwood.
Truth.
Love you all,
But especially if you are, or are related to Becca Snow. Shout out to that girl.
and I don't know why I look Asian while I smile, my eyes just squint like that automatically.
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