Hello Everyone!
As of tomorrow I will officially have been a missionary for six months. I can't believe that six months ago tomorrow I was driving down to the MTC with my Dad and putting on my name tag for the first time. It feels like it was yesterday, and at the same time it feels like it was so long ago that I have to wonder if it really happened! I have loved the last six months of my life with such a pure unadulterated joy that if the next twelve are anything like it, I will have a hard time coming home of my own free will (although I have suspicions that it might be a challenge even if they are awful!). I truly love being a missionary. I love being a tool in the hands of God each day and seeing the miracles that He has prepared for His children here. As I think back in my life to all the things that have happened, or in some cases not happened, to bring me here, at this time, with these people, in this point of their lives, I have NO doubts that the Lord's hand is in this work. This place and these people were tailor made for me, and I them. Our relationships and the things we are accomplishing together under the direction of the Lord are incomprehensible in the eye's of man. I will never, but wish I were, be able to describe the feelings and experiences I have here in the Lord's vineyard. I am grateful for every day, every tomorrow, and even every yesterday that I have here. I know that I am engaged in the greatest work on Earth, and I am so humbled to be a small part of it.
As I began thinking of my letter today, I didn't think I would have that much to write about. I caught a pretty nasty summer cold at the beginning of the week and was ordered by Sister Summerhays to rest and drink lots of fluids. Coughing, sneezing, and lots of 'leaking' were just the beginning. I felt so bad to be missing out on active proselyting time because I had caught a bug. However, I had proven to me time and again that what we were doing was right, and that the Lord has invested much in me. We had some wonderful phone lessons and a lot of member work. We were able to completely re-do our Branch bulletin board, and still be very good missionaries. As of right now I am completely well other than the very seldom cough and sniffle.
There were a couple of fun events I wanted to tell you all about. Four in fact:
Number One—Last Monday we went to the Sawgrass Nature Preserve and saw WILD Alligators for the first time! It was so much fun and we had such a good time taking pictures and talking about our friends the alligators. We also got a small taste of what Florida would be like if there weren't any people here...basically a gigantic swamp/rainforest/jungle. It was pretty cool.
Number Two—I got to see Florida’s Western Beach for the very first time!!!! The Zone Leaders had a baptism at Reddington Beach early Saturday morning and because it was a baptism we got to go! The water was beautiful and the sand was feather soft and pure white. I loved every second of the probably 28 minutes or so we were there! I absolutely adore the beach and it was so fun to go with my friends for such a sacred and spiritual experience.
Number Three—Our Branch! We had a branch temple trip Saturday morning and 29 people went, including two of our three recent converts. (Lazaro had to work because the guy who was going to cover for him fell through.) It was amazing! Missionaries aren't allowed to leave our Mission boundaries, so we weren't allowed to attend, but we were able to see them off in the bus at 7 AM. (See photo.) For a good majority, this was the first time they had EVER been to the temple, and for others it had been years. It was such a joy to see the light that they brought back with them the next day in church as they shared their testimonies about the experience. We have really been focusing on going to the temple and the importance of the temple in both the branch Sunday services and our missionary work, and it has really paid off. In about two months we have four sisters planning on going to the temple together to receive their endowments, which will nearly double the number of endowed members in our branch! Also, if you will remember last week I talked about what a miraculous growth we had seen in our branch the last couple of months, going from about 25 members to 48 last week. Well yesterday in sacrament we had 58! There were literally too many people for our little room! One of our strongest families, five people in total, came about 15 minutes late and had to sit in three different spots because there was nowhere with more than two chairs together. After they sat down there were only about three chairs left! If it keeps going like this they are going to have to make us a ward a lot sooner than anyone was planning...bummer! President Lopez was truly at a loss for words as he tried to reassure the congregation that it was ok that the kids were a little loud and that we were all so close together. Possibly my favorite scramble-speech ever!
Number 4—Now this one was more of a tender mercy for me than an event, especially after I had felt bad all week for being sick. After church on Sunday Hermana Dollahite and I were REALLY hungry, so we decided to get a piece of candy from the English ward's bishop (He gives a piece of candy to everyone who will tell him what they learned in church that day.), and we try to ignore the fact that almost all of the other people are children. Anyway, as we were walking to his office we heard a cry of "SISTER MISSIONARIES!!!!!!" We both turned around and it was all we could do to get on our knees to catch the five little girls ages 3-7 from our branch running full speed to pelt us with hugs. It was one of those moments that only last a few seconds but you think about for hours and days after. What a joy it is to be here and to be a missionary.
My joy is full family and friends. Transfers are coming up and this Saturday I will find out if I am staying here or going somwhere else, if Hermana Dollahite and I are being split up or if we will get an unheard of fourth transfer together. I feel some anxiety and nerves, but mostly I feel peace and excitement. I know and have had confirmed to me that our work in this area and our companionship are approved in the eye's of the Lord. That really is all a missionary can ask for, to feel as though they are doing what the Lord wants them to do, in the way He wants it to be done. I am very lucky and grateful to feel that.
I invite each of you this week to ask your Heavenly Father if you are in the place and doing what He wants to have done. I promise He will answer you and guide you as much as you will let Him. I also invite each of you to make the temple a priority in your lives. It is truly the House of God and I miss it desperately. Go to the temple. Even if you are unable to go inside, go to your closest temple, walk around the grounds, and feel the love and the peace that exists there. I know and can testify to each of you that God loves you. He knows you individually, He knows your name, He knows your struggles, He knows your strengths, and He loves you more than you can know. In turn, I want each of you to know how very much I love you. Each one of you is such a gift and blessing in my life, thank you for being there.
I love you all,
Hermana Levanger
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