June 11, 2012

Hello Everyone!    What a week we have had. We are making progress! Yesterday there were 52 people in sacrament meeting! I know what you are all thinking: 52, didn't they have 69 her last week back in February? Yes. That is true. However, because of a number of unfortunate circumstances the attendance dropped down to the 30s and 40s while I was gone, as well as for my first two weeks back. However, we are on the mend! We have gone through the refiner's fire these past few months, and we are now ready to be shaped and molded into the people that we can become. I am so grateful for the love I feel here. I know without a shadow of a doubt that the branch will be fine. I thought at first that I was called back here to teach the other sisters the area and get them into doors. However, I have a feeling that God may have sent me back here just so I could feel peace that my family here would be OK. I have that now, I know they will be fine. They will continue to have challenges and dips, but they are so strong, and they will be blessed by the love and spirit they share amongst themselves. I am so lucky to be a part of that. I love them so much.    I also am happy to report that I am having sooooo much fun! I love being a missionary! I love my three companions and the mischief and ridiculous situations we get ourselves into continues to make me laugh, usually very hard and several times a day! I can't believe that I forgot how funny and silly life as a missionary could be! Per the instructions of our mission president, we are officially a quadranionship. We go on splits with each other fairly frequently, but we also do a lot of work and visits together. Our four personalities somehow seem to mesh into one ridiculous whole. Cracks me up on a daily basis!    Last P-day we went to the aquarium to see the world famous dolphin “Winter.” It was tons of fun. I have to say, a dolphin with no tail is super weird. If you want to read up on Winter you can either check out the movie “Dolphin Tale,” or Google the Clearwater Florida aquarium. I think my favorite part was petting the stingrays though. As you can see from the pictures, I was having a lot of fun!    Well my wonderful family and friends, all I can say is that being a missionary is the greatest thing on earth. There are good days and bad days, but the good outweigh the bad. This is the Lord's work, and I have never been so lucky in my life to be a part of it. I am so grateful for the love and support that I have from each and every one of you. I pray for each of you by name daily. I am so grateful for the prayers you offer for me. Thank you for your love and guidance. Thank you for your support and encouragement. Please take a moment today to find someone who needs a smile, and give them one. Did you know it is almost impossible not to smile when you are looking at someone else who is? Give yourself up, and see how much you get in return. I love you all, Hermana Levanger