June 4, 2012

Hello everyone!    Another wonderful week in Largo! Do we ever have a lot of work to do; it is crazy how much there is to be done and how even with four of us we still can't get to all of it! The branch is trying to pull together and power through the tough times. They have gone through the refiner’s fire the last few months and things are still tough, but they are getting better every day. I know they will make it and be better for it. I was reminded yesterday of how important the challenges of our lives are. We seem to detest the difficult things in our lives, and understandably so. However, we forget that it is through those challenges that growth takes place. How do we expect to grow and be strong and reach our potential if we are not tested along the way? The branch is experiencing this right now. I have a testimony of passing through difficulties, my mission has challenged me every day, and I am so much better for it. I am so grateful to be a missionary and to have the opportunity to grow a little more each day. Thank goodness for the thorns amongst the flowers!    We are working with some really great people, one of whom came to church yesterday. We are, of course, doing a lot of work with the members and planning our next Family Home Evening Activity with the Branch for a week from Saturday (I hope!). I know that there is nothing like fun and food to bring people together, especially all my favorite people in Largo. It should be a really fun activity, although we really need to get on the planning side of things!    Hopefully, over the next few weeks we will see a lot of progress. I know the Lord has so much planned for this branch. I am and always have been so honored to be a part of it. Some of the miracles that happened this week are: Jose P. blessed the water for the sacrament yesterday. When he spoke it felt to me like the prophet speaking! Elbis bore his testimony for the second time, his first time as a member. Aneudy and Judy were at church and he passed the sacrament and bore his testimony. Jose and Elizabeth got their patriarchal blessings! She is from Manasseh and he is from Ephraim. I joked around with them and said, "Oh, so you are definitely going to be going on a mission together then!" Her response was, "Hermana Levanger, how do you know everything?!" I was shocked with joy and happiness! They are so great.    Life as a missionary is the best thing there is. I hope you all take a moment this week to have a missionary moment.  I love you all!    Hermana Levanger