Week 53, 10/11/2021

I finally did it - reached the 12 month mark! 
The at-home MTC a year ago seems like a forever ago!!

I really did not think this day would ever come, but alas it has finally come. I made it to my 1 year mark!!! Time is really flying by right now and it's crazy to think about where I was 1 year ago: I was just barley starting the at-home- MTC in my basement, I had just put my tag on for the first time, and I was scared out of my mind. To be honest, I didn't really want to serve a mission. I knew the timing wasn't perfect with Covid and it was going to be hard, but I also knew that it was something I was meant to do. God was pushing me along the whole way pretty much, because now that I'm out here I see why they're so life changing. I'm definitely not the same person I was when I left last year. I'm similar to that person, but now I've put the gospel at the center of my life and I am soooo much happier. I'm excited to live with everything I've learned out here for the rest of my life! Also.......I'm excited to be with my family again in 6 months 😇😇

I've got some pretty good stories for you this week so stay tuned:

No Elder's allowed at this dining event

First off, our girl Caroline is doing so good!! We invited her to pray about baptism this week and we're waiting on pins and needles to see what she tells us this next week. She said that she does have a desire to be baptized, but since her family is against it, she wasn't sure if she's ready to take that step. I'm lucky and was raised in the gospel so I have no idea how hard it would be to step away from my family for the gospel. So please keep her in your prayers! 

Ally is one of the member's girlfriends who has been coming to activities, and we gave her a Book of Mormon last week. She came to volleyball and church this week and apparently has been reading the Book of Mormon! She's pretty far into it and has a lot of questions. We got her phone number and hopefully we'll start teaching her soon! She honestly seems so prepared for the gospel, it's crazy to see how God works through all of us (not just missionaries) to bring his children the gospel. 

This is what you call a Fall Attack

Funny story: Sister Morley is still getting used to having to talk to random people on the phone and she had quite the learning experience this week. She was calling a referral we got who requested a Bible study, the lady answered the phone and Sister Morley started to talk but slipped up on her words and then started to laugh. She tried to cover up her laughing with a fake cough...then that led to her having a very real cough attack on the phone. Our poor referral just goes, "Are you ok?" Sister Morley starts laughing again and hands the phone to me, and at this point I'm dying laughing too! I tried to pull it together and ask our referral if they'd want to have a study with us. But it just sounded like I was crying because I was trying so hard not to laugh 😂 Anyway it was quite the pathetic phone call, and sadly we are not going to be meeting with her anytime soon. 😬😂 oh well, we will learn from our mistakes. 

Ok now for a more spiritual story: one of the people we're teaching went to the hospital this past week so we decided to go visit her. The only thing we didn't realize was that this hospital is HUGE and it was almost impossible to find the room where she was staying. We went to the first building we saw and started going up to the 6th floor. In the elevator an older nurse stopped us and read our badges out loud. When she saw the words, "Jesus Christ" she looked at us desperately and told us that her friend had just been diagnosed with brain cancer and asked us if we would pray for her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she said, "That's why I think I ran into you today, so that my friend could get some extra prayers. Thank you so much." The elevator closed before we could say much more. And as we started walking away we realized we weren't even in the right building where our friend was. But I believe that we were lead to that building, on that floor, in that elevator so that we could talk to that sweet nurse and bring her some comfort about her friend. I think that it was a divine coincidence and that God was guiding us so he could comfort his mourning child. 

Anyway, I'm so grateful for my year of service so far and I'm excited for the next 6 months! I'd low-key be ok if I stayed in Gainesville the whole time, I LOVE it here! Have another great week, love y'all! 

-Sister Bonny ❤