Sister Emma Petty Charleston West Virginia

  Hey everybody!! So I'm just going to be real today. This area in my mission has really tested me. It seems like no matter how hard I work and no matter what I do I just can't reach my goals. And that is so hard for me. But I made a goal this week to not let this area beat me!  To go through unbroken. That's what I wanted to do. About 2 days into my goal I talked to my mission president about it and the advice he had for me completely shattered me, to be honest.  Unbroken, another failed goal.  That was really hard for me to take, but I realized something about life-  we won't go through it unbroken. And we're not meant to! It's DESIGNED to break us ! Those shattered moments are what show who you are. In the midst of those trials you  rise up and discover your courage. We don't go through life unbroken, but our faith can be unshaken, our hopes can be high, and we can be happy on the journey.  Even in the shattered moments.  And after all, untried...

  Ok yall- not that I'm counting down or anything, but I realized this week that I have 2 months left. That's it. And I have so many mixed feelings about it. First off, I know it's all okay because you don't stop being a disciple when you take of the tag. But I've been reflecting a lot this week about my mission story and the things I've learned. So take a trip down memory lane with me, will ya?? I remember being 2 months into the field- feeling like I hadn't even made a dent! It was all so new, and the future felt so open! I had a whole book of empty pages in front of me! And now my book is coming to a close. The stories of my mission are mostly written. I'm on the final pages now I studied the stories of Alma the Younger, Peter, and the Wiseman this week. Their stories differ wildly- Alma, a boy who discovers repentance and changes from wicked to righteous. Peter, an apostle who learns to be humble and faithful because he loves the Savior so passionate...

  Hey hey party people! Hope you had another amazing week! This week we did a lot of knocking! And one day the craziest thing happened... we looked back and saw a lady going door to door, warning all of her neighbors not to listen to us. It was crazy! I realized how hard Satan is working to oppose this work! But I also know that God is working harder :) With all the rejection in our finding, we've also seen some amazing miracles! We met a guy this week who was SO prepared for the gospel! He was raised in a very strong faith, but he doesn't have a Christian background. What we taught him about the Book of Mormon opened his mind to Jesus Christ and it was so amazing! I'm so thankful God let me see that miracle! I've felt a LOT of opposition in this area, but I've also seen some amazing miracles. I've felt strength beyond my own pushing me forward when it's hard. I learned something about doing things cheerfully this week. I had this scripture come to me on one...

  Happy 2023 everybody! Holy, that year flew by!! This week has been another good one for sure :) we had a couple solid days of good contacts and lessons, and we had a couple harder days but it's all good because God was there for all of it! This week I've been focusing on listening to the voice of the spirit over the voice of the world. Sometimes I have random thoughts that seem totally irrational to me, but I've been working on following every good thought even when I'm scared I look crazy, haha, and we have seen so many miracles from that! The other day we went out to lunch and we asked this lady if we could sit next to her! Kind of a weird idea, but she ended up recognizing the church and we had a really long talk about family history, and we were able to teach her the Plan of Salvation and give her a Book of Mormon! HUGE miracle! It was really cool to see that a small random thought could lead to such a blessing. Miracles happen when we choose not to rationalize th...

I just gotta say it... IT'S CHRISTMAS!!! That's how church closed yesterday :) Right before the prayer Brother Wohlford just bursted it out! And it was perfect, because it's the best news, you can't hold it in! I just love the Christmas season, and I think this was my best Christmas yet. For the first time I went to sleep not thinking about the gifts I would get to open, but about  the gift that has already come !! I got to spend the season anticipating Jesus- and I know He will never disappoint.  Whatever December 25th happens to look like- snow storms, power outages, creepy old men giving you a love letter (rip Sister Meik)- it can't ruin Christmas! Not if you're looking forward to Jesus Christ.  And what's so great about Christmas is that it HAPPENED! He came, we're not just waiting! God Himself came down to us, with us!! That means all those things about Christmas we look forward to- hope, light, happiness- they're real. And we can have them all...