Hi hi family!
Wow. What a crazy week I have had! It has been one of the hardest weeks! But, I am absolutely loving my mission! “Missions are hard,” I've heard! And this week, I can now agree with that statement! I am happy here! I love it!
A very common question is "How is the language?" It is coming along! I am fully aware that I am learning a hard language! There is a real reason I am here for 9 weeks! And let’s be honest! Only 2 million people speak Slovene! There is really not a ton I can do with this after my mission. For some people, they think it’s kind of a waste of time to learn a language I am never going to use. Have you ever heard the prophecy that every man shall hear the gospel in his native tongue? Does that not apply to 2 million Slovenians? I sure think it does! They need the gospel too! I am happy to "take one for the team" if it's God’s Team! Yes, this language is hard but, I love it! I never think "Wow, I can’t learn this language!" But I always think "Wow! I can’t wait to learn this language!"
This week was hard as a missionary -- and every time I was feeling sad, I realized I was in the wrong mindset! I was thinking about myself and not about others. So I worked SO hard to take President Hinkley’s father’s advice to “Forget myself and get to work!” I forgot to tell you all last week, but I am the new sister Training leader for my zone. That’s basically the Zone Leader for the Sisters! What a great opportunity for me to think of others! I got to welcome in 6 Elders this week as they entered our zone! That was such a great service opportunity!
Speaking of service, we got to clean the windows again this week! I love cleaning the windows and seeing the pretty mountains! I had so much happiness doing that! As some of you know, my best friend, Madi, is in the MTC right now. She and I live in the same building and go to class in the same building, so we see each other often! We spend every night getting ready for bed together and reading our family’s letters and laughing and crying. Serving her this week has also been a great way for me to forget myself and work as a missionary! I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve her! It has helped me focus on being a missionary and serving everyone. It has also made our friendship stronger! And that makes me so happy! My companions adore her! She is very loved here! The best part of my week was probably when I got to be a NEW Missionary Host! I was literally jumping up and down the entire time!!!!! I loved seeing the excitement in the eyes of the new missionaries! I got to host my old Girls State Governor, Sister Chelson! That was the best! She was sooo excited! I loved hugging the moms and promising I would take good care of their little girls! I loved seeing the dads cry. I loved seeing the rest of the family frantically taking photos and crying as I took their sweet daughter into the MTC. This was honestly the greatest part of my week. I LOVED serving the new missionaries and not thinking about myself! I was so happy. I was sweaty and tired after I hosted for 2 hours because I had been jumping up and down the entire time. I made some awesome friends that day! Oh! I love serving others! It makes me SOOO happy!
This week for devotional Elder Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came! He spoke on missionary work, I think, but I learned a ton about humility! He asked us “If we were at the feet of our Savior, how intently would we listen?” He then reminded us that as missionaries we really are at the feet of our Savior. Every day of our missions we have the opportunity to learn from our Savior and feel His love. It is the best! All we have to do is listen! It is our choice! I am simply a mouthpiece for the Restoration and a tool in His hands. It’s my job to do ANYTHING He wants me to do, no matter how hard it is! I love him! Elder Cook then reminded us that "You are the message." I loved that devotional! Madi and I sat together in it and we both felt the Spirit. Elder Cook is AWESOME! I am now more willing to follow the Spirit and act on any promptings.
So, I would like to thank a ton of you for the support you gave me this week. Most of you didn't even know I was having a hard week! But I got the BEST mail this week and every single thing I received was a huge answer to my prayers! I know I am loved because the mail people know my name! They think my best friends go way out of the way to make my envelopes cute (they are adorable) and they go way out of the way to send me lots of cards. They also know if my package is from my Grandma Call because she always uses a pink card! They tease me because of how many DEARELDER letters and things I get. I love it! I am known for being loved! This week, Mom and Dad literally sent me a new suitcase! HOW GREAT?!?! It was full of such fun things that made me so happy! Dad made me homemade sourdough bread. I have a teacher who tells use every day how he is so sad when the missionaries leave the MTC because that means he can’t feed himself and his new wife. I gave him a loaf of bread (another way to stop thinking about myself) and he cried. He told us how much his wife loved it the next day. My other teachers were so jealous. I loved giving it to him! That was the best package! Shanda and her kids sent me the cutest package! It was full of the BEST healthy snacks that just melted my heart! I have loved having something healthy to come home to! Each of the kids also wrote me letters that made me cry! Grandma Call sent me a healthy snack of my favorite popcorn that has been the best to come home to! Thanks Grandma! Melanie sent me some knee pads for praying (use them every night) and the cutest note and a picture Mia drew. I got letters from Bree, Emma and Sister Sasser. I got A TON of DEARELDER letters from siblings, friends, parents, and aunts and cousins and nieces. This was the best mail week. Every single person who sent me something this week was an answer to my prayers! I am so grateful for the support! I really needed it this week! God will bless you for serving his missionaries and helping to make my week a little better! Wow, I love you guys!
Teaching is going well! I currently have 7 investigators! SO HARD! We skyped some Slovenians this week....that was an experience and a half! They said I have a beautiful American accent! (or ghetto... I can’t remember—ha!) I love teaching this gospel! I love feeling the Spirit in lessons and saying words I know are not mine! I love teaching in Slovene! It is a beautiful thing!
This was the best week! No matter how emotionally and spiritually draining it was, I am so happy! I have loved every second of it! I have learned so much! I am a much harder worker this week than I was last week. I am a happy missionary! I try so hard to serve everyone around me. I love this, you guys! I never ever want to take my tag off. I know once I do, I can still be a missionary, but I sure love this opportunity! I pray for all of you! I hope you pray for me, too! I know God sent LOTs of angels to comfort me this week! I have been praying that He will send some to all of you because I am fine! I hope all is well in your homes! I love you all so much! Write me!
Sestra Higgins
P.S... T-17 days till SLOVENIA!!!!!
Wow. What a crazy week I have had! It has been one of the hardest weeks! But, I am absolutely loving my mission! “Missions are hard,” I've heard! And this week, I can now agree with that statement! I am happy here! I love it!
A very common question is "How is the language?" It is coming along! I am fully aware that I am learning a hard language! There is a real reason I am here for 9 weeks! And let’s be honest! Only 2 million people speak Slovene! There is really not a ton I can do with this after my mission. For some people, they think it’s kind of a waste of time to learn a language I am never going to use. Have you ever heard the prophecy that every man shall hear the gospel in his native tongue? Does that not apply to 2 million Slovenians? I sure think it does! They need the gospel too! I am happy to "take one for the team" if it's God’s Team! Yes, this language is hard but, I love it! I never think "Wow, I can’t learn this language!" But I always think "Wow! I can’t wait to learn this language!"
This week was hard as a missionary -- and every time I was feeling sad, I realized I was in the wrong mindset! I was thinking about myself and not about others. So I worked SO hard to take President Hinkley’s father’s advice to “Forget myself and get to work!” I forgot to tell you all last week, but I am the new sister Training leader for my zone. That’s basically the Zone Leader for the Sisters! What a great opportunity for me to think of others! I got to welcome in 6 Elders this week as they entered our zone! That was such a great service opportunity!
Speaking of service, we got to clean the windows again this week! I love cleaning the windows and seeing the pretty mountains! I had so much happiness doing that! As some of you know, my best friend, Madi, is in the MTC right now. She and I live in the same building and go to class in the same building, so we see each other often! We spend every night getting ready for bed together and reading our family’s letters and laughing and crying. Serving her this week has also been a great way for me to forget myself and work as a missionary! I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve her! It has helped me focus on being a missionary and serving everyone. It has also made our friendship stronger! And that makes me so happy! My companions adore her! She is very loved here! The best part of my week was probably when I got to be a NEW Missionary Host! I was literally jumping up and down the entire time!!!!! I loved seeing the excitement in the eyes of the new missionaries! I got to host my old Girls State Governor, Sister Chelson! That was the best! She was sooo excited! I loved hugging the moms and promising I would take good care of their little girls! I loved seeing the dads cry. I loved seeing the rest of the family frantically taking photos and crying as I took their sweet daughter into the MTC. This was honestly the greatest part of my week. I LOVED serving the new missionaries and not thinking about myself! I was so happy. I was sweaty and tired after I hosted for 2 hours because I had been jumping up and down the entire time. I made some awesome friends that day! Oh! I love serving others! It makes me SOOO happy!
This week for devotional Elder Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came! He spoke on missionary work, I think, but I learned a ton about humility! He asked us “If we were at the feet of our Savior, how intently would we listen?” He then reminded us that as missionaries we really are at the feet of our Savior. Every day of our missions we have the opportunity to learn from our Savior and feel His love. It is the best! All we have to do is listen! It is our choice! I am simply a mouthpiece for the Restoration and a tool in His hands. It’s my job to do ANYTHING He wants me to do, no matter how hard it is! I love him! Elder Cook then reminded us that "You are the message." I loved that devotional! Madi and I sat together in it and we both felt the Spirit. Elder Cook is AWESOME! I am now more willing to follow the Spirit and act on any promptings.
So, I would like to thank a ton of you for the support you gave me this week. Most of you didn't even know I was having a hard week! But I got the BEST mail this week and every single thing I received was a huge answer to my prayers! I know I am loved because the mail people know my name! They think my best friends go way out of the way to make my envelopes cute (they are adorable) and they go way out of the way to send me lots of cards. They also know if my package is from my Grandma Call because she always uses a pink card! They tease me because of how many DEARELDER letters and things I get. I love it! I am known for being loved! This week, Mom and Dad literally sent me a new suitcase! HOW GREAT?!?! It was full of such fun things that made me so happy! Dad made me homemade sourdough bread. I have a teacher who tells use every day how he is so sad when the missionaries leave the MTC because that means he can’t feed himself and his new wife. I gave him a loaf of bread (another way to stop thinking about myself) and he cried. He told us how much his wife loved it the next day. My other teachers were so jealous. I loved giving it to him! That was the best package! Shanda and her kids sent me the cutest package! It was full of the BEST healthy snacks that just melted my heart! I have loved having something healthy to come home to! Each of the kids also wrote me letters that made me cry! Grandma Call sent me a healthy snack of my favorite popcorn that has been the best to come home to! Thanks Grandma! Melanie sent me some knee pads for praying (use them every night) and the cutest note and a picture Mia drew. I got letters from Bree, Emma and Sister Sasser. I got A TON of DEARELDER letters from siblings, friends, parents, and aunts and cousins and nieces. This was the best mail week. Every single person who sent me something this week was an answer to my prayers! I am so grateful for the support! I really needed it this week! God will bless you for serving his missionaries and helping to make my week a little better! Wow, I love you guys!
Teaching is going well! I currently have 7 investigators! SO HARD! We skyped some Slovenians this week....that was an experience and a half! They said I have a beautiful American accent! (or ghetto... I can’t remember—ha!) I love teaching this gospel! I love feeling the Spirit in lessons and saying words I know are not mine! I love teaching in Slovene! It is a beautiful thing!
This was the best week! No matter how emotionally and spiritually draining it was, I am so happy! I have loved every second of it! I have learned so much! I am a much harder worker this week than I was last week. I am a happy missionary! I try so hard to serve everyone around me. I love this, you guys! I never ever want to take my tag off. I know once I do, I can still be a missionary, but I sure love this opportunity! I pray for all of you! I hope you pray for me, too! I know God sent LOTs of angels to comfort me this week! I have been praying that He will send some to all of you because I am fine! I hope all is well in your homes! I love you all so much! Write me!
Sestra Higgins
P.S... T-17 days till SLOVENIA!!!!!