Week 38

WEEK 38

HARD WORK EQUALS LOVE

"It was a good, but stressful week.

I will tell you briefly that my companion and I are doing just fine. 

I felt like we were really able to become friends this week. 

Physically and mentally, all is well.

I love working in this sector. 

I have such a big love for these members and also for my companion, 

but this week really took its toll on me. 

I feel like no one is helping us from our Bishopric 

and I can see now why the missionary work isn't progressing as it should. 

We made an appointment with the Stake President (President Ercoli) for Tuesday.

We are going to discuss all of our  concerns and hopefully see a change.

However, we are doing the best that we can with what we have. 

Sr. Mortier and I have still been blessed with miracles in our sector!

Honestly, my stresses just show that I care. 

It's my choice to stress about the work. 

If I didn't care, I don't think it would be hard. 

Just know that I am truly giving my all.

God knows.

I am surely not perfect.

I quote movies all the time and I sing songs that aren't "appropriate" for missionaries..

..but hey...

also, getting up in the morning has NEVER been an easy thing for me.

anyone and EVERYONE knows that.

but hey.. I try my best.

Luckily, by 10 every night I am DEAD, si non, beiiiiin I think I'd go to bed later. 

-Viola. It's just God helping me out!

Hey! I've gotta go!

I send you all of my loves!"

Week 37

WEEK 37

"Thank you for all the prayers!"

"I am doing SO much better! Thank you for all your prayers!
I took 1 pill, 1 time to kill all of the bacteria, but I seem to be doing better.
I am sure it will come back because I am almost sure that it comes from the water.
Also, they're French. Who knows if they even know what they are doing." 

"The missionary work has been progressing!!
I love being able to look at the first week I spent in this sector until now and see all of the progress that has been made.  We started with little lessons at the beginning and now we seem to have a full schedule. It's like we don't even have time to do all of our studies every day."

When I asked how she liked being a trainer, Mickey said:
"I really do love it. It has challenged my speaking abilities and definitely my teaching abilities because for the most part it's me who talks in lessons." 

 ^^ "Me going down the stairs. (: In a large sack." ^^

When I email Mickey, I love to hear about the things she is learning in her personal studies. 
I share what I've been learning and hopefully we are teaching each other along the way. 
When I asked what she was studying or working towards right now, she replied:
"Honestly, I am just working on growing my knowledge of the gospel. 
The deep doctrine. 
haha because my 'keep it simple' knowledge can only get me so far."
I was proud of Mickey for this response! 
As we know, the gospel comes together for most of us in tidbits 
and "here a little, there a little" moments.
I'm so pleased that Mickey feels secure enough in the basics of the gospel and is ready to move on to deep doctrine. It's exciting when we get to that point in our studies and it motivates us to dig a bit deeper and learn harder concepts. 
That's the amazing part of the gospel - 
it's simple enough that kids can understand and deep enough for even the scriptorians to learn. 
However, no matter where we are at in the gospel, remember it's perfect for us. 
The most important action is that we continually trudge forward in our learning and growth. :)

 ^^ "We cook a lot." ^^

I asked Mickey more specifics about her companion, here's the scoop:
"She's not at all quiet. 
She's proper. 

She does a lot of things that are so cute...
...like it freaks her out that we have lizards in our house
(ALWAYS) and ants everywhere. 
It reminds me of when I first got here."
we get along well.
I love her.
I don't ever want to live in France or marry a French person
...but my companion is cool.(: "

 ^^ "We went to the temple!" ^^

^^ "I SAW ELDER PYPER from my MTC district! ahhh ^^

^^ ..."AND Sr. Robinson!" ^^

So, another week has passed and Mickey is doing great!
She is learning so much, but I can tell through everything she sends me - 
she is still the same ol' Mickey - just a little more mature and learned in the gospel. 
I look forward to seeing her THIS YEAR! 
YAY!

until next week, please pray for Mickey's health to be perfect!

All our love! ♥

Week 36

WEEK 36

A LETTER FROM MICKEY

Mickey had time to write a personal letter this week!

Enjoy!

Bonjour tout le monde! (:

 I received a new companion this week! Her name is Sr Mortier and she comes from France! She's just so sweet and so kind. 

After receiving my new companion Tuesday afternoon I was really not feeling too well when Sr Mortier looked right at me and asked when we'd start contacting. I will tell you that I instantly had a love for her the moment I met her but when she posed that question my love for her did nothing but grow. I only wished that I could've given her that her first week, but I was comforted in knowing that she will have plenty of opportunities to do that here. She's so passionate in her love for our Savior and for his Gospel. She wants to work and she is ready! -Already I feel like she came pre-trained! I pray every day that I might be able to help her in some way, but at the very least she's helped me. 

As you all know I've been sick off and on my whole mission but it really started acting up this week to the point that I couldn't eat nor drink! I went 2 days without taking in any liquids. It was so bad one night that the other sisters in my house called President Fox and he picked me up and took me to the emergency room. When I got there I was dehydrated, (obviously) so they took a little bit more of my blood to do some tests and then gave me saline. It was horrible, I'll tell you that. They said that I clearly had inflammation somewhere inside and that they'd have to wait a few more days for more tests. (normally I should have the results today). 

In being sick I really have had to lean on others, specifically Christ to help me. In fact, I have received many blessings to ease the pain throughout my mission. I almost feel like I receive too many blessings! I understand that the Priesthood is for just that and we should not be afraid to use it, so I asked for yet another blessing this week given by Elder Peck. I felt bad because he had given me one earlier in the week with elder UGBAH but I felt strongly to ask for another. Of course he stopped what he was doing and came right over!

Before the blessing he he started to pose a question but hesitated then said "I am sure I already know the answer, but do you believe that through Jesus Christ you can be healed?" I was stopped dead in my tracks and replied with "Of course!" but it really got me to thinking of any doubt I've ever had. I know that the question was inspired and needed to be posed even though he felt he knew the answer. It really invited the spirit and helped me to fully turn my will to God's will and right as I did in the blessing he said "we know your faith is full" and I felt comforted. 

Before my mission, for the majority of my life I was a less-active or even inactive and ever since coming back to church 2 years ago, my biggest worry is to fall inactive again but this blessing and this trial have helped me to see that I could NEVER doubt my faith of this gospel. Ever. I had the confidence in that moment to say (and mean it) that I will never fall inactive again because it's truly the desire of my heart. I KNOW gospel is true! and I KNOW that through Christ I can be healed of ALL things. 

I literally woke up the next morning feeling 10x better! I realize that when we trust in God and trust in him FULLY then we have to trust in his timing. 

Kinda bummy that I had to be sick to realize this.. but I am grateful that I was! 

Thank you all for your prayers! I love you all! 

On that note, I was in contact with the President this week and this is a text he received earlier in the week from Mickey about the results from the Doctor and her progress: 

“Ok, I just went to the doctor and got the results back. They said I have some form of bad bacteria in my stomach that is fighting all of the other good bacterias and causing inflammation. They gave me a medicine to kill the bad bacteria and some pro biotics to help stabilize my intestines. I told them this has been going on my whole mission and she said it had to come from the food or water. I should be better in 10-15 days but if not she ordered for me to take more tests.”

The President also added that he and his wife saw Mickey and Sr. Morier during the week. They were out working in their sector so she seems to be doing better. They are hopeful the antibiotics/probiotics that she is on will do the trick. 

Let's continue to pray for her health to be strong and that her body might rid itself of all the bad bacteria in her body.

I know she feels our prayers as she has expressed that to me several times.

With God, ALL things are possible. 

Love, 

Jess ♥

Below are some photos Mickey sent me this week:

^^ Sr. Mortier and Mickey ^^

^^ President and Sr. Fox, Mickey and Sr. Mortier ^^

^^ "just a couple in our ward!!! SO CUTE!"  ^^  

^^ " I GOT THE PACKAGE! (: It was so cute and brought a HUGE highlight to my day. 

You make our house so cute. I love it."  ^^ 

^^ "Hey.. some fruit I ate this week! You only eat the white part. (: " ^^

Week 35

Week 35

Goodbyes and New Opportunities

"Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities, seize common occasions and make them great." -Orison Swett Marden

This week, Mickey said goodbye to Sr. Colledge. She was transferred to the nearby island of Raiatea.

With that, comes exciting news: Mickey is now a trainer! 

Anyone who knows Mickey well, knows that she has always been a born leader - a special gift that was divinely and specifically given to her from none other than our Heavenly Father. She now has the opportunity to take her past experiences and apply them to training a brand new missionary. 

I'm so excited for her! You see, Mickey has always had a huge heart and I know that she won't let becoming a trainer go to her head. She will be a diligent example, hard worker and a loving companion who sees the best when things are the hardest.  When any of us get callings in life, it usually isn't because we are better then someone else - it's because we've dedicated ourselves to the Lord and he knows he can trust us to learn more. It's always for our learning and growth, not for us to boast. Now that Mickey has had some experience and learned from her own amazing and humble trainers, she can take that knowledge and help others become great missionaries themselves. As she does it with a humble heart, she will undoubtedly look back with a grateful heart for the opportunities she had to learn more than she felt she was able to teach. That's the wonderful gift of callings. 

She will do a fantastic job because she loves the Lord with all her might and trusts in his goodness. 

We are so proud of all she has done as a missionary and the trust and learning she has willingly put in the Lord to become what he wants her to and to bless others with the testimony she has gained in the process. 

I can say with confidence that Mickey is sure to feel inadequate at times in this new adventure. 

Any trying to follow the footsteps of our Savior, are going to feel as though they can't reach him. That's because they are trying to hard but because they love the Lord so much, they also see their weaknesses. In fact, God has promised to show us our flaws. 

Below is some advice from President Eyring:

"There will be times when you will feel overwhelmed.

One of the ways you will be attacked is with the feeling that you are inadequate.

Well, you are inadequate to answer a call to represent God with only your own powers.

But you have access to MORE than your natural capacities, and you do not work alone.

The Lord will magnify what you say and what you do in the eyes of the people you serve. 

He will send the Holy Ghost to manifest to them that what you spoke was true. 

What you say and do will carry hope and give direction to people FAR BEYOND your natural abilities and your own understanding."

So, here's to us all calling upon the Lord more frequently, more diligently and with hope and love.

You've got this, my dear Mickey!!

...and to Mickey's new companion: Sr. Mortier from France:

 You are so blessed to have been assigned to be mentored by such a sweet daughter of God! You will find that Sr. Wright has a heart of gold and because of that, she loves deep, forgives better than anyone I have ever had the privilege of knowing and truly wants to do the Lords will. 

She is a "clean freak" and organized. Independent yet a teammate who loves to serve others. She is sometimes quirky but knows how to have fun. She is exciting and will you keep you on your toes, but works hard and through time has learned to be strictly obedient as her predecessors have. 

Sr. Wright is a listener and if you allow her to - she will be a friend for life. I could go on and on. Most of all, Mickey has had a life full of trials, tough love and learning experiences and has taught her to trust in and lean on her Heavenly Father with literally, everything she has and has been blessed with the Spirit. It's in her countenance. It's in her heart. She is positive and learns from mistakes and takes the advice of others. She is a teacher and TOGETHER you will learn so much as you open yourself up to the knowledge she has gained in her 21 years of life experiences and 10 months of serving the Lord in Tahiti. She will learn right along side you and treat you as an equal 

- or - even better. ALWAYS know that she loves you. 

We love you Sr. Mortier. Yes, already! ...and are excited to get to know you!

On a different note, Mickey said, "I had a wonderful week. I haven't been stressed at all! (: "

We sent her some videos that melted her heart and she received a package from her parents.

They were also able to set an Ami up for baptism in June!!! "YAY!

But it's all the way in June and we can't count it on our records. but HEY! That is a miracle."

She is also working with Tunoa (age 14) and Iotua (age 11). "They have 1 brother who is a member and will be going on a mission to Australia in April but their mom told them that they aren't allowed to get baptized until they are 18...ahh BUT this week, she changed her mind ans said that they can get baptized when he returns from his mission in two years. (: "  

^^Guess who Mickey was able to see this week? HER trainer is now finished with her mission. ^^

Last week, I was able to send Mickey some random photos and videos of our family. In response to them, she said, 

"I just read the emails you sent me. (: That made me so happy. I love reading your weekly emails and hearing from you. They just make me so happy. (:  I love that the things you miss and are excited for [when she returns] are also the things I am excited for. (: It was really special that you sent me the videos this week. I was thinking this week about what makes me most happy and I noticed that I have experienced a lot of really cool things on my mission, and I've had a lot of happy moments, BUT I am more happy with you guys - my family. You guys make me so happy. (: I just miss laughing every single day... I was thinking about doing ab workouts last night and wondered why I never had to do that before now...it's because I was just so happy and laughing ALL the time that I didn't need it. Nut it hasn't been that way in a while...at least not since Sr. Dumouchel. 

I LOVE Sr. Colledge...She's definetly my favorite "missionary" but I need a best friend. 

I love that people tell you to marry your best friend because it's with them that you will be most happy. 

(:

So thank you for those cute videos that really gave me the home and giggles that I needed today."

^^As you can imagine - this just made my day! I felt extra grateful to have Mickey in my life today. Thank you Mickers!^^

No date as of yet for Mickey's return - but it is being prayed about. Mickey has said she will come home to St. George and work for a bit and start school again in January. I seriously can't believe we are already talking about her returning already! WOW! The next several months are going to fly by!

Thank you for your continued prayers on Mickey's behalf! 

She is doing so well and loves you all!

Love, 

Aunt Jess

♥

Random photos from the week:

^^ Mango season!!^^

 ^^ They FINALLY were able to make tacos!! Mickey's favorite! ^^