Missionary Work is Not Easy Because Salvation is Not a Cheap Experience

So, yeah. I could just say this week was hard. Missionary work is hard. And just leave it like that...

But then I know there are people out there like my mom who would just worry like crazy that something's wrong, so I can't just do that ha-ha. I'm going to preface by telling you all that despite the difficulty of missionary work, there is still so much joy and peace and great things happening! So, no, I'm not depressed. No, the world is not ending (yet). Yes, all is well. Just some weeks are harder than others. 

This week we did get to go on EXCHANGES with the Kent Island sisters again! I got to go with Sister Blosch, again! And I got to go to Kent Island, again! I like it there a lot :) It's super pretty. And Sister Blosch is just amazing. Just saying. So that was the highlight of the week. I've also been on exchanges with the Spa Creek Hermanas for the last few days now! It's been an interesting week... But Hermana Garcia is the best! I love her! 

On Wednesday, we had a pretty low day. Our amazing investigator Lynda texted us and told us she wasn't interested in meeting anymore... she said she loved us and that it wasn't us, just her, but that doesn't make it hurt any less. It's like getting broken up with over text. Just saying, that's how it felt. And it was really hard because both Sister Larsen and I just love her so much and we know that this would make her happy and she'd find her answers. But it's not her time. I think the charity that I ask for every day, and the God gives me every day, is such a blessing, but it's such a hard thing to have as well. I just love these people so much, and these Sisters I get to serve SO MUCH that it hurts when I see them fall. A sister that I was serving with (not my companion, don't worry) went home early this week. It's been rough and she's had a very difficult mission, but she held out as long as she could. The same thing is happening with another sister this week and I just love them both so much. So, yes, it's hard. It's hard seeing them fall and hurt. But, I also know that going home is the right thing for both of them. I know it, even though I don't want it. Love hurts sometimes. A lot of the time. But I'd rather be full of love than without it. 

So, that's what makes missionary work hard. The hardest things are rarely your own failures (though those are there as well), or your own misfortunes, but the pain of those around you. And there's a lot of that, but the best thing about missionary work is the ability we have to lift them up. No, pain doesn't always just "go away." Most of the time it takes a lot of work. But we have the Gospel. And we have knowledge of the Atonement, even though our knowledge is very limited. I KNOW without a doubt that Christ suffered everything; He sunk below it all, to lift us up. And it's that knowledge that not only gets me through, but helps me enjoy the journey. You can find joy in your difficulties and your trials. I see it all the time.

So, I'm sorry if this seems like a really depressing email. That's not what it's supposed to be. Life is hard sometimes. It's true. If you haven't had it rough yet, just wait. But that's when you grow :) And that's when you learn and you get to experience the best joys! "Adam fell that men might be, and men [and women] are that they might have JOY." (2 Nephi 2:25). You have to go through the hard times to enjoy the good. That's life. And all works out in the end, and if it's not worked out, it's not the end.

I'd like to leave you all with a quote from "Missionary Work and the Atonement" that has really helped me these last few weeks. It's from Elder Holland and he said, "Missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience... [we] have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane... to come to the truth, to come to salvation, to know something of this price that has been paid, [we] will have to pay a token of that same price... Someone a lot greater and a lot grander asked a long time ago if there wasn't an easier way... The Atonement will carry the missionaries perhaps even more importantly that it will carry the investigators. When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the living Son of the living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him- The Way, the Truth, and the Life."

This work is worth it. What you do every single day is worth it. Keep smiling. Keep pushing. Recognize that you are loved and that you are enough. God sees your efforts. You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be perfect at trying. I know this is true with all my heart. There is no doubt in my mind. It's true. It's true. It's true. And I hope and pray we can all know that for ourselves. I love you all. Keep pushing. Keeping going. Enjoy the journey.

Quote of the Week: "Forget yourself and go to work." - President Hinckley

Scripture of the Week: Alma 36:27

Oh, and I hit 10 months yesterday... wasn't it just a week ago I was at 9? Wow. And there was snow here the other day. Gross. Oh, and I got to see brand new kittens this week. That was the cutest thing ever. Just saying. 

Love, 

Sister Humphrey

My Last Week as a Teenager

Yup. I'm officially old. But I'm still young at heart, so that's what really matters, right? Thank you all for the birthday wishes! The best present today has been emailing all of you and hearing from my friends and family. I love you guys :) 

Didn't you all just LOVE General Conference!?!?!!? If you didn't get a chance to watch it yet, go right now! It will change your life if you have an open and willing heart :) I love hearing from our inspired leaders! I know God has called them for a reason. Thomas S. Monson is the one and only true Prophet on the Earth today. And he LOVES you. He really truly loves you. And his love is only a portion of the love God and our Savior Jesus Christ have for you. That's a lot of love. Go watch it and feel that love. And just like Elder Holland said in his concluding talk, don't forget the feelings you have as you listen to General Conference. Let that feeling last. Study those words and implement them into your life. They can make a difference. 

Some quotes from General Conference and fun facts:

There are 177 Announced Temples!!!! Yay!!! 150 of them are currently operating! The Lord's work is Hastening! 

There are also ~75,000 Missionaries!!

"This is His [Jesus Christ's] conference!" -Pres. Eyring

"The most extraordinary knowledge we can obtain is that we are all sons and daughters of God." - Elder Hallstrom.

"You can have what you want or you can have something better." -Elder Holland

"When trials come, partaking of the sacrament will bring safety." - Elder Renlund

"A child's spiritual DNA is perfect!" -Elder Anderson

"The choices we make determine our destiny." -President Monson

"If we choose Christ, we will choose right!" -Presidnet Monson

"God sees us worthy of rescue" - President Uchtdorf. He will carry you home. We can have confidence and trust that our Father can and will rebuild us into something more than we could ever imagine.

"We have God's assurance that He will consecrate our afflictions for our gain." Elder Oaks

"We will be blessed for our desire to do good... We can escape the consequences of sin and stupidity- our own and others... He will help us especially when we struggle... Tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among us, as we sanctify ourselves today."-Elder Holland

Oh and there's a million more I wish to share! But that's plenty :) So, this week our investigators Suzie, Lynda, and Thereasa all watched General Conference! It was so amazing! They loved it! And Lynda is already in 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon! They're progressing SO well! I love it! Many great things are happening with them.

This week we also had the privilege of getting to know Sister Carolyn Allen, our mini-missionary! She was just absolutely fantastic :) I loved having her around and wish we could've just kidnapped her and kept her forever and ever. I'll definitely be seeing more of her after the mission! I love her :) She teaches already with just power and conviction. I just love missionaries :) 

So, basically my last week as a teenager was really great! There's so much I wish I could tell, but not enough time to say it all. I love this work. I love this Gospel. I KNOW I am a daughter of God. I know it. And you can know your divine nature, too. You can pray and God will listen. He wants to hear from you. There's a little story I heard this last week. It was about a recent convert named Lucy Wong. She was going into an interview with her bishop a few months after she was baptized and he thought he could teach her a little something about prayers. So he asked her how her prayers were going. She said the usual, "I pray every morning and evening. In the morning I tell Heavenly Father the plans I have for the day. I ask for things that I need. I thank Him for all that I have... the usual." The Bishop asked about her evening prayers and she said, "Well, I start by saying, 'Dear Father, this is Lucy Wong....' and then I listen.”...

The Bishop had a little something to learn that day from this sweet new member. She listened, and God spoke. I promise you all that God speaks to us personally. I've tried this whole "listening" thing for the last week and my prayers have changed. My days have changed. My attitude has changed. Listen. God is speaking to you. And be willing to hear what He has to say. I promise you will hear Him as you genuinely listen. I know it, because I've heard Him. He told me I'm His daughter among many other things. And you can know that, too.

You just have to listen.

I love you all. You truly are amazing people. I hope this week is better than ever before. Make tomorrow magnificent each and every day. And make this day better than yesterday, each and every day. I love you. God loves you. Never forget that.

Scripture of the Week: D&C 6:34

Quote of the Week: "When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer." -Corrie Ten Boom

Love, 

Sister Humphrey

Note from Mom: My baby girl (second to last) turned 20 today!! Hard to believe!!! I miss her, but I'm so very proud of her, and the hard work she is doing. I also know the Lord is proud of her too! 

All Because of Two Girls on Bikes

I love how the Lord works in our lives. He is literally in the very details of our lives. Not a second goes by that He doesn't watch over us. It's the best thing ever. And I feel Him ever so present as I serve Him. This work truly never ends.

On Tuesday, we got to go to Missionary Leadership Council with all the other leaders in the mission :) I love MLC :) It's so fun! We got to hear from Elder Carlson, emeritus Member of the 70. He's a funny man. He was a 4 star general and many of his tips and advice came from that ha-ha. I guess fear tactics don't really help people get baptized, though. Darn. But we had a HUGE emphasis on the Book of Mormon during our meeting, which was great because I'd been getting the impression to focus more on the Book of Mormon in my teaching! I love how the Spirit works! There is power in those pages. The power of God. All you have to do is read it to access that power. AND, to top it all off, our investigator Lynda started reading the Book of Mormon! Between our last teaching visit, she read the entire beginning (all the testimonies) of the Book of Mormon through 1 Nephi 5. That's, like, 18 pages. AND the statistic for investigators who get baptized more than doubles if they read more ~10 pages in the Book of Mormon! It's so great :) I love meeting with Lynda. She's hilarious, too! 

We also got to do a lot of service this week. One of my favorite families in this ward, the O'Connells, are moving to Washington on April 3rd, so we've been helping them pack up. They're cool people :) And we helped paint a member's home this week (I LOVE PAINTING!). She told us that her husband had been excommunicated YEARS ago, and, guess what!? He's getting re-baptized today! YAY! Miracles do happen! I love hearing stories like that. Because it really does happen. There is hope and there is happiness and I love it when people find that, whether for the first time or not. 

We're also teaching this woman named Suzie. She is an alcoholic, but we met with her about a month ago and started talking with her about prophets. Her brain just goes and goes. She's been thinking about Christ and the Church ever since. And, guess what? She hasn't had a drink in a month! That's what the gospel can do! We're continuing to teach her and she's changing SO fast! I love it :) 

Oh, and in case you didn't get the memo, yesterday was EASTER! We got to celebrate Christ with the rest of the world! We had a great church meeting. And a really sweet family fed us dinner. And it was all about the Savior. He really did rise again. I know it. I don't have to see Him to know that He lives. He lives for me. He lives for YOU. He lives. And because He lives, there is hope. There is happiness. There is purpose to our lives. And that purpose is great.

I hope all you girls and women and young women had a chance to watch the General Women's Broadcast last Saturday! Wasn't it amazing? What were some of your favorite parts? I love the emphasis on service. Because, truly, serving others is how to find your happiness. That's my takeaway this week. When you think about yourself, you're not as happy! That's just fact. So, I loved it :) Everything you do to your fellowmen is done unto your Savior. Everything. So watch was you do to your neighbors, your family, and your friends. Because He felt it as well. And He knows us, just like He knows them. I love my Savior. I love that we get to hear from our Prophet and the Apostles this weekend testify of our Savior. Listen. Have questions. You will find your answers! I promise you.

Make this week different. Serve someone you normally wouldn't. Help someone in need. Think of those around you and try to make their lives happier. In that process, you will be happier.

I love you all. Don't forget to smile. :) 

Scripture of the Week: D&C 1:38

Quote of the Week: "My mission belongs to the Lord. With all my heart I give my energy and my time to the Master because I love Him. Therefore, I'm going to look at every day not as mine, but as His. And I will treat each minute of His time with respect and focus and the dedication that it deserves." -Elder M. Russell Ballard

Sorry, no pictures this week. Camera died :( 

Love, 

Sister Humphrey

#Hallelujah

Happy Easter Week everyone! I hope you are all remembering the true reason we celebrate Easter. Christ was RESURRECTED!!! And we can live again, because of Him! How amazing is that? I love it. I love this gospel! There is ALL hope in Christ's name. He gives me hope, and I hope to share that with all around me! 

This week has been pretty great! Sister Larsen and I are getting over a little cold, but things are looking up! We didn't have any water in our apartment on Monday or Tuesday because of some leak in our complex. Good thing that's taken care of! I really like to shower ha-ha. Our heating decided to stop working a couple days ago. I never realized how important the heat is until is started dropping to the 60's. Then I really really wanted it back! But we are alive :) 

My family sent me a really funny package full of 1/2 of everything! I love them :) They're the best. 

Funny quotes this week: "I'm a grandma. I'm turning 22... I'm so old!" - Sister Larsen (Her birthday isn't even for another 3 months...)

"You know you're old when your nose hairs turn gray!) - Lynda, our investigator

"I made it through college without becoming a liberal." - A member's mom ha-ha. 

"I still can't believe you wear yoga pants..." "I wanted green; he wanted brown; so we compromised and we bought brown. #PreparingForMarriedLife"  - Sarah, our investigator who can't picture us in anything but the skirts we wear! 

We got to meet with Lynda and Sarah this week! And we found a new investigator named Lynne! She's very active in her Episcopalian church, but she's willing to keep meeting with us if she receives an answer to her prayer that this church is true this week. Ha-ha. She's funny. She kept praising Jesus in the middle of the prayer and was talking to Him the entire time while Sister Larsen was praying. I had to hold in my laughter. We didn't think she was listening at all, so Sister Larsen just kept praying for her to know that our church was true and that Joseph Smith really was a prophet. She went on and on and at the end, when Sister Larsen said "Amen," Lynne shouted her "Amen". It was great ha-ha. She believes in many of the things we believe in, but they're a little twisted. It's kinda strange to see the different interpretations of the bible there are that just don't make any sense! This gospel is simple! It doesn't have to be complex! ha-ha, hopefully we'll be able to help her see that. But she's great :) And our lesson with Lynda was FANTASTIC! She prayed for the first time in YEARS! It was amazing. She said she's starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. She's finding answers and she's getting happier. I LOVE IT! And General Conference is coming up! And the Women's conference! There are just so many things happening! It's GREAT! And Sarah is still asking a lot of questions and she asked us to study BAPTISM for our next lesson with her! Yeah, I don't think we'll have a problem with that! We also got to meet with Amethyst this week! Finally. She's still really struggling, but she wants to be baptized on her birthday, April 22nd. She just has to come to church and start ACTING! Faith without works is dead. It's true. 

I got to try eating Korean cake for the first time. And Fuh, Vietnamese chicken noodle soup. yum :) We also got a call from the assistants telling us that we'll be having a mini-missionary stay with us on the 28-30th! Three mini-missionaries on my mission so far! That's gotta be a record! We have no idea where she'll sleep, but we'll make it work somehow! We love it :) 

Church was great yesterday. As the ward members in ward council saw our full progress record full of investigators, they started getting really excited! It's great to see these ward members get excited about missionary work, because it's exciting! I love this ward! Odenton is amazing and I swear I get to be in the best areas in the mission. I love it :) That was my week :) It's great!

Shout out to Emily Hovey for having a birthday yesterday! 

Also, shout out to Sister Kayla Skalka who is returning with honor from her mission next week! Congrats! Time flies!

Quote of the Week: "#BecauseOfHim: Death has no sting. No goodbye will last forever. There are no endings. I can leave my past behind. The world is filled with second chances." #Hallelujah

Scripture of the Week: Alma 11:44

Some other quotes I heard this week that I really enjoyed:
"Obedience is faith with legs."

"Pray as if it all depends on Him, then work as if it all depends on you."

"We obey not because we are blind, but because we see." - Elder Ballard

"If this church is true, then it is vitally important. If it's not, then we are still spending our time doing good things that make us, and others, happy." 

"If you testify and talk about Christ, Christ will talk about you to the Father." 

Love, 

Sister Humphrey

Flats, Bikes, and Helmets

Yup. The weather got to 89 degrees this week. That means, BIKING! We biked all over the place! My legs are getting stronger and stronger! Which is great because they were getting pretty weak ha-ha. Although the weather has cooled off a bit, it's still pretty warm and the flowers are already starting to blossom :) Spring in Maryland is GREAT! This week we found a new investigator named Lynda while biking :) We stopped to talk to her and she seemed really sad. As we talked, we learned that she had been going to a Catholic church for years; she was raised in that church, but 12 years ago she had three family members die from cancer within 5 months of each other, and she never found answers to her questions in church, so she stopped going. Her faith dwindled and she now struggles to believe that there even is a God. As we talked, we told her we had answers, that, though we're young, we have truth and we wanted to share that with her. She said, "why not?" and invited us back. As we taught her, she asked questions all the time and you could see the Spirit testifying to her heart that this is true. She wants to believe it! And she's willing to change her life around so she can be happy. And it's her willing heart that is going to change her life! I can't wait to see how she progresses! 

This week we had a quick party after District meeting, which included pizza, root beer floats, and games. I love parties with missionaries :) I also hit my 9 month mark this week. Some missionaries do weird things like burn clothing... instead I took a picture of myself with a pregnant belly for my 9 month... either way, missionaries are weird. 

We saw many miracles trying to get in contact with some less-actives this week and we have many appointments set up to teach this next week! I'm excited about those :) 

Sister Larsen's Dad was in D.C. for a business trip and we got permission to go to dinner with him! That made Sister Larsen pretty happy! (Don't get any ideas, Mom). We were treated to Panera's, our favorite :) He's a cool guy :) And while we were there, two people sitting across from us kept looking over at us and commenting about the light that they saw in us. As we were walking out, they stopped and talked to us. People notice our light! It's not just something missionaries have. Everyone who lives the gospel has it! They noticed, a young boy noticed (children notice it a lot; I love it!), some less-actives noticed it, and an older man on the street stopped to ask us why we were always so happy. Whether you think so or not, you are being noticed. Think about the image you send to people. Do they see light? Can they see Christ in your countenance? If they can, that's how you can share the gospel. Think about that. 

Funny quote of the week: "I know I have a bible around here somewhere... I'm not always a sinner..." ha-ha, I love these people out here!

Oh, and guess who came to visit me in Odenton this week! The Haddoxes! Oh how I love them. If you see me tagged in a video eating Octopus on Facebook, ignore it. Nobody needs to see that. ha-ha, I love them. And Brother Haddox helped me realize that I actually like eel now; my Dad would be so proud (but I'll stay away from the Octopus from now on...).

So, this week the church came out with a new Easter video!! Go see it right now! followhim.mormon.org It's amazing! And Share it on social media! Share it like crazy! People need the message we have! Do it :) You'll love it :) Christ rose again the third day. He literally broke the bands of death. Because of Him, death has no sting. We have hope. He will be your Mediator to the Father. He is your partner. And with Him, you will never lose. The church is so true! Don't ever take for granted the knowledge you have. I love you all so much and I'm so grateful to be here right now. Thank you for your examples and your prayers and your love. I feel them. I wouldn't be able to do this work without Divine help, so thank you.

Scripture of the Week: 2 Nephi 31:20

Quote of the Week: "I have discovered that the Lord's 'no's' are merely prelude to an even greater 'yes'" - Patricia Holland

Love, 

Sister Humphrey

P.s. Sister Larsen and I put a Book of Mormon in one of those Free Libraries we found. If you ever see one, do the same! It's the best :) 

Here's To Round Two

Exchange calls came this week, and guess who gets to stay in Odenton with Sister Larsen!!! This Sister! Yup. I'm pretty excited about it. We both get to celebrate big milestones together this transfer. I'll be hitting my 9 month mark this week and she'll be hitting her year mark on the 25th. We'll get to celebrate Easter together, watch General Conference together, and celebrate my birthday together. It's like a match made in heaven ;) Ha-ha. For real, though. This is going to be the best transfer. And our entire district stayed the same and only 3 people in our whole zone are leaving. It's crazy! So that's been neat! 

This week we had an amazing opportunity to pick up a GOLDEN investigator! Her name is Sarah and she just asked us questions for the entire hour we were over there! She wanted to know everything about prophets, and why we had them and all about why our church is unique and it was the best! She was really testing us with her questions, but apparently we passed the test (obviously, because it's true) because we get to teach her again on Tuesday and she wants us to teach her fiancé, too. So that was amazing! 

We got to go on exchanges this last week with the Fort Meade sisters, meaning my last companion Sister Brown and Sister Gudmunson, one of the Sisters that came out with me in the MTC! I went to Fort Meade with Sister Gudmunson while Sister Brown went to O-town with Sister Larsen. It was such a good exchange! Sis. Gudmunson is just so awesome :) She's making a timeline of the Book of Mormon, too. She's so smart! We saw exchange miracles as we talked to these two ladies on the street. They'd had a bad day, but as we were talking with them, they just loved what we had to hear! We gave them a Book of Mormon, testified like bosses, then got their number and address so those Sisters can teach them! Boom! The Lord's work is Hastening :) It's so cool to be a part of it, too :) I learn so much from these sisters. I think I say that every time after exchanges, but it's always so true. They teach me more and more each time. 

One thing I've learned as a missionary, is that people recognize you as a missionary, even without seeing the tag. Three separate people at the grocery store this week have stopped to talk to us more about the church, just by seeing and knowing who we were. It was sweet :) 2 of them said they'd come to church, too! 

We also had an amazing MLC (Missionary Leadership Council) this Friday! Elder Perkins came to talk with us and help us out with our mission. And I just found out that I'm apparently (distantly) related to him. But not all that distantly. So that's cool.

One huge take away from that meeting: The Lord's work is TRULY hastening! More and more people are requesting missionary visits than ever before. Our new investigators are increasing each week. More people are getting baptized and the quality of our teaching is improving. Nothing but good things for the Maryland Baltimore Mission (The BEST mission in the world!). Seriously, though. This work is Hastening. And I'm so grateful to be a part of it right now. A fun thing, too, from that meeting; Elder Perkins was interrupted by Elder Holland calling him (I'm totally not complaining) and Elder Holland got to tell us he loves us and is praying for us all! How neat! I feel super special right now :) So that was just awesome.

And that was our week. Our other investigators are still awesome. It's a long process with them, but they all know it's true. It's just a matter of whether or not they'll chose to live it. We're also working with some great less active members who are working on coming back! One of them came to church yesterday and got up and bore her testimony. Her son got baptized on Saturday and later that evening had asked his mom (this woman bearing her testimony) if she was a member of the church. She answered affirmatively, then, without missing a beat, he asked, "Then why don't you go?" BOOM! She said it was like a slap in the face, a huge reality check. Kids can be bold like that and the parents still love them :) So she set her mind to go to church. No matter how much she hurt sometimes (She has a lot of health problems) because she knew she could either hurt at church or hurt at home, nothing would change except for the strength of her spirit. SO she's coming now. All because of her young son's example. There's a reason each and every one of us are in the families we are in. It's to strengthen each other and to help each other. We're all in it together, and it was so cool to see that change of heart.  I LOVE THE GOSPEL! Okay, that's all for now. I love you all and I hope you have a fantastic week! Send me your miracles! 

Quote of the Week: "We learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass." - Thomas S. Monson

Scripture of the Week: Mormon 5:23 (Thanks to Mom for sharing that scripture with me).

 Also, shout out to one of my best friends, ALEXIS WHEELER for getting married (I guess it's not Wheeler anymore...)! Congrats!!! I love you!

Love, 

Sister Humphrey

Pictures at the Naval Academy

2/29/16

That picture of the boat: the boat is hand made out of bones! 

Love, 

Sister Humphrey