My Heart is Breaking...

So, this might sound like a depressing email... but I promise everything is okay! So, I'll just explain why my heart is breaking because I don't have a lot of time. So, this Thursday we were coming home from an appointment when we get a text from President. He told us, and the rest of the mission, that because of the growth of the church in Pennsylvania (which is a good thing) our mission boundaries would be changing. The Annapolis stake (the last stake I was JUST serving in) will now be going to the D.C. North mission, including all the missionaries who are currently serving there. Which means my favorite Sister Brown in the whole entire world is leaving to the D.C. North mission. I cried. All day. She literally changed my mission and I just hate having to say goodbye. And I likely won't be allowed to go back for the 7 baptisms in July of people that I first started teaching... So, that's all I'm going to say about that. Good thing the Atonement heals broken hearts, because I need some healing right now. Luckily I got to say goodbye to her today. Pictures will follow. With this change, we'll also be gaining two stakes from the Pennsylvania mission, Lancaster and Chambers. And all of their missionaries. This is effective July 1st. So, it's going to be a huge change for the mission. I'm sure those missionaries having to come in are probably struggling with the idea of it all, but, let's be real, the MBM is the best mission in the world. SO, there will have to be a lot of unifying in the next few weeks. Please pray for the mission. We don't want the Lord's work to stop at all for any reason. My bet is my next companion will be from the Pennsylvania mission. We'll see. It's all in the Lord's plan, though, so that gives me a lot of comfort. It's been hard coming to terms with it all, but we truly just have had to put our trust in God. We know it'll all work out because this is all His work. Not ours. And that brings a lot of hope. 

So, that's pretty much been our week. We weren't able to physically meet with most of our investigators this week, but we picked up a few former investigators, including a family! They're all super prepared! Now all we have to do is get them to church! They all want to be baptized, but they've gotta make some changes and get rides on Sunday, so it'll be interesting. The work is going really well, though! 

I also got to go on exchanges with the Almeda Hermanas, which means I got to reunite with my MTC companion Sister Hart!!! Oh, that was a blast! We got caught in a horrible rainstorm in downtown Baltimore and we just had a blast. I love her! It's been so cool to see the change in both of us a year later. She's the greatest. I look up to her so much! So that was fun! #EternalFriends

I got to check out Mentalhealth.lds.org and check out the new Mormon message Like a Broken Vessel based off of my favorite talk EVER. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT! Oh, I am in love with it. If you want to gain some perspective and get some help with any circumstance that you are in need of help in, check it out. All of you. Because this video is just perfect. It's been pretty cool watching some of these videos and thinking, "Yes. This is how it feels. This is what it's like." And seeing how people were able to recover and find hope. When I say I found hope in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, this is what I mean. I found hope. And so can you. I love it. I know God is aware of His children and I'm so glad we have these resources now. There's hope. There's always hope. 

This email has a lot of mixed emotions. Just know that I know everything happens in the Lord's plan. I'm going to miss those missionaries and the Annapolis stake and all of those people who are getting baptized/have been baptized, but I know it's all going to work out. I know God is aware. And I'm excited to see what these new missionaries have to bring in! Maybe this is how we will be able to accomplish the revelation President received when he first became our mission President. We can double the baptisms in the mission. And I can't wait to see that day!

I love you all! Stay strong and Smile on.

P.S. Here's some pictures of tag alley (the only alley in B'more that it's legal to tag. It's super sketchy, but so fun) and friends and a really long needle that went into my back a couple of times... 

Scripture of the Week: Jeremiah 16:16 I am a HUNTER!

Quote of the Week: "Our Heavenly Father did not put us here to fail, but to succeed gloriously." - Elder Richard G. Scott

I'm attaching more pictures in a separate email

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Love, 

Sister Humphrey

"We're All in this Together"‏

So, my companion likes to sing High School Musical... it gets stuck in your head really easily. But the title actually works out quite well this week! I've had meetings upon meetings upon meetings this week, but God still blesses us as we work hard with the little time we have! We're all on His team and He always provides! 

Before I get started about this week, I'm going to catch y'all up on some things from last week that I forgot to put in my group email last week... like my quote and scripture of the week. Quote: "Don't you give up. Don't you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead... it will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come." -Elder Holland. That's my favorite quote FYI. Scripture: Ether 12:4. We also get fed ice cream all the time in B'more, but never actual meals ha-ha. The people are funny. We also gave a homeless guy walking around B'more a bag full of peanuts while we were stopped at a light. Oh, and you have to be careful driving out here because the people seem to think that jaywalking isn't illegal here. And people will just come up to you while you're sitting at a light and clean your windows, and then expect payment. ha-ha. The city life is fun here. I've also eaten more Brazilian food, Slovenian food, and African food these last two weeks than my entire lifetime. The diversity here in the area is amazing. Sometimes, when I'm walking down Baltimore, I forget I'm white... and then I see another white person and I think, "Yo! You shouldn't be here! It's dangerous for people like you!" Then I remember what ethnicity I am... ha-ha. The city changes you. My driving skills are also getting much better. 

Enough of last week. This week was AMAZING! On Monday we had dinner with B.P. a cute old lady in the ward who just needs lots of love. We took her out teaching with us and she's like our lucky charm! We picked up two new investigators while we were with her and she was able to testify to them in a way that we couldn't. She's never been out teaching with the missionaries, but it was seriously the best thing for her. We'll definitely be doing that again. It just goes to show that the more you serve and testify of Christ, the happier you are! 

And then, on Tuesday, we were able to find two more new investigators while we were going to various appointments in Baltimore with a member. The member is actually from Utah and she was quite nervous driving around Baltimore... I think having the protection from the Lord as His servant just might be something my companion and I take for granted because we don't ever feel in danger. It's just another part of the Lord's vineyard for us, but to normal people, B'more is pretty sketch. I have seen a few drug deals in the last week, so I can understand their fear ha-ha, but I know I'm protected :) (And, we're not being dumb and going up to those people...). But the Lord blessed us with those few hours we were able to work Monday and Tuesday with Four new investigators (who are all GOLDEN) and four member present lessons. God is good!

On Wednesday we were able to have a Sisters Specialized Training! That was fun! We ate lots of food and had a few instructions and did some service! Sis. Bindrup and I got to instruct on how to access the Atonement daily as a missionary. That was super powerful, and we totally got the best topic to instruct on. So fun! Oh, and I got to be a part of a fashion show. Throwback to my high school days ha-ha. 

On Thursday we made cookies for weekly planning. There was supposed to be this huge storm on Friday, but we only got a little thunder. Lame. But we got to go to Applebee's with B.P again and she's seriously our good luck charm. We got to talking with a cute lady named Tiffany who had red, white, and blue hair ha-ha. She was totally interested in learning more so we got her info and are planning on visiting next week! 

On Friday we had Missionary Leadership Council again! That's always fun :) There's a big push on Spiritually Planning in the mission right now, and I've just gained such a testimony of it. It all starts with our planning throughout the day and then at night to receive that revelation for our investigators. That's how God can work through us. So we're trying to roll that out to the entire mission now. On Saturday we went to another meeting in the Inner Harbor zone (I'm serving in the Baltimore zone). The Harbor zone needs some help because there's two brand new zone leaders there, so it's a little difficult. And as a Sister Training Leader, Sis. Bindrup and I cover sisters in their zone as well as three OTHER zones, so it's a big area we cover. So we're working with the Harbor missionaries as well and just found out that we'll be instructing at their zone training next week as well as our own. That'll be interesting ha-ha. But it's been good. This is a super long email, so I'm going to start wrapping it all up. 

I got to see a Baltimore rat; they're huge. We served at Bishop's storehouse, which was fun! God blessed us with two MORE investigators on Saturday #6new'gators in one week! And Happy Father's day!! Sorry y'all, but I have the best dad in the world. Just sayin'. 

That was my week! God is good! I say it every week! It's just so true, I can't believe it! ;) 

Scripture of the Week: Moroni 9:25 and this scripture comes because of all the craziness going on in the world today. I found out about the shooting in Florida and we've heard about some other crazy stuff. I had finished reading the Book of Mormon again the day we found out about all this stuff and it reminded me of what I read in Moroni chapter 9. It's all very applicable to today, but verse 25 gave me the comfort I was looking for. I know this book was written for our time. Without a doubt. It's always there for us to learn, improve, and comfort. I love it :) 

Quote of the Week: "Every day of our lives... we are given opportunities to show love and kindness to those around us." -President Monson.

I love you all and hope you have a blessed week!

Happy Father's day to all your fathers out there and future fathers. 

Shout out to my niece Jac who just turned 9 last week! And to Sis. Larsen who is now 22! And to my dear friend Emilee! Happy birthday y'all! 

Love, 

Sister Humphrey

Leave a Little Sparkle Wherever You Go

I am IN LOVE with Baltimore. No joke. End of story. I'm in love and never leaving. 

A lot happened this week and I literally have no time to tell you all of it. I'm sorry. But I'm going to give you just a little run down. I said goodbye to all of my eternal friends in Odenton. Theresa and her family even bought cake and we had a party on my last night. I'm going to miss that place SO much, but I'll come visit. I promise :) 

I got to meet my new ward. Chesapeake is where it's at! My new companion, Sister Bindrup, is amazing. We're doing a lot of work here just trying to clean things up and find new people to teach! It's a HUGE ward with lots of potential! We even found a new investigator last Friday... speaking of last Friday... I've officially been a missionary for an entire YEAR now. 365 days (plus some). Wow. That's weird and a million things are going through my mind just thinking about it. Time flies by so fast. But, to celebrate, we went to downtown Baltimore, found a dirty and sketchy alley, and threw some glitter to leave some sparkle. Don't worry, I have lots of pictures for y'all this week. It'll be picture overload. Can't celebrate without any glitter! 

Then, on Saturday, it was, like, the best day of my life! AMETHYST GOT BAPTIZED!!! I got to go back to Odenton for her baptism and it was amazing!!! I'M JUST SO HAPPY FOR HER! I will be there the day she goes through the temple, and she'll be getting a mission call one day, I just know it! I'm pumped. I love it. Seeing lives change, especially hers, has been the most rewarding thing on my mission. It's a miracle. She is amazing. I love her. And I can't wait to hear more and more about her journey :)

Sunday was great! We had an awesome meeting with Bishop and his family. The work in this ward is HASTENING! Today we got to meet with our investigator Sandra (even though it's P-day), and got to teach her the Law of Chastity. She just got everything and she's already making those changes in her life to be baptized! I'm so excited for her, too! Oh, and fun fact, this ward is the most diverse ward EVER. There's Brazilians, Africans, Slovenians... just people from ALL over! It's great :) 

Another fun fact: my district leader, Elder Clark, totally went to high school with me... I didn't know him, though. So shout out to Weber High! 

Oh boy, Baltimore is amazing. I love it here. I just feel like I'm go go go all the time and that's the best! I love just working! And it's so much fun here! I'm always laughing. It's seriously the greatest! 

Well, enjoy all of these pictures this week. Life is amazing. People are changing their lives and Christ is changing their hearts. God is so good. 

Love, 

Sister Humphrey