My first week at the Empty Sea

Sometimes we use acronyms so often and people don't know what we're talking about! One woman spoke to the missionaries and later asked them "I've looked all over the map, but I can't find anywhere called the empty sea!" What she was talking about was what we often refer to as the MTC, the Missionary Training Center. Goes to show that you should never assume! You know what happens when we do that... :P

Me and my companion Sister Greene.

Anyways, hello! I hope you're all doing well. I'm doing fantastic. I'm learning so much! Every day is packed full of things to do. Basically we eat, study, study, study, eat, study, study, study, study, eat, and then sleep. It's draining! But it is such a powerful experience. So as a missionary, our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, baptism, repentance, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. By helping others to have experiences where they can feel God's love for them, they will know of the truth! 

We are learning so much about the teachings in the scriptures, mainly the Book of Mormon, which we believe is another testament of Christ. I have always had a testimony of this gospel, or this plan that God has for my life, but by studying and learning how to share that experience with others, I realize even more how important it is in my own life! 

My zone - such awesome people. And look! Elder Ward from Sactown! So nice to see a familiar face!

We do practice role plays and they are sometimes really hard! You want to make sure you convey a message and are being clear about what you're saying, but what I'm learning more and more every day is that it is not about what I'm teaching, it's about the love that I feel for others. Naturally I'm very hard on myself, and I want things to sound perfect and get done fast, but when I turn away from what I want, and am more like Christ in thinking of others' needs, the love I feel for them will bring the Spirit of the Lord into the room, and it will fill their hearts. It doesn't matter what I say. It matters what the other person feels, and that can only happen if I have the best intentions for them. But this is a new mindset! I like to think that I'm pretty loving, but in every. single. way. I am now finding myself thinking "Okay, what does this person need? What can I tell them that is relevant to their life? What could bring them comfort?" It's difficult, but it's so worth it! I feel like a new person already. And I like this new person. 

Our zone - I'm standing next to our branch president. He's so short!!! We love him!

With all of this studying and learning, it's really easy to get discouraged. But I have to remember that the Lord trusts me! He has called me on this mission, and he wants me to be here! He wouldn't give me anything I can't handle. Sometimes I feel discouraged if I don't feel like I got my point across, or if an investigator doesn't feel a change right away, but in Alma chapter 36 verse 6-7 it says "Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls." So i'm off the hook! All I have to do for 18 months is small and simple things. But really, I have faith that if I do my part, the Lord will help me to bless the lives of the people in Ogden!

The mission map - I'm pointing to where I'll be serving, Ogden, Utah!

I love you all, and I hope that you understand the incredible love that God has for you individually. He knows you so well, and He wants you to be happy!

Love,

Sister Boman