WEEK 39: Halfway There, Livin' On A Prayer

Hey!!

As you can see from this week's title, I've made it halfway through my mission! Today is officially my 9 month anniversary. That is crazy!! And yes, I've been planning this email title since basically the second week of my mission. I've been sitting on this one for a while, and all I have to say is that I truly am living on a prayer. Many prayers, in fact. But just take my hand and we'll make it, I swear. Woah. Livin' on a prayer.

Alright, all the iconic lyric-quoting aside, it's been a lovely week. Once again, I am so happy to be a missionary. I'm at a very peaceful point in my mission. For most of my mission I've wasted a lot of energy fighting feelings of inadequacy and wondering if I would ever be enough--converted enough, confident enough, social enough, you name it. But I'm happy to say that I've found a large measure of peace within myself recently. Of course I still have moments of doubt and feeling inadequate, but I can now confidently say that everything I've felt and learned and experienced has all been completely worth it. And I know that all the effort that I've put in to being more deeply converted to Jesus Christ and His gospel has brought miracles, and also that I don't earn my worth.

No one on this earth has to earn God's love. He gives it freely and unconditionally. I know I am an "unprofitable servant" (Mosiah 2:21), I can never repay the debt that Jesus Christ payed for my life and my soul. But He doesn't want payment. All He asks is that we live God's commandments and just try. When we live His gospel in His way, we know we're doing enough. We're striving daily to do what He's asked, and it is enough for Him. No more trying to prove my worth, set higher standards for myself than God has, and jump through man-made hoops. We are all loved; individually, unconditionally, infinitely. Nothing will change that. Waking up every day and getting out of bed to face another day is enough. I hope you can know how much you're loved. Even just a small glimpse of the vastness of God's love can change a life. I know that it has changed mine.

We got to go to the temple again this week!! I can't believe how many times we've been able to go in the past couple of weeks. It's been a huge blessing! Unfortunately this time was a bit more stressful. There was so much opposition in getting us to and from the temple, and I got pretty frustrated by it all. Even inside the temple I struggled to focus and remember the impressions I was having. I think my expectations were in the wrong place, and I felt like a failure when we got home for the night. But then I realized that my negative reaction was making everything worse, so I tried to find my inner zen for the rest of Thursday night once we returned home. I stress cleaned (also due to transfers, more on that later), fixed up some of the general wear-and-tear holes that have been appearing in my dresses, journaled, ate a bagel, listened to the youth albums, and just tried to generally relax. Everyone needs a little self care every now and then. This week I was reminded to "rejoice in opposition", as added opposition is evidence that great things are coming. That was a message that I really needed to hear, and I woke up feeling much better on Friday.

The weekend was a bit of a blur, honestly. We had a great lesson with William on Friday night. He is just as steady and consistent as anyone can be! He's all in, and it's awesome working with him. He is so ready for baptism, and we're beginning the preparations for that.

On Saturday there was a carnival to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Black Mountain Stake being organized! Missionaries from the Black Mountain and McCullough Hills Stakes were asked to help, and it was so fun! It was a HUGE event and we worked non-stop from 9am-2pm. We were at the food tent, so we just rotated through the cotton candy, french fry, popcorn, and funnel cake productions. It was a great opportunity to serve and to interact with so many people and missionaries. After the carnival ended, we went to a nearby church and picked up a youth from the McCullough Hills stake, and she spent the rest of the day with us. The youth in that Stake organized a "mini mission", so all the older youth teamed up with missionaries from nearby stakes and they went out and did missionary work with us! Our youth was Kayla, and she was awesome! We saw a lot of miracles, including finding someone, talking to 22 new people, and getting to meet Virginia, a member in our ward who is 101 years old!! We also ate Café Rio with Sister Workman! She is the funniest lady in the world, and our shredded chicken salads were scrumptious, as per usual. We were exhausted by the end of the night, but it was very much worth it.

And finally, the last piece of news is that it's transfer time once again! Sister Eastman and I will be staying together! I will finish training her, and it will be my fourth transfer in this area. Honestly, I am so grateful. I am thankful that I get to stay here for six more weeks and continue to help our dear friends progress towards baptism!

So there you go! That's the update for this week. I love all of you!!

Love,

Sister Malmstrom

231 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy #2226 Henderson, NV 89012

P.S. General Conference is this weekend! I can't wait to watch it! Consider this your invitation to tune in and spend your weekend absorbing all the goodness and peace and revelation from our Heavenly Father, through His modern-day servants and prophets.

Pictures:

- I met a bird named Pickle. That was definitely a highlight.

- With Pickle's brother, who kept trying to eat my ring.

- At the temple with Sister Valdenegro!

- Sunset picture.

- After Café Rio with Sister Workman!

- Bishop Cain + funnel cake = pure happiness.

- With Virginia, our 101 year old queen!

- With Kayla, our awesome youth.

- Setting up for the carnival.

- Sister Eastman's mom sent her a puzzle, and we spent hours working on it together. Turns out, neither of us are good at puzzles. But we did it.

- An elder in our district constructed and taped a Book of Mormon holder his bike so that he can carry his scriptures while biking, and he asked Sister Eastman and I to paint it.