Transfers and a New Companion

Happy Labor Day!!!! This is my favorite holiday. I hope all of you are out there having picnics and remembering the services that are provided everyday by those who labor.

In this past week, WONDERFUL things have happened, aside from finally getting blisters on my feet and a sunburn on my neck/shoulders.

This past Wednesday was transfers, and I am now in West Jordan, UT in the Park Stake. And you know what is even better? I have the BEST companion in the whole mission!!!! She is absolutely amazing. We have a billion things in common, but even more than that, she is one of the kindest, most loving, most devoted to the mission, most patient, most encouraging missionaries that I have met thus far. Having an awesome companion definitely makes a transfer (6 week period) a great experience. Her name is Sister Johnstone (pronounced Johnson), she is from Indiana, and she has a degree in technical theatre with a minor in linguistics. How cool is that?

Even cooler than that, she is super motivated and excited for all the things that are happening in the Park Stake. Right now, we have an investigator who is on date to be baptized September 13th. I'm so excited!

I love seeing how the gospel can help people come closer to Jesus Christ, as well as how the gospel helps strengthen families. The things that we as missionaries teach people are things that have an eternal impact. This life certainly does not end at death. We are bound for so much more.

Speaking of that, and in the context of Labor Day, Alma 34:32 tells us that this life is a time for us to prepare to meet God, and to perform our labors. You may wonder what that means to perform labors. I wondered the same thing. My curiosity lead me to Alma 12:31,32, which, paraphrased, states that our labors are to fulfil the commandments that God has given us. I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel the commandments are overwhelming and are just too much. But that's not the case. In 1 Nephi 3:7, it clearly states that the Lord will provide a way for us to keep the commandments that He gives us. These labors that we have been given to do while here on Earth are things that are completely possible and will help us become more like our Heavenly Father.