Sister Emily Daines

Sooo... it has been a while but I am alive and doing well! Some updates from the past couple of weeks include... 1) Going to Ludmila's (our recent convert) house and picking and eating lots and lots of apricots and cherries in her amazing garden. 2) RAINSTORMS! so many rainstorms its crazy. Every day is super hot and humid and then the clouds roll in and all at once just start thundering and lightning and pouring rain. They are crazy and we end up wet every day (sometimes from sweat and sometimes from the rain). 3) Not only the skies showering us with water but they are pouring out blessings on us in the form of new friends! We got to start teaching four new people this week. We are really excited about them and are very grateful for all of their sincere desires to hear the restored gospel.  4) Another blessing was getting to go on exchange with my dear Sister Gunderson (mtc comp)! We have been separated in different zones our entire missions until she got exile...

Wow. I can't believe it has already been 1 year since I left my family at the airport and got on the airplane. For a second I had a moment of "what the heck am i doing?" (more like 12 hours haha it was a long plane). But man it was the best decision of my life. I have never experienced more disappointment, rejection, frustration, but also never so much happiness, excitement, joy and love. This last year has been a year learning and growing and coming closer to my Savior. I wouldn't trade this last year anything else. If only I had another year.  One of the most important things I've learned is how to receive revelation for myself and for the people I am called to serve. I've come to understand that through the scriptures and SINCERE prayer we can receive guidance for our lives. I have loved studying the scriptures on my mission and 2 of the talks that have changed the way I study and pray are "A Reservoir of Living Water" by David A. Bednar and ...