And Then There Was One

 December 5, 2020

Hello everybody!

So many good things have happened recently! There are miracles all around us, God is so good!!

Last weekend I had the chance to go to the temple with my companion, Tu'ineau shimai! She had invited me to go with her when she went through the temple, and of course I said yes. It was such a special experience to 1-be in the temple again and 2-meet my MTC companion in person. 

I love the temple, it has always been a special place for me. Over the last year, my testimony and love for the temple has grown so much through the experiences I have had. One of the hardest things recently, is not being able to feel the peace that the temple brings me. Our teachers have encouraged us to make a place in our home our very own temple while all the temples are closed. A place that we can go to feel peace and close to God. I have loved trying to make that happen, but I also loved being able to go inside a temple again. I would encourage all of you to prepare to be able to go to the temple, so when they open up again, you can receive the blessing that comes from them. 

I also love my companion! Tu'ineau shimai has been an incredible example of Christ to me, and has one of the strongest testimonies of the gospel. I am so grateful that we are able to be companions even if we aren't together in person. We always joke that we are going to be companions in Japan, in our last area, speaking fluent Japanese, and reminiscing about all the times we had in the MTC when we were freaking out about not knowing how to speak or teach in Japanese. It's amazing how close you can get to people, in such a short amount of time! I know this is not an experience that every missionary is able to have right now, and for that, I am extremely grateful. 

Tu'ineau shimai and I were also able to meet one of the chourous from our district on Sunday! We walked around Temple Square in Salt Lake, I promise we were safe and wore masks, talking to every single set of Sister missionaries we could find. I love my district so much, and I am so sad to think that we only have ONE WEEK LEFT!! So crazy! 

With only one week left, I have been thinking a lot about my MTC experience. We talked a lot about perfection this week, and what it means. I know I am not perfect at Japanese or teaching or being a missionary in general but that doesn't mean that I failed. One of the chourous said that "perfection is being willing to try." I loved that perspective. We are asked to be perfect just like Heavenly Father and Christ are perfect. However, we are human and make mistakes, aren't perfect at Japanese, and fall short at times. BUT that's okay. The best part is that as long as we have that desire to keep learning, improving, and growing through the Atonement of Christ, that is perfection. God and Christ aren't going to leave us helpless, and They aren't going to ask us to do anything They are unwilling to do with us. They will walk with us and give us the support we need every single day. Learning this, has given me hope and a goal to continue to improve everyday, until through Christ, I am able to be perfect. 

We had some Elders who are currently serving in Tokyo come to our class this week. They did a teaching demo and we were able to ask them questions about serving in Japan. It was a solid hour of constant Japanese, and I couldn't understand all of it, but I understood quite a bit. So if anyone was wondering, the Gift of Tongues is still real and miracles are still happening. 

Also Light the World started this week. I would encourage all of you to participate!! So many good things can come from when we share an uplifting message, give service, or focus more on the Savior!! Also watch the new nativity video, "The Christ Child" and share it with everyone you know!

I love this gospel so much, and I am so grateful I get to be a missionary! 

よし、いげんのたまものによって、わたしはにほんごをわかることができます！

あいしています！

Wixom姉妹