Alligators aren't real

 Jan 4, 2021

Hello everybody!! And Happy New Year!!

We had so many exciting things happen this week. 

Alyson got baptized yesterday!! I have absolutely loved getting to know her and her family in the few weeks I have been here. She is one of the sweetest 10 year-olds I have ever met. She was so ready to be baptized and take this first step. We spent some time going reviewing what we had taught her and getting her ready for her interview. Well, we started talking about prophets, and asked her who the current prophet is. Her 8 year old sister yells out "It's M guy!" All they could remember from Russell M Nelson was the M part so that's what she said. It was so funny and we all lost it. I have loved watching Alyson and her family grow closer as they learn and apply more of the gospel in their lives.

K came to church!! This one was probably the biggest miracle of the week. K has a lot of anxiety and hasn't been to church since Covid shut everything down. We have invited her several times, but she has never really lived the idea of it. I don't know what changed this week, but she asked us if it would be alright if she came on Sunday. And we were all like "Of course!!" I can't even describe how amazing of a miracle and experience it was. I know how difficult something like going to church is for her, but it gives me so much happiness to know that she is willing to go out of her comfort zone for it. It is incredible to see the people who are being blessed in their own unique ways. We have spent a lot of time talking about the Atonement with K and others, and it has helped me to realize, the Atonement of Christ is for all of us. We all can be strengthened and comforted through it. 

We went as a district to Wild Florida today. It's a zoo, but they pretty much only have like alligators and crocodiles. Now I have been in Florida for a good 3 weeks and I haven't seen any alligators in the wild. So...we are pretty sure alligators are made up to try and keep people from moving here, but they had to have some so it wasn't completely obvious, so they put them all at Wild Florida haha. There are a whole bunch in this park though. And a lot of them are real big. But they also have a lot of smaller gators, too. We watched an alligator show with Fluffy the alligator. She is about 3 feet long and still pretty little. After the show, we got to hold Fluffy! I know! So I haven't seen one in the wild, but I have held a baby alligator. 

Every week, we have a mini devotional with the mission president and all the missionaries in the district. This week, President Ashcraft talked about the past and looking ahead. He asked us to think about last year and what we learned. How did we grow closer to our Heavenly Father and Christ? What are we going to apply this year? As I thought about those questions, all I could think about was how aware Heavenly Father is of all of us. I saw how even through the roughest parts of last year, my Heavenly Father was still there and He was still giving me blessings. I saw how His plan is far greater than mine. And I saw that His hand was there always, even if I didn't know it. 

If I had trusted in myself and followed my plan, I never would have met Alyson or K or any of the other amazing people I have met, I wouldn't have learned I am called to the work and not a place, and I probably wouldn't have gotten to hold a baby alligator. Of course I am sad that I am not in Japan right now, but I am far more grateful for the things that I have gained here in Florida. I have had to trust that this is a part of God's plan for me. And when I saw Alyson get baptized this week and K come to church, I think it helped me to know that this is where I need to be. 

Have an amazing week!!

よし、あいしています

Wixom 姉妹

PS: Our new year's consisted of a dance party in the church parking lot, sparklers in the driveway, and going to bed at 12:01.