Time is flying by! I already got my flight plans for Idaho Falls, which is just crazy!
I'll be leaving here Tuesday the 23rd, at 4:20am with six other Elders. My flight is at 9:45am, so I'll be in Idaho that same morning. I'm so excited to go, but at the same time it will be so hard to leave Sister Bischoff, Sister Marbery, Sister Miller, and my District! We have all grown so close, but luckily four of the Elders in my district are going to Idaho with me. On that note, I was assigned at the Travel Leader for our group. It's a little bit nerve racking to be in charge, but it won't be for that long so I'm grateful for that.
So germs spread so fast here! Half of my district had colds for most of this week. Thursday Sister Marbery and I got it and it lasted through Monday. It wasn't too bad, so we were still able to teach and go to class, but it wasn't very fun. Talia, one of our investigators we taught last week was so sweet, I apologized to her before we started our lesson that I was slightly sick and had a bad sore throat. She was like, "oh, you must be stressed from being a missionary!" So I explained that I was actually really happy here, but that it could be stress, but a lot of people I knew had colds. At the end of the lesson we asked her say the closing prayer, and she was like "please bless Sister Cottrell, that she won't be stressed.." So I guess I'm struggling here ;)
Actually, I've never been happier! It's so great here, even though there are times when I really miss friends and family! The rest of the week was great! I'm learning so much about teaching and really working through the spirit. The other really eventful thing that happened this week was that I was actually asked to speak in our Branch Sunday! So the way it works is that every missionary has to prepare a talk, and during sacrament meeting President Smith calls on two of us to speak to the Branch right then and there. I had this super strong feeling I was going to be asked, which helped me not be so nervous when I was called up. My throat was still really raspy, but since I wasn't feel 100% it helped me to not be as nervous speaking to a roomful of missionaries! The topic for the week was the Book of Mormon, and it was really nice having that topic, actually!
For Tuesday night Devotional Bonnie L. Oscarson (YW General President) spoke to us! I loved her message about trusting in the Lord that He will grow you into the Missionary you need to be if you let Him!
Today was another wonderful morning at the Temple with my District!
Here are a few scriptures/thoughts that really had an impact on me this week from either personal study, devotionals, or just from classroom time!
- Alma 31:5, Jacob 2:8, John 14:18, D&C 122, Alma 23:5-6 (..and they did never fall away), Alma 26 (we read the whole chapter as a class and thought about what we can sacrifice to become more consecrated).
- Conversion is being constantly true to what you know.
- In your darkest moments, look outward and help others!
I wish I could share my whole study journal! Anyway, I just love it here! It's a lot of work, but I just love how my district can be so focused and happy to learn and discuss the gospel. We typically eat with our District if we can all find each other during meals, and lately we play some intense four square outside with our District (plus Sister Marbery and Sister Miller)!
So this week flew by! I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked to, but I'll see if Sister Bischoff can send me some of the pictures she took this week. There's a picture of my District during the Temple walk Sunday that I did take, however!
Love you all!
-Sister Hayleigh Cottrell
I'll be leaving here Tuesday the 23rd, at 4:20am with six other Elders. My flight is at 9:45am, so I'll be in Idaho that same morning. I'm so excited to go, but at the same time it will be so hard to leave Sister Bischoff, Sister Marbery, Sister Miller, and my District! We have all grown so close, but luckily four of the Elders in my district are going to Idaho with me. On that note, I was assigned at the Travel Leader for our group. It's a little bit nerve racking to be in charge, but it won't be for that long so I'm grateful for that.
So germs spread so fast here! Half of my district had colds for most of this week. Thursday Sister Marbery and I got it and it lasted through Monday. It wasn't too bad, so we were still able to teach and go to class, but it wasn't very fun. Talia, one of our investigators we taught last week was so sweet, I apologized to her before we started our lesson that I was slightly sick and had a bad sore throat. She was like, "oh, you must be stressed from being a missionary!" So I explained that I was actually really happy here, but that it could be stress, but a lot of people I knew had colds. At the end of the lesson we asked her say the closing prayer, and she was like "please bless Sister Cottrell, that she won't be stressed.." So I guess I'm struggling here ;)
Actually, I've never been happier! It's so great here, even though there are times when I really miss friends and family! The rest of the week was great! I'm learning so much about teaching and really working through the spirit. The other really eventful thing that happened this week was that I was actually asked to speak in our Branch Sunday! So the way it works is that every missionary has to prepare a talk, and during sacrament meeting President Smith calls on two of us to speak to the Branch right then and there. I had this super strong feeling I was going to be asked, which helped me not be so nervous when I was called up. My throat was still really raspy, but since I wasn't feel 100% it helped me to not be as nervous speaking to a roomful of missionaries! The topic for the week was the Book of Mormon, and it was really nice having that topic, actually!
For Tuesday night Devotional Bonnie L. Oscarson (YW General President) spoke to us! I loved her message about trusting in the Lord that He will grow you into the Missionary you need to be if you let Him!
Today was another wonderful morning at the Temple with my District!
Here are a few scriptures/thoughts that really had an impact on me this week from either personal study, devotionals, or just from classroom time!
- Alma 31:5, Jacob 2:8, John 14:18, D&C 122, Alma 23:5-6 (..and they did never fall away), Alma 26 (we read the whole chapter as a class and thought about what we can sacrifice to become more consecrated).
- Conversion is being constantly true to what you know.
- In your darkest moments, look outward and help others!
I wish I could share my whole study journal! Anyway, I just love it here! It's a lot of work, but I just love how my district can be so focused and happy to learn and discuss the gospel. We typically eat with our District if we can all find each other during meals, and lately we play some intense four square outside with our District (plus Sister Marbery and Sister Miller)!
So this week flew by! I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked to, but I'll see if Sister Bischoff can send me some of the pictures she took this week. There's a picture of my District during the Temple walk Sunday that I did take, however!
Love you all!
-Sister Hayleigh Cottrell
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