Then on Tuesday our branch president's mother-in-law was tripped by her cat and fell and broke her femur! It was so sad. She is the cutest, upbeat, most energetic little 90 year old woman there is! I just love her. She is doing well now though. She is very tough! We have spent a lot of time in the hospital the last couple of weeks. It has been crazy.
On Thursday there was a funeral service for Brother Prescott. He served in the military and was given a military funeral. It was the coolest thing I have ever seen. They did a 21 gun salute and it was amazing because it was freezing cold outside and hailing but the soldiers stayed out there the whole time and were so respectful. I want my military grandpas to have a military funeral because it was so beautiful. It really brought the spirit in as well. I felt so much love for my country and the men who have served! The funeral was very reverent... until the gun shots went off. The elders seriously jumped about 10 feet because it scared them. I was trying really hard not to laugh!
On Friday we had our interviews with President Wall. Wow, that man is a spiritual giant! I swear he reads minds. Its a little freaky. There has just been a lot going on this week and things have been weighing on me so I went into the meeting feeling stressed and inadequate. We talked for a few minutes about what had been going on in the branch. We also talked about following the spirit because when I first arrived in Louisiana he asked me what I was hoping to learn while here. I told him I wanted to learn to rely on the spirit better. At Temple Square we follow a very rigid schedule with little to no downtime. Our days are pretty much planned out minute to minute from the time we wake up until we leave the Square each night. We follow the spirit but we don't always feel like we need to rely on it as much because we usually know what is going to happen next. In the mission field, relying on the spirit is necessary because there are many days where appointments cancel or the day doesn't go as planned and we need to really know what it is that Heavenly Father wants us to accomplish that day. It has been an amazing thing to learn! So President Wall asked me again in this meeting what I am hoping to learn while out here and this time I told him that since I have come here I have realized that I have more weaknesses than I thought and that I really need to work on them. I have been thinking a lot about the scripture Ether 12: 27: "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I want my weaknesses to become strong things unto me! President Wall is just amazing and he gave me excellent counsel. He also said that he wants to be my friend forever and asked if I would be his PPFL (pen pal for life). I said of course so he told me that I better write to him when I return to Temple Square and even after my mission!
Two attributes I am really striving to work on improving in my life are charity and faith. I have really been working on those two things but lately I have been discouraged because I feel like I am not developing those attributes as quickly as I would like! President Wall told me to go read in Alma 37 where Alma the Younger is talking to his son Helaman. In Alma 37: 6-7 it says:
"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls."
Just because I have been praying for more charity and faith doesn't mean that I am going to get it right away. Heavenly Father wants to teach us and he wants us to experience things in the way that will help us grow the most. Most of the time he teaches us by showing us things a little at a time. Sometimes we think we need to have what we ask for right away; but Heavenly Father doesn't work that way. He has a purpose for everything and we just need to trust in his timing!
I love President Wall! He has been such a great influence on me and I am so thankful for him and Sister Wall.
We had stake conference this week and it was awesome! Right after conference yesterday, Holly had her baptismal interview and she is ready to be baptized. She has so much faith! I seriously look up to that girl so much! She just wants to do whatever God wants her to do.
Today we are supposed to play dodge ball with our zone but I am going to try my best to talk everyone into playing volleyball instead! Then tonight we are going to the Freebairn's for Family Home Evening. I love spending time with Sister Freebairn because she reminds me of Aunt Jamie- she gives great advice, she is very funny, she has two little boys, and she served a mission I the Washington, Everett mission just like Jamie.
Tomorrow I am going on exchanges with one of the Sister Training leaders in New Iberia area. Google image it. It is beautiful.
We are going to teach Sister Carrell this week. She and her husband are awesome. Brother Carrell is a member of the church. He told me he can tell I follow Christ which really meant a lot to me though I'm not sure it's true. I try though! They think I'm special because they have a dog named Hooker who doesn't like anyone but she loves me and I am the only person that she will let hold her. I don't even know why because I didn't used to be a dog person but I am learning to love them now that I am here.
Aunt Andrea! Thanks so much for the letter. You are the best ever. I hope you are doing well. You have to find Kylie in Oregon and then tell everyone her secrets! Haha!
Grandma Slade! Thanks so much for the card and money. I just love you so much and I look up to you. Give Grandpa Wellman a hard time for me.
Grandma Laurie and Papa Rick! Thanks so much for the letter and Cade's wedding invite. I wish I could make it but I will be there in spirit! Woooo! Go Cade!
Mom, thanks for your letter. I just barely got one that you sent three weeks ago so thanks for that one too. Sometimes the mail is delayed- maybe because of the bad weather we have been having.
Dad an Keli! Thanks so much for the Valentine's Day card and money! I love you guys!
Sorry everyone, I thought I would have time to write last p-day but we ended up getting called to the hospital! I am working on it though!
I love you all! Don't forget to recognize Heavenly Father in the day to day details of your lives- he is there! Remember, "by small and simple things great things come to pass."
Sister Macy Park
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