This one's going to be quick, But here's a couple of things.
I spent 9 hours working at an outdoor pool and am now tanner than I ever thought possible. I'm working a lot but still try and find time to go to church activities. This last one was "humanitarian night" where my sister Eliza kicked my butt with her beautiful crocheting skills making a scarf for orphans in the Ukraine. I started making one too, but I'm pretty sure not even freezing orphans would want that ugly tangle of yarn. I need to brush up on my homemaking skills.
We were learning from Alma today in church. (I LOVE ALMA, in case you hadn't caught on to that yet) Something really cool was brought up about the famous verses at the beginning of Alma 29: 1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!
2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.
The teacher brought up that when his words were immortalized in the Book of Mormon and as we carry that book to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people in the hands of lovely capable missionaries, WE are fulfilling Alma's wish. He, as an angel (because... he's dead), is speaking from the dust and declaring the truths of the gospel to all who will listen. It's like the whole missionary force was adopted into the "Make a Wish" foundation and assigned to Alma's case. Good on you, genies!
My mom went up to girls camp with my little sister this week and having her gone for a week (not being able to ask her where something was, her opinion on this or that, etc) was pretty annoying. Then I had the thought, well, I was gone for a YEAR AND A HALF. So tell your family you love them today. They're making a big sacrifice, too. When she came back her leg was in a cast- leave it to my mom to break her fibula within HOURS of coming home. Lot's of one-legged and "break your leg" jokes are going around but I promise that we are otherwise being very considerate.
I was asked on my first date as a RM. He's short and a mutual friend suggested we go on a date because he thinks we'll "get along well." And since we're both RMs and are pretty much the only people who talk and volunteer for things in Gospel Principles, he has a point. Too bad I'm still in the "super awkward" phase. I'll let you know how it goes.
I'm ridiculously excited to celebrate the fourth of July here in AMERICA. Freedom and happiness are SO connected, and are the building blocks of our great nation. A sweet friend of mine said something in our testimony meeting today that I'd love to share with you.
" I wish I had the guts to fight for my country, But I don't. So I do it in God's way, by defending His church."
Onward, Christian soldiers!
With patriotism and gratitude for the country upon which the church was restored,
Hermana Alayna Een
