Again, thanks to everyone who has supported me with emails and letters and packages and even just sweet comments on things my mom posts :) I love all of you!!!
Oh my heck oh my heck I will be on a plane to Norway in FIVE DAYS FROM THIS VERY MOMENT. Oh my heck I am so stoked. Being a missionary is the best thing in the whole world but it will be even better when I get to go out and actually teach!!!
Shower songs of the week: I'll admit, it was mostly Imagine Dragons. I miss that new album of theirs so much
I am so beyond excited for Norway. I have been super stressed because I found out that since I will be arriving in Norway at 1 in the afternoon next tuesday, I will be contacting (in Norwegian) my very first day there. BUT I CAN DO IT. I CAN TOTALLY DO IT. I am actually amazed at how well I know Norwegian already. It's an amazing language! (and to my family who keeps writing me in Norwegian -- it's SO awesome to be able to understand everything!!!)
So many awesome things this week... I wish I had time so write everything!!! But I wanted to share what I learned at the devotional on Sunday night. It was AMAZING! Elder Holland's son, Matthew Holland, came and spoke to us. He's just as amazing as his dad!!! He spoke about Joseph Smith. He told a bunch of stories I had never heard about his life before and it made me admire the prophet that much more.
I think most of us know the story of how Joseph got sick when he was nine and had to have surgery on his leg (they cut open his leg and scraped all of the infection out of the marrow of his bones... without any alcohol to numb the pain or anything. His only requests were that his father held him and his mother left the room). Anyway, a year or two after that surgery, Joseph's family made the trip from Utica NY to Palmyra NY on foot in the middle of winter. Joseph's leg was still not healed, so he basically limped the entire way. In the snow. YEAH so crazy. Well, Joseph's family arrived in Palmyra... and noticed Joseph was missing. It turns out he had collapsed in the snow a few miles back and nobody noticed. A stranger who just happened to be walking that same way found joseph, picked him up, and carried him the remaining couple of miles to Palmyra.
I think most of us know the story of how Joseph got sick when he was nine and had to have surgery on his leg (they cut open his leg and scraped all of the infection out of the marrow of his bones... without any alcohol to numb the pain or anything. His only requests were that his father held him and his mother left the room). Anyway, a year or two after that surgery, Joseph's family made the trip from Utica NY to Palmyra NY on foot in the middle of winter. Joseph's leg was still not healed, so he basically limped the entire way. In the snow. YEAH so crazy. Well, Joseph's family arrived in Palmyra... and noticed Joseph was missing. It turns out he had collapsed in the snow a few miles back and nobody noticed. A stranger who just happened to be walking that same way found joseph, picked him up, and carried him the remaining couple of miles to Palmyra.
Brother Holland told this story then asked, "Was there not an easier way to get Joseph to Palmyra? Couldn't the Lord have sent angels down and helped his family get there? And instead Joseph walked a trail of tears." He then went on to explain that without these difficult experiences early on, Joseph wouldn't have been prepared for what he was about to experience. Heavenly Father lets us go through some pretty tough trials.But why? Elder Holland said this next: " God is shaping us and directing us to ends more glorious than we could ever imagine."
Guys, whatever the struggle or trial you are enduring right now, I PROMISE YOU that through the atonement of Jesus Christ and with our Heavenly Father's divine help, YOU WILL MAKE IT THROUGH! You are all such amazing people and I know of some of the trials my friends and family endure but I truly believe with all my heart that our trials will help us to get where Heavenly Father needs us! Don't you dare give up or give in. Trust in your Father in Heaven and pray always. "If you find that the harder you try, the harder it gets, TAKE HEART -- so it has been with the best people that have ever lived." -Elder Holland.
Guys, whatever the struggle or trial you are enduring right now, I PROMISE YOU that through the atonement of Jesus Christ and with our Heavenly Father's divine help, YOU WILL MAKE IT THROUGH! You are all such amazing people and I know of some of the trials my friends and family endure but I truly believe with all my heart that our trials will help us to get where Heavenly Father needs us! Don't you dare give up or give in. Trust in your Father in Heaven and pray always. "If you find that the harder you try, the harder it gets, TAKE HEART -- so it has been with the best people that have ever lived." -Elder Holland.
I love you all and sorry for this weeks novel, I just felt like I really needed to share that. I know without a doubt that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God and that THIS is the true restored gospel. Joseph Smith was an incredible man and had an amazing life, second only to the life of Jesus Christ in my opinion. We ended that devotional singing "Praise to the Man" and I just sobbed the whole time. The spirit was so strong!!!
I love you all!! Til vi ses igjen <3
Søster Sims
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