"My strength is made perfect in weakness"

The best street name in Alexandria

The best rain storms are southern rain storms

I hope summer is treating y'all well! It is always great to hear how y'all are doing. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

This week was packed full of some great experiences. Good news: we will have a baptism this next week! The Papania's are a wonderful family we have been teaching. Five of their six kids will be ready to be baptized this Saturday. We have seen God's hand over and over helping this family make the steps toward baptism. The mother and father still have some legal hurdles to jump before they can be baptized, but they are working toward it as well. We are so excited for this family! They are incredible. We know baptism will bless them immensely. 

We spent a few days in Alexandria attending Zone Conference and going on exchanges with the STL's. It was hard to leave Opelousas for a few days because there is so much work to be done, but we are learning to be patient. Zone Conference was beautiful and much needed. This mission is full of some stellar missionaries.

Sister Amezcua is one of the toughest people I have ever met. She is resilient and she doesn't let anything keep her down. I watch her prove that over and over and over. One of her mountains to climb this week has been her back pain. Her back has been in really bad shape for a while but this week it got much worse. We called the mission nurse on Friday and she told Sister Amezcua to lay low and stay on bed rest for 24 hours. That was hard. I hate seeing anyone in pain, but I especially hate watching people I love most hurting. Sister Amezcua continues to be the most loving, positive, and selfless person. She is doing everything in her power to recover (including "cupping", where a ward member basically put flames and cups on her back to remove toxins) and she keeps the work going. Mercy, I love this sister! She is someone I aspire to be more like someday. 

This week I have been studying a lot about weakness. Specifically, the difference between weakness and sin. I had always imagined that sin and weakness were just different levels of being unclean. I was so wrong! While sin leads us away from God, weakness can lead us toward Him. When we accept our weaknesses and turn to Him in humility and faith, our weaknesses teach us how to trust in God.   "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." (Ether 12:27)

I see this scripture in a completely different light now. I used to think that this scripture was telling me that God would fix my weaknesses and that is how I would become perfected. But God doesn't always "make weak things become strong" unto us by eliminating our weakness. Usually He is not offering to immediately change what we are weak at. Instead, He offers to change us. God turns our struggle with human weakness into the virtues and strengths that make us more like Him. He helps us learn charity, compassion, meekness, patience, courage, long-suffering, wisdom, stamina, forgiveness, resilience, gratitude, etc. These are the very attributes we came to earth to learn. Mercy, isn't God's plan just perfect?

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:7,9). 

Life is beautiful, people are good, and the gospel is perfect. I love this crazy little piece of heaven called Opelousas. Hope y'all have a great week!

Sister Thomas 

Sweet Sister Amezcua obeying Nurse's orders

Becoming Something Greater

87 year old Sister Cloward's "garage sale"

Stay classy, Louisiana

WHAT A WEEK.

Typical mission life, this week was crazy. It's a good thing I love crazy!

It is so cool to see how God always has a plan. It doesn't matter if we understand it or not. He has got everything under control. There have been a few days this week where we have had all of our appointments cancelled (or in other words, people just forget and are not home - a very common occurrence) just so we can be in the right place at the right time to share the message of the gospel with one of God's children. And God's way is always the best way! Our new investigators this week are BOMB. We love them a lot.

Saturday was a very special day. We were able to attend the temple sealing of one of the members of the Opelousas ward, "Mama Cat". There have been some serious miracles in her life lately. A few months ago, she was really frustrated. She hadn't been married for over 20 years and she was super lonely. So the missionaries in Opelousas decided to fast for her. They called it the "Great Cat Fast". They fasted for 15 days. They alternated who would fast for each meal. Two days after they ended the fast, Cat had a boyfriend. Two weeks later she was engaged and on Saturday, one month after the fast ended, she was engaged. Mercy, sometimes God answers prayers really quickly! The power of fasting is real y'all.

I love a lot of things about mission life. One part I especially love is how much missionaries grow. I can honestly say I am not the same person I was last week. I'm not even the same person I was yesterday. And I love it! Growth is good for the soul. Following Christ may not always be the easiest path but it will always be worth it! He never wants to take anything from us; He just wants to give us something greater. And I sure do love being made into something greater. "A person cannot give a crust to the Lord without receiving a loaf in return." - Melvin J Ballard

I love y'all! Trust in the Lord and keep on loving.

The Elders brought us ice cream to celebrate my
one month mark as a missionary!

The Opelousas ward has "cake day" once a month to celebrate
all the birthdays in that month. How cute!

Teaching Brother Carrell how to selfie

Peace, be still

We got permission to go to a fireworks show in Lafayette with some
members last night. It was hot, humid, and wonderful!

I never know what to think of the food here.

Lunch with the new district (minus one)

The District: Selfie

Hey y'all!

Happy 4th from Opelousas, Louisiana! My goodness, what a place to be. The area is crazy beautiful, the people are incredibly kind, and the missionaries are taking care of business! I know I am going to be so happy here.

Opelousas is in what is known as "exile" in the LBR mission. It is pretty far away from a lot of places and it's a little out in the boonies. This wonderful place always has the best stories! Sister Amezcua (my outstanding companion) always tells me that "every person who is the craziest person ever migrates to Opelousas". So far I would say that is pretty accurate. Mama Cat, a member in the Opelousas ward, explained it to me like this: "Opelousas is the celestial kingdom at a circus". Amen. The people are wonderful, kind, and sometimes a little wacky. I am loving every minute of it!

My new companion is Sister Amezcua. I am convinced that I have the best trainer in the entire mission! She is no doubt one of the most Christ-like people I have ever met. We have the best times together and I love every second I am with her. She is teaching me so much and is always patient with me. I love her to pieces!

Some favorite moments:

 - When one of our investigators told us she won the Nobel Peace Prize

 - When the same investigator told us she is a prophet and her father killed Abraham Lincoln (whaaaat?)

 - When Sister Amezcua and I became professional cockroach killers (practice makes perfect)

 - When we taught a man who was sitting in a truck in the middle of the road while we stood out in the pouring rain

This week I have been thinking a lot about peace. Isn't it incredible how peace is the one feeling that Satan can't mimic? (thought cred: Sister Amezcua). Satan can try to confuse love with lust and temporary happiness with joy, but peace is something that can only come from God. It truly is a divine gift. It is always incredible to me how much God cares about us at every moment. He sees it all from the end to the beginning and because of that perspective many of our worries are small and frankly laughable to Him. But in His infinite goodness and mercy He sends us gifts of comfort and peace to help us find joy in the journey. My favorite song of the week is hymn 105, "Master the Tempest is Raging". Whatever happens, God is with us. We need to trust in Him.

 I am just the happiest here and I know it will only get better. I hope everything is going well for y'all at home! My love and prayers are always with you. God is good!

Much love,

Sister Thomas

Flight Plan and Meeting the Mission President & Wife

Flight plan: 

                                         V:L SLC at 7:05 am

                                         AR: GA at 12:43 pm

                                          LV: GA at 1:59 pm

                                          AR: LA at 2;35 pm

Meeting President and Sister Hansen

Miracles, surprises, and opportunities to grow

The Sisters standing outside our decorated door
(we have limited resources here)

Sister Johnson and I after hosting

Sister Johnson and I behind the Provo Temple

Hey y'all!

What a week.  

We said goodbye to our favorite investigator, Jessy, on Friday. She is our only investigator (we have had four so far) that has been real and we had a really good experience with her. We started teaching her last Monday and at that point she had already had all of the missionary lessons. She understood everything, she just didn't feel any of it. So we spent the week following the Spirit as we tried to figure out how to help her and address her needs. The last day we taught her she told us about an answer to her prayer! She was crying, we were crying, and I don't know if I have ever felt so much joy. We were so sad when we weren't able to teach her anymore. We still pray for her every day.

My district got to host new missionaries this week! This means we were the missionaries that wait on the curb in front of the MTC and take the missionaries away from their families. It is a lot happier than it sounds! We got to help the new missionaries get excited about the MTC and take them around for 20 minutes. It was a blast!

My district had some tougher days this week. It has been fantastic though because we have grown incredibly close in the short amount of time we have spent together. As excited as I am to head to Louisiana on Tuesday (which is really, really excited) I will also really, really miss my district. I can't wait to see them all again in a couple years! 

My MTC stay has taught me a lot about following the Spirit. The funny thing about following the Spirit is that a lot of the time I don't even realize it is the Spirit that is leading me until after the fact. Sometimes it is more about trying my best and being in the right place at the right time. As I have tried my best to be obedient and become more like the Savior I have seen miracles and tender mercies. Nothing is cooler than walking away from teaching a lesson and realizing that the Spirit had completely taken over. I love being a missionary!

Life is beautiful. I can't wait to see what Louisiana has in store for me! I hope you are all doing well!

Love,

Sister Thomas

My cute companion with the cute package
my mom sent

 Elder Muhlestein reading us stories from the Book of Mormon
Stories Childrens book to read during personal study)

I have no words. 

Sister Johnson in the chair fort the Elders made for her
(we have some long days at the MTC)

Classic Elders

"Practice makes better, but Jesus makes perfect."

Sister Johnson and I at the temple on Sunday

Sister Johnson and I with the Sister Training Leaders before us
(we all felt cool because we accidentally matched)

My district at the temple

Hey y'all!

The MTC is the greatest. I spend every day surrounded by people who have the same purpose as me, I get to study the gospel all day, and there are no tests! Basically I am just the happiest! It doesn't seem real though. I keep waiting for it to hit me and then really sink in that I am actually a missionary. We'll see if that ever happens!

What really makes the MTC so wonderful is the people. I'll give you a quick rundown on the missionaries in my district real quick because I love them and I already know I'll miss them so much!

 -  My companion is Sister Johnson. She is from Phoenix, Arizona and she is going to Louisiana with me! The funny thing is that she also spent a year at BYU and she also lived in Helaman Halls! We never actually met, but we followed each other on Instagram before we came so that is pretty cool! I absolutely adore her.

 -  The other sisters in our district are Sister Edwards and Sister Davis. Sister Edwards is from Glendale, Arizona and Sister Davis is from Lapointe(?), Utah. Sister Edwards is also going to Louisiana and she also lived in Helaman Halls for a year at BYU! We had mutual friends and kind of knew each other first semester! She is exceptionally kind and I love her to bits. Sister Davis is headed to Billings, Montana. She loves horses and went to school for a year at USU. She has such a quiet strength and I look up to her a lot.

 -  The Elders in our district (Elder Campbell, Elder O'Connel, Elder Black, and Elder Muhlestein) are HILARIOUS. Like crying, rolling on the floor hilarious. They are all headed to Billings, Montana with Sister Davis and we will miss them all!

 - Also, I see so many familiar faces here! I've been trying to keep track but there are waaay too many to remember. But for those of you that have friends at the MTC right now, I have talked with Sister Bergeson, Sister Jex, Elder Berryhill, Sister Bolander, Sister Olsen, Sister Whitehead, Sister Schneider, Sister Hyde, Sister Greenwood, Sister McFadden, Sister Parker, Sister Bishop, Sister Sannar, Elder Gray, Sister Young, and a couple of the missionaries from the Fiji airport!

For some reason, Sister Johnson and I were chosen to be Sister Training Leaders for our zone! I guess the Lord has a lot to teach me. We were able to meet all the new missionaries in the two districts that joined our zone yesterday. We gave them a tour, talked to them about the MTC, and got to know them a bit! It was a little weird because Sister Johnson and I have only been here a week and we still feel pretty new. But time is different here in the MTC. Even a week makes a huge difference and so it was fun to get them all excited for their time here!

Here is a list of my favorite things I have learned this week:

1. We come back different from missions because the Savior has been by our side the whole time and we know Him a bit better.

2. Everything in the conversion process has to happen to me before it can happen to my investigators.

3. I don't know anything about the people I meet. But Christ does and he loves them and knows what they need.

4. Have the courage to follow promptings.

5. When you don't think you can do this, you're right. But the Savior can.

I love the spirit here at the MTC. I love the people, I love the gospel, and I love Jesus Christ! I can't wait to share my happiness with the people in Louisiana!

Much love,

Sister Thomas

The only proposals that ever happen at the MTC 
featuring Elder Black and Elder O'Connel)

My crazy district and I in our natural habitat (our classroom)

Basically what we do all day, every day

Family hugs before entering the MTC!

"Families are Forever"