Hi Utah! :)

I have never been so tired in my entire life.

Ha, this week was great though.

LA TEMPLE Visitor's Center

 

My girl Jackie was in the hospital so we trekked to Woodland Hills to go see her. Man, I love this lady. We sang her a hymn of her choosing, and then talked to her for a bit. She looked so frail and weak lying in that hospital bed. Then she grabbed tight to our hands, thanking us and said very softly, "I know He's with me. I don't know if this is a trial... but I will keep the faith. I will....", her voice broke, "persevere." Then a tear streamed down her face. She melts my heart in a way I cannot describe. She is a treasure.

with Jackie

 Later that night we stopped by the family we saw last week and the boys. Only one of them were home so we talked with him for a bit. Then later we were walking down the street and they were home. So outside of their apartment-- in the very small, dirty, and humble walkway above the stairs-- we talked to them about the power of the Book of Mormon.

AHH LET ME JUST PAUSE AND SAY THEY ARE AMAZING. Just being around them and talking to them melts my heart.

Then the 11 year old said the prayer. Ahh their prayers. I think I die every time. He thanked Heavenly Father for giving Joseph Smith this knowledge so that we could learn of it. And said, "The four of us are super into this so... we hope to keep in touch with you and you keep in touch with us." Haha and prayed about church then I casually melted cuz I LOVE THOSE BOYS SO MUCH!

Man. I honestly feel like so unworthy to feel the feelings I do. Every time I walk away from these people I feel like my heart is going to either blow up or jump to the moon. It is a feeling I've never felt before. 

It's exhausting. 

It is so much love it completely consumes my energy. 

 

I feel like this mission has just twisted and turned my heart in a million different ways. It physically hurts. 

Consistently. 

It either hurts of incredible sorrow or incredible joy. I think I now understand what Alma and the sons of Mosiah meant when they talked about "their sufferings in the land, their sorrows, and their afflictions, and their incomprehensible joy".

It's like nothing else and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

 

See you in 23 DAYS!!

Love, Sister Dohner