"AWESOME WEEK"

Hello everyone!

I am so excited to tell you about this week! It has been A-MA-ZING.

Sisters Conference was all day Wednesday. . . And it was super awkward, becuase traffic was bad and Sister Slater and I showed up right on time and ended up being the first musical number. Yikes. Yeah, we walked in, and our performance sounded like our runthrough. :) But oh well! Everyone said they enjoyed it anyway. :D We had wonderful workshops and talks and pictures. Our mission president is so inspired, so amazing! I can't even tell you! Right afterward, we stayed and taught the Young Women indexing!!! Family History is the best!

We finished our service hours at the food pantry. I was sad knowing we finished there. It has been a fantastic experience. The poorest people can really be the happiest, because they have already humbled themselves and know that it's only through God they obtain anything in this life. The people we helped there are easily the most interested in what we do and why we're there. I wish I had more time with each of them!

OH MY GOODNESS. So this isn't normal, but there's a young girl who is investigating the church and showed up to Young Womens with her member friend (Rachel). Her name is Leah. Leah invited us to go to her musical at the Middle School. President said we could, to support her, and so Sister Slater and I got to watch The Little Mermaid Jr.!!!! SOOOOO CUTE! It made our night!!!! And Leah and Rachel were so happy we showed up!!!

Highlight of the week--first temple trip!!!! I can not TELL you how beautiful the Boston temple is. I am such a lucky missionary. I got to go because Sister Slater had taught an investigator who was getting her endowments this Saturday. WOW. It was an amazing experience. I will always have a major soft spot for the Timpanogas temple, but if it weren't for that, I'd say the Boston temple is my favorite. It's breathtaking. And Robin, the new member we went for, was so excited and so cute! She got sealed to her parents and baby brother after, as well. It was such a tender thing to witness.

We heard Jenny Oaks Baker in concert that night. She was phenominal, but it was kinda sad, because out of ALL the non-members we invited, only Jackson came. And then it was nearly two and a half hours. . . not all of the numbers were as amazing as Jenny Oaks Baker either, so it really got long. But I'm still glad we went! :)

Lessons are stressful, but good. I'm learning. Slowly. But I'm still learning.

OH! Just a quick blurp about today, cuz P-days are awesome! Our zone put together an Easter Egg Hunt! Wahoo!!! And we had a cook-out and played Ultimate Frisbee in the beautiful weather! I couldn't ask for a better area. :)

Happy Easter, everyone. Remember how sacred this week really is. I have learned so much more about my Savior even in the short weeks I have been here, and I hope we can all develop a closer relationship with Him.

Have a great one! Love you!

~Sister Merkley
MBM Missionary