11-21-2016: New Companion Coming and Jon's Baptism

Hello hello to all my favorite people :)

I miss you and I love you and you guys are just the best. Mi corazon mi corazon

This week was a jammed pack week. LOTS of things happened this week. I'll give you the most important details haha 

This week unfortunately my companion decided that she wanted to go home for sure. I was really sad when she told me. She leaves tomorrow morning and will fly back home. I really thought that she was going to stick it out. I don't think it's totally sunk in that she is leaving. This past week has been so fun and we have worked really hard and seen a lot of miracles. I was so surprised that it still wasn't enough to convince her to stay. She just doesn't really like being a missionary and can't see herself doing this for another 16 1/2 months. I'm grateful for the time that we got to be companions. We have had a ton of fun and it has been a jammed pack 3 weeks! I sure am going to miss her. She is just the bees knees. 

As all of this has been happening, its made me realize just how much I love the mission and how much I don't want to go home. As she was talking about going home, it made me sick to think that one day I would have to go home, too. I remember reading Chase's emails when he said something to the effect of this and I thought "I'll never feel like that, no way" haha lol My day has come.

My new companions will be Sister Ward. I dont know a ton about her but I've met her a few times, she's loud and funny so we will get along great. I'm excited for her to come see Middletown!

We were able to have a lot of first lessons this week with new people which is awesome! We even found a few new investigators so hopefully we will be able to see them this next week to teach them! One of the people we met is Alan. A few years ago, he was in a HORRIBLE motorcycle accident that has left him partially paralyzed. We had an awesome lesson with him on how the knowledge of the gospel can give him peace. He was so HAPPY when we gave him a Book of Mormon. His face was priceless. 

The more I think about what we as missionaries do, the more cool it becomes to me. It's funny how many strangers' homes we sit in and how many people we barely meet tell us their whole life story. Before my mission, I would have been so afraid to go in a stranger's home because I've always been a little on the frightened side, but now I pray that they will let me in their homes. haha

This week this hispanic lady thought it was horrible that I'm not good at cooking and taught me how to make real Mexican enchiladas. That's right people, I'm good now. Well, making this one type of enchiladas.

Also funny story-- so I don't know how but somehow in Sunday School we got talking about push ups and Sister Hurd brought up how I do push ups every night and will touch my nose to a Book of Mormon I put on the floor. So this morning, Jon texts us and goes "Sister Thurgood, I hope you did your BOM pushups." hahaha Thanks for making sure I stay strong, Jon. haha

And of course the BEST FOR LAST:

The best thing that happened this week was that Jon got baptized on Saturday morning! It was the best day ever, guys! I was so excited. We got up early to set up and I felt like a child waiting for all my friends to show up. haha Jon was so excited and so nervous. There was a moment of panic when the baptismal outfit we got for him DIDNT FIT. I was like uhh stay calm, but luckily we searched the church and found a bigger one and all was well! Tender mercy for sure. 

Jon's baptism was so awesome. It was such an awesome day! The spirit was so strong. It was almost tangible like you could grab it. I don't know if I have ever felt it so strong. As I watched him be baptized, I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear as tears streamed down my face. I was truly so happy for Jon and for his family. What was also tender was to look at his wife's face after the baptism; she was glowing. The gospel is true. I feel so grateful to be an instrument in the Lord's hand, that He allowed me to be part of Jon's journey back home. I felt the purest kind of joy and peace while sitting at his baptism.

I'm on a mission for moments like this, where I get to watch those I love, those I prayed for, those I've fasted for, enter the waters of baptism.

I am so grateful for all the people in my life that were monumental in getting me on a mission and especially to my Savior for sending me on a mission. 

There is truly no greater joy than to watch someone enter into the waters of baptism.  Alma states in the Book of Mormon that their hearts were full of "incomprehensible joy" during their service as a missionary. I too can testify to the feelings Alma experienced. I am so happy for Jon and his decision to be baptized. 

I know this church is true. This is Christ's church. This is His work. As we follow His example, we will truly come to know that we are all children of a loving God who wants us to return home.

Hurray for Israel.

All my love,

Sister McKaylee T