11-28-2016: Sister Hurd Goes Home - New Companion Sister Ward

Hello hello hello hello

Everybody loves Thanksgiving. Too much to be grateful for. Amen amen

My new companion, Sister Ward, is like my long lost best friend. haha She is so funny, guys. All we do is laugh and laugh. Wow I love her. Last night, we were talking and it feels like we have been companions for months, but it's only been 6 days. Sister Ward is finishing her mission in 3 weeks and will be going home at the end of this transfer. Ahhhhhh why? I am already so sad that she will be leaving me. We click so well. We have set some really awesome goals for the next 3 weeks. I am excited to go hard. So a little about Sister Ward so you guys can love her just as much as I do. She is a crazy good volleyball player; she sets and is way good.   She is a cowgirl and trains horses. She is the real deal. She is the funniest person. haha She is from the smallest town ever in Arizona. It has like 0 people. Just kidding, she told me that there are actually 374 people. It's an hour from New Mexico and an hour from Mexico, so she's way southern. 

We were doing work up in Cobb and there are lots of really steep roads up on the mountain. It was probably so funny to watch Sister Ward and me get up there in our little Toyota Corolla. We were sliding down and talk about slight panic. haha

This week, we were invited to come over to the Bishop's home for Thanksgiving. It was really fun. They had all their kids home from school and it was a good time. One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving at their house is that on top of all the usual Thanksgiving dishes they have mac n cheese too. Everybody knows how I feel about mac n cheese so wow that was just all sorts of blessings. haha 

One of the coolest things happened this week. The bishop's son came home and baptized his girlfriend. It was so tender. I was crying, but are we surprised? They are in their first year at school and she has been up at Washington State and found the missionaries and took the discussions and decided to be baptized. She decided that she would wait until Thanksgiving to be baptized so that Jake could baptize her. It was so awesome. It was the bishop's family, her family, and us at the baptism. The spirit was so strong. She was so excited. Tears couldn't stop streaming down her face. She was so happy. It made me remember why I do what I do, for moments like this. The gospel really is light. The church is true. 

Distance and time has definitely made me more grateful than I ever have been for those I love. I am grateful for the support and love I feel daily. I was doing a lot of thinking this week about gratitude. I truly am so blessed to be out here serving a mission and to represent the Lord. At times, its not always easy, but it's always worth it. Everyday I feel His unfailing love. I know this church is true. I am grateful for patient parents who have done so much for me. I love and miss you guys so much. 

But most of all I am grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. For the ability I have had to start fresh and to serve Him. I know He lives. I know that because of Him all things are possible.

All my love,

Sister McKaylee Thurgood 

P.s. Can you believe its already almost 10 months? Crazy or what