Family and Friends

Dear Family and Friends,

      This week was a roller coaster... Unfortunately, the baptism that we were supposed to have on Saturday has been delayed. But, we are hoping that it will still happen soon. One thing I've said since the beginning of my mission is that Satan is rude but Heavenly Father Loves us. That is a phrase that is proven to be true every time we have someone progressing. But, I know that more so than Satan working on our investigators we have so many people praying for them and trying to help them progress. Sometimes I'm not the biggest fan in the whole opposition in all things... But, then I remember how it has helped me to grow. This morning Sister Perrin and I were listening to a talk by President Uchtdorf and something that he said really stood out to me. He said simply "Our destiny is not measured by the number of times we fall but the number of times we get back up again." That is something that I know to be a true statement. We will all fall at times. But, what makes us is if we choose to stand back up and try again.

     Other than that this week has been eventful... But, not super... Mostly, we got a new mission president this week and on Friday morning President and Sister Anderson departed for Salt Lake... So now you are all closer distance wise to my mission president than I am! I have yet to meet President Rehm but we will be meeting him on Wednesday. I'm excited to meet him and come to know him in my last few months here. I know that I was called on my mission for the changes of mission presidents for a specific reason. I'm excited to see what that reason is:)

     So, this week was a little crazy but it was so good. I know that as we are faithful we will face some really HARD and difficult times.... But, one thing that my mission has taught me is that even in the most difficult times and the times when you honestly really just want to sit down and cry, we can experience the joy of the gospel. That is something that I love about the church. In 2 Nephi 5:27 which is one of my favorite scriptures it says simply "And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness." One thing that I don't think a whole lot of people realize is that happiness can be a choice. I know that when I was suffering depression the thing that I had to remember in coming back out of it was that everyday I had to make the CHOICE to be happy. Then after a while that choice came naturally. It was something I didn't have to think about but rather something that came a lot more naturally.

      I know that if there is one thing that Heavenly Father wants for each of his children it is happiness; and not the kind that lasts only when  you have possesion of something or only when our lives are going smoothly. God wants us to have the kind of happiness that lasts and carries us even through our trials. He knows the joy that we can have in this life and in the next and he wishes us to have it as well. I love you all and I am praying for you!
Love,

Sister Bice