WEEK 4 - Lord, I Believe, Ether 12:12

Hola!

First of all, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has sent me letters and packages!!!!! They make me so happy! Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and generosity! I appreciate you so much! :) I'm so sorry, I wish I had time to thank everyone individually, but there just isn't enough time. And I feel so bad, so even if I don't thank you personally, know that I am so grateful for what you have sent me and for your kindness! I am SO blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life.

So, I'll start off with a cool spiritual experience I had this week. We had to teach our "investigator" (our teacher) the other day. I've been struggling to care about this investigator, because I know it's just my teacher. We're supposed to treat them just like a real investigator, but that is so hard for me because I know they're not. Anyway, I wasn't super excited for our lesson with him. Because we had struggled with our previous lessons with him, and we didn't feel like we were making much progress. I felt like I didn't prepare enough, or put enough effort into thinking about this lesson. Before we went to go teach him, I said a prayer with my companion. I remembered the story that Elder Holland referenced in his talk, "Lord, I Believe" about the father with the handicapped child in the Bible. He pleads with Christ for help, and He tells the Lord, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." 

So I prayed and asked the Lord to help me have faith. I think I told Him about the little, weak amount of faith I had for this lesson, and my minuscule desire to care about it. I wanted to care and have faith, but I just couldn't for some reason. So, in my prayer, I essentially told the same thing to the Lord as did the man in the Bible. My faith was very weak, but I had a little, and it was something. The lesson went so well for the first time!!!! And he actually connected with what we were saying and it had an impact on him! And I felt prompted to ask a question, also. Why do I ever doubt in the Lord? Sometimes, I feel that when my faith is weak, or if I haven't done enough, I can't ask for His help. But, we just have to put forth whatever faith we have, however small it may be, and He WILL bless us. I feel impressed to suggest you all read the conference talk "Lord, I Believe" by Elder Holland. I haven't read it for a while, and I started to read it this morning, and I remembered again what an amazing talk it is!

Another cool spiritual experience. Today we went to the Temple. I had a question about something, and I kept thinking about it. As I stood there thinking about it, a Temple worker turned and looked straight at me and explained what I had been questioning. It was absolutely amazing! There was no way he could have known what I was thinking because I hadn't said a word to him! There was no way this could have happened without him being prompted by the Spirit to tell me this! I continue to be amazed at how the Lord is so aware of us, even in the small details. He is aware even when we have a question. And He cares enough about our question to answer. It may not always be in a kind of miraculous way like I received my answer, but He always listens, and always sends us answers. We just have to have the faith to receive them and recognize them. Even if we only have a little faith.

It's so crazy I've been here for a month! It has seriously gone by SO fast! I'm so excited to go to Virginia! Everyone who we tell that we're going to Virginia says oh it's so pretty there! I can't wait. 

I miss my family so much. And it's so wonderful just to think about being with you. I didn't realize what a sacrifice it was to leave your family and come on a mission until I actually came! I hope you are all doing well though. I love you and miss you all so, so, so, so, so, so much. It's lonely sometimes when I start getting homesick. But I have to remember that the Lord is always with me, and this next year and a half will be so worth it. I love you all so much. Please remember that, each and every one of you. I keep realizing more and more how incredibly and incomprehensibly blessed I am to have been raised in the Gospel by strong, faithful parents who have shown me so much love, supported me my whole life and have provided for everything that I've ever needed and wanted. And that I have 3 sweet sisters who I love. I'm starting to cry as I write this because I love you all so much. I have been blessed with such an incredible family. I know that nothing I ever do will make me deserving of my family, but I think what I'm doing right now is a small way I can show my gratitude to Heavenly Father. Because although it's so hard to be away from you all, I'll have the opportunity to help other families be together forever. 

Well, have a great week everyone. Again, I'm so grateful for everything you have done for me and for all your prayers! I feel so loved!

Ether 12:12 

Love,

Hermana Eddington

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/lord-i-believe?lang=eng

WEEK 3

Hola!

I realized that my email last week was kind of depressing and dramatic. Sorry for that. I don't have a lot of time for journaling, so it kind of all came out in my email. That night, we had a devotional and the speaker gave an awesome talk- part of which focused on forgetting yourself. Heavenly Father is so loving, and always gives me little messages of what I can improve on, right when I need it :)

This week was a good week! We lost another Hermana from our district :( We're down to 9 now in our district- but it's ok- everything happens for a reason! There are only four Hermanas now, but it's actually really fun! I love my Hermanas!

So, yesterday we got to "host" as Senior missionaries came to the MTC. It was really cool! We would carry their luggage up to their apartments, and it was fun to talk to them. They were really nice and sweet. 

It's great here. There are so many great people who are so loving. We're inside a lot, but it's nice to go outside- I love the mountains. It's really beautiful. And it was so warm today! 

I keep hearing about Utah Eddingtons. Also, last week when we went to the Temple, the person who checked me in was Uncle Thane's mission president, so that was pretty cool.

Something cool about the MTC- everyone is so nice here! It's funny because when we hold the doors open for each other, a lot of missionaries will say "thank you" in the language they're learning. And it's weird because I'm so used to saying "gracias" and "lo siento" that I don't really say those words in English anymore! I just automatically think of those words in Spanish, and sometimes I forget that people don't know what I'm saying.

Spanish is coming... slowly. I think if I practiced more it would help... We're encouraged to SYL (speak your language) here at the MTC, but it's not always easy to remember! And sometimes I try, but I get frustrated because I just want to say what I want to say! Haha, but it's all good. It'll come, I just need to speak it!

It's so crazy that I'm halfway through the MTC experience! When I first got here, people told me the time flies by, and I didn't believe them. But it's true! Someone told me that in the MTC, the days are like weeks, and the weeks are like days. It's so good to be here, it really is. It is a really wonderful place. The Spirit is here, and it is just so cool to see missionaries everywhere!

For our Sunday devotional, our speaker asked for two convert stories from the audience. An Elder came up and shared, and I love what he said. The speaker asked him if he had any second thoughts after he decided to be baptized. And he said no. He said something to the effect of "No, I just didn't look back- I couldn't turn back. I couldn't turn my back on God." Wow. I need to be like that! That was amazing to me. I love hearing stories from others and learning from their strength and their inspiring testimonies!

Again, I see so many miracles. Every single day. I KNOW without a doubt that God is aware of me, and all of us. We just have to look for His hand in our life. He is so much more involved in our lives than we know. And when we stop and look, it's amazing, and beautiful to realize that there is someone who loves us so much that He helps us all day long. I love me Heavenly Father and Savior. And I love the joy that comes from the Gospel. I've had so many happy moments, even moments of just pure joy.

Well, sorry this email was so scatter brained- no tengo mucho tiempo! Oh, one other thing, I think we might be hearing from an apostle tonight at our devotional :)

Love you all! Thank you so, so much for all your prayers, love, and everything!

Hermana Eddington

WEEK 2 - Trust in the Lord

Hola!

What a week! There's so much, I don't even know where to begin.

Well, I guess I'll begin with what the Lord has been trying to teach me this week. Trust in Him. That's kinda been the theme. Again, I'm going to be real, it's been a little stressful. But, the Lord has been with me every step of the way. There are moments when I think I can't possibly do this, but He always reassures me that I can, one way or another. It's amazing. I have seen SO many tender mercies. I'm really learning what faith means. It means trusting that you can do seemingly impossible things with the help of our Heavenly Father and Savior. It's not easy, but you really just have to take a leap of faith, and Heavenly Father and His Son are right next to you, cheering you on. 

That's what it has felt like for me. Sometimes I feel like Peter walking out to Jesus on the water. When I start to give into fear, I start sinking and I want to give up. But, my Savior and Heavenly Father are always there to reassure me, always. The assurance doesn't always come in a way that I want, or when I want it to, but it always comes and I'm so grateful.

Last night, it had been a crazy day, and I was overwhelmed. I started to doubt and I thought there wasn't anyway that I could possibly do this. I felt so inadequate. And I couldn't shake the feeling. I had been having the thought that I should ask for a Priesthood blessing, but I kind of waved it away. I started to read in the missionary handbook for stress management, and one of the suggestions was to ask for a Priesthood blessing. And then my companion just happened to look over at the book, pointed to the suggestion about the Priesthood blessing, and said, "Do you want one?" And I was like yeah... I've been having the thought that I should. And I started to feel really strongly that I should. So I asked for one. And it was just what I needed. Not exactly what I had expected, or wanted, but what I needed. And that night, I didn't feel the amount of stress that I had been feeling before. Miracle. I am so grateful for the Priesthood, and Priesthood blessings are so wonderful! If you are going through a difficult time, and need some extra guidance or comfort, please ask for one. Priesthood blessings are so comforting, and they can be a source of great strength. They can help you to have a renewed commitment. I love them.

So, I'm still learning, but I really need to trust more in the Lord. We can only see so much ahead of us, but He has an eternal perspective, and He sees everything. Everything we can do, and everything we can become. And everything that we need to experience that will shape us into that person He knows we can become. And a lot of times those experiences are difficult. It is by no means easy. But that is because what we are trying to achieve when we follow our Savior and Heavenly Father is so glorious and wonderful. It can't be easy. I've heard a quote that says, "There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going." Truth. 

I've found many wonderful, comforting scriptures about trusting in the Lord and believing Him. If you want to look them up, here are some I've found: 2 Nephi 21:2 (Isaiah 26: 3-4), 1 Nephi 3:31 through 1 Nephi 4:1-6.

I have felt the peace of the Savior so much this week! It has been incredible. Peace is the best feeling in the world. Every time I think there is no way I can do what God expects of me, He reassures me I can. I still don't know how it will all happen, but I know that I just have to move forward with faith, and He will lead me along. I am so grateful for His infinite love and mercy. The words of the hymn, "Praise to the Lord, The Almighty" express how I feel. 

So, now about other things. An Elder and a Hermana from my district left :( Their visas for Spain came. They were both scheduled to leave for the Spain MTC on the same day, but then something happened with Hermana Spencer's visa or passport or something. So they told her she would just stay here for the rest of her MTC time. So we were all sad about her leaving and then we were so relieved when we found out she was staying! And then yesterday, she got called into the travel office and she came back and said, "I'm leaving in 2 hours!" So she had to pack up everything and two hours later, she was gone. It was crazy! 

Also, one of the districts in my zone left this week. On Sunday after church, as a Branch, we sang "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again" en Español. It was amazing! That song in Spanish is just incredible. I could really feel the Spirit!

Also, speaking of my Branch, my Branch President is awesome! He is seriously so awesome. He has such a great personality, and I just love Him! And his wife is so sweet! They are the best.

Sorry this was so long. I love this work, I love the Lord, and I'm so grateful for the peace that He has given me! I know this is His Gospel and His work. Even though it's difficult, and trying, it is the best, and I'm grateful to have so many wonderful people around me.

Thanks for your letters, love, prayers and support!

Hasta Luego,
Hermana Eddington

1. 
   

WEEK 1

Hola a Todos,

So, this is my first official email as a missionary! How did this happen?

Well, I've almost been here for a week. The MTC is one interesting place! I know this is cliche, but it's kind of like an emotional roller coaster. Seriously.

It was really cool because when I walked into the MTC I felt peaceful. I had just been sad and crying, but it seemed ok when I walked in. It was kind of like walking into the Temple I think. It was good. Tender mercy!

So, I'm not going to lie, at first it was really difficult. The first day was good, and the next day I was pretty overwhelmed. It's not just language immersion here- it's everything! You jump straight into learning the language, planning lessons, teaching. And it's like" ahhhh how can I do this!!!??" So I was kind of stressed. But it's so cool because everyone is so nice and kind here! All the Spanish speaking sisters kept telling us those first few days that it's always like that at first but it would get better! Everyone here says, "Make it to Sunday!" It's so true. I love it here now!!!! 

Sorry for that, but I just wanted to be real. Because sometimes the best things are also the most difficult. That's so true here. And I love it! The MTC is awesome! I wasn't so sure about that at first but now I am!

Mi companera es Hermana Luke and she's awesome! I love her. We have a lot in common. And we're going to the same mission! She's so funny and she's really smart. She has an awesome testimony. I know that we were meant to be companions, we help each other out.  :)

My district is awesome too! Everyone is so nice and we have so much fun together. 

So this is what our daily schedule is like more or less:

Wake up, exercise, get ready, eat breakfast.

Classroom

Lunch

Classroom

Dinner 

Classroom

Sleep!

It's a full day! We're in class, studying and planning lessons for about 9 hours every day!! I don't think I've ever done this much work in my life. And at first it seemed sooooo long but now it seems normal!

Our third day, we started "teaching" an "investigator"! (someone who is interested in learning about the gospel) He's not a real investigator, so as we were planning, it was really difficult for me to take it seriously because I know he's not real! Our first lesson was interesting. It was frustrating because we had things we wanted to say but we couldn't say exactly what we wanted because we don't know enough Español yet!

But, our second lesson with him was awesome! We had planned a whole lesson and we didn't talk about any of it! I could totally feel the Spirit and I was able to say things more easily in Spanish! It was so awesome! I was just so happy after! Heavenly Father really blesses you to be able to speak the language if you try! Our third lesson with him yesterday wasn't very good, but it's ok because we know what to do now!

Spanish is coming along, I can pray in Spanish now :) So that's pretty cool, but I still have a lot to learn....a lot!!

Well, I have to go, I may have more time later today to send more info, but I'm not sure yet. I'm sorry mom and dad, I know you wanted more details, but I don't know if I'll have time! Next week though if I can't today! Lo siento!

Love, 

Hermana Eddington