Feb 18--OH HAPPY DAY!

Tomorrow we are going to the temple and that's all I can really think about at the moment. Sooooo stoked. I haven't been for 5 months! I took going to the temple for granted when I was back home, that's for sure. Sometimes on the hard days, I either think about being on top of a mountain or being in the temple, and all is well.

So this week was extremely hard, but it's ok because we are staying positive and happy! Every Monday for the past 3 weeks, one of our progressing investigators has dropped us. And anyone that has ever served a mission knows that is really really hard. You just want to help them know this wonderful news! And then opposition hits and as a missionary you are thinking, "well that's wonderful! The gospel can help you!!", but then they just get anti-ed or something and won't let us talk to them again. Sometimes Sister Rawlings and I just want to make them eat the cake (the gospel), and shove it into their faces. But then we realize that isn't Christ-like at all and the ability to choose is a God-given gift! We love it. We love that people can choose. Even though it's hard sometimes :) But lets be real, some of the anti out there is preeeetty hilarious. I learn something new about our religion everyday! It's usually completely false or a twisted truth, but it livens up the day, that's for sure. Did I tell you about how we have to get Joseph Smith's permission to get to heaven? And that we worship him? And the Book of Mormon is a "Bible for dummies"? Oh, and we definitely practice poligamy. Man, the things we hear. I'm tellin' ya. It's great! Take it with a grain of salt and it becomes a good story for the journal.

I feel like every few weeks your full fledged into the finding cycle again, and that's where we're at now! I love tracting, so that's good haha!

We had 50 lessons this week which is crazy awesome. Standard of excellence is 30 and we usually get 40 so 50 was kind of a fantasized goal, but we made it! I love reaching goals, it's the best. We went to Carthage, TN and met/taught tons of people there. I think there should be a set of missionaries there! It's a great place. SUPER pretty too. Them famous Tennessee hills all over the place. Good people too! Apparently the rich cats go there to get their drugs though, so that's fun. Sometimes we play the game, "what are they smoking?" when we tract. Usually it's just cigarettes, but sometimes we smell marijuana or meth. I hate drugs.

Some highlights of the week!

Jeanette is just a gem! She is so wonderful! She knows the church is true, and she wants to come to church so bad, but she can't because of her husband. Ron's heart is being softened though and I know he will come around! He's a nice guy, he's just undecided on the matter. She told her preacher that she was thinking about converting to the church of jesus christ of latter day saints and she said he went crazy. HA! She told her PREACHER though. She's not ashamed at all and I love it. Lots of prayers sent her way this week because of all of the opposition she is facing. She's strong, but she still feels very alone on her journey to finding truth!

We taught Jenny McPeak the first lesson and committed her to baptism! She has lots to overcome before that point, but she's great and loves the lessons! The spirit is always so strong with her too. She's definitely prepared to hear the gospel.

Sister Rawlings and I teach very very unified now which is amazing! It's really cool to be a trainer because you learn so much. I love it.

I was thinking back to the day I went into the MTC, and before then today because at District Meeting we had an awesome training on being a consecrated missionary and how much we've changed and what we want to do to be better. I was just dumb, that's all there is to it. I feel like I've learned heaps and bounds more than I ever thought possible! I love being in the refiners fire because you KNOW your weaknesses, and you KNOW your strengths, and so does Heavenly Father. He is so mindful of us! Alma 26:37!

I love you all so much. The gospel changes lives! I know that because it has changed mine, and continues to do so every single day. This is the Lords work! And I know as we really apply ourselves this week (Sister Rawlings and I), and develop the faith to find, we will find those that are prepared! That principle applies to almost anything in life.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! You're all incredible people.

Love,
Sister Boren

Bubble gum for our rainy walk home! Reminds me of papa!