One Year Older And Wiser Too :))

Helloooooooo everyone!

This past week was pretty good! Not super eventful. BUT, I did turn 21 craaaaazy!! Everyone here just kept telling me that now I can, "finally buy a gun!" Yes, finally, thank goodness. All I've ever wanted.

We had a couple of lessons this week with the little girls we are teaching, which were great! Also, last night, our mission had a "Why I Believe," fireside for the Caldwell/Ontario areas. There were 3 featured speakers and Megan, our recent convert who was just baptized 2 weeks ago, was one of the speakers!! She did AMAZING! It was so cool to see her speak about her conversion story and "why she believes," the spirit was so strong and I was so, so proud of her! I'm so glad I got the opportunity to teach her and grow with her :')

We got to teach seminary this week, and we taught the Plan of Salvation, which is one of the 5 missionary discussions :)) I LOVE teaching this lesson and I love all the scriptures that you can use with it. One of my favorites to use, and one of my favorite verses in the whole Book of Mormon, is 2 Nephi 2:25, "Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might have joy." We were created and came here with the purpose and intent that we would be happy and have joy! However, it doesn't say that we "will" have joy, it says that we "MIGHT" It is a choice we have to make everyday to have that joy. That joy comes from choosing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, following the commandments, good people we choose to surround ourselves with, our families, and repentance. I would invite you all to CHOOSE JOY this week, by choosing Jesus Christ everyday :))

Love you all

Hermana Rawlins

15 Months Down, 3 To Go!

Hiiiiii my friends!!

MEGAN GOT BAPTIZED THIS PAST WEEK! We are so so happy for her. She was so excited and it was really a special day. So many things kept going wrong right before the baptism with people cancelling or just not showing up that were on the program and things like that, BUT it all came together and the spirit was so strong and it was a GOOD DAY! Sister Thatcher, my last companion, also got to come up for the baptism so it was super fun to see her again :')

This week we did some service at a Food Pantry and it was super fun! We also had more lessons with all our cute children that we are teaching! I ALSO made dinner for me and my companion this week, so my mom can be happy that I'm finally learning how to cook on my mission ;)) Also, as of this week I have 3 MONTHS LEFT! Sooo crazy!!

I loved this quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland this week, "God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can't if you don't pray, and He can't if you don't dream. In short, He can't if you don't believe." Believe in God. Believe that He is and that He can do all things. Reach out to Him and let Him bless you with all He has in store for you :))

Les amoooo

Hermana Rawlins

Happy New Year!!!!

Hi everyone!

I hope you had a merry christmas and a happy new year :)) It was pretty relaxed here! Me and Sister Dixon spent Christmas Eve with a super nice family from our YSA ward. We played some games, and, due to mission restrictions, we were only allowed to eat in their home if we sat in a different room than them, so that's what we did! Hahaha. A very covid christmas. Christmas was just spent here in our home, as well as New Year's Eve, but we made it fun :))

We are teaching quite a few awesome people. Megan gets baptized THIS SATURDAY and we could not be more excited!! For the 3 little sisters we are teaching, the Haner girls, we are still waiting to set a baptismal date, but they are so ready. We also found and started teaching 2 new little girls this week, Dallas and Zativa. They are super hyper, but super fun and sweet. Sister Dixon and I are having fun trying to make all these fun, cute lessons for all of "our children."

This week, during one of our lessons, we were talking about the love our Heavenly Father has for us. We compared it to how, even though we aren't perfect, our parents still love us no matter what, and it's the same with our Heavenly Father. One of the cute little girls then, SO CUTE, asked, "You said that you guys aren't perfect, but I thought only perfect people could represent the Savior?" I was flattered to think that before we had mentioned that, she had assumed that I was a perfect person. BUT, we loved this question. No one in this world is perfect, not the missionaries, not the prophet of God, no one. Perfect people don't need a Savior. If we never made mistakes, His atoning sacrifice would be lost on us. We wouldn't have to come to know Him and love Him so deeply. If I was a perfect person, I wouldn't able to witness to others the saving grace I have found through him and teach them how they, too, can feel the joy that I find in Christ. It is because we are imperfect, that we can stand as witnesses of Jesus Christ. That's not to say we shouldn't try our best, but we shouldn't try and hide our imperfections and short comings :)) As we all are making goals for this new year, I would ask that you remember that you are not perfect, you might fall short, and that is OKAY. It just gives you another chance to turn to the Lord, find strength in Him, and keep moving forward.

Soooooo much love

Hermana Rawlins

345 NW 7th St.

Ontario, OR 97914