Heard My First Christmas Song Of The Year Today!!!

I LOVED COLLEGE SO MUCH. I think I had a total of one week that was eh and the rest was a dream (I am completely aware that is not normal life). Going on a mission was never a question for me... I was going to go no matter what and I was STOKED to go serve!

However, I remember in April after I left the BYU dorms, all my amazing friends, and a very good life in Provo, Utah, I asked myself, "WILL I EVER BE THIS HAPPY AGAIN?". It sounds so dramatic, but it was a legitimate question!!! I woke up SO EXCITED for the day my whole freshman year and I wanted to keep that happy and positive momentum flowing in the next chapter of my life.

Thennn after a very fun 4 weeks at the México Missionary Training Center, the mission life in Chile HIT ME LIKE A TRUCK. In those first few weeks, I was either the happiest person alive, falling asleep in a lesson, or feeling so very lonely all in a span of an hour. EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER (actually was not as bad as it sounds but just out of character).

Now, here I am. Another transfer (6 weeks) has passed, and I have been reflecting a lot on my progress since college. I have grown in so many ways, but more specifically in the source and constancy of my happiness. Yes, college was such a happy time, but the depth of my happiness right now is not even comparable.

I have come to realize that we need the ups and downs of the day to fully appreciate and enjoy the blessings of God. Going throughout life with no hardships robs us of experiencing PURE JOY. I am not only waking up excited for the day, but waking up throughout the night just wanting to start the day already.

This deeper level of happiness did not suddenly come with ease. It took meaningful time with my Savior in prayer, reflecting and refining, SO MANY HUMBLING MOMENTS, patience in times of feeling alone, and a continual process of changing my mindset to an eternal perspective.

I still have SO MUCH MORE to learn and experience, but I am SO GRATEFUL I am tasting just an ounce of the happiness we can receive as we continue to GROW. Christ can do so much more with ourselves than we can even imagine.

I added the scripture Moroni 6:4 in my farewell talk only 6 months ago and I have REALLY come to understand and appreciate the significance and power of being "continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who [is] the author and the finisher of [my] faith". Becoming more like Christ (simply striving to become a better person) and relying on Him brings more joy than any other thing.

Highs:

-Crazy busy week!! We came back almost every night past 9:30 pm

-Making a 36 minute walk into a 15 minute SPRINT to district council (weekly meeting with other missionaries) (this experience is a low for my companion. Lo siento Hermana Vasquez) (we made it on time with 2 minutes to spare)

-Full on buffet lunch with Hermana Toledo

-HERMANA VASQUEZ AND I GET ANOTHER 6 WEEKS TOGETHER in the PROMISED LAND OF CHAYAVIENTOS

-WE HAVE AN APRICOT TREE that I just discovered in our patio

-Negrito (Gladys's dog) eating our brownies and dying laughing for so long

-Primary President saying the f words multiple times during a family lunch because it means nothing to her

-FIRE weekly planning with Hermana Vaquez

-Teaching the most powerful lesson about the restoration of the church outside the chapel with our friend Francisco and a recent missionary who just got back (Allen)

-Playing with four day old kittens

-Fruit trees EVERYWHERE and they are all so delicious

-Hermana Vasquez saying to me after our nightly prayers "I love the way you talk to God"... thanks I guess

-Marriage advice from Hermano Contreras

-The young women in my ward are beasts and are INSANE missionaries

-Hermana Vasquez and I making fun of my spanish because I genuinely sound like Dora when I speak

-Asking our 92 year friend what her dream is in life and her response... to get a boyfriend #sheismyspiritanimal

Lows:

-Negrito (Glady's dog) peeing on my bag during a lesson

-My farmers tan

-Our church building is a sauna

-Time is going too fast