Growth in the Downpour

Mis Queridos,

  I'm gonna be honest, this week was super long and super hard. No need for me to explain all the details, but it involved feeling inadequate and not sure why I'm still in the same area, and having some of my favorite people tell us they were not going to come back to church, lots of tears, and saying goodbye to other favorite people moving back to their countries. Just lots of opposition and not feeling sure if I'm a good missionary. 

  That being said, I also grew more this week than almost any other week on my mission. I realized a lot of things about myself, about trusting in God more, allowing myself to use my personality in my missionary work, and how to just really love the people better. It is part of God's plan for others to have the choice to follow him, and I need to respect that. So even if I cannot control whether others continue to listen or choose to come closer to our Savior through his gospel, I can at least leave them with a feeling of loveThe Spirit is and always has been the best teacher, and now I just have to get out of the way. I've always been an independent person, but I have learned that I cannot be independent of God. I was reminded of a poster my Grandma has in her house: Fully Rely On God. 

  So how the title fits into all of this is that like a growing plant, it needs both sunshine and rain. I cannot expect the work of the Lord to be sunshine at all times, because I need the growth and nourishment that comes when the clouds come over and everything falls down like rain. That also being said, God sent tender mercies to us this week. We were able to talk to our mission president this week, and I was able to get really good counsel from my mission leaders as we talked about how to be better teachers. My zone leader told me that one day I will look back on this time in my mission and be so grateful for all that I have learned.

  I just want to end my sharing my testimony about the temple. We have started helping out with the Jordan River temple open house, and it is amazing and exhausting to talk to all the people there. The Spirit is strong. I know that through the Lord's house, families can be together forever, and true peace is found there. Keep your eye on the temple! Oh also shoutout to my cousin Elder Lee coming home from his mission today!! Well done faithful servant!!

Mucho amor, 

Hermana Adison Alley