Last Week in Hoptown

Hey Family and Friends!

So transfers came and I'm going to Fayetteville Tennessee!! I'm excited to go but also a little sad to leave my first area. Well Hoptown, it's been a good 6 months! 

I've been thinking about what to say to y'all this week. I decided to share an insight I've learned this past week. HOPE!

I was reading a talk from the October 1999 General Conference by James E. Faust. The title is Hope, an Anchor to the Soul. I highly recommend y'all read it. I was a little down the past few weeks so I decided to study hope. "Hope is trust in God’s promises, faith that if we act now, the desired blessings will be fulfilled in the future". This quote has stuck with me this past week. I like how it talks about how hope requires faith but also how we need to "act now" on that faith. As a missionary, I have to act on promptings that instant and TRUST that it's the right thing without knowing ahead. This is how hope and faith work together. I have faith that as I do my part, Heavenly Father will do His. But, it's all dependent on people's agency and His timing. Those two things are hard to swallow sometimes. As a missionary, it's hard to see people know that the gospel is true, yet stop progressing in it. I was thinking a lot about how as missionaries, we often don't see the way we impact people at that exact moment. Maybe not ever. During those times it is easy to get down on yourself.  However, the last part of this quote has brought me peace in those times. I might not be in Hopkinsville to see some of the people I've taught get baptized. However, I know that "the desired blessings will be fulfilled in the future." 

I know that as missionaries and as people it is easy to get down on ourselves. However, it is our choice to be happy despite our challenges or trials. Heavenly Father wants us to be happy. He will help us be happy. We can be a blessing and light to others. Share a smile, quote, or scripture to someone. We all have bad days. We all get stressed out. I sure get stressed out A LOT. But, I have to remind myself that we are here to learn, and grow TOGETHER. It's really hard to learn and grow if we don't have trials, sorrows or opposition. Everything that has happened out here on my mission has helped me learn and grow. It has not been easy, yet I've never been more happy than here. I get to see people find true joy in the gospel or see a glipse of it for a moment. I have the best unpaid job in the world. Well, I shouldn't say unpaid. Heavenly Father blesses me and my family so much, daily even. I'm going to miss good o'le Hoptown! But, I'm excited for the new trials/area/people ahead. 

My challenge for y'all this week is to have Faith and Hope! Share a thought, scripture, smile, service, etc. with someone. Maybe even someone that you might think doesn't need it. 

Thanks for all the letters, emails, love and support. I've needed it the past few weeks. Y'all are great! Have a fabulous week!!!

Love,

Sister Stone

Pictures:

1 and 2: The Holladay's took us out to eat after our last district counsel

3: I'm holding a chicken...miss those

4. Last district pic in Hoptown North District

5. Pic with my friend Paul (who I raced once)

6. The Cortes Family

7. The Missionaries and soon to be missionaries

8. I don't even know

9. HUGE spider (banana spider) pray for me!