Day 24.

It's Sunday (well, Monday-ish...)!! Sunday is my favorite day of the week! It's the one day of the week that I get to truly relax and rest with the Spirit. I get to read my scriptures ALL day! and I get to go to church! This Sunday was particularly special to me! Not only did my dear friends and missionaries, Elder Bagley and Elder Robinson speak in church, which was a huge blessing in itself, but the lessons in all of my classes were amazing! We learned, in Gospel Principles, about convenants. When I was baptized, I made a covenant with my Father in Heaven. It was the most special and important covenant that I have made with my Heavenly  Father so far in my life. In relief society, we focused on the teachings of past presidents of the church. BUT my favorite part of the day happened after church! I finally had the chance to meet with my ward's bishop. I basically cornered him, there was no way on my last Sunday back home that I was going to miss meeting with the bishop to talk to him!! As we sat down in his office I got really excited and finally blurted out, "I wanted to talk to you about a temple recommend and a mission!!". The first of the requests I'm sure he saw coming, but the second definitely took him by surprise. In our church, Men almost always go on a mission and it's expected but with women it is an option and some women do not go on missions. My bishop grinned at me and right away we got to work! Without missing a beat, he interviewed me for my temple recommend and then we started to talk about my mission. We talked about the reasons I wanted to go, the resources I have and most importantly the support that I would have from my church family! A mission has become very important to me! While it is not expected of me to go on a mission by my church, I have become aware that my Heavenly Father expects it and I will follow His will. With Temple recommend in hand, I left his office. "It's actually happening!!" I thought to myself. Now it was time to head back to Rochester. I, of course, made sure I contacted the appropriate missionaries and made my way back to the 585!
    The blessings didn't end in Niagara. The blessings just started! Upon my arrival, I unpacked as messily as I could and called it a night. I had made plans with my best friend Yessi and the missionaries to meet and watch the CES fireside being broadcasted that night! As we met in the public lounge of my college dorm, we opened our scriptures and began to talk about them. Yessi gave amazing answers and was truly blessed by the Holy Spirit. I am truly blessed to have cool missionaries who are blessed by the Holy Spirit with the gifts they have! Skipping to the fireside... We sat around the Jensen's TV listening to Elder Jensen (who is actually Brother Jensen's brother) as he talked about the Holy Spirit. My favorite discussion would have to have been that as members and children of God we need not busy ourselves just with the work of God but we need to stop and listen to Him. That is so important! In order to do God's work, we obviously have to listen to Him and how can we if we don't listen for Him. Someone said; We talk to God in our hearts and minds and He answers us in the scriptures. Let's not forget that!

I AM SO BLESSED! I have way cool friends, an amazing family and a merciful God!! I KNOW this church is true! I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus visited Joseph Smith in the sacred grove in Palmyra, New York. I know that Joseph Smith restored Heavenly Father's church on this earth and I know that Heavenly Father loves and blesses all that obey!
I say all these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.