Fishing using a metal detector

Pday was moved to Tuesday because we had a super cool mission wide
conference yesterday!

I fasted during it and got some really really good insights from
Heavenly Father.
I had very particular questions that I wanted answers and I got them
plus 100 more!
My testimony on fasting has been strengthened 100fold since being on
my mission.Fasting is seriously the best and a huge strength to me.
This Sunday is fast sunday and I invite you all to fast! Specifically
with a question in mind. I know as we are actively seeking answers and
comfort or reassurance and guidance from the lord we will be guided.

This past Sunday we had an amazing lesson on seeking spiritual light
and truth (president uchtdorfs general conference talk) I studied it
the day after too and I'll share a small insight i was taught.
It's normal and natural for us to have questions and for some things
of the gospel to not make sense to us or completely understand. As we
follow the four steps mentioned in his talk
1. Actively seek and search the word of God. Aka scriptures and talks etc..
2. Ponder and mediate on these things
3. Pray and ask Heavenly Father
4. Act!

We need to be using the right resources and tools in order to find the answers.
We cannot expect to successfully go fishing by using a metal detector.
Spiritual truth comes from using spiritual tools.
Those steps mentioned above always work
It only doesn't when we do not put in the proper time and attention to
each of these.

Great news:)
Sister chang our cute little old Chinese friend who we've been working
with to come back to church and to go the temple has her official
temple date! In the Washington, D.C. Temple.
MARCH 7 (day after my birthday) uhh can you saw holy miracle:) I'll
take 100 pictures for you.
I'll be in heeeeeaven that weekend.
Things are going so well here in our area. It's on fire and I'm a
little bitter the transfer is ending so quickly it feels like! There
is a lot of fruit here that has been the product of all of the hard
work done by the previous sisters in this area. Shout out to sister
Bennett and menlove

I went on exchange with sister Bailey and I wasn't having the best of
days and was feeling a little low. I told her this when we were
together and she said she was too alittle. So we said a prayer right
there having full faith that Heavenly Father would help us. And help
us he did!
As she was praying the thought came to my mind something that always
makes me feel better: listening to people sing. So my initial thought
was to just ask her to sing to me haha but then another thought came
that that was pretty selfish. Haha instead of her singing to me, we
can go find a human and both sing and help not only ourselves but
someone else along the way:)
I shared that with her and she was alittle apprehensive but she was a
champion and went along with me. We found a human and I went up to her
and was like:
"Hello! My name is sister manson. And I am not having the best of days
today..can we sing to you? That always makes me feel better"
Hahaha I kid you not that's pretty much what I said...
She said sure, and we sang!  "I need thee every hour"
She was in tears by the time we were done.
We started talking to her about the Book of Mormon and at first she
was having none of it. But after being persistent :) and bearing
personal testimonies and teaching her she accepted a copy and was
really interested by the time we finished.
Even on cruddy low days in my weaknesses Heavenly Father still allows
me to be used as a capable instrument in his hands. I am so grateful
for that.

During weekly planning in our opening prayer I prayed that we would
miraculously get in contact with alan, a recent convert who we haven't
had any contact with since December...and then literally 2 days later
we saw him walking down the street. You best believe I shouted his
name and ran over to him. We had a lesson with him and he's coming to
church Sunday :)

Sister jolley and I are in such good shape(:
We run every morning and walk everywhere during the day
We don't use our car. Literally at all.
We've only gone about 100 miles this whole month
And usually we go like 800-1000 every month in previous areas and transfers.
We walk and use the subway a ton and we are able to talk to so many
more people that way.
Just picture us trekking and derping(; around in the snow negative
degree super windy days every single day. Those are times when I'm the
happiest. Because literally I would never be doing this! But I love
Heavenly Father and know what my purpose is so that's why I'm still
here.
I think it's interesting to think about the why behind everything we do.
Different levels behind everything.
Am I obedient because of president anderson or my companion?
Or am I obedient because I love the lord?
Do I read my scriptures every day because I've been given that hour in
the morning to do so?
Or do I read because I know I'll be uplifted by the spirit?

Knowing our "why" behind everything and making sure we are doing
things for the right reason really makes a huge difference and I know
will make a huge impact when I go home.
These habits and patterns I've established and made here will come
with me when I am home.
I am so grateful for my mission. It literally means the world to me.
And I would be a hot mess without these experiences with the spirit.

Love you!
Sister Manson