Hungary for the Gospel in Montana: Week 37

This week has been a great one! Not a whole lot of variation from the others, but we have been trying out a few new things! We've made notes and baked goods (courtesy of my companion's awesome kitchen skills) to share with others. We've also left sidewalk chalk messages/art for those we work with (actually kinda hard to do in Dillon because lots of people just have dirt walkways and roads!), among other things! It's been fun to get creative in our efforts to reach out to others. Another fun, new thing is that as we've gone on our daily walks, we actually see people! With some we've been able to exchange delightful conversation --from 6 ft apart of course. Those little moments when we see and interact with people are honestly highlights of my days (even the whole week!)

In finding efforts, as we've been contacting formers and others through the phone, we have gotten to practice different approaches and wording. We've come a little further with those efforts than we have previously… a few individuals ACTUALLY ANSWERED their phones! Granted half of them weren't very polite, but some were civil and cordial! I just about leapt out of my socks when those moments happened, hahah. I get excited about missionary work and progression, even if they're little things(:

Some huge blessings from this week:

I got to do service for the first time in 9 weeks... wow! It wasn't for super long and we didn't do anything special --sweeping, dusting, organizing, etc.-- but it felt SO GOOD to serve.

We had the opportunity to assist the other set of Dillon sisters with their baptism on Saturday! There could only be 10 or less people present at the service, so us missionaries only attended through video call, but it was still awesome. Some tears were shed!

I got permission to use the church building to practice hymns to accompany at our little zone sacrament meetings! The goal is to get to the point where I can accompany whenever a pianist is needed, I'll keep playin' and most importantly prayin' hardcore to reach that goal. Through the Lord we can do all things, right? It doesn't matter how small or silly it may seem, if it's important to us, it's important to Him. He cares for us and all that we dream of more than anyone else does, and more so than we can imagine!

Spiritual Thoughts:

In life, there are many things we don't realize until something changes, then they suddenly stand out. There have been a lot of changes lately, big and small. Throughout these recent changes, I have definitely seen things in my life, and within myself stick out!

This reminds me of the refining process of gold:

As gold goes through the refining process, it is continually heated to the point that all of the natural impurities rise to the top and can be removed.

As we make our way through life, when impurities rise to the surface, it doesn't mean that things are going wrong. In fact, that means the exact opposite! If we are going step by step seeing new ways to refine ourselves and our lives, this means we are on the right path!! It's those times that we don't find new ways to grow that we should be wary of… don't allow yourself to become stagnant! This life is a gift for us to grow and become what we otherwise couldn't without it. This life and life in the eternities is one of PROGRESSION. As we find new improvements to be made, new levels of understanding to pass, we ought to be invigorated! Those are blessed opportunities provided by God to refine us into the glorious beings that we are meant to be.

It has been a blessing for me personally to experience such change (and most of it sudden) throughout my mission experience. I have increased in ways that beforehand, I hadn't imagined I would.

I challenge you all to embrace change! Reflect on how things are different than before and gauge where you are at with it all. Have you tried to run away, keeping yourself in limbo? Or are you accepting and adjusting, allowing yourself to grow?

So much love,

Sister Alger

Beautiful Montana!!!