Week 50

 In my early morning musings today, I realized how much I miss church. Here I am surrounded by THE CHURCH. I'm in the shadows of the iconic temple and tabernacle and conference center, and yet I really miss church. I can study the gospel, I can read my scriptures and the writings of apostles and prophets, and Come Follow Me lessons. I can watch videos and listen to music. All of these things are important and good, but I realized that what I'm missing is the spirit of gathering together to worship. I miss feeling the spirit of others' testimonies. It has been five months since I have been to church and I miss it. I miss going to the temple too and the peaceful spirit there. I'm having to work harder on my own, and I guess I'm realizing how much I have relied on others for my spiritual strength. I'll be so grateful when it's safe to go back to church and the temple and feel the power of worshipping together!

We've been banished from the office again. There's another missionary couple who have COVID and so they're asking us to work from home as much as possible. My apartment seems to be shrinking, but I'm glad that there are things I can still do to keep busy.

By the way, I have decided to continue serving when I get home as a service missionary. I'll still be connected to the Family History Department and will be working with a woman I've known here. She is over all the senior family history missionaries in the world - nearly 6000 of them. I'll be helping her with one of the databases keeping it up to date and accurate, and then also responding to requests for information about family history missions. I'm excited to stay involved and continue serving in this way. 

And now for some fluff. 😍 Sister Burnham is the new mission secretary, and yesterday she hosted a "high tea" for me and another sister who will be leaving this month. It was just for the sisters who work in the office, and we're together a lot anyway. She even had hats for all of us to wear. The food was delicious, and it was really fun to escape for the afternoon.