Brookings, Bruises and Babies! November 26, 2018

Sister Bodtcher and I 

Hey Family! 

The beginning of the week we had exchanges with the Brookings sisters. I was with Sister Bodtcher and we had alot of fun together. It was good to be able to talk to her about goals in life and the next step. On our drive back to North Bend we stopped by and saw our senior couple the Williams. The Willams actually served a mission with Brenda and Ron Myers from my home ward. They know him the same way I do as the racoon man. Lol 

I guess Ron carried a Raccon around with him in his mission. 

Elder and Sister Williams 

On Wednesday this week we were doing morning excerise and I twisted my foot pretty bad.  I attempted to "walk it off." Lol But when I got back to the apartment I couldn't walk at all. After studies I finally called the Nurse and after much icing and elevation I went into the doctors. They did an xray and thankfully my foot is not broken. I was told to not walk on it for a few days which was very hard for me to do. We got out a few times and I just have been trying not to get discouraged. It was a blessing that the next day was weekly planning and thankgiving so I didn't have to walk to much. 

My foot day one 

My foot day three 

I have been able to get out and still work a bit so that has been a blessing. We spent thanksgiving with the whole Gordon family! It was so much fun I love them so much! It was crazy to reflect and see where I was at a year ago. I think in the next few days I'll be back to walking normal! 

(Also funny story after getting assigned a topic for my homecoming talk "after the Trial of your faith." God definitely gave me a trial since I hurt my foot. I blamed the bishopric for that one lol jk. I am actually super excited about this topic as it seems to cover so many of the things I have been learning the last 6 months. Hopefully I'll have time to write this talk when I get home because I don't know if I'll get to it before I go home.)

Thanksgiving at the Gordons w/Sister Denison

On Friday Shannon and Jorge had their twin babies! They texted and said they would need to cancel our lesson and a few hours later the babies were here. They let us come visit them and man are those little ones the cutest! The ward is so kind and has set up dinners for them for the next week! 

On Saturday we were asked to speak in church about gratitude. I think it was actually what I needed to stay positive and not get discouraged with my foot. 

I just wanted to share a little of what I learned. Elder Uchdorf once said "It is easy to be grateful for things when life seems to be going our way. But what then of those times when what we wish for seems to be far out of reach?

Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be. 

      We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?" 

So instead of waiting for that storm to pass,  live each moment rejoicing in the beauty of the rain, jump in the puddles, sing praises to God, dance in the water for it is the very thing that will help each little seed grow strong and become something beautiful. 

 District t shirts! (Me, Elder Johnson, Elder Baker, Sister Denison)

My Song of the week has been "sleep in the storm" by unspoken. If you get a chance to look it up. I've listened to it on replay all week. 

I love you all so much and know I am excited to see you all soon but there is still plenty I need to get done before that time comes. I love you and pray you have a wonderful week. 

Love always 

Sister Leavitt

Dinner in Brookings. french fries, bacon chicken art in a taco? Don't knock it till you try it!