Week 58- service and the secret pizza meeting

Well, last week we helped a sweet lady move all of her sister's stuff into a storage unit. that was really fun. 6 elders came to help too and they were awesome! We loaded all of the stuff into the moving van then drove to the storage facility then unloaded all the stuff onto carts then rolled it to her storage place then we made a line to pass the boxes from the cart, into her storage room, then up to an elder on a ladder who stacked the boxes super high! It must have been at least 11 ft high!

We were teaching a young man this week who wants to strengthen his relationship with God, and wants to do good things but just said that he has a hard time getting the motivation to do it. We had planned to talk about the scriptures but while we were meeting with him, we had this feeling, "talk about the temple". I was like "but we're talking about the scriptures and that doesn't even make sense!" Then again "ask him if he's been to the temple". So we asked and began a discussion about the temple and the blessings of the temple. He shared that he really wants to go to the temple but it seems like such a big goal. So we helped him set a "baby step" goal, that would get him back on track to prepare to go there. He seemed really happy about that and it was neat to see and feel again that we don't know what these people need, but the Lord does!

On Saturday, we had interviews with President Warner which is always fantastic! The Sister training leaders check everyone's area book and planner for organization and to see how well they are planning, etc. so that took a long time. Then we had interviews with president. IN my interview he asked me "Sister Hodgson, how long have you been out?" "13 months" "what have you learned on your mission?" I told him that I was learning so much, but one thing in particular was that "the best I can do is the best I can do" The Lord doesn't expect more than that- but He does expect the best that we can do. I am so grateful that, weaknesses and all, Heavenly Father allows me to participate in this work. I am so grateful that He isn't looking for perfect missionaries! And I am also grateful that Christ can take imperfect people like us and help us to accomplish great things as we rely on Him.

On Monday we got to go to MLC (Missionary Leadership Council).....which sister Oh and I had always referred to as the "Secret pizza meeting" haha...just because they always have pizza for lunch and not everyone gets to go. so it was "secret" and it's a meeting and there is pizza..... ya you get it. So this was our first time to actually get to go to MLC. We woke up at 4:45, got ready, then drove to honolulu to pick some other sisters up from the airport. Then we drove to the meeting. It was so neat! Because we got to represent our zone of missionaries as we discussed changes to be made in the mission, and things that we needed to learn to be better missionaries.( it was also really cool to see old buddies that I miss) 

It was really amazing to see as we discussed changes we didn't come to an agreement on specifics for a very long time, but finally someone made a suggestion and it was right! We all felt that it was right! This is not our missionary work, but it is the Lord's missionary work, and we can feel when something is pleasing to Him. So the changes were made! the meeting was super long though! and we got stuck in traffic on the way home. so we didn't make it back till almost 7:00pm! And Yes, the pizza was delicious!

Well, it's great to be here. I love it! but I miss you all too!

love, Sister Hodgson