1 is Alone, 2 is a Pair, 3 is a Crowd, and 4 is a PARTY

Oct 2.

HELLO HELLO HELLO!!! How are you all doing??

So I am a real full fledged adult.  I am out of training and now I am a real missionary.  It's a little terrifying frankly.  I am super super lucky and get to stay in Hammerum!! I love it here and am definitely not ready to leave.  It's like my home away from home.  I said goodbye to Sister Acosta today.  It was a teary, but beautiful farewell.  She is going to do great things in Spain.  I am so happy for her.  On Saturday we found out what would be happening with me.  Because I am so special, I don't just get 1, nor 2, but 3 new companions!! It was quite the shock to be sure.  They are turning our humble Hammerum abode into a 4 man. It's going to be 3 of us oldies and one newbie.  I picked up my specific companion today!  Her name is Sister Dietch from good ol Provo Ut!!  It's a good time.  We will have a blast.  

That being said, we actually don't have that much time to email.... So I'll try to say as much as I can.  This week actually wasn't that exciting.  We spent all weekend packing (for Sister Acosta), cleaning (for me), and watching conference.  I love conference.  It is so cool to watch conference through the eyes of a missionary.  I picked up on things that I definitely wouldn't have before.  We were only able to watch the Saturday session on Sunday (because of the time difference), but it was still good.  

Oh!! I time traveled on Thursday! We went to go visit a couple in our branch who live waaaaay out on the outskirts of Jylland.  Get this: their house was built in 1805.  that was 212 years ago! I felt like I was in a Jane Austen movie.  And everything in their house is WAY old.  All of the furniture, the cutlery, the clocks, you name it.  It felt like a museum.  I loved it!

Honestly, that is all that happened this week.  It was a slow, but nice week.  I am content.  And being content is actually my little spiritual thought of the week.  At the beginning of my mission, I got very frustrated with myself almost daily.  I wanted to do all of these things I couldn't and be all of these things I wasn't.  I was trying to be a different missionary, not Sister Esplin.  I had to take a large step back and change some priorities.  I realized that the Lord called me, Raya, on a mission to Denmark.  He obviously thought that I was capable enough, and who would know better than Him? So I decided to be okay with where I was.  The Lord knows that I am not perfect, and He is not expecting me to be.  He does, however, expect me to try to be perfect, but He is perfectly patient.  He is okay with me as I am now.  He doesn't want me to become an entirely different person, but rather to work dilligently to be the best Raya and Sister Esplin that I can be.  So my little piece of advice is to heed the words of Mosiah, ''And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run fasterthan he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.'' Don't run faster than you have strength.  Be okay with where you are and who you are right now.  Of course, don't stop trying to improve and become more like the Savior, but don't let it eat you up.  Be okay.  

Jeg elsker jeg og håber at i kan få en rigtig god uge!! 

Søster Esplin

4 Sisters, 1 Car, Lots of Fun
Oct. 9

Our week was kinda crazy! We got our new sisters! Their names are Søster Jex and Søster Thorpe.  Both from Utah, so that Utah fever is quite strong.  We spent most of our week contemplating how to conquer the biggest area in the mission with 4 sisters and one car.  We came to the conclusion of bikes.  So my car days are over and I will soon be restorted to a bike.  It will be an adventure for sure! 

Despite all the craziness and uncertainty, we found a new investigator! From China! She is way cute and I am so excited to teach her! We were also able to have the opportunity to teach our investigator on date.  He said he has been trying to keep the Word of Wisdom and praying! We are beyond proud of him.  Prayers are real.  They really are.  

Also this week I got to try what is apparently the best bakery in Denmark, called Langenæs Bakeri.  I understand why it's called the best bakery in Denmark.  Highly recommend if you ever find yourself in Aarhus. 10/10.

For the past couple of weeks I have studied Charity.  Charity is such an important characteristic.  In the Bible Dictionary it says that charity is the ''noblest form of love.'' That made me realize that having charity is not only loving those around you unconditionally, but loving everyone because they are worth that love.  They are sons and daughters of God, heirs to a Heavenly Kingdom.  Recognizing and loving them as such is having Charity.  I thought that was an interesting tidbit of information and thought it would be interesting to share that with you! 

Jeg elsker jer rigtigt meget og håber at I kan arbejder på næstekærlighed med mig <3 

Søster Esplin
raya.esplin@myldsmail.net





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