The one where 2023 ended with a bang...

As I wrote last week, my grandma passed away so I've been coping with that but she's in a much better place and with my grandpa again. 

On Wednesday my dad called me telling me they had to put down my dog Thor. I know that doesn't sound like a big deal but that little dog was my best friend and the one thing I didn't want dying on my mission. I told my mom to keep him alive and if he died, I wasn't coming home so it's been a rough week. I know he was in a lot of pain and it's what we had to do but it for sure stings. Not to mention everyone that we are teaching is falling apart too

Anyway... Monday was Christmas and it was a pretty chill day. We went to lunch at a member's house and then I took a fat nap that was much needed.

On Tuesday we found this cool guy named Zach! His uncle is a member of the Wauseon branch and he took a Book of Mormon! We are meeting with him again tomorrow!

Thursday was a pretty average day but on Thursday night, we drove to Toledo to have a blitz with the STLs so that was fun! 

Friday, we spent all day in Toledo and I spent it with Sister Baxter and I love her!! We are besties! 

Saturday I was able to watch my grandma's funeral and it was so special to be able to celebrate her life! 

Sunday was obviously New Year's Eve and I had to give a talk at church. I focused on building our faith in Jesus Christ this upcoming year and the hope He brings into our lives. While I was preparing for it, I read a few really good talks and I'm just going to drop a few of my favorite quotes from it which were fitting for what I am going through rn...

"My brothers and sisters, having faith doesn’t mean nothing bad is going to happen. It means that you and I will walk in faith instead of fear. It means that we will trust in Him and in His perfect plan when everything else may not seem like it’s in its perfect setting. It means that we will choose faith over doubt. As we go forward, it is my prayer that each of us will “seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written”

"Faith in Jesus Christ is the feeling of peace to withstand the storm, knowing that we will not perish because He is in the ship with us."

"Remembering Jesus Christ and coming unto Him can lighten the burden, soften the heart, and ease the pain."

"When I “remember Him,” I feel a desire to change, to repent. I find the source of energy to keep my covenants, and I feel the influence of the Holy Ghost in my life “and keep his commandments which he has given [me]; that [I] may always have his Spirit.” It helps me to endure to the end. Or at least to the end of the day! And in those days that I fail to remember Him all day, He is still there, loving me and telling me, “It’s OK; you can try again tomorrow.” 

"Although we are imperfect at remembering Him, our loving Heavenly Father never fails to remember us."

These are from the talk called "The Power of Jesus Christ in our Lives Every Day" by Elder Costa and they are just so good so hopefully one of you needed to read one of those today :) 

With everything going on this week I have realized just how much God is aware of me. I was asked to speak in church 2 weeks ago before any of this stuff happened and it is exactly what I needed to study with how everything is going. I've also been humbled in turning to the Lord more fully and accessing the power of the Atonement to get through hard things. 

I'm so grateful for my Savior and how he willingly went through all of the things I've been feeling this week all because he loves me and he knew I would need help to get through it.

Anyway, I love you all so much and I hope you had a good New Years!! It's crazy that it's already 2024... I don't understand it. I love you all! 

Trust in the Lord! 

Love, 

Sister Welch ♡ 

p.s. I'll see you next month 

Sis Baxter

Sissy tay tay