"I know your name"

Let's get real and personal today. Are we surprised? Ha! This was a tough week for us. Sister Larson got sick, so we were isolated, and then we had to take covid tests just to make sure. Thank the heavens above they were negative, or we would've been stuck inside for much longer. Then on top of that, I was having a lot of stomach pain and heartburn (which I realized was a lot of built up anxiety and stress I didn't even know I had) so we had to have lots of naps and I had to lay down for a couple days and I just felt unmotivated. I may be a missionary, but I'm also still a human -- a lesson I think many missionaries need to learn. This week, we were studying the Book of Moses. For those who aren't familiar with this, it's in another book of scriptures called "The Pearl of Great Price", which is SO cool because it adds so much to our understanding of what Moses did and the experiences he had. It goes hand in hand with the book of Genesis in the Old Testament. In the chapter we studied this week, Moses is visited by Jesus, on his Father's errand. Christ refers to him as "Moses, my son" over and over and over again. Right after this time, satan comes to Moses, and calls to him "Moses, son of man, worship me." As I think about this, I consider how God sees us, and how satan sees us. How often does satan deceive us to think we are nothing -- not a Son (or daughter) of God, but merely a son of man. weak. inadequate. purposeless. But to God, we are so much more. "And the Lord God spake unto Moses, saying: The heavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man; but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine." -Moses 1:35 The heavens can't even be numbered, but to God, we are numbered. God knows our names. God knows who we truly are. So now back to me and my seemingly insignificant life and problems, and God reminding me that I'm not insignificant. I'm numbered. I was struggling and I honestly didn't know why. As I took the sacrament yesterday in church and thought about my Savior, I had the prompting to ask the elders (young men missionaries) to give me a blessing. The very moment I asked, I felt like I could breathe again. During the blessing, the elder called me "Lacey." Every other blessing I've been given on my mission I've been called Sister Wallace. But this one was different. I realize now this is because I wasn't receiving a blessing simply from this elder, but from God himself. And God knows me by name. God wouldn't call me Sister Wallace, because God and I are on a first name basis. Those are my thoughts this week. I matter to God. You matter to God. In the world's eyes, you are numberless, but God numbers you. Even though he created worlds without end, he still numbers YOU. Calling you his, calling you by name. Don't forget that Jesus loves you, Sister Wallace P.s. hope this is long enough for you mom!!! (She says my last few emails have been too short. How??? I talk so much!) Also p.s. today's song lyric title is from Moana. Actually a very spiritual movie. Pics: 1. Pretty skies 2. 1 of many comp pics this week 3. Sorry if this is too up close and personal... I just think it's so funny and accurate for our week. Me, holding a hot rice bag, sister larson laughing through it all while taking a covid test. Good times! 4. Me and kekeli because why not. He's getting so big!! 5. Jesus ♡