"I'm gonna miss her"

Yayyyyy Lol! So this week's song lyric title has nothing to do with my week. I just could not think of a song lyric that went along with the happenings of the week (mission brain is real). But, one of my favorite Brad Paisley songs was playing in a store today sooo that's what gets to be featured this week, haha. (and I know you all miss me, so it's fitting, right?) Sadly, I seem to have run out of ideas on how to start these messages. Don't worry. You guys only have a little less than a year to put up with all my ramblings. Ha! So I've had kind of an interesting week, but a good week with two top tender mercies I wanted to share with you that were great reminders of God's goodness and awareness of me, and his other children. On Tuesday night, we finally got in contact with a sweet sister in our ward. We decided to just knock on her door and she let us right in. Oh my gosh! She was one of the most fun, full of light, beautiful inside and out, people I have ever met. I could just feel how much God loves Tracy. She was baptized about 7 years ago and has had quite a bit of trial in her life. She's struggled to come back to church for some very real concerns, but I could feel that she had a testimony, and that she had a relationship with Jesus Christ. Towards the end of our time together, I had this thought come to my mind to ask her where she was from. Turns out she is first generation from Ghana!! It made me so happy! My brother-in-law's family is all from Ghana and I just feel so much joy every time I'm around them or talk to them. So meeting Tracy and finding out she was from Ghana just made me feel at home and deepened that connection. And we 100% took some time to look at Kekeli pics. Because whenever that opportunity arises, of course I take it! Then on Sunday night I had probably one of the coolest experiences of my mission. Something I have always wondered is ... how would I know during a lesson if I needed to invite someone to be baptized. Well, this week I discovered that answer very powerfully. There is an 18-year-old boy, Connor, who recently moved into his aunt and uncle's house for his last year of high school. And, of course, this family is in our ward (though Connor is not a member of the church, his aunt and uncle are). Last week when we had dinner with the Scott family, Brother Scott (Connor's uncle) asked Connor straight up if he would take the missionary lessons from us. I was so shocked when he actually said yes. So going into the lesson this week, we really didn't know what to expect. We didn't know if he even liked going to church with the family, or would even want to talk to us. But he completely exceeded our expectations. He was so receptive to the spirit and was so willing to answer our questions. Brother Scott started the lesson by asking Connor who God is. When Connor answered, he was testifying so beautifully of God and he didn't even know it. I was completely touched and amazed by his response, and I knew God loved Connor. I was automatically filled with the spirit, and just got the impression "this kid needs to be baptized." Basically I was like uhhh, Heavenly Father, are you sure? I don't even know how to describe it but I couldn't contain myself. I was honestly worried I might scream at him "DO YOU WANT TO BE BAPTIZED?!?" But I contained myself. The whole time I felt so nervous because I knew it needed to be done and I needed an opportunity to ask him. Luckily, we had a pretty direct lead in and then words just spilled from my mouth, and I know it was the spirit, not me. I was filled with the spirit and cried probably for only the 2nd or 3rd time in a lesson (I know shocking, right? I have cried in plenty of other situations). I told him I had never invited anyone to be baptized in a first lesson, but that the spirit was so strong and Heavenly Father wanted him to be baptized, and loved him so much. I don't think I have ever had a lesson with such a sweet spirit. I think this kid has been being prepared for this his whole life, and I could tell his aunt was so happy that her nephew is learning the gospel. Anyway. Missions are far from perfect. There is always something to complain about just like real life. But sometimes, God gives you miracles and you can't deny that He is real and He is in charge. I am thankful God loves me enough to have sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die for me. Without Jesus, we would have no hope of deliverance. Deliverance from sin, pain, death, sorrow, or pretty much any hard thing you ever go through. Don't forget that Jesus loves you, Sister Wallace Pics 1. Another tender mercy ... random rain!! 2. Gotta love those New Mexico skies! 3. Of course a food pic is included- had a fun sister brunch today (Monday)!! 4. These cute kiddos in our ward made us a sign-in sheet for when we got to their house for dinner. Ha!