"We gotta get outta this place, if it's the last thing we ever do"

Whyyyyyy? Do you ever ask yourself that over and over because that's been my life lately.

Why now? Why do I have to go through this? Why don't I understand my purpose? Why can't I get along with my family? Why can't this just pass? The list goes on.

We often wonder why we have to go through the things we are going through. We wonder how long we will have to suffer through hard things. I've been learning some pretty tough lessons this transfer.

We've been in quarantine the past week and it has been quite a challenge for me. I've discovered for the millionth time that I'm here at this time for a reason. The Lord knows me well, and there is no way I would have made it through the thick of the pandemic. I just keep thinking about all those missionaries who were inside for weeks or months (and those who probably still are) to remember it could be wayyyy worse. This cold has just been making the rounds! Sister Hardman tested negative for covid luckily, but now Sister Olsen has a sore throat and we have to stay isolated till the symptoms are gone. This dang quarantine is getting the credit for this week's song lyric title - an oldie by the Animals. How do I even know this song? lol!

Anyway, I'm sick of being negative! I've been complaining and sad and discouraged all week, so now I just want to tell you about all the fun, good things that DID happen this week. Some weeks, you just need to find the good to pump you up for another hard week! FIRST - Our friend Eddie got baptized!! I realized the other day that I haven't really talked about the people we are teaching in this area. So that's my bad. Eddie is kind of a special circumstance. He said he used to be a member, but somehow his records got lost or something because the church has no record of him ever being baptized before. But besides that, he honestly didn't know much about the gospel. Teaching him was an honor. At the beginning he was full of sorrow and didn't have much hope. He knew who Jesus Christ was, but he didn't know him as a personal Savior. As we went through the lessons, I saw his countenance just grow brighter and brighter. He started realizing Christ could change him, and as long as he repented, the sins of his past really were in the past. He is just so receptive to the spirit. In so many of our lessons, he was so touched. He really is a special soul. So it was pretty sad when we couldn't go to Eddie's baptism in person because of this quarantine situation we are in. But we are so thankful for zoom and that we still got to be "there" virtually. I even gave a talk. It was so weird because I couldn't see anyone, but they could see me. It has been so special, too, because my parents have been able to watch each of the baptisms I've been apart of over zoom. So technology is a tender mercy of the week! I can't imagine having to do this as a missionary even 3 years ago. Another tender mercy having to do with the baptism was the ward. Oh my gosh I have never been in such a supportive ward. If this happened in either of my past two wards, where the missionaries couldn't go a convert baptism, there's no way it would have gone as smoothly as it did. I would've been so stressed and they probably wouldn't have tried to help us still be apart of the baptism. So I am just really thankful for all the ward's help in making the baptism so memorable. Ok another tender mercy... KEKELI (MY ADORABLE NEPHEW) TOOK HIS FIRST STEPS!! Oh my goodness it was precious. I saw a message come through from my sister with a bunch of videos, and knew it had to be him walking. So I was very excited when dinner came around so I could look at the videos. I miss Kekeli so much, and can't believe he will be one year's old in 2 weeks. This has been the fastest year of my life! Being an aunt is the best title I could have. I got 3 pieces of mail this week that came at just the right moments. I got a letter from my mom's good friend with a Chick Fill A gift card, which meant we got to go have a party the other night to lift our spirits! Chocolate shakes and fries heal the soul. Then on Thursday I got a fun package from my sweet mama. She gave me an adorable "missionary Halloween party in a bag" with these giant pumpkin shirts. So we had fun putting on our funny shirts and laughing. Then yesterday I got another fun letter from my mom with a charger she forgot to put in the package. It was great to hear from her again, and feel close to her. It's the little things that matter and I really miss my mama. I'm almost half done, and I'm learning I will never stop missing my mom. She's just too good. So, lots of lessons learned this week. Early on, I was just pleading with the Lord for a miracle, basically telling Him we needed to get better for the baptism. But I realized that I was praying for the wrong thing. Finally I decided to just tell God "you know what, I've done all I can and I'm giving this to you. Whatever your will is, I will just accept it." The moment I did this, it was so freeing. I felt peace, rather than sadness about the baptism. The Lord is teaching me humility, and it isn't easy. I know that the Lord's will is always the right way, but that doesn't mean it's always easy. And sometimes, we forget, hence why this email needed to be positive because yesterday because I forgot that I had felt that peace. But I know the Lord's got me, and there's gotta be a purpose in all of this. Somewhere. And I know the Lord has you too and there's gotta be purpose in all you are going through right now too! Don't forget that Jesus loves you, Sister Wallace Pics 1&2. Cutie comps 3. Eddie's baptism! 4. Package from mama 5. Lol pumpkins 6. More Halloween fun