May 20, 2013

HOLY COW!!!  This week has been absolutely crazy!!  We had Zone Conference on Tuesday, which meant we got to listen to President Packard, President Haight, and also President Bowen-the Boston, Massachusetts Temple President.  That experience was so unique and revelatory, and the applications in our ward are already starting to show fruition. 

In addition to that, we also got our ward boundaries expanded.  BIGTIME.  In addition to the majority of Cambridge and Somerville, we now cover the entirety of Charlestown and East Boston.  That entails getting to know a whole new subway line, about 10 new bus routes, 58 new members, and as many as 7 investigators/potential investigators.  Quite the workload, eh? 

That's not to mention the other stuff we're in charge of: a Missionary Fireside for 4 wards & branches, a movie night/finding activity for our ward, a temple trip, and learning some wicked hard music for 3 musical firesides in the next 2 weeks.  YEAH.  We gonn' be busy!!!

I've really been trying to be sensitive to spiritual promptings this week (and always, of course), but focusing on the small promptings that many of us never really realize as promptings.  As I've shared those promptings with Elder Beck and we've responded to them, our lessons have been powerful, our commitments have been bold, and everything we've done has seemed to work out.  God really does know what He's doing, and as we listen to Him, we definitely make the most of our time here.  

All of this craziness has started to take a toll, though.  Late nights and constant stress (the good kind that keeps you motivated-only some of the overwhelming, bad kind) have led to my being mildly sick, which affects my voice and ears.  That makes the Musical Fireside stuff extra hard.  My knee has been acting up for about 2 weeks, which can make it hard to walk around with a smile on.  (No worries, I do it anyways. haha)  With this new boundary change, the stress has SKYROCKETED.  However, as we prioritize our time and plan carefully, we can handle this.  And with the Lord's help, I know we can THRIVE with the new expectations.  If He can lift the burden of our sins and shortcomings, He can certainly lift the burdens of stress and expectations. 

Love you all and hope all is well!! 

-Elda Boone