1 YEAR!! (Week #53)

hello everyone! welcome to the email! this week i hit my year mark! it's nothing crazy but i have some small things i'd like to share about that! and obviously i'll talk about my week. allons-y! ok this week was cool, we had fourth of july and we ate a burger it was cool. there was a MLC this week so i got to see tons of amazing missionaries in this mission, always a highlight sister christensen came back from the U.S. and brought some goodies with her. she brought some stuff my mom gave her, then 2 bags of takis, and Jesus the Christ! super awesome! They tasted so so good oh my, like borderline celestial kingdom went and ate at this funky place on saturday night, we got a pizza it was yummy it was on a balcony too went to our sector sunday, got to know more members, ahhh the area is great went to kaysers to celebrate my year mark. bought another steak (it was a lot more tender and juicy) and it was awesome We got In a car accident (none of our faults) I got new glasses! Went to the market today and played my boy in mancala for the last time in a year. He gave me a gift of a family of elephants for free. I tried to refuse but he wrapped it up anyways. People here are so humble I love them so much. He put hard work into that and gave it away so quickly to me. I hope that man recieves some blessings soon he deserves it! ok winner of the week than i'll do my 1 year reflection winner of the week this week issss... Elder Casady!! He wins because he got me a mango monster, and it was so good and gave me the energy and the focus to do a project that took me 6 hours straight, I was mad efficace (efficient) and i owe it to him. thanks bro! YEAR REFLECTION this first year of missionary work was so so awesome, I have so many amazing memories, i've learned so much, and am continuing to learn. I've made so many amazing relationships but one of the relationships i'd like to develop even more this upcoming year is the relationship I have with my Heavenly Father. I've been a pretty good obedient missionary this last year. however i don't think i've been dedicated as much as i could be. I listened to a talk called "dont you dare go home" by Jeffrey R Holland. It is an amazing talk and he spends the first 30 minutes grinding into missionaries saying that his mission was the most life altering experience of his life, it shaped the rest of his life and he's eternally thankful for it, he wants so badly that all other missionaries understand the importance of a mission and take advantage of it. Here on a mission we have set aside time to grow our relationship with Heavenly Father every single day. Is that not such a great blessing? He loves us so much and for these two years i want to improve my love for Him, and i have! but nowhere near as much as i want to. i want to continue to devote myself to Him and improve myself. To be honest, I dont know how people can doubt serving missions, you get to go to a cool place, serving the Lord for 2 years, meet new amazing people, and have spiritual experiences. But you'll only become a changed individual if you make the effort to change. Of course i don't want to lose my personality, and I defintely haven't yet haha. but I still do want to change, that's one of the biggest blessings that come from a mission, complete change. spiritual change is necessary, if i want to remember God throughout my entire life. I want to be a Dad and still kneel down every morning and night and talk to my Father in heaven who loves me so much and has a plan for me. I want to be a grandpa and do the same. I never want to lose sight of the truth that has been lit up for me. I'm going to dedicate this next year to that, to make sure i set myself up to LOVE studies and to never want to miss them, to LOVE prayer to always want to talk to my Father, despite how tired I am. sorry for the whole talk but I have goals and I am going to accomplish them.. i can't wait. second shout out this week goes to all the boys who left on missions with me, Elder Palmer, Elder Clough, Elder Rowland, and Elder Beers. Love you boys and it makes it so much more worth it to me, knowing i'll come back from a mission and reunite with you guys, same amazing personalities and same amazing people, but all of us will have a deeper conversion to the truth. We still got work to do, we're only 1/2 of the way done but i'll see you all next year, and I can't wait to talk about the amazing things we've learned as missionaries. thanks for your constant support and i'm so blessed to have amazing examples like you guys in my life. Can't wait to talk about all the amazing things we've learned over a Breakfast Crunchwrap and Baja Blast at Taco Bell. Oh that sounds so freaking good. There's the email! Sorry it's long! Enjoy some photos!