Orem 1

Hello Friends and Family!

Can you believe I have been out for 5 months already!? This first week in Orem has been crazy! While we don't have a ton of work, we have a lot of walking to do. Thankfully today I will be able to buy a bike with my companion. My new companion by the way is awesome! We are getting along well and trying to get work going! She helps uplift me and we have fun together! Let me tell you about my apartment! We live in a mansion!!! (pictures to come) My address is still the same, 85N 600E Provo, Utah 84606

I can't explain how happy I am to be here in the Utah Provo mission. This being the first time that I have been moved, I felt apprehensive and nervous but now that I am here I am happy and grateful. I have been slacking writing in my journal for a couple months but now I have resolved to write in my journal every day the blessings and tender mercies that I experience. I find myself writing more and more every day and being able to see even the smallest things that have happened in my day and to be grateful for those small things that Heavenly Father blesses me with. My prayers have gotten stronger and my testimony has increased! I want to thank each and every one of you for your love and prayers and I want to leave you with something my mom put at the end of my email this week:

"Helen Keller once said: "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do." Seeing as you are a sunflower-lover, and somewhat of a sunflower yourself, you can take this to heart. Keep your eyes on Heavenly Father, and all your problems will fall behind you. Those problems may make you sad or anxious, take your focus from your work briefly, but re-focus, and let the "Son" warm your every effort."

I think there is much advice that we can take from this paragraph. Keep our efforts towards our Heavenly Father and he shall bless us forever with comfort, guidance, love, discernment, etc. He is the way and there is no other way.

I love you all very very much <3

Love,

Maren