Celebrating my pioneer heritage!

I have a wonderful heritage of pioneers.  I have lines in my father’s family that came to America on the Mayflower. Their descendants and others who immigrated helped to establish and build our country through the revolutionary war.  Some of these ancestors joined the church right here in America.  They were part of the early saints and helped to establish the Church.  Other lines from my father’s family in Ireland, Scotland, England, Switzerland and other European countries came to America after joining the Church.  My mother’s family came to Zion from Denmark and Sweden after joining the Church.  I am richly blessed by my heritage and the sacrifices and courage that my ancestors displayed.

I have numerous stories of courageous, dedicated, hard working, valiant people that I could share from both sides of my family.  I have chosen one to share with you even though every story holds a special place in my heart.  

Hans Ulrich Bryner, my great, great, great grandfather on my father’s side, was born 30 March 1806 in Basserderf, Switzerland.  He married Verena Wintsch in Zurich Switzerland in 26 March 1826.  They had 7 children.  Their home was a home of industry, obedience, prayer and good living.  Hans was a shoemaker.

The story of their lives is interesting and gives me a deep respect and gratitude for their faith and perseverance.  I wish I could add the entire story of their lives in greater detail.  

In 1837, Hans bought a farm.  They called it a large farm then, but years later in America, they found by western standards it wasn’t so large.  There was no mechanical machinery then so all had to be done by hand.  The boys were taught to prune, plow and mow while the two girls were taught to plant and hoe.  They raised cabbage and kohlrabi and such vegetables.  They also raised cattle. 

They were an educated family.  The children went to school.  They were a linguistic people and could speak many languages.  Ulrich, one of the sons, could speak five or six including Russian.

Ulrich was largely the means of bringing the family into the church.  They were staunch Lutherans and would not be easily swayed or turned away from their own religion.

In January of 1843, young Ulrich who was nearly sixteen year old became very sick.  One of his school mates was sick at the same time and died.  This worried Ulrich so he was afraid he should die too.  In this state of unrest he saw a vision.  A man came and led him in darkness half way around the world.  Then, when they reached the other side of the world a bright light descended from Heaven and he saw the city of Zion shining bright.  Through a high wall there were three gates through which the righteous may enter.  Ulrich wanted to enter too but was told that his time wasn’t yet but if he were faithful he could enter some time.  Then he saw the man that was leading him.  He had gray whiskers and peculiar eyes.  This vision impressed him so that he talked about it a lot to his family.  Who could blame them if at first they thought it was his worried and weakened condition that had given him hallucinations.  They were a close knit, honest family and his parents came to believe him just as the parents of Joseph Smith believed him.  

That vision was in his mind day and night; it kept repeating itself.  He didn’t know the meaning of it for ten years.  During that time the family was busy on the farm and doing all kinds of jobs on the side and were very thrifty.  Because of this industry and thrift they were able to come to America when the time came.

In the winter of 1853, Ulrich was struck in the eyes with a meat hook which blinded him.  This was a catastrophe to the whole family as they belied that they would have to care for him the rest of his life.  After four sorrowful painful months, Ulrich had another vision.  He found himself in a great dark room and there were three fires of different sizes.  The same man he had seen before came in.  He had in his hand an open book.  He crossed out Ulrich’s sins and they fell to the floor.  He was told that he’d have to go through the middle fire.  He said he could do that, too.  The walls cracked open and the road to Zion was shown to him.  He, his wife and child would cross the sea and go to America.   His father said he was willing to go if he knew what he was going for.

A year later they heard of two Mormon missionaries from America who were in Bern.  Five members of the family went to hear them.  Ulrich’s wife was with them.  She saw the elders.  One had peculiar eyes so she went up close to him and observed.  He had very crossed eyes and wore heavy thick lensed glasses.  They described this in detail to young Ulrich on their return home and it was the same man he had seen in the dream.

One night after 9:00, a knock came to the door and Verena answered the knock.  She came back and said it was those Mormon elders and she wasn’t sure she should let them in so late at night.  Hans said, “Yes, let them in.   Take them up to my old room on the top floor.”  That room became headquarters for the elders in that area.  This was the first headquarters of Mormon missionaries in Switzerland.  These elders taught them the gospel.  The Bryner family had been readers of the Bible all their lives; they knew its teachings and they found that this new restored gospel was the same as that Jesus taught.  Then twelve of them, Bryner and Mathis families were baptized.  

Neighbors resented the elders being there and threw rocks and broke the window panes of the room where the elders stayed.  The family received the spirit of gathering.  Hans called his family together and they made plans.  Barbara, the elder daughter, and Casper, the only seeing son who had joined the church were to go first and pioneer the way and report.  Then the blind son, his wife and little daughter the next year.  And lastly father, mother, younger daughter and baby grandson were to come the following year.

Barbara and Casper (my great, great grandfather) came in Richard Ballantines’ company.  They were the first Swiss Latter-day Saints to come to Zion.  They traveled through Winterthur and Fraunfeld to Romenshorn.  Then they sailed over Lake Florence to Fredrichshaven, Germany.  From there they traveled to Mannheim on the Thine River and down the Rhine River to Rotterdam, Holland.  From Rotterdam they sailed to Hull, England and from there by rail to Liverpool.  They sailed from Liverpool to Philadelphia, PA and by rail to St. Louis, MO.  Then began their long walk across the Great Plains.

Presumably the others followed the same route.  Hans Ulrich and Verena came in 1857.  They, like most of the other pioneers, came by ox team, and like most of the other pioneers, had never driven ox teams before.  It took money.  Hans had sold out his interest in the butchering business where his sons had worked; he sold his home; he sold his farm and his pure bred cattle, and in fact, he sold everything.  They were only allowed seventeen pounds of baggage on the boat, so every available thing was sold.  He converted it into gold because that was good exchange anywhere.  He carried it in a well-made leather bag suspended over his shoulder and under his arm.  He looked forward to a comfortable home in the west.

He opened his purse and bought his team and wagon.  Around him were many poor saints who had neither wagon nor gold so he opened his heart and bought wagons and teams for many who agreed to return the equivalent when they could procure it in Zion.

It was a long hard journey at best because he and his wife weren’t young.  We know few of the events of that journey except those common to all: up in the early morning to have breakfast; feed and yoke the cattle; walk all day in the sun or rain or snow or wind.  Sometimes all these and more in one day.

They made camp at night wherever night overtook them.  This they did week after week and month after month all the long way.  

One day a dog frightened a team and it ran away.  Then they had a regular stampede.  Hans’s team ran away with his wife and little grandson in the wagon.  In trying to catch and stop them, he was badly hurt and was picked up for dead.  The team was finally stopped and with the help of others he was revived, but his arm was broken and his back was badly hurt.  The arm healed but his back was never right again.  It was with a great deal of difficulty now that he drove his team.  As previously mentioned, neither he nor his wife had ever driven oxen before and it took the efforts of both of them to manage the oxen.

When Hans and Verena arrived in Utah, they first went to Lehi where his son, Casper had taken up land.  There also was their daughter, Barbara and son, Ulrich and his family.  Everyone who had set out from Switzerland had arrived in Utah.

From Lehi, they moved north and lived near the Ogden settlement.  In 1861, Brigham Young called them to go to Dixie and settle.  They were sent to settle and build the city called St. George and prepare the area for a temple to be built there.

To get to Dixie, they traveled through storm, rocks and sand.  It was almost as bad as the trip across the plains.  In Dixie there was no shelter; no house.  They lived in tents.  The red sand could blow in and get into their food and into their beds.  No stores of any kind, no money to pay a bill.  They were on their own.  But their years of industry and thrift in far off Switzerland stood them in good stead.

Hans fashioned and made a spinning wheel.  They raised cotton and they gathered it in and carded it and spun it.  They gathered roots and colored it.  They spun the warp and the woof.  They wove the cloth for clothing.  They cut it out and tailored that clothing.

Their work together was short lived.  Hans fell from a load of hay and struck his already weak and sore back on a ledge.  In a day or so his life here on earth was over.  He died the first of March 1862.  He was the first Latter-day Saint to be buried in St. George.  Verena lived and worked on for 34 long lonely years.  She died 20 August 1896 and was the 1001th buried in St. George.   I share this story written by a cousin and  great granddaughter, Lura Redd.

Hans Ulrich Bryner and Verena Wintsch Bryner were noble servants of God.  They literally gave their all for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and all it stands for.  I am blessed and honored to be a descendant of such noble people

In a conference address in April 1997, Finding Faith in Every Footstep, Sister Bonnie D Parkin said:  “A pioneer stands up for what is right, dares to share the gospel in the face of opposition, and testifies of Christ through her actions… 

Perhaps in your enthusiasm for the gospel or maybe in your fear of the unknown, we are all required to make journeys of faith. That is the gospel plan. Our path may not be crossing an ocean or walking alone from an empty train station. But whatever it is, it will demand faith in every footstep. Years from now your grandchildren will tell with amazement stories of your choices which changed their lives. You will be called their pioneers. Have you ever thought that as you step into the unknown, you are showing others the way?”

In her talk, Sister Parkin tells some stories of pioneer youth. You may read that talk here.  

It has been a quiet but steadily busy week.  I’ve accompanied missionaries to doctors’ appointments on 3 days, taken the usual calls, and had transfer day and orientation of new missionaries on Wednesday.

Sister Hunt  at orientation/transfer day

Sister Te’o

Tuesday I took 4 missionaries returning home to Samoa to the doctor.  Samoa requires COVID testing and letters from doctors stating that a person coming into the country is asymptomatic and free of COVID.  They are still required to have a 14 day quarantine upon entering the country but all of the documentation, test results and medical papers are required to have been done within three days of departure and presented to the airline before they can board.

We will have 9 missionaries total leave the mission over the next few weeks and 7 new missionaries arrived.  The number of missionaries in the mission remains at about half the number it was before COVID.

I was able to enjoy dinner with a group of sisters on Friday evening.

Sisters Taulanga, Gabut, and Teweti.

We enjoyed an Indian feast.

I missed one day of walking the beach because of an early appointment but I have enjoyed the other days.

When the tide is out so far, the reflections on the wet sand create masterpieces of beauty!

Saturday evening I joined the senior missionaries from the Pacific Area Office for a celebration of Pioneer Day.  We enjoyed a delicious meal, listened to a few people share stories of pioneer ancestors, and played some games.  Enjoyable evening!

I have a favorite Primary song about pioneers.  Here are the words:

You don’t have to push a handcart,

Leave your fam’ly dear,

Or walk a thousand miles or more

To be a pioneer!

You do need to have great courage,

Faith to conquer fear,

And work with might for a cause that’s right

To be a pioneer!

I pray that you will have a great week.  Remember who you are and what you can do for others as you “pioneer” through your days.

I love my Savior.

I love you my family and friends.

My grandchildren like to ring the doorbell so they can talk to me.  I can see them through
the camera in the doorbell mechanism but they can only talk to me.  What a treat!!!
Isn’t technology a blessing for grandmas who are 7000 miles away.

My dear friends and fellow missionaries, Elder and Sister Mayberry, went to the
South Island.  They know me so well that they brought me a box of delectable chocolates!!

Rainbows are almost a daily occurrence here

Finding hope in broken dreams.

I watched a video on Hope Works this week that touched me deeply.  In my service as a mission nurse, I often see missionaries, ward members, or friends whose lives do not go as planned or dreamed.  Life can seem broken and messy.  Liz Wiseman was featured on the video titled: Finding Hope in Broken Dreams.

Liz mentions some of these instances I mention here.   I observe people who want to be married or to have a marriage that lasts, a missionary who wants to serve only to have to end a mission early because of health issues, a person who wants a college education but can’t afford to go to school, a couple who wants to have children but remains childless, a couple who plans retirement and a mission but a spouse dies, and the list goes on. I am sure you know someone in your life, and maybe even you, who has had a dream dashed.  I know that I have experienced some of these dreams that have gone unfulfilled or have been broken.

Liz shared a story from her “messy” life.  One afternoon she sat in her room reading and soaking in the peace and quiet.  Her two sons, 12 and 7 were playing together and not fighting or yelling for once.  Suddenly she heard glass breaking.  Not the sound of a glass falling from a table to the kitchen floor but loud crashing/breaking like glass from a large window.

She ran down the stairs expecting to see severed limbs and blood everywhere to find her two sons standing in the living room in front of a curio cabinet.  All of the shelves except one and the contents of the cabinet were lying in a heap in broken bits on the floor.  The seven year old looked terrified and the twelve year old who usually was the trouble maker had a smug look on his face as he pointed to his little brother.

On top of the pile of china/glass was her husband’s cherished Lladro figurine broken into pieces.  Her husband had served his mission in Japan.  His brother has served in Spain where Lladro was made.  The brother had had a figurine made for her husband of a Japanese mother and her daughter in beautiful kimono robes.  The twelve year old was kneeling searching for all of the Lladro pieces and explaining to his mother that he could fix it so his father wouldn’t be sad.

Liz assured her seven year old that he was more important and valuable than any china cabinet and contents and while the younger boy went about cleaning up the mess, the mother and older boy sat at the table.  Mother tried to explain that it was impossible to put things back together but her son insisted that if he took super glue, he could fix it for his father.

Together they pieced and glued the figurine back together.  It actually went better than expected but a small piece of porcelain in the back of the figurine couldn’t be found.  They discussed things they might do to fix it but decided to leave it incomplete.

Liz called her husband to warn him of the disaster so he was prepared to lovingly thank his son for repairing the cherished item.  Even with all of the cracks and imperfections, the figurine became more dear and precious to them.

Liz goes on to explain that great beauty can come from broken things.  So how do we learn to appreciate all of cracks in our lives?  She enumerates three things we can do to find more joy amid the mess.  How we can find hope:

1. Eschew perfectionism.

Liz refers to a talk given by Jeffery R Holland in October 2017 titled Be Ye Therefore Perfect – Eventually in which he cautions to strive for steady improvement without obsessing over toxic perfectionism. I would invite you to read this talk.

2. Let our own cracks show. 

Sometimes when we post on FB or other social media, for example, we want our lives to appear to be models of perfection.   It doesn’t hurt for us to be vulnerable and to show the realities of life.  Asking for help fosters learning for everyone.  Admitting mistakes creates a climate for forgiveness.

3. Look to the right source for healing.

Psalms 147 says: “He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds.”  True healing comes from our relationship with God.  It comes from our Savior Jesus Christ.  When we come in humility, weak things can become strong.  That which has been broken can be made whole.

Life is messy.  Things break.  We break.   The world offers self-help elixirs to heal our wounds.  Retail therapy is offered to help us live “the dream”.  But these are little more that cheap band aids that will inevitably bleed through.

Voices from the dark will tell us all is lost.

The Gospel teaches us that things can be fixed and healing is found in Jesus Christ.  Even if we’ve had a hope dashed, we don’t have to lose hope. We can find growth in failure.   We can find joy in the mess. And when we become truly broken hearted, this is when we find strength.  His strength.  A strength that truly endures.

Because there is no written script for the video, I have tried to quote or share the thoughts Liz presented.  I hope that you will watch this Hope Works video.  I know that it is through our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we can find peace, happiness, hope and strength to endure to the end.

I spent 5 days in the hospital with a missionary this week, went to urgent care twice, and spent quite a bit of time on the phone.  The life of a mission nurse and I LOVE it!

My view from the hospital room

I missed 4 days of walking on the beach so I got a little low on my vitamin sea.  There really are health benefits from going to the beach. According to an article from the University of New Hampshire, there are at least 5 benefits.  You may read about it here.

I just had to get a dose of the beach, so Sister Lucas joined me in a 5:00 A.M. walk on Friday morning so I could get to the hospital before the doctors made their rounds.  Sister Lucas was prepared with a flash light which we needed in order to see because it was so dark.

Friday morning pics of the beach.  

By the time we walked full length of the beach and back,
the sun was beginning to peek over the horizon.

Saturday morning we walked at our usual 7:00 A.M.  I was rather exhausted so I went grocery shopping on Saturday but really did nothing more than necessary.  I needed the rest.

Sunday we walked after church.  There must have been a reunion or meeting of the French bulldog society.  I even got to hug a cute little dude.

From Wikipedia:  The French Bulldog is a breed of domestic dog. They are the result of a cross between Toy Bulldogs imported from England and local ratters in Paris, France, in the 1800s. French Bulldogs were bred to be companion dogs. They are stocky compact dogs with a friendly mild-mannered temperament.  

The breed is popular as a pet; in 2019, they were the second most popular registered dog in the United Kingdom, and in the U.S., the fourth-most popular AKC-registered dog breed. They were rated the third-most popular dog in Australia in 2017.

Monday I want to the office to go over some items that I needed to take care of.  We have four missionaries returning to Samoa so I needed to arrange COVID testing and medical exams that are required before they can board the flight home and enter the country.  I will meet them at the clinic Tuesday morning to complete the task.

I love serving in this mission.  I love the missionaries.

I love you my family and friends.

I love my Savior.

Another lovely gnarly tree.

Remember that I asked the missionaries to eat a healthy diet and that they should eat a rainbow of colors
to get the best nutrition.  Received these pics from a group of “health” conscious missionaries.

I wish I could bottle up or somehow share some of the benefits of the beach with you but all I can do is send another little video clip.  Close your eyes as you listen.   I hope you can feel the breeze on your face, smell the salt air, and hear the sound of the waves lulling you into peaceful rest.

Miracles do happen!

Because of the nature of my calling as mission nurse and my HIPAA training, I never share information about missionary health conditions. However, I have asked permission from a missionary to explain an injury in order to share a miracle with you.

One of the sisters injured her ankle when she tripped on a broken sidewalk. We went to urgent care where x-rays showed no fracture but a separation of the tibia and fibula at the ankle.

It was very painful. She was required to wear a large, cumbersome brace for a minimum of 2 weeks. She was to limit walking with no long periods of standing.

She is in a leadership position and the designated driver. She couldn’t drive with the boot and was not to remove the boot. This really curtailed the work she wanted and needed to do. She felt guilty because it also stopped her companion from doing their work.

They used technology and got rides from other sisters when possible but it was still a most trying and discouraging time for them.

She was to see the doctor 2 weeks from the date of the accident to determine how much longer she would be restricted and to see if alternate treatment was needed.

About 5 days prior to the scheduled follow-up appointment, I received the following message:

“Hi Sister Petersen, I have news for you! It is actually a miracle we'd love to share with you that just happened tonight. You remember that lesson we mentioned we had tonight at 6pm? So we ended up going to it and it is a Philipino family we've been teaching for a while now. They notice the spirit but they are struggling to find answers and we've taught them pretty much everything.  

So tonight, we decided to sit down with them and read the introduction of the Book of Mormon with them and ask the dad to pray. We read the Introduction and we were so shocked, even the RM we took tonight as fellowship was so shocked because the dad, who was the hardest to work with, he was just stating actual truths and principles of Christ from the Book of Mormon and Bible and the spirit was just so strong.  

When it came to the end of the lesson, we invited the dad to pray and ask specifically for confirmation of the message we've shared with them about the Book of Mormon. Just before he said the prayer, we invited everyone to kneel down. I invited them and I didn't know what I was thinking because I, can't even kneel because of my ankle. But as I knelt down, I felt no pain. And as the dad said his prayer in Tagalog, which we did not understand, we felt the spirit so strongly. After the lesson I was just standing outside the car with no crutches and just moving my ankle around and it doesn't even hurt anymore. I swear, with every possible position that might hurt, it doesn't at all. And that is a miracle we've just had and just wanted to share with you.  

We believe that our Heavenly Father healed me tonight because my companion and I needed NEEDED to kneel down in prayer with that family so they could receive a confirmation about the Book of Mormon. I am still in awe right now, I can hardly believe it but I know the Lord provide ways so we can accomplish His work and will. We love you so much and hope you enjoy your night and Sabbath tomorrow! ❤”

I felt the Spirit as I read this note. I know that the Lord blesses us in ways that we never expect. I’ve seen many miracles in my life. They are not always obvious at the time, as was the miracle that happened to this sister, but I see and feel the hand of the Lord in my life at all times.

I read an interesting article that I will share some parts:

Finding Miracles in Everyday Life

By Breanna Call Herbert, Alex Hugie, and Aspen Stander

Church Magazines

If we view life through a lens of faith in Jesus Christ, our eyes will be opened to the many miracles all around us. 

What Is a Miracle? 

We all know what a miracle is, right? Moses parting the Red Sea. The Savior giving sight to a blind man. A woman being cured from a terminal illness. One of the most extraordinary miracles is the Atonement of Jesus Christ—no miracle has ever been so far-reaching or powerful. But are those the only types of experiences that could be considered miracles? 

President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, said, “Many miracles happen every day in the work of our Church and in the lives of our members.”  But when was the last time you moved a mountain or saw a few fish and a few loaves of bread feed thousands? Most of us probably haven’t seen anything like that. So how can President Oaks’s statement be true? 

According to the Bible Dictionary, miracles are “manifestations of divine or spiritual power.”  With that definition, let’s open our eyes to the many miracles that surround us—miracles that we might not even recognize. 

We definitely see God’s hand in the lives of His people through the miracles in the scriptures. But we can also see His spiritual power when we receive an answer to a prayer, strengthen our testimonies, or have a change of heart. 

Still, there are other miracles that we tend to forget: The sun rises and sets each day; small seeds grow into mighty trees; the many components of our body work together, enabling us to breathe, run, dream, and eat. Inspired advances in medicine and technology are happening every day, and we can now communicate with almost anyone anywhere. God’s power can be seen in every detail of our lives. 

Why Does God Perform Miracles? 

Miracles come in many forms, but God performs them for the same overall purposes. Sometimes miracles heal, comfort, or physically protect God’s children, but these outward effects are not the only reason for miracles. Often, a miracle doesn’t prevent suffering or tragedy at all. God performs miracles for two basic reasons: to strengthen faith and to accomplish good. 

Often, miracles manifest God’s power to His children or teach a spiritual principle. The Bible Dictionary says that Jesus Christ’s many miracles “were intended to be a proof to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ” and to teach principles such as accountability, repentance, faith, and love. 

Other times, miracles can confirm a previous revelation, such as the signs of Christ’s birth in the Americas. God can also use miracles to advance His work—family history work, missionary work, and more. 

President Brigham Young (1801–77) taught, “Miracles … are not for the unbeliever; they are to console the Saints, and to strengthen and confirm the faith of those who love, fear, and serve God.”  Understanding why God performs miracles can help us recognize them in our own lives. 

How Can I Recognize a Miracle?
Miracles happen only according to the will of God and our faith in Him. 

The Lord performs both seemingly ordinary and extraordinary miracles in our day. Faithful followers of Jesus Christ in every dispensation have experienced dramatic healings and unexplainable successes. However, we should not overlook the everyday events that act as reminders of God’s hand in our lives. Sometimes we just have to recognize them!

Another very busy week has quickly come and gone! I have spent a night and a day (different admissions) in the ED, better known to you as the ER. I attended a doctor’s appointment and lots of phone/text/email time. Health Council meeting on Thursday. The work continues.

I have managed my daily beach walks in spite of business. It gives me my daily dose of “vitamin sea”.

After a storm, the beach was piled high with seaweed. 

Friday morning it was clear and cold by New Zealand standards.
The sunrise was spectacular as always.

I posted the temp from the Weather Channel app.

The man wading into the water had on swim trunks only.
Most swimmers at this temp wear wet suits.

The apartment complex where I live had the planters replaced on the patios around the common area. It was fun watching the progress. It all happened in two days time.

Add caption

Doing laundry and my washer decided to do a number on me. It would get a few minutes
into the cycle and then gave an error code. The property manager was quick to respond
and I was only out of the laundry business one day.

I made chicken tacos one night. 

I was invited to dinner by Sister Lucas another night.She served snapper and a variety of roasted vegetables.

On my walk through the reserve, I spotted this beautiful pair of Pūkeko birds.

“Pūkeko is the New Zealand name for the purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio). There are many subspecies of purple swamphen. The subspecies found in New Zealand (Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus) is thought to have landed here around a thousand years ago from Australia. 

Pūkeko are a member of the rail family of birds. They look very similar to takahē, although takahē are much heavier. Pūkeko are about 51 centimetres long with distinctive colourings; a deep blue colour, with a black head and upperparts, white feathers under their tail, and a red bill and legs. 

Pūkeko are widespread and are as at home in pasture and farmland as they are in wetlands. They are commonly seen along marshy roadsides and low-lying open country. 

Unlike many other native birds, the pūkeko has adapted well to new habitats, such as grassed paddocks, croplands and even city parks, a necessity brought about by disappearing wetlands. However, the pūkeko is essentially a bird of swampy ground, lagoons, reeds, rushes and swamps.”

This picture came up in my memories on Facebook From 5 years ago just before my first mission to
New York City.  I remember how excited I was to become a missionary. The excitement hasn’t waned!!

I pray that you will have a safe, healthy, and happy week. Look for the miracles daily in your life.

I love my Savior. I love my family and friends.