Piano Time!

Hello all! Things are glorious here in South Riding! I love it!!

I got to play the piano yesterday!!!! I was soooooooo excited! I haven't been able to play the piano for MONTHS! Our ward mission leader and his wife have a piano and asked if anyone could play. I volunteered and I didn't know how much I missed music until I started playing. It was so nice to accompany people as they sang hymns. But it's okay, because I get to start playing at district council!

We got to do 10 hours of service this week! We went and served at House of Mercy again and sorted books and clothes. We did a split companionship because Sister Smith is learning Japanese and the other sisters there speak Japanese so she went with them. So it was just Sister Wiscombe and I. It was a lot of fun. We got to put a nightstand together and wow I didn't realize how much I love putting things together until that moment. Service is the best! We also helped out at a blood drive. We took temperatures and signed people in. We had fun! 

We taught our friend Rose the word of wisdom this week and she loved it! We were really worried because we didn't know how she was going to take it but she liked it and even pointed out the blessings you can receive from living it!

We have a recent convert, Brother Tobias, and he LOVES the gospel! He literally studies the scriptures all day! It makes me so happy to know that he loves them as much as I do! The doctrine in the scriptures is amazing and truly shows how we have a very loving Heavenly Father! 

We go running every morning and last week it was in the 60's, nice and cold! But then the last few days the humidity has hit us hard! I've started to feel sick when we run because it feels so hot from the humidity! But I must be getting used to it because I haven't had to stop running yet! 

Okay here is my thought for the week. I love the gospel. I love being a missionary. And, surprise! I love being obedient! The gospel can truly change our hearts and desires. I used to hate being obedient. I hated following rules and I didn't care to become better. If it was mischievous, I wanted to do it. But the gospel has changed my heart. Mosiah 5:2 says (and I'm going to paraphrase for a second here) "The spirit of the Lord Omnipotent has wrought a mighty change in us, that we have no more disposition to do evil..." This is what the gospel does. It's about joy. Not happiness, but joy. Happiness can be temporary, but joy? Joy is lasting! We receive endless blessings from the gospel! God loves us so much! I have changed so much that I don't want to do anything that would take away from the joy that I receive by being obedient to my Heavenly Father. I know He loves me and I know He loves every one of you! Alma describes my feelings exactly in Alma 29:9 "I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me..." I am so grateful the Lord called me as a missionary. There is nothing I would rather be doing! I wish I could be a missionary forever! 

I love you all!

Pictures this week are few. Sorry! I forget to take pictures throughout the week. We have Sister Smith, me, Sister Wiscombe, Sister Nelson who came out with me, and Sister Lungren! 

Sister Creager