"Quick, name three things that make you laugh"

Dearest Family, 

Three fun facts:

1) I LOVE THE ISLANDS.

As hard as it is to compare to my first two areas, I have a feeling I will have a reaaally hard time leaving this paradise of an island. This past week was one of the best of my mission. (And that´s saying a lot.) Our ward is incredible. We have awesome summer activities that you can only get away with if you live in the Canaries. #anythinggoes Everyone loves my new companion and all of the sudden everyone and their mom wants to feed us food until we die. Life is good. 

2) I have been blessed with THEE best companions. 

Hermana Aagard is a BOSS. Best/most hard working companion I´ve had. We´ve had such an amazing week FULL of miracles and tender mercies. As much as I love training, I´ve decided that having a companion with the same amount of time as me in the mission has some serious perks. We both just wanna work and see our area take off. Getting work DONE. Feels soooo good. I couldn´t think of a better way to spend the next 7 best weeks of my life. 

3) This work would be impossible if the church wasn´t true. Fact. 

There is nothing I love more  than sitting in a tiny hot living room, surrounded by a sweet spanish family, and testifying of this Gospel. Honestly, could not think of anything more fufilling at this stage in my life. Last night we walked out of a lesson, blown away by the power of the spirit, we just looked at eachother and without even having to say a word we knew exactly what the other was thinking. This chuch is true. I´ve seen so many lives change and blessed. It´s a good thing I have an amazing family waiting for me at home or else I might never be able to leave this place. 

All is well. I hope everyone is enjoying the summer! Hermana Aagard and I definitely are. We still wake up every morning, look out our open window at the ocean and say to ourselves, "I can´t believe we live here." 

Thought of the week: 

The Savior Wants to Forgive 

Also, my all time favorite, once again. 

The Will of God 

Be safe. Make good choices. Know that I love you. 

Love, 

hermana scheu

#yesweactuallylivehere

Quickest hours of my life= Morning personal study

Hi loved ones, 

Happy Transfer day! Today is the beginning of my 11th transfer and let me telllll you how lucky I am to have the best companion ever. 

I just picked up Hermana Aagard (Utahian) from the airport this morning and we´re both still in awe of how we ended up being together for our last transfer. We both started the mission together and we´re so excited to finish strong and work hard to the end! I am actually soo excited about our little district and how much work we are going to get done these next 8 weeks! I couldn´t have asked for a better companion or place to finish the best 18 months of my life! 

There are a couple things that I read this week during personal study and wanted to share. 

First of all, I read the priesthood session from this last conference. So Amazing. It´s always the first thing I read when we get the General Conference issues of the Ensign. 

One of my favorites was an address given by President Uchtdorf which applies really well to all members of the church.

 Are You Sleeping Through the Restoration?

In his talk he gives three opportunities in which we might be able to be more fully involved in building up the kingdom of God here on Earth: Selfishness, Addictions, and Competing Priorities. 

Another talk that I really enjoyed: The Choice Generation by Elder Ridd

In his talk he mentioned so many things that made me really rethink the way I´ll use technology after my mission. One of my favorite things that I´ve learned these past 15 months is how to appreciate personal scripture study. That short precious hour that I have every morning to read and study the gospel has changed everything for me. Everything. It has strengthened my testimony almost more than any other aspect of my mission. My stomach drops a bit everytime I think about how much I took time for granted. 99% of the time those 60 short minutes go by way too quickly.

I am so thankful for my mom and her wonderful example to me. I remember coming down the stairs in the early early hours of the morning and finding her silently studying the scriptures. Now, years later, I finally realize how important it is to take time everyday to quietly appreciate the blessings that come from inspired words of the Lord. 

In his talk, Elder Ridd adds an interesting insight about the unlimited internet access that we have through our cell phones, tablets, and personal computers:

 "Right in the palm of your hand you have the wisdom of the ages- more importantly, the words of the prophets, from Old Testament days to President Thomas S. Monson. But if you dont regularly recharge your cellphone, it is useless, and you feel lost and out of touch. You wouldn’t think of going a single day without charging your battery.

As important as it is to leave home every day with a full charge on your cell phone, it is far more important to be fully  charged spiritually. Everytime you plug in your phone, use it as a reminder to ask yourself if youhave plugged in to the most important source of spiritual power- prayer and scripture study, which will charge you with inspiration through theHoly Ghost.

 It will help you know the mind and will of the Lord to make the small but important daily choices that determine your direction. Many of us immediately stop whatever we are doing to read a text message—should we not place even more importance on messages from the Lord? Neglecting to connect to this power should be unthinkable to us (see 2 Nephi 32:3)."

I also loved this quote and I am pretty sure my parents have told me this a million and one times in my life and I am just now starting to make the connection ;)  

"Young people, don’t do dumb things with your smartphone. You all know what I mean (see Mosiah 4:29). There are countless ways technology can distract you from what is most important. Follow the adage “Be where you are when you are there.” When you are driving, drive. When you are in class, focus on the lesson. When you are with your friends, give them the gift of your attention. Your brain cannot concentrate on two things at once. Multitasking amounts to quickly shifting your focus from one thing to another. An old proverb says, “If you chase two rabbits, you won’t catch either one."

I hope we all take a few minutes to really think about how we use our time and how we can use it more fully to our personal growth and benefit. That is something that I will really be trying to work on this transfer. 

The mission is "the best". I love you all! I hope you have a wonderful week and give goaty 1.5 a kiss for me! 

Love, 

Hermana Scheu