Haha... Hellooo...
So I pretty much had an awesome birthday. We had a Zone Conference in Hot Springs today, so I spent the whole morning and a good chunk of the afternoon there at the church. I got an ALRM luggage tag from Sister Batchelor. haha.. It was pretty sweet. This is the last Zone Conference for Pres and Sis Batchelor... It was really sad!!! They gave their farewell testimonies, and we sang God be with you till we meet again... Pretty much a tear fest for EVERYONE... I've really come to love and respect them, so I'm sad to see them go, but I know the new mission president will be awesome too. Even if he is a "kernal" General in the Army, and a CEO of some big company AND from Texas.... haha... Pres Batchelor was less intimidating... He was a gym teacher... anyways... I know that I'll prolly come to love the new president because i have a whole year to get to know him.
So after that, we drove back to Maumelle, and visited a couple people, then went over to the Ward Mission Leader's home for dinner. They had this big party for me!! Haha!! They invited a bunch of ward members and we got to sit and have fun together. Even Robin got to come. I love that woman!! and Louise came too!! I think I told you last week that she's getting baptized on June 21... WOOT!!!! She's sooo wonderful!! I love the people here so much!!! So we had this awesome meal, and Sis Brown (WML's wife) whips out this chocolate cake with candles and everything and everyone sang to me! haha!! It was weird to hear them sing "Sister Dyer" in the song... haha... But it was so great. I definitely had a great birthday. Louise even got me a Maumelle t-shirt. haha. I loved it.
So that was my day... pretty sweet...
Oh!!! and MOST RANDOM THING EVER!!!!!! But we had to take our car in to get an oil change (we've got a Chevy Malibu now). So the guy that was talking to us was Asian, but i was SOOOOOO confused because he had this incredible Southern Accent!!! He said y'all, fixin to... EVERYTHING!!! haha!!! It was hilarious... maybe you had to be there... but then again... just picture Jessie speaking in a Southern accent and maybe you'd catch the vision... haha....
So thank you everyone for sending me the bazillions of happy birthday emails. haha.. I definitely felt loved.. Well... I know I am. So thank you...
Can you believe I've been out for 5 and a half months already?! I sure cant... Its incredible... time is truly flying...
The Church is True everyone... And if you dont know it... Pray about it. I promise an answer will come. Serving a mission is incredible... I read a poem yesterday that someone's aunt wrote about missionaries... the jist of it was... I've never been so upset, but I've never been so happy... its so true... This is such an emotional rollercoaster, and it truly tests your devotion to the Lord. I've come to a great understanding of how insignificant i am alone, so I have more reason now than ever to use the enabling power of the Atonement... I know it's real.
I love "y'all" so much. haha... Thank you again for your love and support. I miss you so much, but i take comfort in knowing you're praying for me...
Keep up the awesome everyone. There is so much to be grateful for, so dont ever take what you have for granted.
Love you!!
-Sister Alison Dyer
