Cousin Steven

Hey everyone! I hope you all are doing well! I think about you guys a lot at random times (especially when I'm running on the treadmill in the mornings), and I just want you all to know that I love you all! Thank you for reading these emails that I send! I know the quality is oftentimes lacking, but thanks anyways for sticking with it haha! Well, onto the week! This last week was quite the experience. We had a lot of things planned, and then we didn't end up teaching our first lesson until Saturday. That was a bit of a rough go, but we made the most of it. We got lots of oppurtunities for service this week, so that's always great. We almost maxxed out our service time as well, so that was pretty cool. Honestly I'm thinking about the week right now and I really just don't have a lot to report on 😂. We're working hard, so I know we will see the fruits of our labors soon! That's something that's hard for me to grasp sometimes. God's timeline is so much better than my own, but I really like to make plans and oftentimes I think my plans are pretty darn sweet. However, I need to be better at stepping back and being OK with the fact that God really does know much better than me. Everything happens in His time, and it always happens for a reason. There's a reason I'm still in this area, and I know God has a perfect plan on mind. I'm just going to keep working my hardest and listening to the Holy Ghost, and one day I'll look back and know exactly why I was here. That's the cool thing about this life that we live. In the moment, it can seem like our situation is not ideal or that we aren't learning what we feel we need to learn while we're there. However, when we look back, we can see God's hand so prevelant during those times, helping us to learn so much more than we had expected or planned on. One of my favorite scriptures that I've been thinking a lot about lately is 2 Nephi 2:24, which says "But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things" I know with 100% certainty that this is true! God's plan for me is so much better than the plan I have drawn out for myself. I'm so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who knows exactly what I need exactly when I need it, whether it be something hard or something wonderful. I know He's making me in to who He needs me to be. There will be growing pains, but in the end, I know it will be so worth it. And I'm so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ who allows me to make mistakes along the way! Without Him, true change and improvement wouldn't be possible. There would be no room to repent. However, we can start every day with the determination to be better, all because of Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful for His example and sacrifice for us, and the gift it is to spend every single day as a representative of Him. I may not be perfect, but I'm trying my hardest! The Lord loves effort, and that's what I'm giving! I love you all so much! Thank you for all of your prayers and emails to me. I may not always respond, but I read every single one. They always bring a smile to my face! I hope you guys have the best week ever. And don't forget, GOD LOVES YOU! Have a great one! - Elder Horsley