TORNADO

I know y'all were all probably wondering about the tornado, because it seemed like everyone was asking about it. As you can see, we survived! The whole night was actually so fun. Kinda scary, but we were in the Jennings (our ward mission leader and his family) cellar and totally safe:) There were 11 of us in this tiny hole in the ground basically, but we were all singing and joking around and laughing. People in Pampa don't take tornadoes too seriously, because they are so used to them! From what I heard (since as missionaries we still don't really know all the details even though we lived through it) three touched down in Pampa, and there was some damage:( But we were blessed with a lot less than there could have been! The biggest one was a mile wide!!! But it all stayed on the east and south edges of town. I have just always wanted to be in a tornado on my mission. It's ridiculous, I know. But I was so pumped to experience it!

After the crazy of Monday night, things calmed down quiet a bit here in Pampa. More than we would have liked. It seemed like all of the solid people we were teaching just started slipping out of our fingers and we were left with few people to teach. It was definitely a trying week. Between stressed companions, doubting investigators, and empty days, I was about ready to just give up on trying. But it's in those moments that I remember my dear Savior. As He wept in Agony in Gethsemane and ached on Calvary, He never once gave up.  And because He never did, He overcame death, pain, sorrow, affliction, temptation; He overcame the world. With Christ, these trying weeks are able to make me stronger and turn me into the woman God sees me as. This Thanksgiving week, I am so grateful for that knowledge. I am grateful that it doesn't just apply to me, but every single person I meet. I am grateful that God sees us for who we can become instead of who we are. I am grateful that He gives us the way to become the people He sees us as. And most of all, I am grateful for my Savior who makes it all possible.

Things are already looking up here. Even on the hardest of days, I am loving every second and grateful for this sacred opportunity to serve the Lord.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! And a reeeeally Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, 

Hermana Peck

P.S. Mom, all I want is your apple crisp and homemade rolls...no one makes them like you

The pictures are of the tornado and the missionaries in the cellar!