Hot Summer Days

Dear Family,
This week had a mind of it's own. Our two new investigators are David and Leon. David was found tracting on Yule Rd.
Leon is a simple young man. He knows he want to get closer to God. He saw we were different than most girls and that we didn't make fun of his stuttering. He has it really bad. But the first lesson we had yesterday with him, we asked him to be baptized. He said Yes and he is preparing to be baptized on July 16th. He doesn't have a car so we are going to talk to him about transportation next lesson. We found out his brother is a former investigator that was we lost. Louis was living with a member and then he had to move out so we couldn't get a hold of him after that. Then low and behold we found his younger brother. YAHOO!
Some of our potentials were found yesterday helping a Mexican lady take her groceries to her home. In appreciation she gave us some watermelon drink from a powder. It was so nice after a long walk to her trailer. But on the way back to our car we talked to some older men getting ready to BBQ who were interested in who we were and what we believe in. The were a little tipsy Sister Dunn said. So they might remember us on Friday or they might not. I hope so. They gave us some apple juice which again was so nice on a hot evening.

One of then men smoking in the back of the porch recognized us as Mormon Missionaries and let us know his son was baptized but doesn't go to church or remember it very well. He didn't want to talk about it much so we gave them all, a card and made a return appt. I hope some of them are married so we can teach their family.

Thank you for the package. IT WAS SO WONDERFUL! All the index cards were fun to read.I love the Primary Book. Thank you so much and the monkey that looks more like a bear with a long tail. Hahahahah! It was fun to laugh about that. I am anxiously waiting to see where Sean is going. Thank you Sara for writing me. That was so sweet of you.

I see too often girls not owning up to standing out and being that person who will dress modestly. I am teaching a young mother of two who would have a different life if she knew how to keep herself morally clean and pure.

Anyways I love you guys so much and hope you are all being missionaries there!

Have pass along cards with you. And give one out! It is a thrill to talk to a total stranger about the gospel. Better than falling out of an airplane! The importance of allowing someone you know have the gospel, by giving them a Book of Mormon and inviting them to come to church or an activity out weighs the many service projects you have done for scouting or the community. Take the plunge and fly. The feeling afterwards is like you just ran a mile race and won! Anyways! Love you!

Finish Strong!

Thanks for all the support and love,
Finish Strong!

Jumping for Joy!

Hi ,

The smiling face jumping up and down next to the "hi" is an example of how I feel right now. We have had an awesome week. Sister Dunn and I are teaching two men named Carl and Mark. They are neighbors that live across the street from each other. Mark is a former investigator and Carl was nice to us after we broke his swing sitting on it to long. It was a rotten wood swing that he said was very old. But it got him to come over to our lesson with Mark and he has been studying with us ever since. So Carl is old and Mark is not so old but old enough to be my dad. Carl and Mark also came to church this Sunday. As well as Lee who is really going through some tough times. It is hard to teach Lee because of him not seeing the good in things. He doe not have motivation to read his scriptures. But he does come to church which is a miracle and I am proud of him making that choice. So back to Carl and Mark. Carl is really interested in the Atonement. We are teaching the Plan of Salvation and he was so shocked that the three kingdoms were in the Bible. That made me smile. He doesn't like classes or categorizing people into groups. But after he saw it was in the Bible he was okay with it. Which is understandable. Mark is a writer. He asks a lot of questions and is really curious and every question he has can be answered by the scriptures thankfully. It is awesome to teach them. We also have been teaching them every day. Around 6:30 we pick up a recently activated member, Sandy, and bring her to the lesson. We teach from the Book of Mormon and Bible, and the spirit is always there. It is so cool when we have Carl and Mark read from the Book of Mormon. After reading just one verse they react with a loud WOW or "That was so beautiful." Mark once wrote a question down in scriptures language with a lot of thees and thous and asked us the question at the end of the lesson. It took me back and I got a little overwhelmed, but Sister Dunn understood it and we answered it with a scripture. So we are seeing them today and we are excited to talk about church with them. Mark said to me after church where he should tithe. I was surprised he asked that because when we first met him he said one of them problems he had with us was tithing. He thought we were all about money when he saw the tithing slip. So this time I said we will talk about it more on Monday and I gave him an envelope and slip to keep.

Sister Dunn and I sang Love One Another in the youth Sunday school class and we had Carl and Mark sit in for the beginning to here. They loved it so much. THREE INVESTIGATORS AT CHURCH IN ROMEO BRANCH! HOORAY FOR ISRAEL!

Jesse and Brother T.J. are the following miracles this week. Jesse is praying for July 16th to be baptized. She is always thinking about it and we hope she presses forward with that desire growing more and more. We see that change and my heart swells with love for her. She is such an example to her mom as well. She wants to go to the fireside with us and is inviting her mom to come. Her mom doesn't know too much about the church, and is trying to understand why Jesse wants to join. So we think this would be a great opportunity.

Brother Craig entered the church building for the first time this week with Sister Pack being the member present. He felt comfortable and it was a big step to getting him comfortable to come to Sacrament meeting. We watched the Restoration DVD with him there and he loved it. What we are trying to teach him is the Spirit and the difference between the Power of the Holy Ghost and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. But he is progressing.

We had a fun time Sunday teaching a couple through there screen door on the floor of their trailer. James and Judy. They want to teach there daughter about church so she can learn about the Gospel, but they believe she has a bit of sin from Adam and Eve. They told us that they were baptist, but love to listen to people teaching as long as they have the Bible out in front of them. It was a good learning experience for me. I am not as well versed in the Bible. And Sister Dunn for got her scriptures on the couch at home, so I had a crippled companion for a while. But it helped me get more confident teaching from the Bible and got her more confident teaching from the Book of Mormon. We are seeing them next week. We should have traced back to the restoration but we didn't.

We have a family in the Branch and their daughter has MS and is my age. I for some reason have a soft spot for her really have connected with her. She has been struggling with her social life because of her health. I just loved it when we went to our member dinner that we don't have very often, and saw her brighten up. She seemed happier and more understood. It was so cool to see the message we shared really connect with her.

SO the work is moving and the Blessing are coming everyday.

I know that as you focus on the small and simple things the greater things fall in your lap that you can't deny are from your Heavenly Father.

Love you,

Finish Strong!

Moving Along

The Work is moving a long. I am taking some chances by seeing our investigators more often. Which means they can't forget us and start getting into a habit of expecting constant contact whether on the phone or by where they live. We need to get back into finding more people, but the branch is getting along better. The area is so nice to teach and do service. The weather is great. Some body we are teaching is making a decision to believe in God and Jesse is wanting to be baptized on her birthday next month. July 20th. She has been praying for that day and also to share the gospel with her friends and Mom. We need more members referrals. But we can always improve.
Sister Dunn and I have made a goal to go for a light brisk walk every morning. It has been going well so far.

Some advice to her soon to be missionary brother: "In D&C is says that first you must obtain the word before you preach the word. If you are going to commit people to baptism so that they can enter the gate towards eternal life, it is important to know as much about the importance of it as possible."

Mom and Dad I love you and will accomplish this mission with the help of my Savior. The little things and simple tasks are what makes a big difference. God will always be with me.

Love you so much!

Finish Strong!