"Oh Geez, Please Go Away"

I thought that was the funniest response to seeing two missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the doorstep! I laughed all the way to the next house!


Anyways, I realized that I totally forgot to mention the best part of last week in the last email, so we are going to flashback for a second here:

ZONE CONFERENCE!!!

Yay! My first Zone Conference! It was so full of the Spirit and I learned so so much. The most powerful part was President Pickett's testimony of the Book of Mormon. The conviction with which he testified of the reality and truthfulness of the people, prophets, and teachings contained in that blue book helped solidify mine more than I thought another person's testimony could. President Pickett is a spiritual giant. 

When I first arrived. I asked one of the APs to describe President Pickett in one sentence. He said "His testimony is as big as his hands." Which is saying something! No kidding, the guy has the BIGGEST hands I have ever seen! It's almost painful to give him a firm handshake because I cant even grip his hand. . . it's more like a handsquish than a handshake! 

Okay flashback over :) 

This week felt really slow. We didn't find very many people to start teaching, and people we already are teaching aren't making as much progress and we would like to see. It is so sad to see people feeling the spirit, and learning so much, but thinking that life is "too busy" to read from the Book of Mormon or come to church. Let me tell you that life is NEVER too busy for spiritual growth. 

In more exciting news: Julia came to church this Sunday! She has come to church twice before, and loves every minute of it, but she lives way down at the south end of the ward boundaries, about 30 minutes away, and has to get rides from ward members to get here. The Releif Society President has been so supportive and kind in helping us out with this. She is more than willing to give Julia rides, but she has ward council 3/4 weeks of the month. She is the only other ward member who lives as far south as Julia does. But, it will all work out. "The Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." 1 Nephi 3:7 

After teaching Julia about the priesthood and priesthood blessings last week, she asked if she could have one! So after church, the ward mission leader and previous ward mission leader gave her a blessing of healing and comfort. It is beautiful to see the amount of faith she has. After the blessing, she was simply glowing. She is so ready to be baptized. She has even already started paying tithing! I love her so much!

 I had the opportunity to bear my testimony in Sacrament meeting, and I'd like to share it with you. My testimony and love for this gospel are stronger and deeper now than they've ever been before. I know that the fullness of the gospel has been restored to the earth. Joseph Smith was a prophet called by God to open this, the last dispensation. Joseph Smith translated the ancient records that are now the Book of Mormon, and I know that each page of that book is full of the testimonies and prophesies of real people who lived and breathed and had daily struggles just like you and me. The Book of Mormon does teach us about the character of Christ, and by applying the lessons I've learned from it, I have felt a closeness to my Savior and Redeemer that couldn't have come from anything else. Joseph Smith stood for what he knew to be true, even when his brother was killed in front of him and he knew the next bullet was his. I will stand for what I know to be true, and I will never forsake my testimony of this Gospel. My Heavenly Father loves me so much that He has a perfect plan for me. A plan of happiness, a plan with direction, a plan of love, a plan of salvation. My favorite part of the week is the opportunity I have to take the Sacrament. Jesus Christ died for me so that the plan that Heavenly Father has for me will work. I can think of no greater act of service than the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He died for me. I don't ever want to take that for granted. 

This upcoming week will be much more exciting, I promise. We have new missionary follow up meeting AND interviews with President Pickett :)

See y'all next week!

P.s. sister Jacobson just locked the keys in the car, so we are stuck at the post office for the next hour. . . WooHoo!!! What a way to spend P-day :) 

Not a "fan" of the humidity

Pretty self-explanatory 

President Pickett's hands!