"DeLand of Promise"

Another week gone by!!!

Dad, it is so wonderful to hear that you have a new job! I am so glad to hear everyone's excitement over it- I have been praying for you. And Baseball is full time! Sis A and I often talk about how baseball was the name of the game at home and have tried to see if there was some game going on on a P-Day. Though I see tournaments going on, nothing happens on Monday nights yet- I miss being watching it! Play hard boys- I can't wait to see you all dominate the feild when I get home! And Miss Ellie May. I have thought about you so much this week- just finish girlfriend! There are so many fun things around the horizon- just a couple months away and you'll be on a college campus and the home will be full of smelly boys ;). So many changes- and yet, they are all good and exciting! I also am so jealous that Sherri Dew spoke at our stake. Mom, I love that you said there is nothing to hide about our faith- because there isn't! I have found that when I am approached by people that are trying to be contentious and bring up things that can be controversial, the best thing to do is to own whatever history in our church that they are referencing and testify- no use in trying to explain things that we don't fully understand, or try to make reason for God's mind. The church is always true!

This week so many wonderful things have happened this week. Sis Arsenault and I have had many choice experiences where we have seen several people that we have interacted with for quite some time (members, nonmembers alike) finally take a step this week. We FINALLY gained have a new progressing gator named Brenda! She is the girlfriend of one of our ward members and loves the sisters (we have visisted her for about the last year), but never wanted to really discover anything for herself. Angelica Delgado (daughter of our recent convert Diane) experienced the spirit touching her heart this week! It was such a frustrating experience, because we went to her home with another spanish family in our ward, and the whole time the two moms were gabbing in spanish and the kids were running around. I couldn't even hear the own message I was trying to share. Yet, we continued on TRYING to help Angelica recognize the need for a Restored Gospel. However, there was a moment where we shared the first vision (a shoe-in for inviting the spirit), and her eyes widened. Things seemed to stop just for that one moment- I know she was pricked. YES! Another members of our Ward, Anthony Sanchez (P.s. you can delete these names, I really only put them in because my journalling is lacking (despite my effort to keep up) and I want to remember all these people and their experiences), who is preparing to prepare for a mission was able to bless the sacrament.

Also this week, we got a call late Wednesday night saying that one of the sisters in our Zone had to go to a meeting in Orlando so her comp, Sis Quinton (my MTC comp), would need to tag along with another companionship for the next day- and that she would be coming the following morning! WAHOO!!! Reunited with my only two companions every- it was such a fun day. One neet experiences we had that day, was we finally extended a baptismal date to Kim, a lady who (like Brenda) we have been non-commitally seeing over the last 6 months. We got a firm maybe. Haha, but the spirit was so powerful. We were all teaching in unity. I felt super silly as she opened her door and saw three girls on her door step, but between the three of us the spirit generated so much energy in her home.

To answer some questions- getting sick. Well, if your too sick to go out, then you can stay home. But it is such a hard thing to do when you have pain-stakingly scheduled appointments with other people- making them ASSURE you that they will be there. If I can help it, I never want to have to miss a day of this work- it's so exciting and always changning- I would feel so behind if we had to cancel plans for a whole day! Also, can you tell me what money I have on my personal card? Sometimes I try to use it and it won't work on certain occassions. I think I am okay on money right now, I just want to know how much I have, so I can be aware and smart. LOVE YOU ALL.

P.S. A little somethin' something' that I learned this week:

D&C 4:3 "Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work" I wish that I hadn't spent so much time trying to figure out when God wanted me to go on a mission- because I wanted to go on a mission. This week I have considered the question Elder Zwick asked each of us- "What am I willing to change in order to become a more effective disciple of the Lord, Jesus Christ?" I want to invite whomever may read this letter the same question- What are you willing to change in order embrace whatever calling or responsibility you hold? Just act! Act with purpose!


Seriously- Love each of you!