Giving Thanks! November 25, 2013

Happy Monday everyone!

This week has been FABULOUS! We worked so hard and have seen so many miracles!

We started doing exchanges this week, since Sister Bassett is an STL. So it's been stressful for me, because I'm always the one who has to take care of the area while she's gone. It's been awesome though, because I've gotten to work with some great sisters! On Tuesday, I got to be with Sister Ferrin again! It was so much fun to be together again and working in basically our old area. It was comforting to spend time with my mom(trainer)! on Thursday, I got to be with Sister Powell and she is just amazing! We kind of went crazy that day and had 5 lessons and 45 contacts! It was also a very crazy day! I accidentally held a child for a few seconds, seeing as he jumped into my arms and it was that or the floor. /:

We also got yelled at by an apostate Italian man at a part-members home. The wife was very nice, though and let us share a message. Then we met a man named Black Ice and he proposed to Sister Powell! Haha it was a very outrageous day. I love doing exchanges, though, because it's really been helping me learn how to be a leader and take charge in my area. I've gotten so much better at teaching and contacting because of it!

This week, we also got THREE new investigators!! In case you're wondering, that's a lot here. One of them in named Emily and she's 14. Her mom is an active member and has been helping her a lot. We inherited her from the elders, who have taught her all the lessons already. She wants to get baptized, but her father is very much against it. Bummer! But we're working with her and hopefully she won't wait until she's 18! Then there's Alisha and she's absolutely solid. The elders have already taught her as well. She has set a baptismal date for the 21st of December and she's so excited! It's amazing to see people that are so prepared! She has a 6 year old son who's been enjoying primary and yesterday we taught them about temples. The exciting news is that she's going to Utah for Thanksgiving, and her friends are taking her to temple square on Saturday!! So she's super pumped for the temple and for becoming a Mormon! Yesterday, we also taught Shelby, a referral from the Campbell elders. She's been meeting with elders since March, but we talked with her last night about the Book of Mormon and parts of the first lesson and she is starting to get it! We challenged her to give it 100% this week to know if Joseph Smith is a prophet and we invited her to be baptized! She has a date for January 14th and she's going to do her best to be prepared by then! Yeeee!

But that's not all. We have been in contact with a woman named Sally for a few weeks and she is awesome! The elders met her when she just started coming to church one day. They have never been able to make an appointment with her, but she comes to church every week. We got her number and also tried setting up appointments, but they all fell through. So we've been sitting by her at church and the ward has been fellowshipping her a lot. The other day, she called us and we were on the phone for half an hour! She told us about her whole situation and how she's living out of her car and has no money for gas. She's been working with the bishop and he's been helping, but she really just needed someone to talk to(us). In the middle of the conversation, Sister Bassett says, "Sally, would you like to be baptized?" And she said yes!! She came to stake conference with us yesterday and is so solid! So hopefully, we'll actually start teaching her soon.

Exciting things are happening here and the Lord is truly hastening His work! This week was great and I'm so excited for our three dinners on Thanksgiving!! The members are wonderful and our investigators are even better! The Lord has blessed us so much this week and I know that miracles will continue to happen.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Love,

Sister Julie Catherine Harris