Miraculous and Momentous Change!

Yesterday I got to talk to my sweet mom and family. They are a huge reason I am here. 

God could have accomplished His purpose by sending us down two by two, but instead 

He organized us into families. Each family is vastly different: with their differing challenges, 

members, strengths, etc.But one thing is the same: each family is ordained of God. 

     One of our investigators, Sarah, could really use your prayers. She is the most amazing sister. 

Two weeks ago she came to family home evening with a member. Elder Moss asked her 

when a time we could come get to know her better was. She said she was fine because 

she had her bible. Then the next week, after she went to the Oakland Temple Visitor's Center 

with her fellowship (Courtney), she allowed the Spirit to teach her with us. Since then she has 

been praying; She has come to a knowledge that the Book of Mormon is true; And she is

 excited for her baptism. We love her so much, and she is so valiant. Her dad is a Lutheran 

minister, and when Sarah told he and her mom that she had been meeting with us, I guess 

they had a big fight. When they found her Book of Mormon they told her that it was not allowed

 in their home. As we have been praying over and over again about her situation we are led time 

and time again to experiences in the scriptures where people are in challenging circumstances 

when it comes to their families. Cain killed Able. Animosity arose in the family of the prodigal son

 when the father shows mercy and forgiveness. Nephi's brothers tried time and time again to take 

away his life. Joseph Smith's best friends turned against him. And why do these afflicted Saints 

continue? Because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. The end Romans chapter 8 has been one 

of my favorite passages ever since Caleb sent it to me while he was on his mission: "Who shall 

separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation,or distress, or persecution, or famine, or 

nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we 

are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors 

through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,nor principalities, 

nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall 

be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." I know that is pretty 

long, but Sarah knows in whom she has put her trust. 

Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your example to everyone who sees you. You are a missionary!

Simple Miracles

This week just rocked! I am trying to be dignified in my explanation, but I feel like 

this is just the only way to describe this week. On Tuesday we had district meeting

and our senior couple in our zone went home. They said, "Humility isn't thinking 

less of yourself. It is thinking less about yourself." I don't know about you, but that is 

something I always worry about. I try my best to find that balance between confidence 

and humility. I realized that the blessing that we have as God's children is that we 

know who to put our trust in. To be frank, if you put your trust in yourself, you will fail. 

But if you put your trust in God, and believe in yourself enough to follow His commands, 

you WILL succeed. It is so prevalent here in the field. We have the opportunity every 

single day to see people who are going through a hard time. I know that sounds weird, 

but you know what can help anyone. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When we have 

faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repent, are baptized, receive the gift of the Holy 

Ghost, and endure to the end, we truly are happy. That doesn't mean hard times don't 

come, because they most definitely do. But when we take His yoke upon us, our trials

 transform us into the person that God intends us to be. And I promise you that that 

person is happy. We set dates with two investigators this week. Thomas is being 

baptized on the 18th, and Courtney is being baptized on the 25th. The Lord is so invested

 in his work, and He truly is hastening His work in its time. On Saturday a member asked 

us if we could come help her put on a car mirror. We had no idea, but, as missionaries, 

we accepted the challenge. It was amazing to see the Lord help us with the super simple 

act of helping this sister out. At branch council this last week we had an amazing training

 on why we have the ward/branch council. Someone said some profound things about 

how in this world there are "givers" and there are "takers." It just kept hitting me that the 

Lord wants us all to be givers, and Satan tries to persuade us to be takers. The funny thing 

is that by being givers we receive so much more than when we are takers. I know this letter 

was all over the place... but welcome to my mind. Next week I promise to be more organized! 

I love you so much! I am so grateful for you and all you do to strengthen your brothers and sisters.