GOD IS GOOD!

Wowwwwwowww this week has been CRAZY! There have been so many MIRACLES I'm not sure I can fit them all in this email. People in the South always say, "God is good" and today I am saying, "AMEN!" God is always good, but these past couple weeks it has been especially obvious. 

Last Monday: We went to Ashley's house for a lesson. She and her husband are members and they haven't been married in the temple yet. He didn't stay for the lesson, and she told us about how she feels held back by him because he doesn't want to progress as much as she does. Then she told us how she had been praying for help to quit coffee (she was kinda addicted), had stopped cold turkey three days before, and then after she had resolved to quit, her two year old son had been running around their kitchen and accidentally broke their coffee pot! If that's not God saying, "you asked for help, so here it is," then I don't know what is. And Sister Saunders told her that we would quit eating treats to support her, so here we are again! She hasn't had coffee all week, so she's keeping the Word of Wisdom, and Sister Saunders and I are feeling better. Win win! 

On Tuesday, we had an awesome district meeting about setting goals. Goals are so important- they help us to reach our potential, go to God, make changes, and He strengthens our weakness. It's amazing. I've learned to love goals being on a mission. The rest of our day was kinda rough and full of rejection. Our appointment with Wanda fell through. A lady swore at us and told us to get off her porch. Another person was clearly home but didn't answer the door. But then, after getting out of the car to see if another person was home, we met their neighbor who just happens to be the nonmember daughter of a less active member in the first ward. And she wants to have us over for dinner and talk with her and her husband! God is good!

That night, we drove to FORT WALTON BEACH <3 my home for an exchange. I stayed there with Sister Kinghorn while Sister Saunders and Sister Probst drove back to Crestview. At first I wondered how I could help her as she is about to go home and I still feel very new at this (hahah, I'm saying that and I'm about to hit 7 months), but I decided to trust that the Spirit had assigned me to go with her for a reason. (We pray about which of us should go with which sister in the other companionship). She told me that she is very accepting of the fact that she is going home, is proud of what God has accomplished through her, and has changed a lot for the good and become converted, but was afraid that she might regress and lose some of her conversion. I had studied conversion, and as I shared with her what I had learned about submitting our will to God and retaining our conversion through serving His children, it was very clear that the Spirit had worked through us to edify each other and to help her. While on the exchange, we got to teach Milicent, who I used to teach before she moved!!! It was so special to get to see her again and she was so happy to see me! 

On Thursday we helped serve lunch at the soup kitchen and guess who donated the food that day? Pounders, the Hawaiian grill restaurant that some members in the ward own. It's fantastic and I've had it to eat a lot while I've been here. Then, while weekly planning, Sister Saunders felt prompted to visit Quan, an investigator they had met about a month ago and hadn't seen in a while. He is 17 and lives with his aunt and grandparents. He was home, and we had an incredible lesson on the Plan of Salvation with him, which he practically already knew and he understood everything. He totally understood the priesthood and the need to be baptized by the proper authority, even though he had already been baptized in his church. 

"So, where do I find someone who has this priesthood?"

"Many of the men at our church have the priesthood, and if you'd like we can bring someone for you to meet next time."

"So when can I get baptized?" 

HOLY COWWW. So on Saturday we brought two of the young men from the ward who were awesome. And he accepted a baptismal date!

On Friday we met with Joe Barley to do family history again, and the conversation transitioned to the gospel! We talked about finding our ancestors so that we can be baptized for them at temples, which got him super excited! He also mentioned knowing that we believe that Christ visited the Americas, and he totally believes it! We're meeting with him tonight! 

Saturday was the second amazing lesson with Quan, and for dinner, Ashely took us to a sushi place. It was SOOO TASTY. We had to be in at 6 for our curfew for New Years' Eve, so Ashley came by and gave us some Martinelli's. She is the best! 

Sunday was awesome, too! Sister Saunders and I played the piano and violin in sacrament meeting, "Come Thou Fount." She is such a talented pianist! She plays by ear and writes her own arrangements and pieces that are definitely Piano Guys status, at least. For dinner, we had a traditional Southern New Year's dinner of porkchops, black eyed peas, corn bread, and greens. I love the South!

One more thing. This morning, during companionship study, we get a call from Willy, the awesome guy who came to church on Christmas. He apologized for not being able to meet with us this week, and it turned into a conversation about the Book of Mormon, what it means to know it is true, and he accepted to be baptized once he comes to know for himself that is true. He understood the need to be baptized by proper authority. And that's coming from a Pentacostal minister! Need I say it again? GOD IS GOOD! 

Look for the miracles of God's hand in your life and  you will find them. Or if you aren't seeing them, pray to have your eyes opened. I love you all!