Consider the Lilies. 3 Ne. 13:26-34

Dear family-

    I want to start by telling you how deeply I love you all. I have some things to say to Ashley- you are amazing. I have been thinking of you lately and telling people about you- I want you to know how much I respect, admire, love and look up to you. You are a beautiful, deep, complex person- I am so humbled happy and grateful you are my big sister. Thank you for helping me so much all my life. I hope you are confident in knowing what good things lie ahead for you- don't ever doubt or be discouraged- you have done nothing but strive to be good and work hard and be kind to those around you. God wants to and will bless you. He knows what you need and what to provide for you and when- That scripture is for you Ash- "Consider the lilies, how they grow and toil not, yet all things are provided for them." You are a lily (not a lotus blossom as mom would say haha but a lily!) God will provide ALL the wants and fulfill ALL your needs if "ye are not of little faith". read that. miss you miss you miss you miss you. 

I forget what its like having a big sister to lean on!!!! EVERYONE LEANS ON ME. I am a UNIVERSAL big sister out here to EVERYONE- which I love- but I have to remind myself- I have a big sister too- and I think you helped me to be able to know how to be such a good big sister figure to all these girls and youths I am now working with out here.

ok-

       This week- what a week!! first off the weather really is starting to be amazing! I love that crisp October air- it smells like change and excitement!! And excitement there is- because my beloved Dion (our investigator) is going to be baptized on the 2nd of NOvember!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could not ask for a better bday present! I could not be happier!!! You have no idea!!! ahh!! I love him! we have been working towards this for so long, i could see it and feel it, and its all happening! Oh God is good-- my joy is so full! 

and the Hernandez family (also beloved to me) has been SO AMAZING in being there at all our lessons and really fellowshipping him and it made such a difference in his conversion just as i knew it would. Missionaries are like matchmakers- we match investigators to ward members and introduce those relationships as the SPIRIT directs and BOOM! its like magic- then long after we leave we know those investigators will be ok bc they have relationships within the ward. If Dion was the only person I met and baptized on my mission it would be worth it- i would come out just for him. but that is not the case :) 

       We had 3 investigators at church yesterday!! 3!! what a blessing- how we have toiled, labored, planned, and prayed for all of this to come together and it has! there is still much more work to be done- we are not nearly done- but i rejoice and glory for the success god has granted us thus far- and it gets better- us and the elders taught combined ym and yw this sunday, about how to be in the world and not of it and it went great- I am so grateful the Spirit was there- I KNOW that that was all spirit led. And Dion and a less active girl who also came to church for the first time were both there on the audience as well as one of the leaders investigators so to be teaching the youth plus our investigators and people we are working with was AMAZING!! 

      I am on fire about it still if you couldn't tell...haha. Well i have discovered, just as i thought- that the youth is where my passion and true excitement lies. I LOVE teaching the youth. I could speak with and to the youth for the rest of my life and be fulfilled- I was in heaven. that is so my place and call in life- seriously- that was made manifest to me and solidified to me. I loved it. Afterwards Dion and lauren and Juanita all said they loved church again and want to come again next week. our investigator Vo became on fire about the Book of mormon too- after fast and testimony meeting he said, "I really do need to read that book! Im going to." We are meeting with them all again for a combined lesson on the plan of salvation on wednesday my birthday :) best birthday ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love those people. 

       We also met with pat again this week- the baptist woman going through cancer for the 5th time- it was another amazing spirit led meeting and at the end when we prayed she once again  prayed that people would "open their doors to these mormon sisters" it makes me cry every time to hear this thickly baptist woman pray for people to let the mormon missionaries in!! It is beautiful. We pray holding hands- thats how they pray in the south and I have to say I really am starting to love praying that way- even the LDS families pray that way- its just how they pray down here! its sweet. for now we stick to reading the bible with her- but in time- as she feels the spirit- we will begin reading the bom with her too. 

We are so excited for general conference this weekend because we have 3 investigators we are going to be watching different sessions with in members homes- what an opportunity this will be for them!! dion, JC, and Vo.I cant wait for conference. 

For my birthday my beloved hernandez family is having us over for dinner and cake and all that stuff- and then another sister is taking us out to lunch, and the rest of my birthday will be spent doing what I love most- missionary work! Teaching! and having that lesson with Dion, Juanita and Lauren :) it doesnt really feel like my bday- it just feels like every other day- i am a missionary! i forgot I was even 20 I though I was still 19!! 21 is weird...but either way- i am absorbed in the work so nothing feels different. 

Grandpa...is in my heart and mind a lot. I am struggling a little with facing not seeing him again...but I am going to write him and call him. I just think about him at night...but i have been just letting it fuel me to share the plan of salvation even more- i will see him again someday. I did break down and cry at the Jorgensens though :( they are an older couple that reminds me a lot of grandma and grandpa- I always told them that- so seeing them this Thursday after i got the news of grandpa- that was a struggle for me- i felt like- i love these people and they need us and me and i am glad to take care of them- but what about my own grandma? she needs me too! my grandpa needs me! I love loving other peoples grandparents but i felt like i was not being there for my own when they needed me and that hurt me...

I am very close to these people. Jc calls me "big sis" and the little Henderson girls all followed me out to the car yesterday and told their mom "we are staying with sister B!!" haha man that warms my heart...that helps me not miss my own little sisters as much- i just transfer all my love on them and they all give it write back!! I get more hugs a day than i have in my entire life :) anyways- I love you all- so much. Enjoy general conference. keep sharing the gospel with anyone you can especially close friends. I cant wait to see y'all again but i am happy and hope you all are too- how lucky am i- that you are my family. and haley- i sent your package today!! happy birthday my love!!!!! oh i cant wait to hug you! jared i love you. and kristen I love you. and Lindsey I love you. and Stacey I love you. And Michael I love you. I cant wait to hug you all!!

much love 

sis b

me and sis treiber reunited!! :D

me and my new companion sis schmidt- i call it "short and tall"

our mission zone in pensacola florida

our elders- elder sanders and elder riddle at conference (elder sanders red tie elder riddle on the right)

me and some other sisters at mission conference

Their Minds Were Firm

"And now, their ^apreservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous ^bpower of God, because of their exceeding ^cfaith in that which they had been taught to believe that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.

Now this was the ^afaith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are ^bfirm, and they do put their trust in God continually."

Alma 57:26-27 

Dear Family-

this is my mantra. I read these verses 2 days ago and they have been on my mind ever since.they pierced me to my very core. 

Let me tell you of the glorious work this week- first off my new greenie companion I am training is Sister Schmidt and she is AMAZING!!! Truly- she is an answer to prayer. She is from Salt Lake City and she is 6 ft tall!! haha we are a really adorable contrasting height duo haha she is wonderful. thank heavens. what a blessing.

That 18 yr old homeless black boy Dion who I love so dearly- he came to church this week. we found a ward member to pick him up. Hecame to church this week holding the book of mormon I gave him 2 weeks ago. My heartcould burst. He sat with us. He took the sacrament. all the talks were on- can you guess?? The book of mormon! the book or mormon. he kept staring down at his and listened and listened- I looked at him and said-" i think the Lord is trying to tell you something!" Then for our gospel principles class it was on- can you guess? The restoration!!!!! I so testify that this is the LORD'S WORK. Yesterday was a powerful testimony of that to me- we did everything in our power to get him there- the ward members helped- and look at the messages the lord perfectly timed to be shared to him- the LORD always knew when Dion would come to church. How humbling- how glorious and full and amazing this work is. This is going to change Dion's life. He is homeless though and so for us to continue teaching him we need to somehow find a place for him to live. please pray that if it be the Lords will for him to continue on this path to baptism that there will somehow be a way for us to keep teaching him. I love that boy. If I came out on my mission just for him I would. it would be worth it to me just to put a Book of Mormon in His hands, testify of it, and then be beside him as he partook of the sacrament for the first time. 

    We had a powerful lesson with him and Juanita. we read 2 ne 26:24- "He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world, for he loveth the world even that He laid down his own life...He invites all and turneth away know man to come unto him." As we read that verse- the spirit flooded the room. I looked into their eyes and told them they were children- sons and daughters of God. They have Divinity within them. Divine Potential worth and value. to tell someone for the first time, that they are a son of God- to see the look on his face at hearing that- HOW GREAT IS MY JOY! 

Last night after our dinner appointment we went to go see Candy (a potential investigator we met 2 months ago and have not been able to meet with since. it was 7:30 at night. I felt a distinct prompting to go but then we got there and saw that her husband was home- this made me nervous because last time she told us not to come over when he was home bc he isn't as religiously open minded. yet we were there- we didn't know what to do so we said a prayer- i have learned thats the only thing to do. Sis. schmidt said the prayer. then i went outside the car and just looked up at the tall pine trees and the warm sticky southern air, and the big sky with all the stars and asked god what He thought we should do- I said- they're your kids! what do we do? I felt to go. so we did. walking up to that house in the dark i will never forget how nervous I felt- this could go horribly wrong!! I just kept praying.....then knocked...it smelled like cigars...he came to get the door...i felt like i was bracing myself to a slug in the gut! then i got a prompting, "Smile and be bright" very distinct- be BRIGHT! so before he opened the door I was already glowing and smiling and exuding every positive emotion I possess haha and guess what?! he smiled back!! He came out on the porch and talked to us...then Candy his wife joined us, then we talked some, and then he INVITED US IN FOR A DRINK! He did- not her- haha it was grand :) 

      So we go in and he showed us all around the house and all the stuff he's working on. He kept calling us "ma'm" and was very respectful and kind. Then he asked some really profound questions- he said, "so what is your mission as missionaries? How do you know when you have fulfilled your mission?" and many other such questions. I answered and testified to every one. He is military so he really was amazed to see how similar a mission is in a lot of ways to military service- he was thoroughly interested and impressed. Then he said," i was supposed to be in Afghanistan right now- its a miracle you came by when I was home." He is originally baptist- the spirit was really there though- we all talked for a good 45 minutes. At the end I asked if we could come back- his response? Sure! :) anytime he said. We then asked if we could have a prayer and invited him as the head of the household to pick- he asked me and we had a wonderful prayer with them. It was an amazing meeting and experience. As we left I looked back up at the sky and told God, "thank you! I really didn't need to be afraid!" 

      God really does know His children- if we listen and seek out His will- He will let us in on what they need and miracles can happen. Because of that meeting- it will be easier to teach candy because she will no longer be in fear of her husband disapproving- so that was a crucial meeting!! Oh this is so the work of salvation. Just so you know- the weather is getting nicer- less humid and a bit cooler- this morning we ran 4 miles on the beach with sis. H who is my Best friend ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we go every monday- that is the only run i get each week so I savor it. I love it here. 

oh- and me and Elder Sanders got asked to teach the YM/YW for combined on the 5th Sunday- our topic is "how to be in the world and not of it :) a topic I am passionate about!! I will somehow find time to plan it...also this wednesday we are having a huge 1/2 mission conference and meeting a area seventy i am very excited. And fun fact that will make you happy to hear- when the ward heard both me and elder sanders were staying another transfer they went crazy haha I guess a yw stood up and announced in yw, crying, "Sis. B is staying another transfer!!!!" and all the girls were screaming haha that really made my day and meant the WORLD to me to hear :) 

also- a little girl today when we were at walmart came up to us and said, "Mommy look the Elders!" haha she saw the name tags and thought we were all called elders haha it was adorable- made my day. I love you family. I think of you everyday and pray for you. I will pray and write Grandpa. I need time to sort things out- I have not absorbed news yet.....I love him. Take care and enjoy New Hampshire!

Love sister b

all the sisters i have served with

my last comp sister richardson

me and all my best friends here in the ward! at a ward party. my girls- l to r sister hogan, my new comp sis schmidt, sister hernandez, sister stubbs. I love them dearly. family.

Halfway Point

Dear Family-

    This transfer is my 6th, which makes it the 1/2 way mark of my mission!! I cant believe it...this transfer I am staying in Gulf Breeze and training a new sister from the MTC!! My companion sis. richardson is being transferred to Tallahassee spanish speaking- which she is happy about bc she loves spanish and has been dying to be more submerged in it so i am so happy for her. Elder Sanders is also staying again! that will make it 6 months that we have been here serving in Gulf Breeze- that's crazy! that is 1/3 of my mission! But I am glad- I LOVE this place unbelievably and the people here I consider family. I was a wreck all week with transfers looming- at church i kept thinking, What if this is the last i'm in this building?? people were crying even thinking about us leaving it was really hard...so oh the relief I felt when I saw I was staying!! oh man...anyways- now for the week :)

      This Sunday our investigator Mike came to church for the first time!! It was so great to be sitting there with one of our investigators- it's been awhile since that's happened so that felt really good. I was praying He would come for all day, and when he walked in- I cannot express the deep joy I felt. and it was great- the speakers were all young men which was perfect for him to hear their testimonies and the yw got up and sang a beautiful song that really brought the spirit- he said he felt the spirit and he wants to come back next sunday :) 

      This week started with some opposition- every appointment we had with our investigators fell through- every one. But we pressed on and as we did the Lord really did bless us. We had a powerful lesson with Anya, we taught her the priesthood and she was full of questions but really understood it all by the end and she said in her cute little russian accent, "so when you come back next week?" that's what we love to hear!! 

 haha also- probably the highlight of my week personally came with a small but profound experience. I met Dion, a 16 black boy at Juanita's house last week- he has no family, no home. So young and so alone. Juanita took him in and he asked me some questions about the church. When we left I couldn't stop thinking about him. I felt like I couldn't rest until I gave that boy a book of mormon. 

      When we got home that night I got a crisp Book of Mormon off the shelf and wrote my testimony in it. I went through and marked and highlighted countless scriptures that I felt would be meaningful to him. I really poured my heart and soul into that one precious book of mormon! I carried it in the car all week. This week- when we went back- Dion was there. we talked for a bit then I went and pulled out the Book of Mormon- I said, this book is for you. I told him and explained what it was. I told him about the marked scriptures for him and my testimony was there for him to read before he read it himself. It was a sweet moment- and then when I put it in his hands the biggest smile crossed his face. It was like had never been given anything more precious before! He just looked at me and smiled and said, "i'm gonna go put this in my room" His tiny little make shift room..and then he ran off. Giving someone a book of Mormon has NEVER FELT SO GOOD or brought me so much JOY. If that was the only thing I did on my missions that would be enough. Thats how fulfilling it was.I  really love that boy- I really love that kid. I feel God's love for him. He wants to come to church. Pray that we can make that happen. 

     

     I got asked to sing for a YSA activity- that went well. I really love how much my voice is being put to use as a tool on the mission- it is deeply gratifying and fulfilling to me. i feel very blessed- this week was hard and it is a struggle trying to meet with all of our investigators, but the experience that the Lord has blessed me with I treasure and am so deeply grateful for. i don't know what to ask for for my birthday- 21. crazy!! I really don't know- all I want is for our investigators to progress. Mike. Sonya. Holiday. Andrea. to come to church. To read the Book of Mormon- that's all I want!! I will need things when I go home and am transitioning into the world again but for now- I just want you all to be happy and keep sharing the gospel and the goodness of truth with as many people in your path. I want you to all know I love you. Oh! I have been doing genealogy work- just a little but I am learning lots and its exciting to me. I love you all sorry my time got cut short but read Isaiah 40:10, 13, 31.

much love 

sister b

"As a Man Thinks in His heart so is He." Proverbs 23:7

Dear Family-

First off-I know Jared is having a birthday!!So jared Happy Birthday! Know that I love you and think of you often...I would really love to hear from you!! And dad- I read your letter as part of my personal study and learned a lot. I loved what you said about reverence being a reflection of our devotion and relationship with god- And haley and ashley I loved getting your letters!! keep them coming, even if I cant write back its not bc I don't love your letters its just bc I truly have 0 time for personal time and letter writing but I will try to find time eventually! I love hearing from you seriously...So this week was wow.

This area is absolutely exploding! The Lord is blessing us for our hard work and it is really all starting to pay off and come to fruition. We had Sarah's baptism on saturday :) I sang "When I am Baptized" and the coolest part was that our investigators Holiday and Mike (20 and 21, they are dating) both came to the baptism!!  Here is their story- mike just became a new investigator this week and what a story it is:

        We were teaching Holiday the plan of salvation, and then at the end when we were talking about the Celestial kingdom and how families can be together forever Mike spun around and said, "what did you just say? can I join the lesson?" He joined us then asked if we could repeat the whole lesson- we started from the top and he was riveted- he was full of deep questions dealing with life after death- he had clearly been contemplating these things for quite some time. Then as we were able to answer all his questions and turn to the scriptures he wanted to know what the Book of Mormon was- we gave him a copy of his own and explained what it was. He then had questions about baptism- we then taught the Doctrine of Christ out of 2 Ne 31- needless to say 2 1/2 hours later he had tears in his eyes and a smile on his face and said, "I have been searching for these answers my whole life. I think i may have just found the truth!" Then he said the closing prayer to the lesson. We invited them both to our baptism this Saturday and they came!! It was amazing- Then after the baptism we gave them a tour of the church and when we entered the chapel I asked them,"can you feel that? The Spirit is so strong here." They both sat and looked around and soaked it in- they said they felt it. We then taught them the Restoration- wow. I don't think I can express what that was like- teaching to people the message of the Restoration for the first time in the church after a baptism....those teaching moments are life changing!!!!! epic. They are not far from baptism themselves. 

      Sarah's mom carmen (the little girl we found and taught that got baptized) sent me a text later that day saying, "you found us- thank you. We love you. We have come back and we are here to stay." wow. that meant THE WORLDDDDDDDD to me! I love them so much.

      Earlier this week while we were out working we met a woman who is going through her 5th round of cancer- Pat is her name. She is strictly Southern Baptist but she let us right in and asked if we would pray with her. Of course we gladly accepted and we all proceeded o have an amazing conversation with her. We testified. We were also edified by her great faith- at the end we offered a beautiful prayer (all holding hands southern baptist style :) and at the end she also said a prayer and this is what she said I will never forget it, 

     "Lord please let people open their doors to these women and let them in- so that they may feel thy Spirit that they carry with them and be uplifted, as they have done for me. let people let them in." A baptist praying for people to open their doors to the mormon missionaries...that was a sweet moment!! We will be going back to see her- I hate to think of her there alone, her husband is gone a lot, but I know the Lord led us to her for a reason. He always does have a reason... I am learning that so much of missionary work is patience and unconditional love...people will act in their own time as understanding comes to them- that can take time- but meanwhile you continue to teach and to love unconditionally holding out faith. 

      This sunday I was asked to sing "O My Father" in sacrament meeting. We had 2 nonmembers come that we are working with because i was singing!! So I prayed- really prayed and asked that the Spirit could carry my voice to their hearts because that song is my testimony- it is the Plan of Salvation put to music. Then i went up and sang a cappella (as usual, I prefer that) And it was really an out of body experience- I know the Spirit has really been enhancing my voice and my spirit when i sing it is absolutely elating to my soul- everyone was crying and the Spirit was poignant- that is all i desired. I love to use my voice as a tool for the Lord to use to invite the Spirit- I really feel he answered my prayer that day and I am grateful to Him. 

      Us and the elders were also asked to teach the youth during combined 5th sunday! We are talking about how to be in the world but not of it- needless to say I am REALLY EXCITED!! I am passionate about that topic- I am passionate about speaking to youth- and I am passionate about teaching so I could not be more happy. This assignment will be after transfers though, so that makes me think I will be here another transfer- I think I will be here awhile- I feel in my heart this is "my area" and the people I was meant to find on my mission. everyone knows my 21st  bday is coming up next transfer so they are praying I stay bc they all want to have a party for me :) haha I love these people...I really do.

    I want to bear my testimony of the Atonement- I have come to realize that it is NOT POSSIBLE for me to make it back to my Heavenly Father or fulfill my full potential without my Savior and redeemer, Jesus Christ. It is not possible for any of us. It is amazing to me that once we give our will to God and just even have a DESIRE to follow Christ and be like Him- he then "takes us on" and all the times we fall short along the way, and in the process of our attempts and efforts to live like Him. The more I learn of Him, the more I love Him. I love sharing the love He feels for others with them- because I can feel it- I know how perfectly He loves us all, even if I don't understand it, and I love having the opportunity to share that with others and seeing how it affects them. 

    I have seen so many people softened and refined by the Spirit and the grace of Jesus Christ. This is a gospel of change- 

    There is a sister in our ward who has been begging us to meet her boys, they are all in their 20's, single, and struggling with all the things men of that age struggle with in this world. For months she has been trying to get us to meet- well yesterday, it happened. We went straight after church to her home and they were all there sleeping haha caught them!! They made us lunch and we helped them and ended up  really having a good time and conversation! Then i said, "so scripture time!" they just stared at me- haha we proceeded to share hel 5:12 and talked about how having a foundation in Christ carries us through all the buffetings of the adversary- and that's a promise!! The Lord doesn't make idle promises...I told them God takes us where we are at- we just have to start and then He will be with us every step of the way once we give him our will. They were completely intently listening to every word. I told them it was time for them to come back! Their mom is amazing- such a faithful woman so this has really been breaking her heart- she was ELATED to see them so engrossed in the lesson and nodding their heads in agreement that it was indeed time to come back. 

   It was amazing- then the oldest son offered to say the closing prayer and his mom cried :)) I love being a missionary. what an answer to prayer- her prayers especially. I see great potential in these young men- I know they all have good hearts its just so easy to get lost in this clamoring world. I know they will all come back though- and when they do they will be stronger than ever because that's how powerful the Atonement is- it saves us all. I love you all very much hope you are enjoying the beautiful fall!

Much Love sis b

Floridian foliage 

Sarah's baptism

To walk with God, no strength is lost. Walk on. To talk with God, no breath is lost. Talk on. To wait on God, no time is lost. Wait on.

Dear Family-

   I have some news for you- I have been called to be a Sister Training Leader. It is the female equivalent to a Zone Leader, so I will be at all the leadership meetings with President Smith and the Zone leaders, and we will also go around to all the sister companionships in our zone to do exchanges for a day so we can give them one on one training- needless to say I am excited and humbled for this opportunity and cant wait to begin. 

    

    This week we had some highlights- first is sonya. A member of the ward sister h gave us her name as a referral she said, " just you being in my home every week gives me the courage and desire to share the gospel with my friends." This elated me to hear because that's really what its all about- we miissionaries can't do anything without the members!! So we go to see her friend Sonya the next day- she let us right in. Come to find out this woman has interacted with latter day saints all her life. her daughters nanny was a member of the church and they loved her. she said, "everything good that has ever happened to me in my life has been because of a mormon person in my life." wow. now that is a powerful statement. She was full of thoughtful questions- temples, belifs, misioanary work- then came the biggie- she asked about the Book of Mormon. 

She thought only members could read it- how great was her surprise when we whipped one out gave it to her and told her it was hers! she just looked at it like it was gold....she said, "what is it?" we explained- we taught her the restoration and Joseph Smith and how it came to be. we read the introduction with her and she was amazed to read the invitation, "We invite all men everywhere to read thjis book..." and pray to know if the contents are true. Then she said, "hypothetically if I were to want to read this book..how would I start what is it about?" We told her that it was about the people alive in the Americas at the same time of Christ living in Jerusalem and before and after, we explained how it was just dealing with the people in the Americas not Jerusalem. She understood- then we read the Moroni promise with her- I read it- as I read I realized I had it memorized so I shut the Book of Mormon and just said it and I have not felt the Spirit that strong in...awhile...rarely have I felt the Holy Ghost there with such presence so I got a little choked up. Then after I asked her, "Now how do you feel?" She said (and I will never forget this), "Now I feel like I want to read this book." lump in the throat. wow. We left her with 2 Ne 31 to read (the Doctrine of Christ) and we will see her again tomorrow or wednesday. 

   Please pray that as she reads she will pray and know the truth. baptism will soon follow when this happens. Please join me in praying for this, for Sonya. At the end she said," I just dont want to live my life not knowing the fullness if there was more truth I could have had." This woman is an honest seeker of truth!!!!!!! The last people I met thast said that were baptized 3 weeeks later (the Hofers) What a beautiful thing!! I am here for people like this!! That is why I left my life for Florida for people who want the truth!!!

   After we left I told sis. Richardson we needed to pray to thank god for leading us to her- so we did- it was beautiful Things like that you don't forget- I will never forget that. 

Then this Sunday Juanita came to church- the 19 yr old girl who hasnt been to church since she had her son 3 years ago- it was a beautiful thing. She even brought a non member boy with her that i hope we can start teaching- he has no family to speak of and is only 16. her Grandma was so happy to see her there she got up (it was fast and testimony meeting) and thanked us for loving her grand daughter and not giving up on her. My heart grew 5 sizes...I love Juanita and I know God loved her too. Juanita was glued to me all Sunday and then at the end she said, "you're like my best friend." we are seeing her again this week and she said she wants to come to church again next Sunday. What a miracle- i was so overjoyed she came and she knows how much I love her, we love her, God loves her. 

I also went on exchanges to a small town called Milton- it was hard to leave my area, in Gulf Breeze even for a day- but it was fun to teach people I was just meeting for the first time. I was glad to come back though. The people here are my family-there are certain families here that leaving them will literally rip my heart out!!!!!!

  I have been really focusing on this Neal A. Mawell quote- "Empathy during agony is a portion of divinity." Some days i am personally in a state of crisis- or agony- but I have found when I take that to the Lord and just submit myself and my will to His- he sustains me, leads me, strngthens me, and blesses me and allows me to better be able to love and give of myself to others. When I am fully focused on other and their needs- my pains give way to empathy- and in the process i learn of the divinity within me. I see many others who exhibit this too- and to everyone I meet who I see giving of themselves despite them being in a personal state of agony- I share this quote with them and each person I have done this too has broken down in tears. I know that the Savior is the Master of this- He suffered the most acute agony of all- and throught it all he served and lived and died for US. He felt OUR PAINS AS IF THEY WERE HIS OWN. This is why he is the Savior, Master and Redeemer- most DIVINE being of all- he mastered empathy during agony in Gethsemane and on the cross, He is allowing me to experience this and understand this (on a smaller scale). 

I have been blessed- I  have known joy, i am happy, I trust in the Lord- sometimes its hard but it just spurs me on to want to work harder, be better, do more. I dont want to come home and wonder if I could've done more I want to KNOW I ALWAYS DID MY BEST AND GAVE MY ALL AND HELD NOTHING BACK. I want to be exactly obedient.I want to be the best missionary I can to everyone I can- it is overwhelming at times but I know God will sustain me because its His work so I fully rely on Him to be led by the Spirit. And miracles are happening. I am really learning, not my will but thine be done. 

Thank you for the letter dad and Michael- it meant the world to me. I love you all and respect you so much dad you work so hard. And mom i just love you fiercely. I love you all and pray for you. 

Much love sister B

look at that beautiful bay! dad- this made me think of you

We were teaching savon ( the cute girl sitting on the floor :) at a members home and it started storming and the power went out! So we read the Scriptures by candlelight! haha it was so fun/cozy we read about Nephi