Investigators

Family-

This week a lot happened. First of all- our meeting we had with President about the paper went really well-we were in there for over an hour with him! He basically asked me to "give him the vision" first- so I did- and then he read it and went through it with his big red pen and analyzed and broke it down- and LOVED IT!! I changed and added a few things to the copy that I sent home to you- I will try and send you the final draft. But it was really cool- then after he said," So how are we gonna implement this and put it into action?" then he told us how- he wants us to break it down and then present it at Mission Leadership Conference to the whole mission so all the Zone Leaders and STL's can teach it to their zones and do it in their individual areas. And he is going to take it to all the Stake Presidents in Florida and present it to them so that it will be an adopted part of all the wards in Florida's mission plans! SO I was really happy and it was so amazing- but then he told us that we will be presenting it January 29...and I got a little, we bit,...stressed feeling. just because that isnt a lot of time to prepare, and it's really important, and we are really busy with all our other responsibilities- so I felt a little overwhelmed...its been a bit of a weight on me all week. BUT I have been praying a lot and I know that this is the Lord's work- so He will help me do it just like He has helped me thus far. So I finally had some time before studies to write and organize our presentation and I feel so much better now! it's a work in progress but we will work on it all week and I am confident and excited- because I know the Lord will help us and as long as the Spirit is there the message we share will be felt and carried to their hearts with power and authority. I am just doing everything I can to be worthy for the Spirit to be able to work through me- I need Him!!! haha

So yeah- that is that- but that is only one piece of the pie- a lot of other stuff happened! Me and Sister Harris were asked to speak and present at a youth stake activity a "mini MTC" it was so fun I loved it!! I love teaching/working with youth and it was fun to do it at a stake level. Awesome youth. Also- i did a training exchange with campus sisters at FSU and it was amazing! I have never been a missionary on campus before but it was so cool- we actually found 2 new investigators! one woman named London had just gotten in a car accident- she was so receptive. and I was so drawn to her- there are tons of people on campus but the second we got near her I just felt that tug in my heart- so we  talked to her and it turned out great! she is an amazing woman. hopefully they will be able to start teaching her. I went with Sis. Bracey- she is an awesome sister I love her. she is from Alpine Utah.

Ok- now for OUR work in our area- wow. we found 5 new investigators this week!! We volunteer at a half-way house (men who just get out of jail/prison go here to help them get back into real life and stay clean, and do service) well- I told you about David- we had a really amazing talk with him and he went onto to mormon.org and is learning more. It is so cool seeing him do service and try to fight for good and resist falling back into his old ways- He has already come along way! He LOVES service and learning more about the Savior- he is just riveted by it all. Another man, Peter-Paul, has pretty much spent his whole life in jail. so sad- well he asked us all about who and what we are, he is catholic but open to learn more- again it is so cool to see these men who have been raised without parents and role models still have that light of Christ in them- I have really come to love all these felons haha its so funny! we love them!! the whole place is run by felons and ex-cons and they are all amazing and they are so repentant- its cool. I just read an article about how jail changes people- its true. Many of the people we serve there have nothing literally- no shoes, coats- I cannot express the joy I feel giving them food and groceries, talking to them, and seeing how happy it makes them. I really have come to love these people and i know most of the people who come by now and they all have a place in my heart. so speaking of jail- that brings me to our new investigator- Joe. He is amazing. His wife Jan is a less active from California. She came here because her husband was in jail- we have been working with her (I LOVE HER ) and more than anything she wants a Temple marriage- she loves her husband joseph SO MUCH. Well- he just got out of jail. He has been reading the Book of Mormon in jail- and we had our first lesson with him. it was amazing!! I love him, and them.- I want to see them sealed in the Temple. He is so humble, so prepared, so ready- he has had a very hard life- I wont say all here but believe me- it was enough to break our hearts to hear. He is so genuine- he said he knows everything in his life has led him to this point and he wants to change and be who God and his wife needs him to be- and this Sunday- He came to church! This man is 30 years old and yesterday was the first time he has ever set foot in a church. He is amazing. He was so nervous at first but by the end he loved it! WE are meeting with him again this week. I see his potential. I see them in white. I believe in them and teaching them fills me with deep joy!!

Our investigator Izola is progressing well- we are setting a baptismal date next week with her. We had a cool thing happen with our investigator Harmyni- she lost a necklace during our lesson- she was crying- we told her we would pray with her and promised her if she would have faith she would find it- we did- then we all looked- no luck. I said a silent prayer and asked God to please let us find it so that she would see that prayer works! well no sooner did I finished praying- than i felt prompted to look under the table in the corner- there lay the necklace! it was so cool- good faith building experience for her and for me.

met a 3 yr old little boy this week who didnt know who Jesus was, or heaven- all he knew was fighting, and swear words. It really broke my heart. He is from a very rough unsafe neighborhood.So I got out my picture flip book and showed him all these pictures of Jesus- he asked me where He lived- I told him heaven. He asked what heaven was- I told Him where God lives- and angels and its beautiful- He got so excited he said, "It's in the sky!" I told him Jesus Loved him and He is a son of God- he lit up like a tree...that little guy broke my heart I hated leaving him. He gave me a big hug and said he loved me. I just love these people- I am glad they are all known to our Savior and know that He will watch over them.

Much love-

sis. Bertoldo