"With Faith, when nothing is certain, anything is possible."

Dear family-

First off this week i had my LAST ZONE CONFERENCE. It was loaded. amazing, spiritually powerful, but emotionally and spiritually draining. Me and sis Harris taught for our last time together- President informed us privately that we will be splitting at this next transfer. For my last transfer I will be staying here and training the new Head STL.  I am praying my tail off that I can finish strong and do all that God would have me do. Pray that i will be strengthened to do all that is needed. We taught on work ethic, attitude and accountability. 

Rex is getting baptized this wednesday! He is one of the coolest investigators I have had the privilege of knowing and teaching!! His transformation is incredible and he is so prepared to which is the best part. He said when he first met us he was skeptical but he said, "you have taught me so much (really the Spirit taught him not us) and i thought i would just through the motions but i really have learned and grown, and want to be baptized." he asked me to sing at his baptism. i am so glad sister harris will be there for his baptism. He came to church this sunday. So did our investigator Alton!! We have been working with him for months and we started meeting with him multiple times a week and he has really started progressing, all the patience and love is paying off he is really starting to have understanding! and he is reading the BOM and starting to really understand it. He also made a lot of friends at church. He is soon going to be ready for baptism- next transfer in the next few weeks :)  Then we had an asian family come to church yesterday, and we are meeting with them again this weds to teach them more of Christ (they speak limited english so a guy in our ward who speaks chinese from his mission is coming with us to translate) they are SO SWEET! Our investigator phil came to church again as well- so we had a lot of investigators at church yesterday it was amazing!

       Ok so crazy story- we met another young man- eric, he is 27 and he is an atheist again because of how he was raised. He is a chemistry teacher. We really connected with him and he is a friend of a family on our ward (that is how wee met him) so we gave him a BOM and he said he is willing to learn more. We met with him again this week and taught him about the BOM- and committed him to read a chapter. He said he would- well funny thing he then texted later and asked me out to dinner!! its a really long story- and my companion and I were dying- but yeah i had to explain to him the whole missionary things and that we weren't allowed to date haha but I said we could continue to meet with him to teach him if he wants to learn, he said he did- he said that this is the most comfortable he has ever felt about opening up about his faith and discussing religion, and he said it is a really "vulnerable" thing for him- but he said that something about the BOM and us and the feeling he feels captivates him and compels him to learn more- I explained to him that that is the spirit- he said he feels it- and because of that and that alone he wants to learn more- so it is actually a really cool thing. Eric is very sincere and has had a hard life- but he really is a truth seeker and it has been really interesting to see that we met now have 3 "atheists" in our teaching pool all at the same time- and how the things we share with one individual helps with teaching the next- and they are all not atheists at all- they are all truth seekers, and truly people who are "kept from the truth only because they know not where to find it." I have deep love for each of them.

         I know how precious each soul is to our Heavenly father- the world and cynicism taint our view and obscure our vision and understanding- but I have seen God purify and clarify my mind and open me to clearer understanding and views of myself, life, and Him, so I know He can do it and will do it with all His children if they seek it. I truly love and savor this sacred time as a missionary. 

         We had another lesson with mark and taylor (the ones who are engaged- she is a member he isn't) and wow did that go well!!! i had such anxiety over that lesson ALL DAY for some reason- bc iknew how much was riding on it- we were teaching the restoration- but it was cool bc as i was praying about it and got a very  distinct prompting to invite a particular couple over to join us- we got it arranged. it all came to gether and the lesson went AMAZINGLY WELL! the couple we invited and them got along PERFECTLY and they just really hit it off- which is going to make all the difference in Mark's conversion long after we leave...how grateful I am for the promptings of the Spirit. this really is God's work. If we just counsel with the Lord he will direct our paths and grant unto us success. I love you all.

Much Love,

 Sister Bertoldo

"Faith is a Principle of Power"

Dear Family-

First off mom happy mother's day! it was so good to hear your voice!! Oh i love you so much- i hope you had a great day- also thank you mom and dad for your letters!!! and postcards! they came at such perfect times!

 

Now- we had a great week!!!!! we taught a TON of lessons! this week flew!!! Had a cool experience with our new investigator Keisha- she is a beautiful woman, with 2 daughters trinity 5 and Gabriella 6- they have a lot of struggles- well she has been praying for a sign to get closer to God she said she is "tired" and ready to do "His will not hers" well then we come to her door! she knew it was sign from God. What she wants more than anything is to be led to a Good man that she can trust and give her heart to and that will be a good father to her children. They've had hard experiences that broke my heart. We got a return apt to meet with her again- we taught her the restoration the second time and we only got through the first half. we started trying to set up another return appointment when she said, "I really want to hear the end of this- is it possible for you to come back later today?" ha! it was awesome! we did- we came back later that day to teach her the remainder of the Restoration focusing on the priesthood and WOW! she loved it- she is so prepared- it was so cool to hear someone request to meet with us twice in one day! at then end we all had a prayer holding hands (southern style prayer) and i peeked open my eyes to soak in the scene around me- her two little girls on either side of me, listening to their mother prayer in their little apartment- the spirit was in that room and my heart was touched i couldn't help but tear up with gratitude. Also- we met a couple from Haiti- older couple- we were able to teach them about the BOM and they both accepted one. the spirit was very strong they were a very close, faithful couple. we had a very meaningful discussion and answered all his questions about the Bible and BOm and how they relate. at the end of the lesson-the older man looked at me and said  in his thick accent,completely out of the blue, "when you marry, let it be a bond of respect. not about the outside, about the inside- honor." no clue where that came from but he was so serious! He kept giving us marriage advice, talking about respect, and dignity and honor and that "lasting marriage takes sacrifice" and be respected friends first- it was so cute!! it really touched me- at the end he insisted on hugging us both- even though we tried to shake his hand- he reminded me of Grandpa.

our investigator rex is on the road to baptism! a couple more weeks- and we met with Marsha again- we really had a meaningful lesson on the Creation and Adam and ever focusing on Agency and the principle of opposition in all things. we told her if she really wants to get answers she has to follow the prescribed pattern as outlined in Alma 32 and Moroni 10- receive/read (be open and accepting) ponder (deep thought and mental exertion and study) pray in faith and real intent and sincerity- be willing to act in faith trusting that additional knowledge will come- she said that because of the people we are she feels safe to be more open and honest to explore, earn and accept the things we teach and it gives her a chance to be more honest with herself in learning for herself and obtaining her own answers- that was SO BEAUTIFUL- to hear- things like that are tender mercies and miracles and confirmations of the Spirit that I am where I need to be doing what I am meant to be doing. Also her fellow shipper  KathyLynn is amazing- they have been friends for years. i just love marsha! I feel I have known her forever- I know she will be converted wholly one day. I know faith is a principle of power that leads to hope, which leads to vision, which leads to action, which leads to us seeing the Lord's purposes being fulfilled through us. I love you all so much.

I love you all so much <3

Sister Bertoldo

Cool Experiences

Dear family-

This week we taught catherine (the girls I met on FSU) the POS right before she left to go home for the summer. i felt such overwhelming love for her and testified of the POS from a very deep part of my heart that has never come out in a lesson before- I told her to ask God to help her remember who she is and all that she promised she would do on earth, and how she can become that- i told her that i did that and that is how i came to come on a mission, and he Has answered me and revealed myself to me and who i really am- i can feel Gods love for her. I am so grateful I met her- she wants to be baptized- i referred her to the missionaries there and i know she will continue learning and be baptized before the summer is out. we will forever be friends. i thank God for that choice experience of finding her- that was nothing but a blessing for us both. Also- on that exchange- the most amazing experiences happened. again- i feel and am aware that God is giving me select experience, purposefully at the end of my mission. they are blessings. 

Met a man while on an exchange with a sister, while walking to campus, he was homeless and sleeping under a bench- it was raining- we spoke to him. we got involved in a good spiritual discussion, and i began offering him a BOM- he said he wouldn't accept it unless he knew "i knew his Bible" haha i have been waiting my whole mission for someone to say that to me! I mean i am in the south!!! he said "if you can answer these 3 questions, i will consider accepting your book." well i told him to ask away- he asked: who was the greatest king? I said King David. He said what was his downfall? i said Bathsheba. he smiled and said- those were basic- then he asked, who was the man to walk with God without death? "Enoch" then he smiled and got excited and said, Oh you do know your Bible!! then i tried to read a verse from the BOM on faith vs hope (we were discussing it earlier) in Moroni 7:40-42- he consented and as we finished reading he said, "oh i feel the spirit!" so again i offered him the book and told him it would help clarify the Bible for him and give him more complete understanding- he said- if you can answer this, i will take the book (i know he wanted to take it he was just being stubborn) so i knew i would be able to answer it bc i knew god wanted him to have it! haha so i said ask away- he asked, "what is the shortest verse?" and I said, "jesus wept." he clapped his hands and laughed and took the BOM and said give me that dern book! I'll read it! haha it was so great i was laughing my head off. 

      then i testified of it and he got real serious and started opening up about his life and how he became "homeless" we just listened. then he said, "I want to know where you meet. I want to learn more. you know why? because you have been so considerate. I was having a bad day. felt lonely and forgotten. You've brightened my day. I feel the spirit. Because you have been so considerate I want to learn more. I will read this book." I just shook his hand and said, "John thats because we know you are a son of God." he smiled ear to hear. it was a really cool experience. that was a special parting memory god gave me at the end of mission. 

Also met a man named dave- 33 year old atheist- raised by atheist parents we met him in the chapel of our church. I don't have to time to say all that happened- it was amazing though- he was the most sincerely deceived and conflicted person i have ever met- our lesson lasted nearly 2 hours of intense heartfelt discussion and teaching- he is also very educated. His main questions surrounded the Atonement and after life, and many other aspects of the gospel he believed was a lie, but i could feel he was sincere not trying to debate so we continued- then he said, "how do you believe? have you ever doubted and how did you overcome doubt?" we discussed faith,  i had to reach into the innermost parts of my testimony. heart and experiences to answer him- i have never felt the spirit speak with more power and authority through me then during that lesson. he said, "If i could hear something i could accept as a truth- i would be willing to change my ways. i would believe." again- i could see his faith growing! thats when we turned to Moroni 10 and invited him to go to God and ask him if he was there, and help him recognize his presence. he asked me how old i was- then he said, "i can feel you are sincere and earnest. you really believe. you're really passionate." then i asked him, "do you think i am sincerely deceived?" he went white and said, "thats exactly what i think....but don't you think the same of me?" I said yes- thats exactly what i think, and thats why i am inviting you to go to the source of all truth and ask him to reveal truth to you- it doesn't matter what i believe- what matters is the truth God reveals to you, and your willingness to accept it. and Dave- i know you are sincere so i know if you ask him He will speak to you" he was stone silent. then he said, "this meeting has meant a lot to me. I want to pray right now. i want to ask him right here right now." ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! i stared tearing up!!!!!!!!!! he said, "i don't know how to pray but i am willing to pray bc i really do want to know. I have always wanted to know. how do you pray?" we told him how to pray, and then with all sincerity, he prayed- i will never forget he said, God, are you there? are you really there- an actual tangible being? and not something abstract? Please answer me in a way i will understand and know, and i know that if you are real you will know how to do that because you will know my heart." he closed in the name of christ- oh the power of that prayer!! after his entire affect changed...literally that experience deepened my own testimony of the reality of God.he looked at me and smiled and said-" i've never prayed in Christ's name before." he seemed stunned- i asked how he felt and he stood and said, "exhilarated!" i cried and told him thats the spirit! you just experienced it! I told him he had just demonstrated so much faith! he was beaming he said, " i would like a book of Mormon. if i am going to know if this is true or not i need to really study it. Im going to read that whole book." then he asked to meet more of "us" and asked if we would invite him to future events- all this change wrought because of praying in Christ's name- that experience was a gift and blessing. what a choice experience.

Love sister Bertoldo

"Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding" Proverbs 9:6

Dear Family-

Wonderful week. Earlier this week we had the privilege of taking out new sisters in the mission for training along with the AP's. we had 2 new sisters this time (the numbers are getting smaller!) we each took one new sister and went Family History contacting and OYM'ing (opening our mouths) on FSU campus. I was praying fervently that we would be led to even just one person who was truly prepared. and we were. we had a few difficult encounters but persisted and then came to find two girls sitting in the grass- felt the pull to talk to them and we did. Turns out that one of them- catherine- has been searching for the truth and a church in the past few months- trying to find God- she is humble, meek and submissive. I love her. She is freshman at FSU- as I sat there teaching her the beginnings of the gospel in the grass on beautiful FSU campus, with a brand new sister missionary at my side- I cant think of a time when i have ever been happier. WEll- we have met with her twice since then! She came to church yesterday after we gave her a tour the day before and everything was tailored perfectly to her needs! We went to the singles ward with her and she was so well fellow shipped everyone just enveloped her in love! she is going home for the summer but she already looked up the church and the missionaries in her home town and is set on attending and learning and being baptized! We had 4 investigators come to church this sunday. Then catherine called after church asking if we could meet one more time before she left home for the summer! the day she gets baptized- i will be there- forever grateful God let me find her and teach her- she is a valiant humble and prepared soul.

I sang at the funeral for Brother Douglas- it was very emotional. It was a very spiritual experience- I know Grandpa was there- i prayed he would be. We have MLC tomorrow and wedsnesday- im excited! its 2 days long, and they are doing some sort of special activity so I look forward to that. Our investigator Rex is excited and ready for baptism on the 17th- he said, "i'm ready whenever you say i am!" A lot has happened this week i am a bit emotionally drained so this email is short but much good has happened. Mom- thank you for the letter. I love you guys. For all you do. Dad- we had another lesson with Marsha- the one we met with on Easter? she had questions concerning the creation and adam and eve- she believes in Evolution we taught her and answered pretty well but I told her I would talk to you and see if you and mom had any insights you would like to offer her? you can just email them to me and I will print them off and go over them with her at our next lesson. Our investigator Tosh is now praying about baptism and she came to church this weekend!  I love you all.

Sister Bertoldo