"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