Fingerprints

8-19: Exhausted

8-20: Released

8-21: Good

8-22: So tired

8-23: Well spent

8-24 SO STOKED

8-25: Good

I have two weeks left until the transfer and Sister Fuller and I feel like change is in the air. We really get along so well, I am so blessed! I'm scared to get a different companion, if I do!! 

If you haven't seen this http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=2119328537001 YOU NEED TO!!! We have been sharing it all week with our members. It brings a new perspective on the whole "child of God" thing. I love it. 

God's fingerprints are all around us. He created all things and planned everything out before it was made. He is in our lives a LOT more than we think he is. We are His finest creations. He LOVES us! I wish I could show my enthusiasm through an email... Doesn't really work that way.

Take time to notice God's fingerprints in your life.

I never realized the huge importance of the Sabbath day until studying it this week. THE SABBATH DAY EXISTED BEFORE MAN WAS EVEN PLACES ON THE EARTH!!! It is hollowed as a day to reflect all the Lord has done for us. It's like my weekly thanksgiving, it's also ACCESS THE ATONEMENT DAY with the partaking of the sacrament. It is so important that we use this day! Every day for studies I write the promises made to us in all our manuals. THERE ARE SO MANY PROMISED BLESSINGS FROM KEEPING THE SABBATH DAY HOLY!!!! Every aspect of our lives can be enriched with it! How wonderful!!! Guaranteed blessings if you keep it holy. Awesome.

After a bunch of slow weeks, we FINALLY ARE ROLLIN'!!!! THE 

BLESSINGS ARE COMING!!! MIRACLES ARE HAPPENING!!!

We have almost met with EVERY LESS ACTIVE IN OUR AREA and are teaching many of them, some with part member families!! Hopefully that'll continue. The ward is great. We know EVERYONE and they all know us! They like to be around us and often express appreciation for the spirit we carry. There really is a sacred, special missionary spirit. I am SO thankful for it! 

We made cool wallpaper of a huge chart with everyone in our ward, address, basic info, how many times we've visit them, and how many times we've eaten at their house. This way we know who we're seen and what we know about them!! We can plan our days better based on the people we haven't seen or gotten to know.

I really and truly LOVE being a missionary. I love seeing the blessings and miracles of the Lord. 

So much happened this week. We spent about a 3rd of our time ( we calculated all the hours) serving in different ways. If you look for opportunities to serve, they pop up everywhere!! 

I also got to do service at a dairy farm with REAL LIVE COWS!!!! Like 4 day old cows!!!! I learned how to do a lot of stuff. The farm was built in 1830. This part of the country really has the old town small town kind of feel. 

John (the one reading the entire Book of Mormon) finally came to church. It was wonderful! He is really progressing and is coming to our Book of Mormon class on Wednesday nights.

We are in the Lord's path because we bump into less actives ALL THE TIME!!!

This last week we had a less active CALL US AND ASK US FOR LESSONS....... THAT NEVER HAPPENS. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!! But it was wonderful, because now we can teach him and help him come back to church!

We had a miraculous 8 less active lessons this week, up from 3 last week. It's a big deal.

We are working so hard and it's finally showing!

Our schedule are booked up until next week!! That never happens! We have to move duplicate meals back to the following week because there's no time this week. We have people to teach!! 

Seriously though, things are so good. The Lord is blessing us and guiding us. I know it because I can feel the spirit flow through us as we teach. God's fingerprints are very much so intertwined with our own. What a privilege to be out here on a mission!

FUNNIEST STORY:

I have been wanting to see a turkeys ever since I got here. We were driving up to the farm and saw a TURKEY FARM. We stop the car in the middle of the road and I get out to take a picture. I get really close to the turkey and all the sudden something happened to my finger! I wasn't bit... I got SHOCKED by the electric fence! We laughed so hard...

{Just so y'all know, that skirt was $5 and so was Sister Fuller's dress!}

{I am now a nature photographer. Here are some real turkeys. They're really ugly.}

{Thank you Mackenzie for my GAME DAY SHIRT. The cows loved it.}

{Last weeks hike!!!!}

{I love all these sisters so much!!}

Praying for you all every night. Get out and have your own missionary experiences and experience the special missionary spirit!

Really though, take time to notice God's fingerprints in your lives. 

LOVE YOU ALL!

Sister Morgan

GO BIG OR GO HOME

8-12: Motivated

8-13: Confident

8-14: Drained

8-15: Hopeful

8-16: Happy

8-17: Happy

8-18: Greeeeat

One thing that will probably surprise all of you: I am a morning person. I love mornings because I get to work out, study my favorite books, and share what I've learned. They truly are the "magic hours" that can make or break a day!

President Stoker is a man of surprises. He is always showing up when we wouldn't expect him to! Which is cool! He showed up yesterday at sacrament meeting. I almost wet my pants because we've only had one person ever come to church and I was afraid that no one would come... MIRACLE: WE HAD RAY COME TO CHURCH AAAAGAIN AND THIS TIME HE BROUGHT BARBERA AND THEIR SON DOMINIC!! It was CRAZY. 

Also, we are proud to announce our first PROGRESSING INVESTIGATOR... RAY!!! He came to church twice in a row! Aggh I'm so happy!! 

I read an article this week by President Uchtdorf that has boosted me UP. "Continue in Patience"

Read it.

I love what Brigham Young said when inquiring of the Lord. Instead of asking Him to give him patience, he would say "give me patience to wait until I can understand it for myself."

That's HUGE. The Lord has SUCH different timing than we do!!! With us, and with the people we teach. "grace by grace" I will "continue in patience until [I] am perfected."

I will become a master teacher by study.

I was pondering this week about how beautiful it is here. I am so intrigued with God's creations! Nature everywhere proclaims praise for its Creator. The trees, the mountains, the rivers, the birds, all praise their Creator without saying ANYTHING. How can I have that same power?! It's amazing to me that God created all of this, but we, His children, are His FINEST creation. I want everyone to know of their divine nature, and I want them to know that their Father in Heaven is merciful and LOVING. He created us. So this is the question:

How do I praise my creator and how can others recognize that?

What is it that I must do to become like nature?

Another thought pertaining to the creation of the world: the Sabbath was made a day of rest before we were even put on the earth. If that doesn't state its importance, what does?! 

Pondering man... Good things come from those who ponder.

New England is a cold place. It's August and already it's 40 degrees at night! What the heck!! 

We are serving all the time now!! We are trying to best create those situations we would listen to other missionaries. People are more willing to listen to you when you're serving them, or serving with them. They ask more questions than someone at the door would. Plus, serving is fun! I think I need to be better about inviting people to make commitments. Once I get that down things should go faster!

John! Our investigator! He is awesome! He is reading the Book of Mormon and LOVES it! It's cool because his testimony of it is real. He prays and knows! He wants to finish it before committing to baptism, but we have a soft bap date (which is when he's done). We are teaching him this week when we go on splits with the young women!!

Anyways...

We got to go to the ward camp-out and sit by the fire and get to know the members better! I can honestly say that I know about 90% of the active members and some of the less actives. I love them all so much!

"Private victories always proceed public victories!" Wise words from my mother... 

{Making cupcakes for one of the other sister's birthday! #fatty #didireallyjusthashtag #itsbeentoolong}

{See. I'm SWALLOWED by trees! But I love it. It's beautiful!!}

{I got licked by this goat this last week. That's a first. This family had 20 goats, 10 horses, 8 dogs, and like 20 cats, PLUS their 5 kids. }

{Harry Potter??}

{Yep. Sweater weather is here. They have all these covered bridges everywhere around here! Ahhh New England is the most adorable place I've ever been to. Can't wait for fall. Which is totally going down soon. }

{Night games... GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!}

just another week in the life of sister ashley morgan...

AAAAIIIIGHT

This is how I felt at the end of each day:

8-5: tired and spent

8-6: sad

8-7: rewarded

8-8: feelin good

8-9: grossed out (another mouse)

8-10: happy!

8-11: rewarded

8-12: motivated

I thought I'd share with y'all some things I've learned about myself as I've been out here:

I am crazy goal oriented.

I can't keep a desk clean.

I have more enthusiasm for everything than I probably should. 

I have an ability to interpret the scriptures.

ZONE CONFERENCE WAS THIS WEEK! OUR PRESIDENT IS SO COOL AND IS ALSO VERY GOAL ORIENTED. He was totally a business man before he came out here. He revamped our mission vision, AND HAS GIVEN US STEPS TO ACCOMPLISH IT. What a man. He understands the scriptures and loves them. He holds the keys to this mission. He said some wonderful things to us that definitely were of comfort to me! 

He stared with us D&C 93:11-14. This is how the Savior grew to become who He is. I always forget that the Savior didn't know His purpose until after He studied it out. As He gave grace, he received it. Grace in the bible dictionary is amazing too. Grace is that extra strength when we have given all we can give. It's what The Lord can do that we can't do! 

I want so badly to become the missionary I will be at the end of my mission, but as I continue to do my best I know it'll make a difference. I just have to trust in the grace of our Savior to make up for my mistakes.

Alma 36 is awesome. He gives his conversion story to his son Helaman. I love the scriptures because everyone starts out so imperfect, then through Christ they become something much more than they were! Alma wants more than anything to be with God again. He knew his purpose. As soon as he felt this power of the Atonement, he started it with EVERYONE. In vs 24 is says that he "labored without ceasing" to bring souls back to God! Bring them home! He worked so hard! And saw the blessings of it! He was patience, diligent, faithful, everything I pray to be!

Tomorrow I get to be a SISTER MISSIONARY AT THE Joseph Smith Memorial!!! I am so excited you have no idea. 

Last week we made a deal with Heavenly Father that if some of our investigators that weren't progressing didn't come to church, we were done for now, and that if they did, we would continue to teach them. HE CAME!!! My first investigator came to church!!! AHHH I am so excited!!!

This week we will be focusing a lot more on working with the members!

{Funny how the Lord takes you to places just so you can testify of His gospel. There were many instances like that this week. It's amazing to be a part of it and to always always ALWAYS be in the right place "coincidentally" (I don't believe in coincidences after my mission). }

{ Yeah, that happened again...}

{ Last second trip to the JSM! Cool story along with it, wish I had time to write it haha. Write me for more details. }

{ A WILD BOAR THAT I ATE FOR DINNER..........}

anyways. I love you all! Read your scriptures, pray, and go to church (CPR).

Transitions

Monday- FEEL: pleased

Tuesday- FEEL: FULL. SO much food! 

Wednesday- FEEL: Frustrated and tired.

Thursday- FEEL: Hopeful.

Friday- FEEL: Grateful.

Saturday- FEEL: Enriched.

Sunday- FEEL: MAD.

There's this week in feelings. I'm trying to record my mission better, but the end of the day I can't remember what happened at the beginning. It all kind of blurs together!

Sister Fuller and I had an interesting week full of free blueberry pickings, fasting, and LOTS of praying.

One of the humbling things about a mission is knowing that you are acting in an area as if Christ were. You are doing what He would do. Also knowing that comes with the knowledge that He wouldn't place you in a place without a PLAN. That's what we are searching for, is His plan for the Hanover Area.

I feel Him humbling me. This seriously cannot be done without Him! I feel badly that I am frustrated at times, my patience is growing. His revelation is coming to us like we are walking through thick fog. You can only see the next three steps ahead of you, and until you take those three steps you can't go further. Once you do take the three steps ahead, you can see the next three steps. 

It's happening.

Sometimes our answers to prayers teach us things. They humble us. He gives us trial for our better. 

D&C 122:7 "know thou, my daughter, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."

I've experienced this many a time in my life, but never before in a missionary sense. It's neat to feel His love so strongly for me just by reading the scriptures.

I cling to them for advice, a road map of some sort. 

Today I read in Alma about the Anti Nephi-Lehi's burring their weapons, being an example to the Lamanites, and through giving their life brought more people into the fold. They recognized that God's plan isn't always ours, that He knows best, and we must do as He commands.

Alma 26 - Ammon reflects on his mission. He reflects on how much he put into the work, and the fruits of his labors. He glories in the Lord and knows that he followed his plan!

Alma 26:27 "now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold the Lord comforted us, and said: Go among thy brothren the Lamanites, and BEAR WITH PATIENCE THINE AFFLICTIONS, AND I WILL GIVE UNTO YOU SUCCESS."

If that wasn't an answer to my prayers, I don't know what was! 

We have been praying and fasting this week to know what it is we need to do, and how to do it. It's hard because I love these people with EVERYTHING I have!!! I love them! But my lessons are more chit chats, they are bored during the lessons. They aren't progressing and haven't been for transfers. We are going to do what I feared: we have to drop some of them. It breaks my heart, but I know that just because they aren't ready NOW doesn't mean they won't be later.

It's a huge leap of faith because we'll be left with two investigators. We have no idea what we'll fill our schedule with, but Sister Fuller and I have faith that the Lord will fill it. We will be where He wants us to be. "I will go where you want me to go" is very literal. I know that as we make room for those who are prepared, the Lord will show us the way. It's going to take a while to get things back moving, but it'll be better than it is now! 

Miracles:

Lisa's toddler got an ear infection. Lisa is a NEW investigator from last transfer. She asked for a blessing. Her daughter would FIGHT to take her medicine! After the blessing look at the text we received:

AMAZING!!! I love how the Lord answers prayers and KNOWS US!!

Alma 26:37 - "we see that God is mindful of every people"

He knows us. He knows Bella. He knows Lisa!

Another miracle:

Driving home from church Sunday with Megan, we drove under a rain cloud and more rain poured than I've ever seen in my life! We hydroplaned to the right and hit the guard rail right as the Connecticut River started. We pulled over and the axle was bent. The guy that saw it stopped behind us. He was shocked that we were ok and that I wasn't crushed! God watches over his missionaries!

Miracle #3:

Everyone has blueberry trees. Everyone gives blueberries to the missionaries. New recipe:

Blue berries

Fetta

Olive oil

S&P

Fresh basil

OH MY GOSH it's so good. All local. All free for missionaries haha! I love Vermont.

{My area is in the scriptures!!} 

{White River Junction} 

ONE TRANSFER DOWN

I have officially been on my mission for ONE TRANSFER! I'm staying in the area with Sister Fuller for at least 6 more weeks and couldn't be happier! I love this place and the people so much, I couldn't imagine leaving them.

This week Sister Fuller and I have a member meal EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!!!! It's CRAZY! In order to have success, all you need to do is love the people. When they see that you love them and everything you do is to help them, they open their hearts to you. I know almost all of them by name. The ward has shrunk, because it's practically a family ward for the residents at Dartmouth, we have lost around 55 members! 

Today in my studies I read Alma 8. Alma goes to Ammonihah and is REJECTED badly! He sees that "Satan has gotten great hold upon the hearts of the people" and prays that their hearts will be softened and that the spirit would flow in the city! The people spit on him and reject him.

Sounds a lot like all the people who shut their doors on us, thinking that they know what we believe. (yet I love them anyways)

Alma then leaves the city and is full of disappointment.

An ANGEL comes and tells him to GO BACK!!! So he RUNS back to Ammonihah, enters through a different way, and shows up at a member's home, Amulek.

Amulek lets him in and feed him. Alma states his purpose and prays for the house and the food (just like missionary life! I do what Alma does!).

TOGETHER they do and preach the word in the wicked city, and find more success after effort and persistence. (this will soon happen in this ward)

Little happens where the members don't help, and by getting the members help you unlock the doors to the hearts of the people. Just like Alma, I am trying to get the members involved, and it's working!! We had 14 referrals last week! 1 new investigator! Things are progressing!

Before I came out on my mission I knew I could love people, I did love a lot of people! But now it's out of control! Every person I meet I feel connected to, I want what's best for all of them. There really is another mantle you put on yourself when you become a missionary, your ability to love and forgive skyrockets. Every member meal we have is great. I love getting to know the people here. I love watching the Lord expand my abilities, he stretches me and molds me. I am His took on earth! 

I keep thinking about how it'll be when I see Jesus Christ again. I love thinking about it! In the introduction to the D&C it says "in these revelations one hears the TENDER but FIRM VOICE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, speaking anew in the dispensations of the fullness of times" He is the Christ. He loves us, more than we can imagine, because HE KNOWS US. When He was suffering in the garden, I know that every one of us went through his mind individually. He pictured us, and saw what we would each go through, then He suffered it with us. He knows how we feel because He went through it himself. His ability to love, forgive, and see people and their divinity is something I strive for. I know He lives. When I see Him again, it will be as the Nephites in 3 Nephi 11:15-19. I will fall at his feet. I want everyone to know how much He loves them. I want them to know that through Jesus Christ, all things are possible. 

On another note, we caught a mouse. By catching a mouse I realized that that mouse/rat thing we killed last week, was actually a RAT. My stomach DROPS every time I realize that. Gross... Last weeks rat was so big we could've baptized him. Just dunk him in some water or something... Haha...

Here's this weeks kill:

{We kept him and ate him for dinner because we ran out of money to get food.. JOKE!!! Never would I EVER...

A senior couple dropped one of the other sisters off for exchange this last week and inspected our home. She wrote the president about our rodent problem, and how our home is the perfect area for them to grow... EEEKK. So nasty. So we'll see if we move or not.}

{Sister Fuller and I spend more of our days "downtown" in White River Junction. That's where most of the people we talk to are.}

{Sonya (Jodi's daughter), Pig Pig, and I!}

{I FINALLY got above the trees! These are the "mountains" everyone talks about.}

{Thank you mom for the packages this morning!!! I finally have a fleece blanket! I've been wanting one of these!}

Rats

Haha I don't even know what to think about this week. So much happens throughout the week that you don't have time to explain through email.

Miracles are still happening, they ALWAYS are! Whenever I'm nervous to testify of things I always testify of miracles, which can then lead to the miracle of the restoration of the gospel! 

A few weeks ago Sister Fuller woke up and our butter was gone, along with droppings on the counter.

It was a mouse/rat thing.

GROSS.

We called the landlord and he came and set up traps in our kitchen. One under the stove and the other under the sink. 

Here's how that night went down:

10:30 - lights out.

10:33 - SNAP. 

-- I was with the OTHER Sister Brown on exchange when it happened. I made her hold my hand down the stairs haha. I was FREAKING OUT! I made her check the traps. Sure enough we caught a mouse/rat thing under the stove. 

10:40 - we rush over to our neighbor, Brother Johnson's house to have him come and take the mouse out.

10:51 - he takes the mouse/rat thing out of our house.

{Brother Johnson, the mouse/rat thing, and me in my moo moo. }

{There's the mouse/rat thing. I don't want to know if it's a mouse, or a rat, I'm just glad it's GONE!! EEEEEKKKK!!!! }

11:00 (aka 5 am for missionaries) - we are dead as a mouse in bed.

There's that...

On a different note:

WE HAVE A NEW INVESTIGATOR AND PROBABLY ANOTHER NEW INVESTIGATOR NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!!! HOLY HANNAH THE WORK MOVES FORWARD!!!

Her name is Charlotte. She is a referral. Her husband, Arthur, is a former investigator. 

Our first lesson is on Tuesday at 3! I am so excited!!!

Francisco: I think he might be avoiding us. We'll see how it turns out. I want him to have the gospel I know he wants!! We keep visiting him at work and he doesn't ask questions. We'll do our best to bring him into the fold! 

Ray and Barbera: I love them!! Ray, as we speak, is in a court case facing jail. If he goes to jail then BARBERA CAN GET BAPTIZED!!! Because of Barbera, her siblings in other areas of New England are receiving the gospel and are getting baptized. After 4 years of investigating, now might be her chance!

This last Sunday we had a missionary leave for the Salt Lake South Mission. His brother spoke, his dad sang, it was touching. Sister Fuller was BAAAWWLING!! All the residents at Dartmouth and their families are in our ward. They all love each other so much!

It made me reflect on love during my mission. 

How before my mission I could love my family, and my friends, and the different ways I would show my love. I thought a lot about how I couldn't show my love like I had growing up. Being a missionary you are to harness all other forms of love into one love: the pure love of Christ. It is remarkable to feel His love for all of His brothers and sisters, and to feel God's love for all of His children, and then to act on it. I love strangers here. Everyone, I LOVE THEM ALL!! It's wonderful! 

You truly do lose a sense of self on your mission, which is good because then you are filled with the love of Christ. It's interesting as the transition takes place, I really don't even care how I feel anymore. All I want is for others to experience love.

Barbera really touches my heart. I really cannot even express the feeling of love I have for her, when I feel how Heavenly Father feels for her. We testify of it to her, and her continence changes. She knows of her identity as a daughter of God. 

As missionaries, it is our job to help the lost sheep find the Shepard. When they see the Shepard, they will always recognize Him. God is our Father in Heaven, and He loves us DEARLY.

As we extend a HUGE hand to the ward and try to visit at least one member a day, we are seeing the blessings. We have so many referrals!! 14 REFERRALS!!! Our ideas of bringing the ward together are starting to work. The spirit of missionary work is going to EXPLODE in the Hanover ward!! They better be ready to fellowship tons of recent converts because a WAVE is commin! We are merging the ecclesiastical church, and the missionary church. This is happening. Miracles are FLOWING!! 

{Passing the famous QUECHEE GORGE (Vermont's grand canyon). I'd never heard of it before, but it's a big deal here. Where anywhere South of New York is considered "south."}

{Ray taking us to the park.}

{Sister Fuller and I doing WORK!!!}

THE HARVEST

Another week FLEW BY!! In a week and a half the transfer is over. I really want to stay in my area... I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! I firmly believe I have the best area in the entire mission! 

I know I say this every week... BUT THIS WEEK WE HAD MIRACLES!! 

The week had a rough start to it. One of our investigators dropped us... But we chose to use it as FUEL to our miracles. To keep us going. 

This week Sister Fuller went on two exchanges, so I got the chance to rule the area for two days. Here's how it went down:

Obedience. EXACT OBEDIENCE. I tolerate nothing less. This is the Lord's time, and I am on HIS errand. 

Wednesday or Thursday (I can't tell the difference, all the days are the same to me!) I was with Sister Lundahl. We fulled our day with three appointments. She taught me this amazing way to plan lessons! What do we want our investigators to KNOW, FEEL, and DO? What are we following up on? How do we accomplish our goal and teach what in the lessons? All put onto one sticky note. IT IS BEAUTIFUL!

We had great result from it. I hope our investigators more than anything, feel the love of their Savior.

Saturday I was with Sister Sumsion. MIRACLES EVERYONE!!!! MIRACLES HAPPEN!!!!!! The field really is "white and ready to harvest" and obedience truly 

brings about miracles!!! 

While planning the night before I was nervous, I looked at my planner and there was literally NOTHING to do ALLSaturday.

We planned out a route to visit all the less actives in Havover. Few answered their doors..

surprise, surprise.

So we felt prompted to stop by a members home. We dropped in and the daughter, a former missionary, convinced her parents to let us share a super quick message. At the end she told us of a family who just moved in next door. THAT COUNTS AS A REFERRAL!!! WHOOP WHOOP!! So we immediately went next door. A woman opened the door and openly listened to our message. Quickly, you must always refer to a gospel principle to tie into the restoration. She took the family, a proclamation to the world. and we're visiting next week to follow up with what she thought. She's a Jewish woman. We'll see how it goes.

We went about the rest of our day, being exactly obedient.

After dinner we planned to visit another less active. As we drove past the gas station, we saw one of our "potential-potentials" (someone who was nice and could potentially be a potential investigator). We turned around and pulled in. As we were purchasing some snacks, he asked us if we got a scholarship for being out on a mission. We answered him and tied in the restoration. 

NOTE: After dinner I felt prompted to write my testimony in a Book of Mormon and highlight a few of my favorite scriptures. I have never done this before. 

He told us about how he left Brooklyn, NY for a better life here. He wants to give back to the world. 5-6 months ago he started wondering about his purpose in life, and what God wanted him to do.He wants to be cleaned of his sins by being BAPTIZED. YES. B A P T I Z E D !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sister Sumsion and I were DYING!!!!!!!!! EVERYTHING he wants, a community of people who learn off each other, a God who knows us personally, the restored gospel, is everything we have!! I could go on and on about all he said about wanting the gospel. He even said, "who better to learn from then you sisters."

When I invited him to church he said "Wow, yeah I'll come! I've never been invited before!"

He quit drinking and smoking months ago.

He believes in family being the way to build society.

He desires to do good, and works just so he can someday give back to his community.

He wants to build a place where people can find refuge from the things of this world... JUST WAIT UNTIL HE GOES THROUGH THE TEMPLE!!!!

We gave the first lesson to him while he was working at the gas station and talked for an hour and a half.

His face LIT UP when he heard about Joseph Smith and God and Jesus Christ coming back to the earth.

He wants it.

He literally is the perfect investigator. My first find, and wonderful investigator! I want him to have everything we have. I want him to feel of the Saviors love for him.

I want everyone to come unto Christ.

Now that I see people like Fracisco really do exist, I want to find them. I will do everything and anything to help fulfill my purpose: to invite others to come unto Christ.

Obedience truly brings about miracles. All the work in the world is worth what I am experiencing here. I have never felt more joy in my life, from seeing others feel the love of Jesus Christ.

People really are out there, are ready. We need not be afraid of being bold. McCord emailed me this week and said, "it's not our name on the line, it's God's, SO BE BOLD!"

I know that God has my back. That he really does have a body like ours. His son, Jesus Christ LIVES! And He KNOWS us! And He LOVES US!!! 

This week in my studies the work DILIGENCE had shown up everywhere. "labor diligently." What does it mean to truly labor diligently, that we might fulfill our callings? 

Diligence: Focusing on the task at hand, doing everything in our power to complete it, putting everything into it, our whole heart and soul. WILLING to put in the work to make the goal; willing to plan to make the goals. There are so many examples of how Nephi and Jacob, and all the leaders and prophets in the Book of Mormon labored DILIGENTLY. 

A leader labors diligently for the good of the people. 

My heart is willing. 

Forget myself, and get to work - I often tell myself that. 

I must be the missionary my parents think I am! Strive to remember the PRECIOUS council my parents and grandparents gave me before going out here.

A missionary who LABORS DILIGENTLY to complete their PURPOSE!!! KNOW the missionary purpose, which is crucial. 

BE exactly obedient. 

Always go about doing good, people are watching.

LOOK for opportunities everywhere you go to serve. 

I'm always looking for examples and promises the Lord gives us. There are so many. 

One of the biggest ways I see improvement here is to not only set high goals, but plan towards them every single day. Know that the Lord is going to back you up. He  always answers you prayers. "knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

CHALLENGE HIM!!! THE LORD LOVES A CHALLENGE!!!!

This week we have our first interviews with the mission president! 15 minutes of revelation. That's what it'll be. I can't wait to get to know President Stoker better, I want to follow him so closely.

FUNNIEST MOMENT:

We went over to a members home to celebrate the departure of a missionary in our area who is going to serve in the Salt lake South mission (Elder Knowlton, soon to be).

His mom wanted everyone to experience some kind of cultural food. So she went on Pinterest and found a Utah-specific cultural food. 

HAWAIIAN HAYSTACKS IS WHAT SHE MADE!!!! She had me introduce them as the food her son will be eating every night. Hahaha SO TRUE THOUGH.

Also, none of the people at the party had ever heard of Hawaiian haystacks. I was dying. Seriously so funny! 

{The cutest little area next to Dartmouth and the Connecticut River, we frequently do lessons there because it is SO BEAUTIFUL!!! This is me, on the Vermont side of the bridge.}

{With Zone, District, and white handbook permission we were able to go to a fair with the District Leader in our area and Megan and I got to RIDE A RIDE!!!! }

{I am obsessed with all the cute old homes here. Some of them even have the original stoves and fireplaces from the 1700's!! BEFORE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION ! (awesome) }

{This is main street in Hanover - it rains EVERYDAY. I feel like I'm in Seattle sometimes. I haven't taken my rain boots off since I bought them.}