CONGRATS!!!

FAMILY!!!

First let me start off by saying CONGRATULATIONS TO JENSEN AND HIS NEW WIFE!!! Ahhhh that's so awesome and I am so happy for the both of you. I actually celebrated as well so don't be feeling bad I wasn't there cuz I had really good cake. haha :) I also got to spend a night in a hotel because our water broke which was awesome!! We had Air conditioning and hot water so that was just a plus (pic at the bottom) Then today we went to this place called 100 caves and it was so awesome! (pic at the bottom) haha but really I had such a good week. 

I also got to go on my first exchange as a Sister Training Leader and that was awesome. I am learning so much from the other sisters and I love helping them and serving them. Thing are getting better and better everyday. Of course things are stressful sometimes, but the Lord is showing us so many tender mercies. 

 

This week for Sister Tekanene and our area was good. We worked really hard and are trying our very hardest to help this area. We have hit some hard trials but it's not discouraging, just disappointing. It is just really hard when you put so much time and effort into someone and then they use their agency and chose another path... but I can really see the Lord helping us in everything we do. No effort is wasted and I see that more and more as I am here. I feel very excited to see how our area will grow in these next couple of months. I really feel like because it is so hard right now and we seem to be hitting a lot of speed bumps, something great is coming. In a lot of stories we read in the Bible and the Book of Mormon and even with Joseph Smith, right before the miracle or something amazing happens, Satan comes before. He plays his tricks and comes tempting trying to get you to be unfaithful to our Savior Jesus Christ. But as we withstand him and never yield to his temptations, then that is when the miracles happen. So I am excited to see what miracle is instore for our area soon. 

We have seen so many tender mercies in just this last week. Wow, we were able to find out that one of our less actives, has a daughter who is almost 8 and wants to be baptized, which is great. Now, we can focus on the family and getting them back to church as well as teaching the daughter and her husband, because he is not a member! So that was an amazing surprise. We taught them on Friday actually and then on Sunday she actually came to church with her three little kids. So that was a big tender mercy from the Lord. 

Of course there are good and bads in every area, but I think the Lord is really trying to teach me how to look at the good. Seek out what is really important and look for the positive. As well as to always be faithful to Him. These last two months I have been here honestly haven't been the easiest. I could look back and think about all the negative things and the things that went wrong and how hard it has been. But one thing I know, I have been truly faithful and I have been trying the very best I can ever single day. 

I love this work. I love being a missionary.  I'm asking the Lord to help me do His work every single day. I love being here and I love serving my Savior Jesus Christ with all of my heart. I love Sister Tekanene and I love that I was called to serve here. Not only the less actives and the investigators, but everyone. Members, strangers, my companion, the other missionaries, but everyone, I am here to serve everyone and I really love it. Thank you for everything you do for me family. I love you all and I'm glad we now have a new addition to the family :))))

sorry it's a little short cuz I ran out of time, but I LOVE YOU ALL!!

Mahal ko kayo,

Sister Barton