Hi y'all!

 I hope your week has been great. We experienced many miracles this week. God truly does bless us in our times of need.

 We have seen some improvement within the area this week. Most exciting of all though, was that Jenny was baptized by Shane on Saturday! She was confirmed yesterday as well. I have loved being able to be a part of their teaching process. They are an amazing family. It has been neat to see how Jenny's conversion has helped contribute to her husbands reactivation. You can see a light in their eyes that has come from living the gospel. We also have been able to see the happiness that has come into their lives. As they focus on getting to the temple a year from now. What an experience it has been to see a family truly thrive on the gospel principles. A lot of Returning Members were at church yesterday. It is neat to see how the lord is bringing many back into his fold. Everyone comes back at different times. But the only thing that truly matters is that they are converted to the gospel.

Things are continuing to go really well with Linda. She came to church yesterday, and was an active participant. Yesterday, she shared how much she has learned in the short time of meeting with us. Than she ever did growing up in the Pentecostal church. It was just a testament to me of how we are truly blessed to be members in the church. That we have more knowledge than we realize. What's also really neat is that whenever we go over she always tells us what she learned from her readings. She really dives into the scriptures, and tries to understand what's going on.

Sister Mackliet is teaching me a lot. She asks a lot of inspired questions during lessons. This helps the lessons to really be driven by the spirit. It also causes the spirit to be felt a lot more during lessons. Than if we just asked questions to be asking questions.

Yesterday we were able to participate in a District fast. We were all fasting that we could jump start our areas again, and find people to teach. The past few weeks haven't been very successful for us in the finding aspect of missionary work. What was amazing is that we saw miracles come from it. Yesterday, we spiritually harvested for an hour. During 20 minutes of which we found two potential families to work with. One of the ladies names is Bridget. We saw her sitting outside, and knew that God placed her in our path for a reason. As we started talking to her. It turned out that she had just been praying. She recognized that we were an answer to her prayers. We introduced the Book of Mormon to her, and she said "I will read it all." Although, prayers aren't always answered immediately. I was grateful that Heavenly Father heard our prayers, and rewarded us for our diligence.

During studies this week I came upon a quote I had in my scriptures. It talked about the difference between being Thankful and Grateful. It talked about Thankfulness just being words. Gratefulness is manifested by our actions. To me this means that when we pray we are thankful. When we Go and Do we are Grateful. Heavenly Father doesn't just want us to thank him in our prayers to show our love for all that he has given us. He wants us to do something about it. He wants us to read our scriptures because he has given them to us. He wants us to teach our brothers and sisters about the gospel. Since he has blessed us with the opportunity to live when the fullness of the gospel was revealed. How can I apply this in my life? I am going to show Gratitude by using the things that he has blessed me with to their fullest value. I mean really feasting on the scriptures, and listening and pondering after I pray. My challenge to all of you would be to ponder upon how you can show Gratitude to God for all that he has given you. I know that you will see more blessings in your life as you do.

 I am looking forward to General Conference and hope y'all are as well. May we all write questions down and go to the lord for answers. I know that if we go into conference listening whole heartedly. Things will be revealed to us that we need in our lives right now.

 Love y'all!

 -Sister W. Williams

Hi y'all,

 

The area here has progressed a little from last week. Now, although the week was a little rough similar to last. We SAW some extreme miracles take place yesterday at church. We had quite a few less actives show up that I wasn't expecting to see there at all. I am pretty sure most of the branch was shocked as well. Linda Shaw came to church, and really enjoyed it. She is living with a less-active; Brother Clark. He was one of the less-actives who we didn't think would show up to church. They even stayed for all 3 meetings which was really great. During our lesson this past weeked we invited her to look up some General Conference addresses on LDS.org to which she did. Yesterday, she told us that she really enjoyed the talks she watched, and loved hearing from President Monson. During the lesson we also invited her to pray about Thomas S. Monson beign the Prophet. She said that she didn't need to because she knew it was true. The Ross family is continuing to progress. Jenny will be baptized this saturday by Shane, and we are just as excited for them as they are. We finished up the dicussions that are needed prior to Baptism yesterday, and the spirit was really strong. When you look into Jenny's eyes you can really see the Light of Christ. I am grateful that I have been given the opportunity to teach Jenny. Through her conversion to the gospel, it has strengthened me. It has helped me to learn that all things happen in the lord's timing. She was taught prior to us but wasn't ready to accept it. But now she is, and she is all "feet in". :)

Sister Mackliet has been a big help to me this week. She came up with the idea of having a "Gratitude Rock". Each of us carry the rock for half the day. When it gets time to switch it off we say 3 things that we are grateful for. It is really helping me to develop a grateful heart. To really focus on the good amidst the storm that I typically see.

Yesterday we met Krista. We were walking our bikes up a hill, and she said sorry for her dog barking at us like crazy. We chained our bikes up, and I told Sister Mackliet that we needed to go back, and talk to the woman. So we did. Turns out, she has previously studied "Mormonism" among all other religions. She hasn't found one that she completely agrees with .She was raised church of christ but doesn't believe everything that they profess. She mentioned that it might not have been her time to accept our faith. I latched onto that comment. I told her that I knew we were sent to her for a reason, and that we would love to share the discussions with her. We left her with a Book of Mormon which she was grateful for. She has read a little bit of the Book of Mormon previously. But she mentioned that she has been wanting a copy again. I look forward to seeing her again, and helping her to see that this gospel truly is for her.

This week in studies a verse really hit me powerfully. I read Mark 2:17 which reads, "When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." From this verse it really stuck out to me that we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves for sinning. We just need to accept his gift, and really forgive ourselves. May we all really grasp the message of the atonement.

Love y'all!

 

Sister W. Williams

Hope y'all have had a great week! 

 This past week was a little rough for me. The area seems to be struggling a little right now. We got dropped by several investigators. We also received news that several of our investigators will be moving. Spiritual Harvesting isn't working too well right now. So we are really focusing on member referrals. Despite all this though, we had several really good things happen this week. First off, Shane Ross was ordained a Priest yesterday! Jenny's Baptism is now moved to March 29th because Shane has family flying in from Utah to support Jenny. They both have their eyes set on going to the Salt Lake City temple a year from her Baptism. I love the excitement they have for progressing in this gospel. Jenny finished the Book of Mormon this past week (read it in 3 weeks- we couldn't believe it!) Shane is reading daily. I love working with this family. Since they have helped me to see how important it is to work together as a family to progress in this gospel.

 Yesterday, Sharon and Ray Adams finally came to church. We have been inviting and inviting, week after week. Finally they came yesterday. They only came for third hour. But at least it was something! Sharon and Ray are really starting to progress. However, they will be moving soon. Ray received his Baptism & Confirmation certificate yesterday. Which he was ecstatic to receive. He is slowly coming back. It's neat to see how he is truly becoming converted to the gospel. Slowly, but surely. They both are helping each other to quit smoking. Sharon is reading the Book of Mormon, and we have been focusing on helping to resolve her concerns. What's neat to see is that as Ray progresses, Sharon does as well. Just shows the power of the family to me.

 Sister Mackliet and I are doing great! We are praying for guidance constantly, and as a result are being led by the Lord consistently. Sister Mackliet reminds me to be patient which helps a lot. Her optimism definitely helps with this work.

 On Wednesday I had a strong prompting to have the Elders teach Sharon and Ray. We had taught them on Monday, and no matter what we said. We couldn't resolve her concern of Joseph Smith practicing polygamy. I prayed and prayed that I might know how to help Sharon. As a result of my prayers, God let me know that the Elders would be able to help her. So they went and were able to clarify things for her. What's remarkable is that God not only answered my prayer, but he answered Sharon's as well. Sharon had been praying that the Elders would come and clarify things for her. This experience just reassured me how Heavenly Father truly does know each and everyone of us personally. He knows what we need, and will help us if we just ask for his help and guidance. 

 This week I learned a lot from studying 3 Nephi 18 & 19 along with Enos. I learned the power of prayer. I also learned that our prayers are answered according to our Faith. This week I have really tried to put that into practice. I had gotten into the habit of just praying to be praying. I knew I needed guidance from God. But I wasn't necessarily Believing whole heartedly that God would help. I was a "doubting Thomas". So I have really strived to Believe that God will help, and really communicate with him how I am feeling. I have also started to pray for specific things. Through this I have felt my Faith build. 

 My prayer is that everyone of us can truly understand the power of prayer. That we will be more sincere when we pray. That we will truly understand who we are talking to. I know that the Lord will bless us as we come to him believing in him. 

 Love y'all! 

 Sister W. Williams

Hi Y'all,