Hi y'all, 

 Hope you had a great 4th of July, and realized how blessed we truly are

 The area here seems to be picking up quite a bit. Our Zone Leaders came down on Saturday, and blitzed the area. They found a family, and several other investigators for us. I am grateful that they were so willing to help us out. I look forward to meeting all the people they found at our appointments on Tuesday. We taught The Restoration lesson to Shirley and her daughter this week. We couldn't get Shirley to quite grasp the concept of Priesthood. So I hope that when we see her again this week we can teach it to her understanding. I was disappointed when she cancelled her ride to come to church yesterday morning. This week we are going to try to see what her problem is with coming to church. She came last week but this week she had the excuse that being picked up at 8:30 instead of 8:45 was just too early.... 

 Things with Justine are really coming along. She is gaining a lot of knowledge about the Plan of Salvation. She said that she really enjoys being able to better understand what will happen after this life. She still doesn't completely understand the Resurrection. She can't quite grasp the fact that the bodies we have now are going to be perfected. I know that understanding will come as she continues to read from the Book of Mormon. I am grateful that she has a great desire the read the Book of Mormon. That's usually a major hurdle we have to overcome down here. 

 Sister Tu'ifua and I are doing well. This week we are focusing on finding common ground with those we meet. This will be accomplished through use of the Bible first, and then giving reference to The Book of Mormon. 

 Yesterday I fasted that we would know which Part-Member families we should start working with. I also fasted that hearts will soften here. God's love was manifested to me yesterday when he answered my prayers, and fast. We briefly saw a member yesterday, and asked if there were any recent move-ins in her area. In response she mentioned that across the street lives a part-member family. She mentioned that the kids really want to come to church. As she said this I immediately thought of how this was an answer to my prayers. I am so grateful that God is willing to bless us as we sacrifice a little to him. 

 This morning in my Book of Mormon studies the word "afflictions" kept coming up. The passage of 2 Nephi 2:2 really stuck out to me. I love how it says, that "he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain." What a comfort it is to know that all that God gives us is to refine us, and make us better. Afflictions aren't fun by any means. But they are the means by which we can grow. As we look to God he will strengthen us, and give us the ability to endure hard things. 

 May we all look unto Christ as we go through afflictions, and challenges. The key is to draw nearer to God. Not abandon him. When we are going through difficult times. May we draw on the Savior's strength as we accept and use Christ's atonement in our daily lives. 

Love y'all!

 Sister W. Williams