Feliz Ano Nuevo! January 5, 2016

Happy Happy New Year! I think it's gonna be the best one yet!

So far, it is! Here's what's happened:

We had another zone conference. It's always so great to see so many friends and President and Sister Miller. My companions and I did a musical number that went really well! We sang a medley of Saviour Redeemer of My Soul and Called to Serve. Hna Rigby played the piano and Hna Moss and I sang. For some of it Hna Rigby sang too. It was a miracle because we (me mainly) were really nervous because almost the whole thing was harmonized parts and our throats were feeling real scratchy but we prayed before and the performance was by far the best run through we had!

We had exchanges after and I was on the West side with Hna Holding again. We went to the mall and talked to people and found some total gems! Also someone bought us ice cream cones so that was a definite plus. When the exchange was over and I got back with my companions we were so happy to be together again. Even though it was only 24 hours apart it felt like forever! Haha. I'm just really grateful for my compas. smile emoticon

On New Years Eve we had a scare that one of our elders was going to have to go home for his knee. We were really sad. But they tricked us into thinking he had already left and then they showed up at our apartment later that night with the zone leaders. NOT a funny joke! Elders sometimes....
Our mild celebration included nothing but drinking sparkling cider but in my book that's all you really need! On New Years Day we went to Panda Express as a district.(see pic) Making goals for this year was a little different than usual because I have absolutely no idea what to expect! It's kinda terrifying and exciting all at the same time.

Our mild celebration included nothing but drinking sparkling cider but in my book that's all you really need! On New Years Day we went to Panda Express as a district.(see pic) Making goals for this year was a little different than usual because I have absolutely no idea what to expect! It's kinda terrifying and exciting all at the same time.

On Saturday I had one of the most spiritual experiences of my mission so far. We had been feeling kinda down in the dumps. Our district leader and comp randomly showed up in the middle of the day right when we needed some serious encouragement. They told us about a talk they had read that really changed their perspective. They did what it said and prayed to find a family and promised the Lord that they would challenge and testify to them. Shortly after they found a family of 7 to teach. (side note: that does NOT happen like ever in the little podunk town they are serving in.) They challenged us to do the same thing. So we did. And the first trailer we knocked on was a woman named Blanca. She has a cousin that is LDS and on a mission and she asked if we could come back the next week to teach her and her family. Not only did that happen but then later that night we went back by a potential named Ismael. He is this most solid guy I've ever met. He said so many wonderful things but my favorite was, "I take this really seriously. I am looking for the true church and when I find it not only will I join but I will be bringing my whole family too." As I testified to him the words coming from my mouth were not my own. The Spirit was SO strong and warmed that little front porch on a cold winter night. We got back into the car, at this point all in complete awe. Not only a few seconds later the phone rang with a number we didn't recognize. It was a guy that we had talked to on the street earlier that day that told us that when we talked to him he felt really good and he feels really far from God right now but doesn't want to be. He said that he felt like we had something that could help him. When we hung up the phone we felt like the only thing to do in that moment was offer a prayer of gratitude. I could barely muster the words as tears streamed down my face. He love us. He is SO aware of our individual concerns and needs, no matter how insignificant we think they are. It's hard to find the words to describe it but I have never felt so tangibly God's love for me before in my life. There is absolutely no way that I can deny that it was a blessing directly from His hands.

Last night I felt prompted to try someone that we hadn't seen since the beginning of December and had never taught. She wasn't on our plans or anything but she came to mind. She let us in with open arms and the Spirit once again was SO strong as we taught her and her two teenage daughters the restoration. The 15 year old cried her eyes out. Another miracle.

I feel so blessed and overwhelmed with humble gratitude. This is the true gospel. There is nothing in the world that can replace the truths found only in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Hermana Dearden