Mi Familia,

So this week was super crazy! For starters I got a new companion!! I love her so much! Her name is Sister Walker, she is 5’2” and full of energy! There is never a dull moment. We are always laughing and having fun! She was born in Rexburg too and we have a lot in common! She is really good about helping me with my Spanish and is always positive which is a good thing, because this week was super hard. We started off the week with no one to teach except recent converts and then we would knock doors all day.

We did find this girl Mara who was super cool and really open to learning more about the church. We taught her the plan of salvation and she loved it. At the end of the lesson we invited her to the adult session of stake conference and she said yes. We were so excited but right as we got to the meeting she dropped us. It was frustrating.

All week I was praying to Heavenly Father, pleading with him on how and what we need to do to find new investigators. In my personal study I was reading in D and C section 11 and I got my answer. It was amazing. I swear this section was written for me. It started in verse 6 until the end and I learned how important it is to be patient. You have faith and trust in our Father in Heaven and to be obedient, and to serve with all my might, mind, and strength. I also learned from this section that our time table isn't the same as the Lord’s time table. I was praying for people who we could teach now. I wanted new investigators now. I realized that wasn't the way. He has a plan for all of his children and he is probably still preparing the hearts of his children to be ready to receive our message. It’s so important to just be patient and trust in his timing.

 President Uchtdorf said something in a conference talk that I really liked. He said "It’s not your responsibility to convert anyone or everyone. That is the work of the Holy Ghost. Your task is to share your beliefs and not be afraid". I was really humbled by this. I realized I needed to stop trying to do the Holy Ghosts job and convert everyone right when I meet them. I just need to share what I believe and not doubt in the Holy Ghost’s power that he will help them progress and want to learn more about this gospel.

            I can testify this is true because today this morning we had a miracle. It was so amazing. Yesterday we were harvesting and we saw this guy who was outside with his family and he kept looking at us, and us being two girls were a little scared to go to him but my comp said I have a feeling we need to talk to him. So we did and we said a prayer with him and invited him to be baptized. He said he wanted to because he has never been baptized before and he wanted to know more. We scheduled an appointment with him to share a message with him this morning. We went at 9:00 this morning to meet with him and as we were just getting to know him, his mom joins us and says that she is going to go to our church on Sunday. We were a little surprised, because when we said a prayer with her son, whose name is Ayroni, yesterday, she wasn't very interested. She then asked if we met on any other days and we were like only on Sundays but we have chapel tours we give that we could do sometime this week. Right away she said lets go right now. Me and my comp looked at each other with wide eyes. We went right away to the chapel and gave them a tour. They both loved it. Then we showed them were we take the sacrament. The spirit was so strong in the chapel. They both started crying and his mom said that she didn't like the Catholic Church because it was so corrupt and she loved this church and she and her son were for sure coming on Sunday. It was amazing. She already wants to pay tithing too. They both are super elect and we are so excited to teach them more!! Heavenly father really answered  our prayers. We couldn't stop smiling afterword.

            So this transfer I decided that I wanted to learn more about hope, and how hope and faith tie together. This is what I have learned. Hope helps you conquer discouragement. Hope is the anchor of our souls. The unfailing source of our hope is that we are sons and daughters of God and His son Jesus Christ saved us from death. An Irish proverb I like says “Hope is the physician of each misery”.

            In Moroni 7:41 it says “Ye shall hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection to be raised in life eternal”. This is what we should ultimately hope for. In Moroni 8:26 it says that if we are meek and lowly in heart we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost that will fill us with hope. In D&C 98:3 it says also that hope is sustained in us not because things turn out how we wish but because we know all things will work out. Thomas S Monson said "At times there appears to be no light at the tunnels end, no dawn to break the night’s darkness. We feel surrounded by the pain of broken hearts, the disappointment of shattered dreams and despair of vanished hopes. If you find yourself in such situation I plead with you to turn to your Heavenly Father in faith. He will lift you and guide you. He will not always take your afflictions from you but he will comfort you and lead you with love through whatever storm you face."

            I love hope. It’s so important we keep that positive attitude and always look on the bright side of things and be willing to take any challenge given to us with enthusiasm.

   Hope you guys have a good week!! Miss you and love you guys tons!!! :)))

   Hermana Heacock