Week 40: 01/20/14

Okay, so I have like- no time but I don't even know what to say but this week was amazing.
So. Once upon a time we went on exchanges!! Guess who I was with- Hermana Ricks! Aka Nia Aka my roommate from college. Oh my goodness it was so fun. Except... we stayed up waaaay too late the night before and ended up being super groggy the next day. But we did make jalapeño hot dogs which were delicious.
Anyway, while I was on exchanges my area blew up!! Well, our area blew up like- this whole week- we found 10 new people, where the usual is like 2 or 3 in our mission. There's a scripture in D&C that says: Open your mouths and they will be filled, and you shall be laden with sheaves on your backs. Or, talk to everyone, and you'll be given families! Mom, that's exactly what happened!! It has been amazing.
So first of all, we OYM'd (That's "Open your Mouth" aka street contacting) this family a few weeks back, we were biking visiting some formers and I just remember praying that one of them would be someone prepared. I'm just like "Can I have enough faith to ask you for this??" And we get to the house, and there was a padlock on the door. Which means someone had moved out. And I was like "Man!!" But had a feeling like- its okay. Prayer of faith always proceeds miracles. So we walk down the stairs and there was this cute family there- just leaving. Mom, the mom looked just like you. We call it "the mom look" just those people that have so much light in their eyes that would do anything for their kids just out of pure love for them. So we talked to them. And they were so nice!!! I was like "I think I'm a bit TOO attached to this family." ANYWAY long story short, they finally got to meet with them when I was on exchanges!!! And they are THE BEST! They have 3 little kids, just like our family. Strong Baptists, which I just think means they would be amazing members of the church. SO legit. They came to the chapel and we taught them the Restoration this week and they just loved it! The mom was like "What do I do? I have these commitments in my other church." We're like "Pray about it!!!" She's like- okay if this is meant to be- God will provide a way. Dah!!! I wish I had time to tell you how cool she is!
And then they ran into a former investigator Sylvia. President told us a while back to prayerfully pray about our former investigators and the Lord would lead us to people that had been prepared. So I did it! And Sylvia definitely stood out to me! Hna Dorian was like "Nah, we taught them and they didn't have any real intent." So you know, I was like "Oh okay." But ney! She finds us!! She's 18 with a kid looking to change her life. She's SO cool. Just super legit and I just feel like- so comfortable around her, same with Gloria "the mom". We were teaching her and she was like "I just have this burning question: If God is so good, then like- why do bad things happen? Why does He let Satan do all these bad things??" And I was like Dah! The Book of Mormon answers that question!!! So we shared with her 2 Nephi 2:11 and such as. She was like "Wow, I've had that question for a long time, and that just answered my question." Right!? Cuz the book of Mormon in the BOM-b.
Sorry this was short and kinda out of place. But!!! I just love this work! It's seriously the work of the Lord, and I'm so glad he calls us in our weaknesses so that we realize that we really can't do it without His help. He literally is the Head of this church, and there is no way I could deny that because I've felt His power work through me with strength I didn't know I had. I know anytime we feel weak or incapable or misunderstood, we can turn to Him in prayer and He will give us the strength beyond our own. I know that as we do all we can to please Him, we will have peace in our hearts. I love you guys!! Thank you for being such an amazing family. I feel so incredibly blessed.
LOVE YOU LOVE YOU LOVE YOU!!
Hermana Johnson