You CAN do it!

Hello again!

So today was transfer day!  We ended up going to transfer point because we got a phone call yesterday that we were going to be getting a new car...well turns out that there was a slight mix up and someone else ended up needing it more, so we still have our same car.  We didn't find out until we got there, but oh how fun it was to go and be surrounded by so many missionaries!  Even though all four of us sisters in Florence are staying the same, one of our elders is going home, one of our zone leaders got transferred to a different area, and one of the sisters in our district got transferred, so we will have some new people to get to know!  It was so fun to check up with other missionaries I know and help out with some of the new ones.  Loved it :)

We've had a pretty busy week.  We've been working a lot with some less actives and have really seen more light and excitement come into the lives of [one sister] and her 3 teenage kids.  We love them so much!  It's awesome to see others get excited about the gospel and the Book of Mormon.  We've been reading a chapter with them from the Book of Mormon every time we go over, and this last time when we were done the youngest one said, "can we read half of the next chapter?"  It was awesome!!  It made me so happy to hear and see that she was coming to love it so much!  It made me love even more and get even more excited about the Book of Mormon!

We've also started working with a less active member who joined about 3 years ago and went in active about 2 years ago because of emotional things that happened.  He still has a testimony though, it's just a matter of helping him get the courage to come back to church and live the way he knows he supposed to and even wants to live.  We were so excited when he came to the ward Halloween party!!  That was HUGE!  And there were TONS of people there!  Members who hadn't been to church in years, investigators, non-members of part-member families, and active members!  All people that we love and were so excited to see!

So the investigator that we are working with most right now is an 80 year old woman who is mostly blind (can't read the Book of Mormon), is home bound right now because of health (can't go to church), and lost her nose to cancer (can't be immersed in water).  Yes, her nose is completely gone so she tapes some tissue over her face where your nose would go, or else you'd be able to see right inside to all of her sinuses.  She did show us the first time we visited her and my companion LOVED it.  She thought it was so cool.  I looked for a split second and would glance back every now and then, but....that's not my cup of koolaid :)  No I didn't pass out, and I did think it was pretty neat that that was even possible, but it wasn't an image I wanted to dwell on :)  Anyways, [this woman] is awesome and believes everything we say.  She is praying about being baptized, which shows a lot of faith since it would take a miracle to do it...don't ask me how we would, but we'd find a way if she decided she wanted to.

With a lot of the people that we've talked to this week, and with some feelings I've had myself, my thoughts are on the phrase "You can do it!"  There's a really good quote from Elder Bednar that I have taped on the wall next to my bed, "If I had the wish of my heart, I would shake your hand, draw you close, look you in the eye, and say.... You can do this!  The Lord you represent and serve knows you can do this.  I know you can do this, and as His servant, I promise you will have His help.  Please remember always that with His help and in His strength, you can do this!"  That is my message to all of you today, You can do this!  I know that the Lord loves each of us and is with us at all times.  He is always there.  He is helping you along, and you will see Him there as you look for Him.

I love you all so much!  Have a wonderful week!  May THE force be with you!