Earthquake, March 17, 2014

Dear Family,

This morning we both up to a little earthquake. At first I thought it was just the wind since we are so use to the windows shaking a little from the window at home, but it was just exciting because it was the first one that I have actually noticed:) If there actually wasn't one then I won't complain if you call me crazy:)

So, tomorrow is transfers, but Sister Shepherd and I are staying together! Woohoo!:) I'm not really sure what I'm doing to help Sister Shepherd, but President always tells me every time he see's me that I'm doing exactly what she needs to continue to get better so I'm just trusting in him and the Lord that whatever I do and the skills I am trying to develop are not only what I need but what she needs as well.

The weather has been absolutely perfect! I've missed the heat:) Even though it was only for a few months of cold this year:)

This past Tuesday we had a little  Sisters Conference and it was so good! We were asked to studying Psalm 23 2 weeks before the conference, and then we had a little training on relying on the Lord and a few other things and then we had a little testimony meeting. I had all these thought I wanted to share with you but they just seem to leave my mind the minute I walk through the library door! ugh

Cool little story, yesterday after church we stopped by to visit a members house who hadn't come to church for the past month, and the moment we had just kind of finished our lesson with her one of her friends walked in the door! We couldn't tell if she was a member or not for a second because she was wearing a nice modest dress and sometimes people just "look" mormon. Anyways, the member introduced us and she began to ask us a few questions and explained a few things that she didn't like about the church she has been attending. The member bore her testimony about the Relief Society and participating in the sacrament and then the son bore his testimony about being baptized! We were able to teach a little about the restoration and set up a return appointment! It was so perfect! Then, this week we were quickly putting up a LA English sign in a corner market and one of the men checking out asked a question about it and we gave him a little flyer really quickly because we had to go to the church. That tuesday he came to class, and during the spiritual thought he basically taught the first vision and then asked for a Book of Mormon after class! Apparently he had learned from the missionaries back in El Salvador a few years ago, and lost contact with the church.

In both those instances we were in the right place at exactly the right time. There is no way that we would have been able to have the conversation we had if we weren't there when we were suppose to be. It is always amazing to me to see how God places us in certain places at certain times so that we can meet someone. I just always pray that I act when those people are so obviously or not very obviously placed in my path.

Yesterday we went to the Departing Missionary Fireside where all the missionaries who are leaving are able to bear their testimonies and invite people from the wards they have served in or see people they have taught and then we are allowed to go if we take investigators. Yesterday I got to see Andrea and the Bernadino family! 

This past Friday Sister Shepherd and I gave a small training in district meeting on ministering. Lately we all feel like there has been a strong emphasis on being a mission of helping and a few weeks ago in ward council the counselors gave a little training on the difference between administering and ministering and then the past to ensigns have had articles on ministering. That is one thing that Sister Walker taught was how to really listen to the members and people we taught that we were interested in what they were doing and always showed so much enthusiasm towards their interests. So the goal right now is to minister, and to help people feel God's love as much as they can!