Week 7 - August 1

Hey everyone!!! This week has been so amazing!!! I am in here in
Kentucky now!! I still can't believe that I am here already! It's so
crazy :) I got here on Monday and we spent the night the mission home.
My mission president is literally the best. He is super funny, down to
earth, and spiritual. So I am so excited to work with him more. The
next day we drove to a church and we met our companions. My trainer is
Hermana Starling-she is super pretty and really amazing! She is
obedient and an amazing teacher, and an awesome missionary. I couldn't
have asked for a better companion.

So I am in the Louisville 4th ward. Our area is called Arcadia. There
are 2 English speaking sisters here in our ward too so we spend a lot
of time with them. In our mission we are encouraged to talk with
everyone or "TWE". So a lot of times we will walk around in front of
apartment buildings or trailer parks and talk to everyone we see. A
lot of times it turns out quite exciting. This week we met people who
spoke Spanish, Korean, English, some African languages, and more. At
times  if they don't speak English or Spanish, we just testify in
English and hope the people can feel the spirit and then we give them
a Mormon.org card and point at the address.  One person asked us "Do
you really believe that?" in a sassy voice, so we said yes. One person
totally pretended we weren't there so we just talked to the side of
his face. Then we talked to a man that said "oh believe me girls, I
been all the way to hell and back, so I know a thing or two. And it's
hot down there!" It was awesome. Then we were TWEing one night and
there were 2 guys, leaning over the back of a truck, and we asked them
how they were. So they turned around and said they were busy. But then
one of them, a middle aged guy with crazy eyes and long hair turned
around and saw me and said "Oh my gosh. You are gorgeous! Tell me
everything you know." (We were in our car)So by that point we decided
to give them a Mormon.org card and leave but the card I pulled out had
my companion's first name written on it-long story- but so I was
digging through my bag trying to find another card so the creepy guy
wouldn't have her name, and he came up to the car. so I found a card
and practically threw it at him and then we drove away.  Stuff like
that happens quite often but that one was the best. A lot a lot a lot
of people here smoke (it's like the worst state for that) and lots
drink too. So like 70percent of the time the people we talk to on the
street are either drunk, drinking, or smoking. Definitely gives you
some entertainment. But it doesn't smell too good. I hope I won't get
lung cancer from all this secondhand smoke ;)  We know the areas where
lots of people speak Spanish, so a lot of times a bunch of our TWEs
are in Spanish. It's actually really nice to learn how to testify and
be able to say things simply. This week I have really gained a
testimony of the simple things. Because that's really what this gospel
is. It's so simple that even little children will understand. When we
meet people on the street we try to say something along these lines:
"have you ever talked to missionaries before?" "If so when?" "Where
are you from?" "Do you believe in Jesus Christ?" (Most common
response-"Claro") "we know that the same gospel that Christ
established has been restored to the earth by a living prophet. We
have a living prophet now who leads and guides our church through
revelation and priesthood power. We believe in the Bible but also in
the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ and
along with the Bible contains the fullness of the gospel. Would you be
interested in learning more?" If they say no we leave them with a
Mormon.org card. If they say yes we leave them with a Mormon.org card
with either our phone number or address of the church on it. We also
invite as many people as we can to church. If they seem really sincere
about learning more we will take down their info and set up a return
appointment.

Right now we have 3 investigators. One is named Eder. He is probably
around 20 and is from Haiti. He speaks French, Spanish, and English.
So we speak Spanglish with him. He is so awesome and is so ready to
learn. We have meet with him once since I have been here. My companion
told me that he was having trouble with the difference between the
bible and the Book of Mormon. He thought that the Book of Mormon was
just another version of the Bible with their names changed. He also
said that he knew it was true so he didn't need to pray to see if it
is true. So we went this week and reviewed the restoration with an
emphasis on the priesthood. We had a member who also speaks French and
English come with us. As we were teaching, he had many questions. Then
we got on the subject of baptism and he asked us how we decided to be
baptized. We told him we prayed. So he was like "so what you are
telling me is I need to pray to see if this is true and if I should be
baptized?" We were like "YES!!!" So he said he would. He also figured
out that the Book of Mormon and Bible are different. It was really
awesome to be able to tell about Joseph Smith. I told the story and
then said the first vision in Joseph Smith's words. It Is amazing, the
power those few sentences can bring. I know it's true and that Joseph
Smith is a prophet and that through him, this gospel was restored. I
also know that it is the only true church on the earth.

We also have a 10 year old investigator named Jennifer. She is darling
and super smiley. She is from a part member family but her parents are
inactive. She had a baptism date before but she wasn't coming to
church, so they had to drop the baptism date. This week our goal was
to help her get to church. We visited her once and talked with her and
her sister. And we stopped by later in the week and left a note on her
door reminding her about church. And guess what.?!? Her whole entire
family went to the Spanish branch (we aren't in it but it's easier for
them to understand) for sacrament meeting. We were so so happy. And
also Eder came to church. And one of our good friends who is less
active. Her name is Carlos.

We also have another investigator Yosemar. He is 9 years old and loves
to learn. He was about to be baptized before but his dad prevented him
at the last minute. Him and his mom and sister moved out recently so
we were able to start up again teaching him. He seems really smart and
ready and his mom is supportive.

Right now, though, most of our efforts are concentrated on finding new
investigators and reactivation of less actives. For that reason, it's
hard at times because we knock on many doors a day, where we know a
less active member lives, but they are very hard to catch. Once in a
while we are able to arrive at opportune times and are able to get in
and share a short message with them. For less actives, we always focus
on returning to church, but some are quicker to respond than others.
So we take it at their pace and respond to their needs. We mostly do
this in Español, and i can understand quite a lot. Not everything, but
a lot. It is definitely a lot harder to understand Cubans. And we have
a lesson scheduled with someone from there tomorrow so we will see how
it goes. My companion's Spanish is amazing-so she helps me.

I am so grateful for this time I have to serve a mission and that I am
able to learn so much and grow so much. This week I have learned that
I need to appreciate the little things. Like, when someone opens their
door, or when my Spanish comes out without mistakes, or when I have
tacos for lunch, or when (last night-this never happens) all 20 of the
people you TWE act polite and civil and actually talk to you about
what you believe. I know that God gives us little miracles in our
lives so we can grow and so we can know that He is watching out for
us. It also helps to watch out for these things when it seems that no
one is listening to you and no one cares what you have to say. I know
that God has a plan for each of His children, and that He is preparing
them to receive His gospel. I hope that I can help plant seeds of
faith, that may one day help someone come to the truth.

Share your beliefs with someone new this week. You will be blessed and
they will be blessed. Have a great week, I love you all!!!!!