What Week Am I On? 62!!‏

Dear Friends and Family,

          Everything has been hunky dory in the woods this week.

Hermana Stoddard & Sister Partridge

People are so funny here.  They moved to the mountains with lots of property and trees around their houses to get away from people so when people (us) show up on their front stoop, they don't seem to really like it.  But they always talk to us for just a few seconds because we are girl missionaries and they always seemed shocked by that.  Then they always tell us that they have big dogs (which a lot of them do) and that there are bears in the neighborhood to shoo us away.  It's hard to tell when they are being serious or not. hehe

The Great Wall of Tiger Mountain

Into the Woods

          We saw a lot more horses, chickens and lot and lots of goats and dogs and a few people this week. I feel like it's required to have at least two dogs to live in Washington.  For reals!  We normally have lots of paw prints on our skirts by 11AM...so attractive, I know.  But it's been fun.  The small town girl in me is coming out!  I feel at home and I talk to people about my days of pig raising.  A lot of the members in this area are older.  As in great-grandparents older, so there are lots of war stories and pie eating.  It's pretty great.  The big challenge that we are facing is that it gets pitch black by 8 at night.  There are no street lights and the trees block out pretty much any light coming from the sky.  We have flashlights and we are fine, it's just that everyone else goes to bed and aren't super happy to see us at their front door.  But no matter, nothing is going to stop this work from moving forward.

          We do have one progressing investigator we are working with right now.  He is a 16 year old named Simon.  He is such a sweet, sincere kid.  He has never had religion in his life, but whenever we teach him, he recognizes truth.  It's literally just bringing thinks back to his remembrance.  The problem is his parents, particularly his mom, aren't so fond of organized religion.  She makes excuses for him to not go to church and meet with us.  The times we have met with him have been miraculous.  Definitely God's timing.  Simon loves it and knows it's true.  He is starting to get up at 4 in the morning to read the Book of Mormon before his family is awake.  We have fasted and are praying for his family to have a change of heart.  We know that the gospel will truly bless all of them by bringing them more unity and love.  He is on date to be baptized October 3, but he needs to come to church two more times and we still have three lessons to teach him. Please pray for Simon and his family!

Delivering a package to Simon

          I studied this week about trials.  I have a James Christensen calendar on my wall and I was looking at a painting that had to do with adversity.  It is a painting of a hunchback man, which represents the everyday man, with the tree of life sprouting from his hunched back.   He is enjoying the fruit which is eternal life. Isn't that so true.  It is better for us to know sorrow and pain so that we can know what real happiness and love are.  Through our adversities, weaknesses and challenges, we know what it's like to be free and happy and stronger when we overcome them.  I have seen this time and time again out here in the front lines of the battle of good verses evil.  Just like the stripling warriors were wounded from their battle with the Lamanites, the servants of the Lord, all the missionaries, receive battle wounds.  But that's okay.  It's a chance for God to show is mercy and His miracles.  None of the stripling warriors died. Likewise, no matter what the adversary throws at us, we can overcome it.  We may get injured in the process, but he will not win.  He may bruise the heel, but we have the power to crush his head.  I know that our Heavenly Father has given each one of His children the power and authority to overcome the world.  He also gave us our freedom to do so.  So the choice is ours.  Who are you going to let rule your life? Who are you going to let win? Food for thought... 

          Have a fantastic week!

Con Amor,
Hermana Stoddard