February 8, 2016

Just in case anyone was wondering, knocking doors is NOT FUN during the Super Bowl... but thankfully I got updates all through the afternoon!! 

This week was one of the few that seemed pretty long. We had Mission Leadership Conference on Wednesday, and it was absolutely amazing! Our mission found over many new investigators these past 4 weeks! Now we're focusing on how to encourage them to be baptized, because THAT'S what changes lives. We also focused on continuing teaching as long as possible, This gospel is too important, and we've seen so many blessings from sharing the message! Often times, people are seeking the truth but don't know where to find it, so if we don't TELL THEM what they're missing, they'll never know. 

Then our Zone Training Meeting was epic, as usual. We're just pumped to get out and work! 

We found some pretty great people this week to teach, one of them was V, who is a sweet 60 year old man who has such amazing faith you just FEEL it when you're near him. We're talking to him outside and his wife comes and goes "Sweetie, I'm on the phone with the bank, they think someone stole your credit card" and he goes "In a minute, I'm talking to these Sisters about Jesus." It was so great, THERE'S someone who has their priorities straight ;)

Sister King
Bakersfield, CA, February 2016

One of the coolest lessons was with the 12  and 8 year olds we're teaching, and we took a newly baptized member with us, whose situation is very similar.  They connected really well and we taught the Plan of Salvation (our personal favorite) and the spirit was so strong. Their aunt was there and bore HER testimony about how the gospel strengthened her family and we were all just a pile of tears by the end. They're set to be baptized March 5th and they can't wait! The faith of a child is so much stronger than an adults, I love teaching kids.

Bakersfield South Zone
Bakersfield, CA, February 2016

We also ended up teaching the second AND third hour of church and then proceeded to walk around outside for 5 hours straight during the Super Bowl while fasting, so if that didn't build character, I don't know WHAT will.

Sister King, Sister Larsen
Bakersfield, CA, 
February 2016

We also taught a young sister about the Gospel of Jesus Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, holy ghost, endure to the end) and it just felt so peaceful. Then she said how when she reads the Book of Mormon she feels peace. I never really realized that this gospel is there to bring us PEACE! Especially in today's world. God promises us relief when we rely on him,He'll make our burdens light! I continue to see that as I work, when I just get up and do something instead of sitting around being sad, or when I turn to the scriptures for relief, I just feel better, plain and simple. This gospel isn't complicated; the biggest thing it teaches is that if we do what we're supposed to right now and rely on Christ, we can have peace and joy NOW, and eternal life in the life to come. I love it here, I love this work and  I am so grateful to have the knowledge that i do!!